ULaw SQE student Layla Qazi on her journey from history graduate and tax consultant to future trainee

Future Taylor Wessing trainee Layla Qazi didn’t set out to be a lawyer from day one. She read history because she loved the subject and liked the flexibility of converting later, and she always had law in mind.

“I was so happy to get in,” she says of studying history at Oxford, adding that the subject isn’t “so divorced from law that it’s not really a difficult adjustment.” But as a non-law undergrad, she quickly realised the profession doesn’t necessarily come to you. “As a non-law student, you have to go out and seek things a lot more,” she says. She missed out on first-year insight schemes, simply unaware of them as a history student. The silver lining? “There are so many different entry points now and it’s great if you do a first-year insight scheme, but it’s not necessary to get a training contract.”

In her second year and beyond, she became a fixture at law fairs and networking events. “I don’t even think I could count how many I went to. I went to so, so many,” she laughs. Fairs can feel like speed networking, but even a few minutes with a couple of trainees gives you something real to reference later — and sometimes you discover a firm you’d never thought about.

Off the back of that she joined the university’s commercial law society and moved from attendee to organiser, sitting on the sponsorships committee and emailing graduate recruitment, setting up panels and chatting to trainees. Seeing “the other side of it” made those application form staples much easier. The dreaded “why this firm?” stops being so difficult when you’ve spoken on a more personal level with the firm about team sizes, the support trainees get and which seats are on offer.

Qazi stresses that there’s no single trick to success but focusing on what genuinely interested her and being honest about the fit really helped. She knew early on that the sectors drawing her in were tech and life sciences. That guided her research and helped her craft a consistent story across applications and interviews. “You can dive into your specific interests and create a bit of a story for the ‘why law’ and the ‘why this firm’ question,” she says.

She also drew on “unorthodox” experiences to evidence her skills. In one application she wrote about helping run her university roller-skating society. It was small when she started, but after she convinced a few friends to join, she and the committee grew it into something much bigger. “It’s so random, but honestly the non-traditional stuff really does stick out if you can show that you’ve got a bit of personality and drive.” The lesson, she says: you don’t have to be president of the law society to have something interesting to say. “I worked the Next Boxing Day sale,” she jokes. “That will teach you something about resilience. Honestly.” And that’s what firms are looking for.

Between university and law school, Qazi took what many would see as a detour: a year as a tax consultant at EY. It turned out to be a perfect primer for vacation schemes and, soon enough, a training contract. “The biggest thing for me is confidence,” she says. Coming into vac schemes after time in a corporate environment meant she wasn’t fazed by writing to clients or speaking up in meetings. “You’ll have to do things like presentations to partners and I’m like, ‘I’m just going to pretend this is my manager.’” Perhaps most importantly, it sharpened her writing style. History essays and client emails are different beasts; in practice “you still have to analyse things but with a view to an answer… it’s got to have your client in mind.”

Her tax job turbo-charged her commercial awareness, too. Anticipating the impact of the government’s annual budget or changes to the ‘non-dom’ tax regime, and thinking about how these changes would impact her clients, soon became second nature. Building on that foundation, she developed a daily habit of reading newsletters like Finimize and scanning the Financial Times — which made the buzzword “commercial awareness” far less daunting.

From there, she dug deeper into a handful of topics she genuinely cared about, turning to law firm podcasts and sector reports that translate abstract headlines into client issues. Those bridges from “news” to “what does this mean for this client and our firm?” are, she points out, exactly what interview case studies probe. Picking news topics she found genuinely engaging — tech and life sciences — kept the routine sustainable and the conversations authentic.

Vacation schemes confirmed law was the right path for her, securing spots at Osborne Clarke, Pennington Manches Cooper, Cooley, and of course Taylor Wessing. When asked about her favourite practice areas so far, she says every seat has had its own highlights.

At Taylor Wessing, she especially enjoyed the breadth of her seats, ranging from banking and finance to tech, IP and information. “Broad teams,” she explains, “let trainees explore and find a niche without feeling pigeonholed too early.” That open-mindedness extends to qualification, too: when friends ask her what type of lawyer she’ll be, she replies wherever the work and the seats take her.

With her training contract at Taylor Wessing secured, Qazi began her transition from historian to lawyer with The University of Law. She has just completed her PGDL and will be sitting her SQE exams there over the next year. “The PGDL course at ULaw did a great job of starting things from the basics and building different concepts up,” she explains. “The structure of the course meant it was never overwhelming … I feel very confident going into the SQE having had the ULaw PGDL as a foundation.” Converting from history to law is a sprint through core subjects; doing it within ULaw’s structured programme, with clear materials and a supportive teaching team, made the leap feel manageable.

Looking ahead, she says: “The course has definitely developed my critical analysis abilities and encouraged me to think about academic concepts from a practical perspective. Next summer … the SQE Plus part will let me explore different practice areas ahead of starting my TC.” Having already endured long stretches of exams — first at university, then as a tax consultant, and now with the PGDL and SQE — she’s eager for the finish line. “What am I most looking forward to? Finishing the SQE,” she laughs. “Exam-free” life can’t come soon enough.

If she could advise her first-year self, she’d start with reassurance: follow your interests, build skills, then learn to frame them in a lawyerly light. “I was so surprised the roller-skating thing went down so well!”. The point isn’t to collect a checklist of “law-only” experiences. It’s to show initiative, teamwork, time management and resilience — the qualities firms look for in trainees. Whether it’s building a university society from scratch, surviving a Boxing Day rush at Next or presenting to senior people at work, every experience counts if you can draw out the skills. “Relax and do what you want to do,” she says, “but also do law stuff as well.” That balance has kept her motivated — and made her applications feel personal rather than generic.

For students starting out, her advice is straightforward. Meet as many firms as you can early on — at fairs, talks and virtual events — rather than relying solely on what’s on their websites. Think carefully about the sectors and environments you’ll thrive in, then build your narrative around that. Make use of university and law school resources: newsletters you’ll actually read, podcasts you’ll actually listen to, and reports that translate abstract headlines into challenges and opportunities for clients. At the same time, pursue the passions and interests that genuinely appeal to you — non-legal experiences are just as important. And if your path isn’t linear, that’s fine. A year in industry can make you calmer, clearer and more client-focused when you eventually step through a firm’s doors.

With her PGDL completed at ULaw and the SQE ahead this year, she’s now closing out the study phase and looking forward to day one at Taylor Wessing. The destination hasn’t changed since those early career talks, she’s simply taken the route that made the most sense for her — and picked up a toolkit along the way that will let her hit the ground running when client work begins.

Legal Cheek Live in London takes place in-person NEXT WEEK on Thursday, 11 September. The afternoon features a series of careers and commercial awareness workshops delivered by top law firms as well as a careers fair featuring early talent and graduate recruitment teams. Register to attend now.

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Ross Nelson, a law conversion student at The University of Law, shares his insider take on student life in London — revealing the highlights of his course, his top tips for making the most of the City, and how he juggles academic demands with life beyond the books

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to study law in the heart of the UK’s capital city, minutes away from the nation’s top law firms and biggest businesses? Look no further!

Ahead of our upcoming event ‘Secrets to Success London — with Farrer & Co, Pinsent Masons, Reed Smith and ULaw‘, taking place in-person at The University of Law‘s London Bloomsbury campus, we sat down with ULaw student ambassador Ross Nelson to find out what it’s really like studying on one of the university’s central London campuses.

What first motivated you to study the law conversion at the University of Law?

My interest in pursuing a law conversion course developed during my undergraduate degree at the University of Exeter, where I studied International Relations and Russian. Whilst the course itself was interesting, I struggled to see where it would lead me in the long term, knowing that I wanted to focus on something more practical than theoretical. This is when I was first introduced to the PGDL, speaking with the University of Law team in Exeter, one of their partner universities.

The idea of converting to law excited me, but I decided to hold off for a couple of years to gain work experience and let the aftermath of COVID pass. Three years later, I was still just as interested in converting, so I decided to enrol. Although I took the time to consider several providers, I found that ULaw had a particular reputation for its employability services, which is most important to me at this stage in my career. I additionally had numerous friends who had completed the PGDL across ULaw’s campuses and always had good things to say about the teaching and student experience.

What’s the best thing about campus life at ULaw, London Moorgate?

Studying at the Moorgate campus in London was something that drew me to ULaw. The campus itself is very modern, clean and neighbouring many of London’s largest law firms, so you do feel inspired when you walk around the area. The transport links are also great, with every major tube line a stone’s throw away. This makes the commute to university very convenient and equally makes it easy to get around the city if you’ve got commitments after a workshop.

