Law Society Announces 2019 Viscount Bennett Scholarship Recipient
Congratulations Roy Cotton-O’Brien
The Law Society of Alberta is pleased to congratulate Roy Cotton-O’Brien, this year’s recipient of the Viscount Bennett Scholarship.
Roy completed an Honours Bachelor of Arts at McGill University, graduating with distinction in political science and philosophy. He went on to study law at the University of Toronto, earning a Juris Doctor with honours in 2017.
Roy was called to the bar in both Alberta and Ontario in 2018 after completing his articles of clerkship with the Court of Appeal of Alberta in Calgary. Prior to this position, he spent two summers at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, where he now works as a litigation associate. During this time, Roy has also published multiple award-winning academic articles in Canadian law journals.
Roy’s enthusiasm for legal scholarship continues, and he has accepted a position in the 2019 Master of Law program at the University of Cambridge in the U.K. There, he hopes to pursue his interest in private international law, focusing his studies on the relationship between conflict of laws and public policy.
“I have greatly enjoyed the academic study of law. I look forward to the opportunity to spend a year grappling with private law principles and legal theory. I hope these studies will refine my understanding of the law and make me a more effective advocate,” he says.
The Viscount Bennett Scholarship provides support for Roy in these scholarly pursuits.
“Studying law at a graduate level is a unique opportunity to focus my legal thinking. Studying at Cambridge will allow me to do so with leading private law scholars. I am grateful for the Viscount Bennett Scholarship for affording me the privilege to do just that,” he adds.
Upon completion of his LLM, Roy plans to return to Calgary to continue his legal career in his hometown.
The Viscount Bennett Scholarship is funded through a trust established by the late Right Honourable Viscount Bennett. It was put in place to encourage a higher standard in legal education, offered to support those interested in pursuing post-graduate studies in law. This prestigious accolade is awarded to individuals with an exceptional academic record and a clear dedication to contribute to their community through the practice of law.