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She is the blonde beautician from Essex who dared to challenge in court one of Britain's biggest housebuilding firms - and won.
Now Georgina Blackwell, 23, has the chance to follow her life's dream of becoming a lawyer after being given a £10,000 scholarship to a top London law school.
Ms Blackwell defeated barristers representing housebuilders Bellway at the High Court this month after her mother's business was threatened in a dispute over rights of access.
Bellway had bought a factory next to her mother Sandra's Grade II-listed former school house in Halstead, with the aim of converting it into flats. To carry out the renovations, it claimed access to her mother's garden and erected scaffolding.
But Ms Blackwell checked the deeds and won her case, with the judge also ordering Bellway to pay her mother £75,000 compensation.
Today she was offered a free place on a degree course at BPP law school in Holborn.
She told the Daily Mirror: "I'm not sure how many blonde former beauticians there are practising law but I intend to be one.
"I still can't believe this is happening.
"It's an amazing opportunity and I'm going to make the most of it. It's the chance of a lifetime."
She had wanted to be a barrister and had been offered a place at Kingston University when she was 17. But she started working in family business The House of Beauty when her mother broke her wrist.
"It was really hard to see my friends going off to do degrees while I stayed at home," she said. "So when I got the call saying they wanted to offer me a place it was a dream come true."
BPP chief executive Peter Crisp said he had acted after reading of Ms Blackwell's High Court success. "We were especially interested to hear that she was due to read law but that because personal circumstances that never happened," he said.
Reader views (7)
What a wonderful story - well done bpp and Georgina!
- Laura, Essex, 04/01/2010 16:32
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John from Leighton Buzzard is spot on. Emphasis should be placed on identifying and nurturing individuals' strengths and talent, rather than filling lecture theatres with students, many of whom have no particular goal than a perceived need to "get a degree".
- Richard, Madrid, Spain, 01/12/2009 08:50
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Fantastic news, as 'Anon' said, this shows the BPP in an especially good light.
If you read this Georgina - good luck with the course!
- John, London, 30/11/2009 16:47
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Great news. There is so much talent overlooked in favour of forcing young people through the university system to get a degree. I'm sure Georgina will bring a level of determination and life experience to her studies that will make her a better Advocate. When will this obsession with degrees end in favour of giving a chance to the ordinary but talented person who is capable of achieving a professional qualification under their own steam.
- John, Leighton Buzzard, 30/11/2009 16:35
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Does this mean that she will be 'Legally Blonde'?
- Nick Osborn, London, UK, 30/11/2009 13:20
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Agree with Anon, this is a heartwarming story and I am sure Ms Blackwell has the mettle to succeed.
- Peace Maker, Battersea, 30/11/2009 10:27
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good on you girl and good on the bpp show them how to do it
- Anon, leicestershire, 30/11/2009 09:44
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