The Moorgate campus is for postgraduates only, which I also enjoyed, as everyone is at the same stage of their studies. There are always places to sit and study on campus, but there are also several coffee spots around where you can set up shop. The only drawback is that Moorgate is a very commercial area, so there are a lot more chains than quirky independent spots, but this does make it very practical and means that there’s a lot of choice around.

What has been your favourite topic/module on your course? And why?

My favourite modules so far have probably been either Criminal or Tort law. Whilst each module offers its unique appeal, as someone who had not studied law in the past, I found these particularly accessible. This is likely because they are more focused on individuals and grounded in real-world scenarios. I particularly enjoyed the workshop group tasks in these modules, which often involved two opposing teams representing the claimant/defendant and coming up with creative solutions to complex problems. I enjoyed interpreting legislation in light of a specific fact pattern, and there’s always a thrill when you successfully bring a claim against someone or defend your client. I also felt that these modules are the easiest to seep into your real life, given that both criminal and tort cases are so often reported on the news.

What was the biggest challenge you faced on your course?

Anyone will tell you that the conversion course is fast-paced and intense, but there are certainly times when I felt this more than others. The workload was particularly evident during the month leading up to exams, which overlapped with many deadlines for training contracts and vacation schemes. For me, balancing both these things was very difficult and time-consuming, so I made the active decision to prioritise my exams over anything else. Obviously, everyone works in different ways and will have their priorities, but for me, it was important to put my energy into the course. I have found that the work I put into studying was reflected in my results, but this did come at the expense of missing an application deadline or two.

What do you do outside of your studies? How do you find time to fit in all your commitments?

Outside of my studies, it has been important for me to maintain a social life and meet up with friends and family. This has been more challenging whilst studying the conversion course, but it is by no means impossible and important when spending so much of my time studying. By giving myself a routine and schedule, I have always found the time to do what I enjoy, which equally gives me the time to recharge. Finding the time to exercise, whether running or playing tennis, is also something I have found easy to balance with the demands of the course, especially as much of my time is spent studying from home, so it is a great way to break up the day.

What has the academic and pastoral support at ULaw been like?

The support at ULaw has generally been very good. I have found all my teachers very approachable and have scheduled one-to-one meetings with several of them when I have had trouble with a certain topic. Equally, the pastoral support has always been great. The university often promotes its wellbeing services, meaning students very much know where and who to go to if they need help with anything. Aside from this, I’ve personally found both the employability and library teams very helpful with my own academic and professional development, with everyone I’ve spoken to being eager to help.

What are your plans for the future?

In the future, I hope to qualify as a solicitor, so I aim to secure a training contract and complete the SQE. Being in the heart of the city has been very convenient in terms of going to law firm open days or networking events, so I have managed to get a good understanding of the firms that interest me most. Once my course concludes in August, I aim to spend time applying to winter vacation schemes and paralegal roles. I am still not set on a particular area of the law, but thanks to the course, I have a much clearer idea of the legal landscape and what range of work different areas of law entail.

What would be your advice to someone about to start the law conversion course at ULaw?

Studying law for the first time can be daunting, especially in such an intense setting; however, it is equally very rewarding if you make the most of it. My advice would be not to worry if you don’t understand something at first, and remember that everyone else is in the same boat. I found the first few weeks overwhelming, but things soon started to fall into place. Getting into a routine and taking good (revision-worthy) notes from the outset makes all the difference, as you will soon realise there is no time to do this during exam period.

Given the quantity of material to learn, I would also say it’s imperative to keep on top of the required reading each week and not feel afraid to ask your teacher or workshop group questions if you don’t think you understand something. But most importantly, try to remember to give yourself room to breathe when you can; it is a lot of studying, but this means it’s equally important to recharge your brain when you get the chance.

Legal Cheek will be at The University of Law’s London Bloomsbury campus this week for an in-person student event ‘Secrets to Success London — with Farrer & Co, Pinsent Masons, Reed Smith and ULaw‘. This event is now FULLY BOOKED, to see more of our events, check out our upcoming events schedule.

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Partnership will expand to include bar training from September 2026 

The University of Law has struck a deal with Oxford Brookes University to deliver its SQE-ready LLM from this September.

The partnership means aspiring lawyers will be able to study ULaw’s LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) full-time at Oxford Brookes’ campus.

ULaw added that there are plans to expand the partnership from September next year to include its Bar Practice Course (BPC), enabling it to support aspiring barristers in the region as well.

“We are committed to working with training providers that bring real value to students and expand access to high-quality professional education,” commented Dr Sara Hannam, deputy pro-Vice chancellor in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Oxford Brookes. “This collaboration with The University of Law will enrich our postgraduate legal training offer and open up exciting new pathways into the legal profession.”

Professor Peter Crisp, deputy vice-chancellor at ULaw, added:

“We are delighted to collaborate with Oxford Brookes University, which marks ULaw’s 11th collaboration with a university law school. We continue to prove highly successful in providing accessible, industry leading education nationwide. We look forward to working closely with Oxford Brookes in building what promises to be a very exciting extension to its law school offering.”

News of the tie-up comes around three years after fellow law school, The College of Legal Practice, agreed a deal with Brookes that gave its graduates discounted fees on its range of preparation courses. This came to an end last year.

This marks ULaw’s second university tie-up in quick succession, following a similar deal with the University of Hull in April, under which it will deliver both its LLM SQE and Postgraduate Diploma in Law.

ULaw already has partnerships in place with a number of other universities, including Royal Holloway, Exeter, Liverpool, Reading, Newcastle, and Southampton.

Programme and student lead (LPC and SQE) at The University of Law, Laura Duffy, discusses the challenges facing lawyers-to-be and the opportunities in the North

Laura Duffy, Programme and Student Lead (LPC and SQE) at The University of Law, has over twelve years’ experience in practice. These days, she supervises the LPC and SQE programmes for ULaw students at the Leeds campus and at the ULaw satellite campuses at the Newcastle University, the University of Sheffield and the University of Hull. “It’s my responsibility to make sure those programmes are rolled out correctly at these campuses and to ensure that students have a good experience,” she tells me.

Duffy sees her experience in practice as vital to her role as an educator. “One of ULaw’s key selling points is that all of our lecturers teaching on our post-graduate law programmes come from a practice background,” she says. “We’re not just here to teach the course content, but to share our skills and experiences with students as well.”

I am keen to know what Duffy’s time as a lawyer has taught her about the skills students need to succeed in this profession. “A determination to succeed,” is her immediate answer. “It’s not easy getting there, it’s tough,” she goes on, “You have to get through your degree, through the SQE qualifications, and most likely multiple job applications.”

This is something Duffy learned during her own path to qualification. “It was quite a journey for me,” she says wryly. Having completed a law degree and LPC at the University of Sheffield, Duffy secured a training contract while working on a legal helpline. Unfortunately, this training contract was cancelled, “a month or two before it was due to start”, following the 2008 financial crisis and recession. Back to square one, Duffy managed to land a paralegal role at a mid-sized firm in Manchester and, after five years as a paralegal, ultimately secured a training contract at the same firm where she qualified as a solicitor.

Duffy also emphasises the importance of public speaking skills. “I think a lot of students come into their career as a solicitor not expecting to have to talk out loud,” she comments. “It’s a really important skill to have as a solicitor but it’s unfortunately not one that many students gain much experience of at school or at undergraduate level.”

I am curious about Duffy’s insights into legal careers in the North, having practised in Manchester and now supporting students studying in Leeds, Newcastle and Sheffield. “London was never an option for me when I started my career,” she says. “I was keen to stay close to family and friends, and tales of exceedingly long hours were not an attraction.” She continues, “Regional firms can offer a better work life balance, but with similar opportunities that you might find elsewhere — there are lots of great opportunities in the North which I feel may be overlooked by some students setting their sights on London!”

Since taking on the role of Programme and Student Lead, Duffy has taken a step away from teaching. However, when she can be found in the classroom, she steers future lawyers through dispute resolution, personal injury and clinical negligence, areas she practised in during her time as a solicitor. I’m curious to know which of these subjects she finds throws up problems for students. “I do think some students can find dispute resolution tricky. It is very structured and it can be hard to follow that structure without having gone through the process in practice, so I am very practical when I’m teaching and try to break it down stage by stage.” She adds, “I hope that my students enjoy it by the end!”

