The pair are this year’s recipients of the RDJ Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship at University College Cork, which supports students from ethnic minorities and those who are under-represented in the legal profession in Ireland.

They were chosen 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 last week by RDJ’s managing partner Jamie Olden, partner and diversity and inclusion committee team lead Jennifer Noctor, and Professor Mark Poustie, the dean of UCC School of Law.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Olden said: “I am delighted to meet this year’s recipients of the RDJ Diversity Scholarship today.

“Alicia and Ester are both outstanding students and I look forward to following what I have no doubt will be successful career paths for them both.”

He added: “Greater diversity and inclusion are among RDJ’s core values. This scholarship is in keeping with our commitment to creating a workplace that reflects the diversity of our clients and the communities we are part of.

“As a firm we are focused on our priorities to attract, retain, and promote diverse individuals from different backgrounds, races and genders. We do this not just because it’s the right thing to do but because it makes us better and it makes our teams better.

“Diverse teams offer a wide range of perspectives and experiences, which can lead to increased innovation and problem solving, and allow us to provide the best possible value for our clients.

“Our goal is that initiatives like this will allow us to live up to our core values and ensure that sooner rather than later the firm will reflect society generally.”

Ms Noctor said: “Our diversity and inclusion scholarship programme is part of RDJ’s commitment to fostering greater inclusion in the legal profession. We are proud to support talented students like Alicia and Ester as they take their first steps toward building impactful legal careers.

“The success of past recipients, such as Ruth Fu Dong McKernan, who was awarded the scholarship in 2022, completed a summer placement, and is now beginning a traineeship with RDJ later this year, underscores the program’s impact.

“It’s inspiring to see how initiatives like this can help break down barriers and create opportunities for under-represented voices in the legal field.”

Professor Poustie said: “I am delighted and grateful that RDJ continue to sponsor this transformative scholarship in partnership with the School of Law.

“It provides a fantastic opportunity for those from ethnically diverse backgrounds to unlock the door to the legal profession and thus will ultimately contribute to making the profession more representative of contemporary Irish society.

“The scholarship also fits well with the School’s mission of ‘shaping a just society’. Many congratulations to this year’s winners, Alicia and Ester!”

RDJ offers Diversity and Inclusion Scholarships at both University College Cork and the University of Galway. Mamadou Saliou Bah and Salma Smith were recently awarded the Galway scholarships.