A third-year law student with a passion for advocating and supporting society’s most vulnerable has been awarded this year’s Ciara Glennon Memorial Law Scholarship at The University of Western Australia.
Lucy Greenfield, 23, grew up in the South West town of Busselton, where she attended St Mary MacKillop College before moving to Perth to study at UWA.
Now living in Scarborough, Lucy is undertaking a postgraduate Juris Doctor degree after completing a Bachelor of Psychology in 2021.
Image: Lucy Greenfield (middle) poses for photos with Denis and Una Glennon.
“While studying psychology I developed a passion for helping people with mental health issues and to navigate difficult situations,” Lucy said.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my psychology degree and feel that it has shaped the person I am today as well as in a legal context.
“I was able to complete my mental health first aid certification, learn how to approach situations with high-risk individuals and conduct presentations to my peers about drug and alcohol safety.”
While Lucy initially relied on Centrelink and Youth Allowance subsidies to support her studies, the rising cost of living led to her needing to work two jobs to enable her to continue to live in Perth.
“Being awarded this scholarship will allow me to reduce my working hours and help me continue working towards achieving my dream,” she said,
Lucy is a support worker for people with autism and bipolar disorder, where she provides emotional support in overwhelming social situations, helps with communication barriers and encourages practice of emotional regulation techniques and interpersonal skills.
“As a volunteer community legal triage officer, I was the first face that many individuals saw as they started their interaction with the justice system, to solve legal issues relating to migration law and family and domestic violence,” she said.
“I chose to work in the humanitarian stream to advocate for individuals who experience disadvantage accessing justice.”
Friend Esther Nixon said Lucy was someone who made a positive difference to the lives of everyone she encountered.
“I have always marvelled at her dedication and I look up to her as someone who is always on track with the content that is being taught,” Esther said. “She does all this while working two jobs and caring for her family and friends.”
The Ciara Glennon Memorial Scholarship was established in 1998 with the support of the Glennon family. It is sponsored by Ashurst (formerly Blake Dawson), the law firm where Ms Glennon worked.
It is awarded annually to a student from UWA’s Law School who needs financial help to continue studying, makes a recognisable contribution to the community, demonstrates an active interest in an area outside the practice of law and shows a balanced approach to life and concern for others.