And, with the benefit of Duffy’s role overseeing the SQE Masters and preparation courses at ULaw, what are the most challenging aspects of this new format of exam? “I feel that there is still a fear of the unknown with the SQE assessments,” she says. “It is still a very new assessment and, one which unfortunately hasn’t had a great pass rate so far nationally, so students feel they don’t know what they’re going into.” The format of the SQE1 assessment in particular is a challenge in itself. “Students are required to answer 360 single best answer questions over two days, covering a range of professional practice and academic law subjects,” Duffy explains. “I prefer to be honest with students. It is very likely going to be the hardest and longest assessment you are ever going to sit!”

I ask Duffy how ULaw supports its students, academically and pastorally, as they approach these undeniably tough exams. “We have loads of support for our students,” she assures me. “Right from day one students are allocated an academic coach who will support them throughout the programme – this is their go-to if they have any questions about the programme or need support with how to approach their studies.” I hear that ULaw students are also provided with a student journey advisor for non-academic queries as well as a wellbeing team, a “fantastic” employability team and library team. In particular Duffy shouts out the university’s study skills team – who are “great for supporting students one to one, and who can assist with creating revision plans and advice on time management.” Duffy emphasises that this support network is made as easily available as possible to students, “Our MyULaw app is available to all students and offers an easy way of accessing all of these support services.”

From Duffy’s perspective, ULaw’s approach yields results. “Our figures are showing that many of our students taking ULaw’s SQE programmes are seeing great results in the SQE assessments and I couldn’t prouder of them,” she tells me. “Yes, there is no denying that they have to work hard,” she admits, “but, if they engage in our programme of study, follow our advice, seeking support where needed and get in lots of practice of single best answer questions via ULaw’s SQE Revision App, there is no reason why they can’t do well.”

Laura Duffy will be speaking at ‘Secrets to Success Leeds — with Eversheds Sutherland, Pinsent Masons and ULaw’, an in-person student event taking place TOMORROW (Thursday 3 July). Apply now to attend.

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Legal Cheek Careers sits down with ULaw graduate and teaching assistant Callum Gee to discuss legal tech, careers support and his own journey through law

Callum Gee, graduate teaching assistant at The University of Law (ULaw), is passionate about legal technology and its growing role in the profession. He is involved in designing the legal tech module for the university’s undergraduate programme and plans to pursue a master’s in legal innovation this coming year. Ahead of his panel appearance at Legal Cheek’s upcoming virtual student event, ‘AI and the law — with A&O Shearman, Macfarlanes, Osborne Clarke and ULaw’, I sat down with Gee to talk all things innovation and get his top tips for tech-minded law students.

I began by asking Gee about his legal journey so far. “It’s been a strange one!” he laughs. “I finished my undergraduate studies three years ago, but during that time, I was running my own legal tech company. I then left university and started doing that full-time for about two years on its own”. After running the company for a couple of years, he explains that a former lecturer from ULaw reached out and asked if he would like to join the university as a graduate teaching assistant, an offer he accepted. “So I am now training as an academic and am a designer of the legal tech module for undergraduates — it’s been so rewarding!”.

Curious to know more about Gee’s interest in legal technology, I ask what motivated him to pursue this area. “My core motivation comes from a brilliant Ulaw lecturer, Paddy Grant,” Gee responds. “He inspired me to pursue what I wanted to do, and since then, my interest has blossomed”. He continues:

“In terms of the law, one of the things I have always loved is looking at where we are, what the problems are, discussing solutions, and trying to fix them — that is legal innovation in a nutshell: it is having these conversations and hopefully inspiring bright minds to fix these issues in their careers.”

Having mentioned his hope to inspire bright minds, I am keen to know how law students can learn more about legal technology and any key insights they should be aware of. Gee jokes, “I feel more comfortable talking about this than talking about myself!”.

“From an academic standpoint, you cannot teach emerging technologies,” Gee tells me. This is because of the pace at which these technologies change and develop. “Aside from the ones blowing up – artificial intelligence and document automation, which are a necessity now – you cannot teach specific platforms because, in five years’ time, they will be different in some way or may not even exist,” he says. “You have to take it back”, Gee tells me. “Students must be taught the basics so that whatever technologies arise in the future, they can adapt. You cannot dive in at the deep end.” Gee also stresses that the best thing for future lawyers to do is to not get “overwhelmed by the buzzwords”. The legal tech course at ULaw is “brilliant” for this, he comments.

During our conversation, Gee mentions that there is currently no hub or centre of excellence where lawyers can go to gain a basic understanding of emerging legal technologies. He stresses that, while the ULaw has the benefit of teaching graduates these things, “There is no hub for lawyers out in the world now to gain that knowledge, and they need it, as we all agree this is not going away”. Closing that knowledge gap is something Gee hopes to work on outside of his teaching duties.

Having studied and taught at the university, I move on to ask Gee about the support on offer there, both academically and in terms of careers advice. “They have been brilliant!” he says. “As for academics and career progression, if you’re someone who wants to climb the ladder, ULaw will provide you with every rung on that ladder”. He sees this as one of the most valuable things about the institution. Gee goes on to say that he feels like an “equal” to people who have been there for twenty-five years, despite having only worked there for a year. He was amongst the first six people to be hired on the graduate teaching scheme and tells me, “You can tell they want to make it work”.

Elaborating on his role as a graduate teaching assistant — through which he will also gain a PGCHE teaching qualification — Gee says: “It has been one of the biggest privileges of my life. Last term, I taught nine undergraduate law classes a week and developed strong personal relationships with the students. It was an honour to be in a position to teach them and help nurture such bright minds.”

One particular moment that stays with Gee was after the students’ exam results were released, the average was so high that it filled him with an “immense feeling of pride”. He also shares that the role will place him in a “brilliant position” for a career in academia, particularly as a professor of law and innovation – Gee’s ultimate career goal.

Whilst on the topic of teaching and inspiring students, I am eager to know if he has any tips for those considering a career in legal technology or innovation. His advice is to get stuck in: “If you’re someone who is entrepreneurial or just doesn’t understand why we have to accept things the way they are, if you have that mindset, you should be interested in legal innovation”, he replies. “You have the ability to change the world, as cheesy as it sounds, it’s the truth”.

As we wrap up our conversation, I ask Gee if there is anything he wishes he had known before studying legal technology or the law in general. “Good question!”, he smiles. Gee’s key piece of advice would be for young undergraduate students to stay “open-minded”. Don’t feel pressured to pick the solicitor or barrister side – there are many options, he explains: “If you are not certain what door is for you, hold out, as you will later realise there are more than two doors that exist”. Gee discovered academia later on and describes it as “perfect”.

Callum Gee will be speaking alongside law firm representatives at ‘AI and the law — with A&O Shearman, Macfarlanes, Osborne Clarke and ULaw’, an virtual student event taking place on Tuesday 22 July. Apply now to attend.

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Alex Goodman, future trainee and ULaw student ambassador, discusses his SQE experience, from revision strategies to social life

Alex Goodman, a student ambassador at The University of Law, began his legal journey with an LLB at the University of Exeter. After spending three years as a paralegal in the planning department of a large national law firm, he has returned to his former student city to pursue the LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) at ULaw’s Exeter campus.

Having sailed through SQE1 back in January, Goodman is now eagerly awaiting the results of his SQE2 assessments before he’s off to start his training contract at southwest law firm, Ashfords. I start by asking Goodman about his experience sitting SQE1. “It’s a long day!” he laughs. “You’ve got to make sure you get a good night’s sleep beforehand because you’ve got two five-hour exams to sit. There’s 360 questions in total – once I got to question 360, my brain was pretty frazzled.”

For Goodman, the major challenge of SQE1 was the volume of content. “There are some tricky subjects, but the hardest thing about it is the sheer amount you have to memorise,” he explains. This breadth of content can be particularly challenging for students, such as Goodman, who have taken time out of legal education between their undergraduate degree and SQE preparation. “Topics like constitutional law, the legal system of England and Wales or contract law, I hadn’t properly studied since 2018 – I was coming back to it five, or even six years, later,” Goodman tells me.

As this appears to be a common challenge SQE candidates face, I am curious to know how he went about refreshing this knowledge. “I got out all my old notes and looked over them,” Goodman replies, “but what really helped was the manuals The University of Law provides on each subject covered in SQE1. I read those manuals from start to finish and pretty much knew them inside out by the time I sat the exam.”

With SQE1 placing heavy emphasis on factual recall, how did Goodman go about committing all this information to memory? “I made a folder of a complete set of condensed notes,” he tells me. “After taking notes in seminars and from textbooks and ULaw’s online tasks during the week, I spent my weekends condensing those notes, printing them off and adding them to the folder.” Goodman then asked friends to test him on these notes and read them through as often as he could. “I know lots of people who went for the flashcard approach, but ended up with over a thousand flashcards or something crazy so I didn’t want to go for that,” he comments.

