UCC Law Students Awarded 2026 RDJ Diversity & Inclusion Scholarships

24 Feb 2026

This is the fifth year RDJ has awarded the Scholarship at UCC which support students from ethnic minorities and those who are under-represented in the legal profession in Ireland.

Two School of Law students, Elena Falvey and Mohammad Ahmed Naeem were recently awarded RDJ Diversity and Inclusion Scholarships by Jamie Olden, Managing Partner, RDJ; Jennifer Noctor, Partner and Diversity & Inclusion Committee Team Lead, RDJ; and Professor Conor O’Mahony, Dean of the UCC School of Law. This is the fifth year RDJ has awarded the Scholarship at UCC which support students from ethnic minorities and those who are under-represented in the legal profession in Ireland.

Elena and Mohammad have each received a scholarship worth €5,000 and a work placement opportunity with RDJ.

Elena and Mohammad were chosen as the scholarship recipients for 2026 following a competitive selection process based on exam results, a personal statement, a 1,000-word essay discussing the topic, “The Need for Diversifying the Legal Profession in Ireland” and an interview. The students were officially awarded their scholarships on the 26 January by Jamie Olden, Managing Partner, RDJ, Jennifer Noctor, Partner and Diversity & Inclusion Committee Team Lead, RDJ; and Professor Conor O’Mahony, Dean of the UCC School of Law.

Professor Conor O’Mahony, Dean of the UCC School of Law, added:

“RDJ’s continued sponsorship of this scholarship is something we greatly appreciate at the School of Law. Elena and Mohammad have demonstrated exceptional academic ability, insight and commitment through a highly competitive selection process, and they are very deserving recipients of this year’s scholarships. Opportunities like this not only provide vital financial and professional support, but also help to build a more inclusive legal community.”

Commending the RDJ Diversity Scholars on their achievement, Jamie Olden, Managing Partner, RDJ, said:

“I am delighted to meet this year’s RDJ Diversity Scholarship recipients, Elena and Mohammad —both outstanding students whose career journeys I look forward to following. At RDJ, diversity and inclusion are core values, and this scholarship reflects our commitment to building a workplace that mirrors the diversity of our clients and the communities we serve. Attracting, retaining and promoting individuals from different backgrounds, races and genders not only strengthens our firm, it enhances innovation, problem‑solving and the value we deliver to clients. The success of past recipients, including Ruth Fu Dong McKernan—our 2022 scholar, who recently completed a summer placement and is now beginning a traineeship with the firm—shows the real impact of this initiative. We are proud to support talented students like Elena and Mohammad as they take their first steps into the legal profession.”

In this interview, previous year’s scholarship recipients, Ruth Fu Dong McKernan, Chidindu Ukah and Caitlin Ong discuss existing barriers to accessing a career in law, share their experience of participating in the programme, and emphasize why scholarships like these play a vital role in promoting inclusivity.

RDJ offers Diversity and Inclusion Scholarships at both University College Cork and University of Galway. Two University of Galway Law students, Fahima Mohamed and Stuthi Biyani were recently awarded RDJ Diversity and Inclusion Scholarships by Marion Meehan, Senior Associate at RDJ, and Professor Martin Hogg, Dean of the University of Galway School of Law. Read more here.