As the exams drew nearer, it was practice questions that Goodman found the most useful. “ULaw provided practice questions and set us all a target of doing 5,000 or 6,000 questions before the exam – I managed 4,500 and it did really help,” says Goodman. As well as familiarising candidates with the style of SQE1’s multiple choice questions (MCQs), mock exams can also give them a bit of a confidence boost. “Once I was consistently scoring over 80% on the mock exams, I knew I was on track and ready for the exam,” Goodman tells me.

I ask Goodman about how he has balanced this thorough preparation with life outside his studies. “I do feel like my time has been quite constrained this year,” he admits. “It’s been a lot of studying, but it is still important to make time for your social life otherwise you’ll go a bit crazy.” Careful planning is key to achieving this balance, he explains, “I’ve tried to keep my Friday and Saturday evenings free to see friends and relax. Because it was so important to me to pass the SQE, I certainly haven’t had the social life I had in the first years of undergrad!” he jokes.

ULaw’s Exeter campus is ensconced in the city’s historic university where Goodman began his legal studies. So, what’s it been like returning to Exeter as a postgrad student? “It’s been really nice and such a privilege,” says Goodman. “Exeter is great because it’s a smaller city you can easily walk around. It’s been so nice using the university buildings and ULaw have a great teaching space here.” Goodman is also full of praise for ULaw’s Exeter campus team. “Back in December, I went to my campus manager for some advice. I had an appointment with her on campus and felt much better afterwards. I found it super helpful.” ULaw provides all its students with a dedicated academic support tutor and Goodman has found all members of staff approachable. “Although I have a dedicated tutor, I can email any of them for support. They’ve all been really helpful.”

Looking to the future, I am keen to know what Goodman’s favourite topic on the SQE has been and which areas of law he’d like to explore during his training contract. “Private wealth really interests me,” is his response. “Studying wills, inheritance and estates, I enjoyed seeing how lawyers can be very technical with their language to get different results. You can have lots of interesting debates about definitions and interpretation, so I’m quite drawn to that area.” He continues, “There’s also the opportunity in private wealth to get to know your clients quite well on a personal level and I think that makes it more interesting.”

I ask Goodman what advice he would give students still searching for a coveted training contract offer. “The first thing to do is to make sure that you understand the type of firm you’re applying for and the type of work that you want to do,” is his advice. “Ask yourself what kind of person you are: do you love the big city? Would you rather stay local? Do you want to work with big-name clients?” Once you’ve got that figured out, researching the firm itself is crucial. “You should understand the kind of work the firm does and how they market themselves,” Goodman says. “‘If you understand yourself and the firm, you can properly explain to the firm ‘Why you?’.”

Alex Goodman will be speaking alongside law firm and ULaw representatives at ‘The SQE: students and law firms share their stories — with ULaw’, an virtual student event taking place THIS WEEK on Thursday 26 June. Apply now to attend.

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Kirsty Stanway, careers consultant at The University of Law, discusses the skills aspiring lawyers need to succeed, how the SQE is changing legal careers and the best bits about being a careers consultant

Getting your foot in the door of the legal profession is not easy. From competitive multi-stage application processes to a changing qualification process, some aspiring lawyers may not even be sure where to begin.

As a careers consultant at The University of Law’s Manchester and Leeds hubs, Kirsty Stanway helps set students on the right path and give them the tools they need to take their first steps into this challenging but exciting industry. Ahead of her appearance at ‘Secrets to Success Manchester — with Pinsent Masons, Clyde & Co, Express Solicitors and ULaw‘, Legal Cheek Careers sat down with Stanway to get her expert advice on all things careers.

Kathy Garside, programme and student lead of the SQE programme at ULaw Birmingham, discusses her career journey, advice for aspiring solicitors and the best things about the city’s legal market

As programme and student lead of the SQE programme at The University of Law’s Birmingham campus, Kathy Garside leverages her own experience as a commercial litigation lawyer in the UK’s second city to help future generations of solicitors make their way into the profession.

Ahead of her appearance at our in-person student event ‘Secrets to Success Birmingham — with Pinsent Masons, Reed Smith, Squire Patton Boggs, Browne Jacobson and ULaw’, Legal Cheek Careers sat down with Kathy to pick her brains on the skills that make a successful lawyer and how students can develop these inside and outside the classroom — as well as her top tips for securing the TC of your dreams.

We share the lowdown on a busy week of sessions from top lawyers and legal education experts

Legal Cheek’s Summer Virtual Vacation Scheme and Law Fair 2025 in partnership with The University of Law, returned this year with a packed schedule of workshops delivered by a wide range of law firms and in-house legal teams, an ’employability expo’ with ULaw’s team of experts and our Virtual Law Fair with trainees and graduate recruitment from over 25 top law firms.

Over the course of the week, over 2,200 students flooded into the live stream to hear from these experienced experts and ask their burning questions.

In case you missed it, here’s what went down…

Day 1

Session 1: Deals

The speakers

• Oliver Hewitt, corporate associate at Jones Day
• Olivia Prioleau, corporate associate at Jones Day

 What went down…

The first session of the 2025 Summer Vacation Scheme focused on deals and took the form of a presentation delivered by Jones Day corporate associates Oliver Hewitt and Olivia Prioleau.

Reflecting on why they chose to become transactional lawyers, Hewitt and Prioleau referenced the fast-paced, varied and commercially-focused nature of their work.

After an explanation of what corporate lawyers do, Prioleau gave an overview of the firm’s clients — a list which includes household names from McDonalds to Goldman Sachs.

The presenters then broke down the life cycle of a deal, from initial negotiation stages, through due diligence (a key trainee task), to completion. They then applied these principles to examples of deals they have advised on.

We then moved to a Q&A featuring questions from our live audience. Hewitt gave an insight into the factors currently affecting corporate deals, including tariffs and geopolitical instability. Prioleau responded to a question on Jones Day’s ‘non-rotational’ training contract, emphasising a combination of guidance and freedom which allows trainees to thrive.

To conclude, our presenters shared a piece of advice they would give their younger selves: Prioleau stressed being kind to yourself and Hewitt recommended throwing yourself into every opportunity.

Session 2: Disputes

The speakers

• Kristjana Nikolls, Litigation associate at Willkie Farr & Gallagher

What went down…

Session 2 saw Kristjana Nikolls take us through her dynamic disputes practice as an associate at Willkie, Farr & Gallagher. She explained the shape of a disputes matter from preliminary advice through to disclosure, evidence gathering, trial, and post-trial enforcement, giving us a flavour of the tasks done by trainees right through to partners.

Nikolls brought vibrant energy and left the PowerPoint behind, as she delivered a rich, deep dive with fantastic anecdotes across the exciting cases that have shaped her career.

We covered how teams structured with counsel got involved in the run up to court hearings, and the diverse skills involved in drafting witness statements and expert reports – where juniors are afforded much responsibility in the logistics and note-taking.

At the court stage, Nikolls told us that juniors and NQs can get involved in preparing witnesses, whilst seniors look towards strategy, and how working closely with barristers brings preparation and advocacy together to achieve the best result for the client. Peppered throughout, Nikolls gave us fascinating anecdotes, from a witness’s frequent toilet breaks to highlighters thrown across the court room. At judgment, there are strategic decisions on appeals right down to the logistics behind enforcement actions.

After a Q&A, taking us through life as a career-changer to the importance of strategic thinking in advisory work, Nikolls then took schemers through the case study supplied by ULaw, analysing how she approaches disputes problems and directs questions at the facts.

Day 2

Session 1: Real estate

 The speakers

•  Janany Kathirgamanathan, real estate partner at BCLP

What went down…

Day two of the Summer Vacation Scheme began with a session on real estate, delivered by Janany Kathirgamanathan, a commercial real estate partner at BCLP.

She shared insights from her career journey, explaining how she joined the firm in 2015 — when it was still Berwin Leighton Paisner — as an associate, and made partner last year.

Kathirgamanathan spoke about her work in development and regeneration, with a particular focus on build-to-rent projects, affordable housing, and public sector financing. She regularly advises developers, funders, and purchasers in these areas. She also touched on the impact of government policy on her work, noting that it plays a key role in shaping how affordable housing is delivered.

But Kathirgamanathan’s work goes beyond build-to-rent projects and affordable housing. She was recently involved in Tristan Capital Partners’ €400 million (£336 million) acquisition of the budget hotel chain EasyHotel.

In conversation with Legal Cheek editor Tom Connelly, she shared what first drew her to the real estate sector, explaining that it stemmed from her experience as a paralegal before securing a training contract—though she admitted with a laugh, “I didn’t care for land law at university!”

 Session 2: Employability expo

 The speakers

• Hannah Uglow, LPC and SQE programme and student lead at ULaw
• Catherine Morgan, employability group manager at ULaw
• Amy Walker, careers manager at ULaw
• Mandi Kaur, student recruitment manager at ULaw
• Louise Musgrave, student recruitment manager at ULaw
• Vlad Manic, student recruitment manager at ULaw

What went down…

The SQE explained

Hannah Uglow, programme and student lead at The University of Law, provided students with a clear overview of the changes to solicitor qualification following the introduction of the SQE. She explained the structure of the new exams, which are divided into two stages: SQE1 and SQE2. SQE1 assesses black letter law, while SQE2 focuses on practical legal skills such as advocacy and drafting. Uglow also outlined various course options, including ULaw’s LLM with SQE prep built in, and highlighted the pros and cons to completing Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) alongside your studies.

Firm research and applications

Mandi Kaur and Vlad Manic kicked off their sessions by highlighting the importance of firm research, before delving into the aspects to consider – from practice area and sector focus to culture and values. They also shared the various sources for research aspiring solicitors can access online, including the firms’ social media channels.

When it came to writing applications, Kaur and Manic suggested applicants to assess their own employability skills and demonstrate these via concrete examples. The speakers then outlined the sections one can expect on law firm applications. To wrap up the sessions, Kaur and Manic offered practical advice, noting that applications should not be left until the last minute, especially if your target firms recruit on a rolling basis.

Where can I find legal work experience?

ULaw’s Catherine Morgan and Amy Walker, headed up this session covering all things legal work experience. Both kicked off with a myth-busting exercise, to reassure students that all work experience is valuable. They discussed the key attributes employers are looking for, and the ways to demonstrate a real interest in law. Both provided examples of opportunities available, from insight days to speculative applications and temporary roles. To wrap up, the speakers provided their top tips for creating industry contacts; students must be proactive to build lasting connections!

Writing effective CVs and cover letters

During this session, ULaw student recruitment manager Louise Musgrave shared her top tips for writing effective CVs and cover letters. The talk began by outlining what to include on your CV, including personal details, education, work experience, extra-curricular activities and relevant skills. Musgrave emphasised the importance of keeping things simple and formal, using clear headings and bullet points, a readable font and keeping to two pages of A4.

On cover letters, Musgrave encouraged students to focus on style and flow to make their submissions interesting to read. Finally, she recommended getting CVs and cover letters read over by friends, family or a careers advisor to check for any dreaded spelling and grammar errors.

Day 3

Session 1: Public law and policy

The speakers

• Louis Biggs, senior associate in the public law and policy team at Hogan Lovells
• Maddy Vincent, associate in the public law and policy team at Hogan Lovells

What went down…

We kicked off day three of the Summer Virtual Vacation Scheme with a session delivered by Louis Biggs, senior associate, and Maddy Vincent, associate, from the public law and policy team at Hogan Lovells.

The pair started with an overview of their clients, from private companies like Uber and OpenAI to public sector clients like OfGem and the Department for Energy and Net Zero.

A deep-dive into the team’s work followed. Biggs began with Hogan Lovells’ work advising major tech companies on complying with the Online Safety Act. He then moved on to his work for Uber in its appeals against Transport for London’s decision to remove its licence to operate in London.

Biggs handed over to Vincent to cover the team’s work defending the London Metal Exchange against claims that its decision to cancel nickel trades in volatile market conditions was unlawful – ending in an exciting victory in the Court of Appeal.

Throughout the presentation, our live chat was buzzing with enthusiasm and questions for the presenters. Addressing some of these questions in the follow-up Q&A, the pair shared insights into what they value in great trainees – highlighting the importance of a keen interest in politics and an ability to take the initiative.

 Day 4

Session 1: Fraud

The speakers

• Robert Hunter, Former Allen & Overy and Herbert Smith Freehills partner, and founder and trustee at City Disabilities

 What went down…

The penultimate day of the Scheme began with a session on fraud and asset tracing with Robert Hunter, former magic and silver circle partner, and founder and trustee at City Disabilities.

Hunter kicked off the session by reflecting on his career journey — from being psychology student with a keen interest in psychopathy, through to becoming partner and head of fraud at two top City firms, all whilst coming to terms with his profound deafness.

Hunter then delved into his work acting for claimants in international fraud cases — outlining the different injunction orders that can be brought against fraudsters to recover stolen assets, such as freezing and search orders, as well as the perils involved in dealing with professional fraudsters, who were often vindictive criminals.

Besides this, Hunter also emphasised the challenges of dealing with the claimants themselves, and recounted numerous tales from his 35-year career.

To conclude the session, Hunter imparted the following words of wisdom:

• Don’t be intimidated by lawyers who appear sure of themselves, as this is rarely the case in reality
• Don’t give up if you feel like others have started off their careers better than you
• There are many ways to be a good lawyer — everyone brings something different to the table

Session 2: Corporate finance

The speakers

• Karl Bradford, principle director in the corporate team at Foot Anstey

What went down…

On hand to guide students through the final session of day 4 was Karl Bradford, principal director in the corporate team at Foot Anstey. Karl kicked off with a whistle-stop tour of his varied career journey to date, discussing his experience in private practice and in-house. Bradford provided viewers with a definition of corporate real estate, before detailing what this practice area involves: investment funds, transactions through a corporate entity and joint ventures. Bradford gave some real-life examples of work he has been involved in, including some unexpected signing scenarios!

Bradford moved on to discuss the role of investment funds in the financing of corporate real estate transactions. He explained why corporate entities are used to facilitate the transaction, and helpfully presented some animations to illustrate the process. He discussed the process of due diligence, the need for warranties and indemnities, and how this process can influence the end transaction.

Bradford went on to cover his final topic up for discussion: joint venture agreements. Bradford considered the benefits of joint ventures and their popularity when conditions are favourable. He then walked students through the key terms involved.

The session then moved to the audience Q&A. Bradford was probed on his motivation to work in corporate real estate, the skills required, and the changes he expects in the industry over the coming years. The session wrapped up with an analysis of the finance-focused case study, considering the best way to transfer an interest in a loan.

 Day 5

Session 1: Training in-house

The speakers

•  Rebecca Staheli, head of competition and regulatory law at the BBC
•  Charlie Pratt, graduate solicitor apprentice at the BBC

What went down…

Our representatives from the BBC’s in-house legal team, Rebecca Staheli and Charlie Pratt, began by introducing themselves and their respective career journeys. Pratt then explained why he joined the graduate solicitor apprenticeship scheme at the BBC, citing his long-term interest in the company’s media output and the wider commercial considerations across the industry, among others.

The speakers then outlined what a typical day looks like for each of them. For Staheli, there is “no such thing as a typical day”, explaining the vast variety of matters that comes across her desk, as a reflection of the size of the organisation and the nature of the business. For Pratt, the typical day varies between seats, which are scattered across the BBC. To illustrate this, Pratt compared his experience in the distribution team at BBC Legal to that in the brand protection team at BBC Studios.

During the audience Q&A, the speakers delved into the differences between working in-house versus in private practice. Staheli described what career progression looks like in-house, while Pratt highlighted the greater autonomy that in-house trainees enjoy. Pratt also gave an overview of the application process to the BBC and offered tips and advice on doing research on the organisation.

To round off the session, Staheli analysed the case study exercise, discussing the directions students can take and the factors to consider.

 Session 2: Alternatives to Corporate Law

The speakers

• Edie Selsdon Games, trainee solicitor at TV Edwards Solicitors
• Ravina Bahra, public law paralegal at Lawstop
• Alaa Ahmed, trainee solicitor at Wilsons Solicitors

What went down…

To kick off the final session of day 5, Edie Selsdon Games provided a whistle-stop tour of her legal experience to date. Electing to study immigration and housing law on the LPC, Edie very quickly knew that this area of work was one she intended to pursue. Selsdon Games threw herself into pro-bono work at university, before assisting as a caseworker at a money advice clinic. Her experience since has been about making a real difference to housing clients at TV Edwards Solicitors.

Ravina Bahra went on to discuss her journey to date, giving students a rundown of what exactly public law involves. She discussed her experience paralegalling at a city firm, before explaining the nature of her current work at Lawstop. Bahra praised the role for its intellectual stimulation and impact, before giving examples of cases where she has made a tangible difference. Bahra rounded up by touching on the complexities of working with legal aid clients.

Alaa Ahmed discussed her transition from caseworker to trainee at Wilsons Solicitors, and reflected on the part she has played in immigration work. She walked students through her career journey prior to this, admitting that protecting the rights of others has always been a high priority. Ahmed recounted some standout deportation cases, and reflected on the key skills that are essential to this line of work.
The session wrapped up with an audience Q&A. The speakers covered everything from training, to the emotional complexities of the job, and the challenges of obtaining relevant experience.

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Hannah Uglow, SQE & LPC programme and student lead at The University of Law, discusses the best and worst things about the exams and shares her top tips on how to tackle them

Hannah Uglow started her legal career in criminal defence. While practising, she taught at the University of Kent and joined their law clinic, working with students on live cases. Uglow then moved to The University of Law as a lecturer and is now the SQE programme lead.

I ask Uglow what motivated her to start teaching law as well as practising. “In my view, the law should be accessible,” she responds. She stresses that, although law is often made out to be obscure or complex, it’s very possible for all law students to understand it. “Once I’d been in practice, I saw how the law operates: you have the facts of a situation and you have the rules — it’s simply a matter of applying one to the other.” She continues, “I really liked helping students get to that moment when the penny drops. Suddenly, rather than just getting through it, they start really understanding and enjoying the law — in every cohort I have taught I have seen students have that shift in understanding.” Additionally, Uglow sees teaching as a mutually beneficial exercise, “If you want to be a good practitioner, then teaching is the best way to stay on top of things and keep your knowledge fresh,” she explains.

Dr Morag Duffin, Director of Student Success, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at ULaw, reflects on the findings around minority group performance under the new assessment regime

In 2021 the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) began the introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) with two initial primary objectives. Firstly, greater assurance of consistent, high standards at the point of admission. Secondly, the development of new and diverse pathways to qualification to promote a diverse profession by removing artificial and unjustifiable barriers.

Since the first SRA publication of SQE results by demographic groups, the legal sector (including the SRA itself) has grown increasingly concerned about the pass rate trends for certain demographic groups. Of particular concern is the pass rate gap (or using SRA terminology ‘differential outcomes by ethnicity’) between White students and students from minoritised ethnicities.

Phyllida Roberts, head of law conversion at The University of Law, shares her top tips for non-law students preparing for a career in law

Phyllida Roberts studied modern languages as an undergraduate before training as a solicitor. She is now head of law conversion courses at The University of Law, helping the newest generation of non-law graduates make the jump into their legal careers.

Ahead of her appearance on the panel at Legal Cheek‘s upcoming virtual event ‘Why non-law students make great lawyers — with Ashurst, Mishcon de Reya, Reed Smith and ULaw‘ on Tuesday 3 June, Roberts sat down with Legal Cheek Careers to share her advice to non-law students and explain why she thinks they make such great lawyers.

1. Could you describe your career journey and how you got to where you are today?

I was undecided about at career path at 18, despite always being interested in ‘the law’. I studied modern languages as an undergraduate and then as the reality of work approached, I applied to law school but I don’t think there was a ‘lightbulb’ moment — I could easily have chosen a career in teaching! I spent two years at the College of Law in Guildford, first on the conversion course (CPE as it then was) and then on the Legal Practice Course.

Next stop — life as a trainee solicitor in London for 2 years where I remained for 4 years post qualification. Leaving London to practice in Leeds was prompted by personal reasons. I moved into legal education at the College of Law, York — initially as a flexible stop gap ‘to keep my grey cells working’ whilst I had a young family — but I absolutely loved it. 17 years later and I haven’t looked back!

2. What motivated you to work in legal education?

I have always had a ‘teacher’ instinct, I think. I taught in France for two years (one year as part of my undergraduate degree and then one year after I had graduated). I hesitated between a PGCE and a Law conversion and eventually plumped for the latter. I think law and education are very closely linked — advising a client and managing the client relationship is very similar to teaching in that the skill of explaining difficult concepts in a digestible manner and adapting to meet differing student needs are akin to the solicitor/client dynamic.

For me, the transition to legal education felt a very natural step. I really enjoy the ‘nurturing’ side of the role — seeing students join us quite green at the beginning of their studies and then leave us fully confident is very rewarding.

3. What does your role as head of law conversion courses involve?

All sorts — no one day is the same which keeps it challenging and interesting. I suppose my main focus is to help develop and deliver a law conversion course that stretches students but which they will also find absorbing and useful. My role covers most of the basic programme content — liaising with module designers, creating supporting materials in terms of induction, preparing students for assessments, organising exam boards and generally assisting the Programme Director and our national team in providing a solid and engaging academic experience for our students.

I am lucky to work with a great team of people. One of the best parts for me is that I still get to teach and I would definitely say this is one of the best bits. I think it’s important to be authentic and visible in my role and see firsthand what our students are experiencing.

4. What are the benefits of coming into law with a non-law undergraduate degree?

The benefits are huge and I am not just saying that! Students across all different undergraduate backgrounds bring so much to the table – analytical ability and problem solving are vital skills for any lawyer so science, social science and humanities subjects are ideal foundations for a legal career. Conversion students have another string to their bow and their previous experience I think gives them an edge in the workplace — languages helped me but equally a background in science in terms of knowing your client’s industry in areas like patent law can be so beneficial.

5. What are the challenges that non-law students might face during their conversion course and what would be your advice for overcoming them?

As a ‘converter’ I know how daunting it can feel. I didn’t ‘get it’ for a while and there’s always the worry of trying to get through a lot of dense material in a short timeframe.

The style of answering questions on a law conversion course is quite different to the undergraduate experience. We focus on a very practical approach to learning here — our courses are designed to get students thinking like a lawyer from day one with a structured approach to answering questions and this can sometimes be challenging. This is completely normal but we are fortunate to have excellent support teams to assist our students — each student has a dedicated academic coach and we have support via our lecturers, study skills and library teams.

My advice is to be organised and disciplined with your time, ask questions, attend your classes, keep up with your work and make notes as you go along. Make friends and get involved in your campus community (at our physical campuses and our online campus). Most importantly, don’t put too much pressure on yourself — yes, it’s an intense course but ensuring that you rest and have outside activities is important.

6. How do the University of Law’s conversion courses set students up for success on the SQE or bar course?

Whilst a law degree or its equivalent are no longer necessary to practice as a solicitor, we (and most law firms) think it’s crucial. Knowledge of the black letter law is a prerequisite for SQE1 and the conversion component of the PgDL and both MA courses do just that.

The courses are designed with a strong practical focus and teaching and assessments incorporate Single Best Answer Questions (SBAQs). 40% of each module assessment is comprised of SBAQs and this is superb practice for the SRA’s SQE1 exams. Students also benefit from having the law ‘fresh in their minds’; they are not trying to draw on legal knowledge studied when they were undergraduates some time ago. MA Law (SQE1) students also get the benefit of our internal exams after they study the SQE1 preparation course. Again, this gives them vital practice for the external SQE1 exams.

For the Bar, all students must undertake a conversion course if they do not have a law degree — this is the Academic Stage of Training. Again, SBAQs feature in some Bar assessments as well, so our courses set up students for both routes into the profession.

7. How can students make the most of their non-law background in applications for training contracts and pupillages?

I would encourage students to focus on their ‘transferable skills’ — their undergraduate disciplines provide an extra dimension and any work experience is excellent. This doesn’t have to be in law, anytime spent in industry as part of a work placement year or a year studying aboard shows independence, resilience and initiative.

Concentrate on emphasising the fresh perspective and specialised knowledge that your undergraduate degree has given you — be that finance, science or the analytical skills from a humanities degree. We have an award-winning employability team at the University of Law and we are uniquely placed to help students with applications for their chosen route into law.

8. What advice would you give to somebody about to start a law conversion course?

Inform yourself — get as much information as you can on the different conversion courses and what would suit you. Think about how you study best — would part-time study or full-time study work for you? Remember it is a very intense experience even if you opt for a part-time course. Also, think about your preferred mode of study — would you benefit more from attendance at a physical campus or would online study suit you better? Get some work experience if you can — either formally through a vacation scheme or mini pupillage or informally just shadowing a lawyer for the day or sitting in the public gallery at court.

Probably the best advice is to join us at an open day/evening at a physical campus or attend a virtual event for our online campus to get a better feel — just take a look at our website and sign up!

Phyllida Roberts will be speaking at ‘Why non-law students make great lawyers — with Ashurst, Mishcon de Reya, Reed Smith and ULaw’, a virtual student event taking place on Tuesday 3 June. Apply now to attend.

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Legal Cheek’s annual conference gathered together key figures from across the profession to discuss GenZ, SQE, apprenticeships, skills gaps and more

Yesterday, LegalEdCon 2025 returned to Kings Place in London for talks exploring the hottest topics in legal education and training.

Nearly 300 delegates gathered to hear the latest industry insights from leading experts in the legal field. This year’s conference featured sessions on a variety of topics, including the practical developments in the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) regime, diversity, intergenerational workplaces, the science behind learning, and solicitor apprenticeships.

Thom Brooks returned with insights and laughs for the keynote session, continuing his analogy between the SQE and Brexit. His emphasis on reform and improvement to better the SQE for students, providers, and firms capped off the fascinating and poignant themes covered over the day.

Session 1: Mind the gap: tackling workplace readiness

The speakers:

• Morette Jackson, Director of Business Development at The University of Law (chair)
• Joanna Stevens, Senior Early Talent Manager at Charles Russell Speechlys
• Ellis Johnstone, Early Talent Development Lead at Clifford Chance

ULaw’s Morette Jackson, Director of Business Development, kicked off LegalEdCon 2025 by chairing a session focused on workplace readiness. The session asked important questions about how equipped incoming trainee solicitors are for life at a law firm. Jackson spoke about her experience in education before turning to a survey conducted by Legal Cheek. The survey statistics and comments led to a rich discussion with graduate recruiters Joanna Stevens of Charles Russell Speechlys and Ellis Johnstone of Clifford Chance about how their firms are tackling workplace readiness, accounting for the SQE, Covid graduates and generational differences.

Jackson left the lecturn to join her co-speakers on stage for a roundtable Q&A. Joanna Stevens discussed how Charles Russell Speechlys build workplace readiness using their business school. Stevens added that LPC graduates were not required to take SQE2 when joining the firm, but flagged that SQE resits have been disruptive. Apprentices, meanwhile, were praised for their enthusiasm, drive, proactivity, and good exam results — and more exposure to workplace norms.

As Ellis Johnstone said, “law firms now have four generations under one roof”. He noted that some trainees in Clifford Chance’s pipeline had never in their lives taken an exam in-person thanks to Covid, coursework and hybrid working — requiring new pastoral strategies from Johnstone and his team. He noted that setting expectations was key to bridging generational divides.

You can read more about the Legal Cheek workplace-readiness survey here.

Session 2: The psychology of learning

The speakers:

• Alisa Gray, Director of Learning at BARBRI (chair)
• Roy Morgan, Training & Design Specialist at BARBRI
• Sue Elabor, Organisational Psychologist at Blueprint For All

Alisa Gray, Director of Learning at BARBRI, chaired the psychology of learning session. This dynamic discussion explored how neuroscience and psychology are shaping modern legal education. Joined by BARBRI colleague Roy Morgan and Sue Elabor of social justice charity Blueprint for All, the panel explained how learning actually works — and how legal educators can make what they’re teaching stick. Gray, a qualified lawyer turned organisational psychologist, introduced the session by challenging attendees to think of learning as “rewiring the brain”.

Roy Morgan reflected on how digital learning has put “everyone in the front row” of the class. He described BARBRI’s use of guessing, spaced repetition, and chunking knowledge in bite-sized pieces to foster long-term knowledge — crucial for SQE prep, but also for lifelong learning.

Sue Elabor emphasised context, particularly for students from socially mobile backgrounds. She highlighted how MCQs can disadvantage learners unfamiliar with culturally-loaded scenarios, and that psychological safety — the ability to make mistakes without fear — is key to encouraging growth. On fostering learning mindsets across age groups and generations, she said: you certainly can teach an old dog new tricks as long as the attitude is right.

The panellists explored attention spans, busting the myth that they’re getting shorter. Instead, they stressed the need to make content engaging and relevant. The session closed with a call for science-informed teaching to improve educational outcomes. Morgan reminded the audience: “it’s not about what we teach — it’s what learners actually take in.”

Session 3: Gen Z: expectations and realities

The speakers:

• Charlotte Wanendeya, Head of Law at BPP (chair)
• Richard Macklin, Former Global Vice Chair at Dentons
• Charlie Moore, Senior Paralegal at Kingsley Napley
• Lou Lecomte, Solicitor Apprentice at TLT
• Colin Shaw, Head of Learning and Development (EMEA) at Norton Rose Fulbright

Charlotte Wanendeya, Head of Law at BPP, chaired a conversation featuring representatives from four generations of legal professionals: Baby Boomer Richard Macklin, Gen Xers Colin Shaw and Wanendeya herself, Millennial Lou Lecomte, and Gen Z Charlie Moore. The panel tackled evolving attitudes towards mental health, hybrid working, pay expectations, and AI.

Moore called for mental health support to be embedded into the culture of law firms, especially to support those from lower-income backgrounds. Lecomte agreed, adding that as well as mental health, Millennials value career transparency and direction. Macklin reflected on a past where anxiety and his recently-diagnosed ADHD were not spoken about, urging law firms to combine support with self-care: “Law is a tough job. Like athletes, lawyers need to stay fit and supported.”

On hybrid working, the panel agreed that firms must adapt to new learning models and embrace change. Shaw said post-pandemic realities call for intentional support and digital inclusion. Though learning “by osmosis” was still important, Macklin stressed that “availability” trumps physical presence.

The discussion also explored salaries. Moore challenged the “golden handcuff” model, saying Gen Z prioritised meaningful work over hierarchy — which Lecomte echoed. Wanendeya noted that fewer of today’s young lawyers are seeking partnership at their firms as ideas of success have changed, meaning law firm models may have to evolve. Macklin pointed out that junior lawyer salaries are much higher than they have ever been in the past, making law a difficult but a well-remunerated job. This seemed to cut to the biggest generational split.

The speakers emphasised interpersonal skills, critical thinking, and collaboration across generations — including in the ways they use tech. Macklin closed by warning: “If you’re not using GenAI in your work today, I’d be worried” but noted that emotional intelligence is a horizontal — not vertical — spectrum, and that every generation has something to learn from the others.

Lunch and networking

Session 4: The SQE unfiltered

The speakers:

• Caroline Lister, Director of Client Partnerships at BPP
• Professor Joanna Ballard, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic at The University of Law
• Jonathan Worrell, Director of Business Development at BARBRI
• Daisy Mortimer, Senior Future Talent Manager at Stephenson Harwood
• George McNeilly, Early Talent Partner at DWF
• Julie Swan, Director of Education and Training at the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
• Danielle Viall, General Counsel at Legal Services Board (LSB)

Chaired by Legal Cheek publisher Alex Aldridge, the first session after lunch promised to “air” the big questions on the SQE in an unfiltered roundtable. The session covered everything from data (or lack thereof), shifts in law firm recruitment, and how training providers view on the SQE’s benefits and drawbacks.

Some pertinent questions were put to the SRA’s director of education and training Julie Swann on topics including promised data on provider pass-rates, diversity issues and an overall lack confidence in the SQE. Danielle Viall from the LSB in particular mentioned the “red” rating they gave the SRA when it failed to publish SQE data in full.

Law firm representatives explained how taking on SQE trainees has changed their day-to-day work. George McNeilly from DWF mentioned how the firm works closely with law schools to support neurodiverse candidates and those with protected characteristics. Daisy Mortimer of Stephenson Harwood said disruptions due to SQE failures — which are much more common than failures on the LPC — have impacted the recruitment pipeline for firms. She recalled having to tell departments that they wouldn’t have an incoming trainee on very short notice.

ULaw’s Joanna Ballard celebrated the diversity in courses available to candidates but noted that the introduction of the SQE has made it necessary to design entirely new platforms and systems. Jonathan Worrell mentioned that BARBRI offers client-firms live data to review their future-trainees’ ongoing attainment and offer targeted coaching. The SQE has fallen short for self-funding students suggested BPP’s Caroline Lister, who noted this may limit the diversity of firm trainee intakes.

Questions from audience members covered the impact of the SQE on neurodiverse candidates, praised the SQE’s “earn while you learn” qualifying work experience and the SQE access and reinvestment fund.

Session 5: Diversity meets politics

The speakers:

• Giles Proctor, CEO & Head of School at The College of Legal Practice
• Tom Wicksteed, Early Careers Manager at Mishcon de Reya
• Amia Tahir, Solicitor Apprentice at Dentons
• Danielle Lobel-Weiss, Partner at Lee & Thompson

Legal Cheek publisher Alex Aldridge chaired a discussion on how government policy is shaping law firm strategy — particularly around DEI and the uncertainty surrounding funding for Level 7 solicitor apprenticeships.

Giles Proctor, CEO & Head of School at the College of Legal Practice, noted the current uncertainty around apprenticeships but stressed that education providers were preparing for all outcomes. Tom Wicksteed clarified that for certain firms — who only offer school leaver apprenticeships — level 7 funding cuts are not a stressor.

On DEI and President Trump, there was discussion about how government policy can cause seismic shifts for both legal education, graduate recruitment, and law firm strategy.

Solicitor apprentice Amia Tahir shared her inspiring story of choosing a solicitor apprenticeship at Dentons over an offer from the University of Cambridge, praising the apprenticeship model for enabling students from disadvantaged backgrounds to “earn while they learn.” She told the audience that she is now the most highly educated person in her family and earns more than friends still at law school: “I’ve broken the cycle.”

Lee & Thompson partner Danielle Lobel-Weiss celebrated how apprenticeship schemes were enhancing DEI and facilitating on-the-job training for boutique firms. However, she acknowledged that some partners underestimate what apprenticeships involve.

Concerns remained about the need for better outreach programmes to help apprenticeship candidates understand the culture of law firms. Nevertheless, the panel agreed the apprenticeship standard is as high as that for training contract candidates and firms who had not yet adopted the scheme were strongly encouraged too.

Keynote – The SQE is like Brexit: seven years on from his prophetic talk at the inaugural LegalEdCon, Thom Brooks returns with a plan to reform the SQE

The speaker:

• Thom Brooks, Professor of Law and Government at Durham University

Thom Brooks, Professor of Law and Government at Durham University, returned to LegalEdCon for a follow-up to his SQE “TEDtalk” — from all the way back in 2018, at the inaugural conference. A self-proclaimed big Legal Cheek fan, Thom brought great energy to wrap up the conference.

“It struck me in 2018 that things going on with Brexit and with the SQE were similar,” Brooks said, before catching the crowd up on his thoughts. To much chuckling from the audience, he recalled that back then “folks were told the SQE would create better candidates, be a cheaper route to qualification, and be more inclusive — with the data to back it up.”

Drawing an analogy with Brexit, Brooks suggested a lot was said about the SQE — but not a lot that explained what the SQE actually was: “SQE means…SQE,” he said, in his best Theresa May impression.

Picking up on key themes from across LegalEdCon 2025 — diversity, data (or lack thereof), and attainment gaps — Brooks did not hold back in his assessment of these exams. He then asked the pressing question — is it time to stop bashing the SQE?

Brooks set out ten “good ideas” he had drawn from advisory board which included law firms, academics, and recent SQE-takers. These ideas included SQE1 exemptions for law graduates, more northern test centres (or “at least one within 2 hours of Durham!”) and greater transparency on pass-rate data. The delegates, from regulators to academics to law firm recruiters, were hastily taking notes.

Brooks’ funny yet insightful keynote speech made for an outstanding finish to a fascinating LegalEdCon 2025.

Tom Connelly, Legal Cheek‘s editor, brought the conference to a close by thanking the speakers, delegates and headline sponsors BARBRI, BPP University Law School and The University of Law, as well as silver sponsor The College of Legal Practice and additional sponsors Oxford University Press, The National Association of Licensed Paralegals, The Food Chain and Support Through Court.

Alysia Hoe, future trainee solicitor and SQE student at ULaw, discusses staying motivated on the SQE and finding your route into law

Talking to Alysia Hoe ahead of The University of Law’s upcoming event, ‘The SQE Explained’, you get the impression she’s the kind of person who makes the most out of every opportunity and brings a lot of joy along the way.

She’s currently studying for the Solicitors Qualifying Exams (SQE) at ULaw and has a training contract lined up with national law firm Stevens & Bolton. But law hasn’t always been the plan. “I actually didn’t do a law degree,” she says. Instead, she studied modern languages at the University of Exeter and only turned her sights on the legal profession later on. “I’d always kind of considered it, but I wasn’t sure at 17,” she explains, echoing the internal tug-of-war that many school leavers face.

It was during her final year at Exeter that Hoe decided to give law a proper shot, enrolling first on the conversion course, and now tackling the SQE full-time at ULaw. Along the way, she threw herself into applications, legal work experience and student life, eventually landing that elusive training contract.

Hoe’s CV includes stints in charity work, an internship at the Devon Community Foundation, and freelance data analysis for litigation analytics platform Solomonic. She’s also worked in a real estate legal team and juggled a part-time role as a student ambassador for ULaw. And while not all the jobs were glamorous — “I didn’t enjoy real estate masses,” she admits — they all fed into her legal growth. “It was really, really helpful when studying the property practice part of SQE. I already knew what all the forms looked like. I might not know how to do them, but I knew what they looked like,” she laughs.

Her role as a student ambassador also opened unexpected doors. “I just really enjoy talking to people,” she says, which made getting paid to do just that “a bit of a no-brainer”. But beyond the social perks, it’s helped her build her legal network, from meeting other students and recruiters to attending major events. “It’s been a really good job alongside my studies, not just for employability, but because I actually think it’s really fun.”

So, how did her training contract come about? Like many non-law grads, her first round of TC applications didn’t go to plan. “The feedback was always the same, that I had no evidence I was committed to law,” Hoe says. Instead of giving up, she used that feedback to build a case for herself, getting involved in pro bono at ULaw and even converting a rejected application into paid work experience. “I managed to persuade them to keep me on one day a week for a whole year,” she says.

By the time she reapplied, she had a clearer idea of the kind of firm she was after. “I knew that I didn’t really see myself at one of the big, massive firms in London,” she says. “It’s really for some people, but I didn’t think it was for me.” Instead, she focused on firms around the Southeast, closer to her Hampshire roots, and was drawn to Stevens & Bolton by both reputation and a friend of the family who had worked with the firm.

A vacation scheme sealed the deal. “Everybody is recruited from the vac scheme, and I think that’s such a great way to get to know the people, the environment, and what it feels like to work there.” Her biggest piece of advice for others applying? “Message someone on LinkedIn who did the scheme the year before. People are genuinely nice and will reply. I wish I’d done that.”

And then, of course, there’s the SQE, that infamous mountain all aspiring solicitors now have to climb. Hoe passed SQE1 on her first try, but she’s candid about how difficult it was. “It’s definitely the most physically and mentally exhausting exam I’ve ever done,” she says. “There were definitely tears.” The exam structure itself doesn’t help. “I had my last lesson on 2 December, and the exam wasn’t until late January, so trying to stay motivated over Christmas was hard,” she explains.

Her approach to revision, though, was methodical. “I broke everything down into subtopics and made a map with chapter numbers, ticking them off as I went.” She made the most of ULaw’s bite-sized revision videos and single best answer (SBA) practice banks, aiming for a balance between content learning and question practice. “I didn’t do this at the start,” she admits, “but toward the end I’d do topic-based revision in the morning and questions in the afternoon.”

So what surprised her most? “Everyone says SQE2 is easier, and I think in some ways that’s true, but it’s definitely still challenging,” she says. The higher pass rate, she points out, doesn’t tell the full story. Only those who’ve passed SQE1 can sit it, so it’s a much smaller cohort. Plus, the skills-based element of SQE2, including legal drafting, advocacy and case analysis is a whole different beast. “You need to know the law but also be able to apply it. In SQE1 you’re just clicking the right answer. Now I’ve got to argue it.”

Still, Hoe feels cautiously optimistic. She’s been taking part in ULaw’s exam prep workshops, where students practise skills like interviewing and advocacy through mock assessments. “It’s really intense, but definitely worth it,” she says. “Having a plan is key. Me and my friends all have different revision schedules, but just knowing what you’re doing helps.”

As for misconceptions? “Everything I thought about the SQE — that it was going to be awful, that it was going to be long, that there were going to be tears — turned out to be true,” she laughs. “But I also knew I’d done all I could, and that helped.”

Looking ahead, Hoe’s advice to future SQE candidates is refreshingly grounded. Don’t just rely on practice questions. Take breaks. Make time for the things and people that energise you. For her, that meant working shifts as a student ambassador, going for runs, and chatting to people about why they should do law. “It’s kind of like a break,” she says. “You’re still doing something, but you’re not revising.”

And whether it’s finding the right firm, passing a brutal exam, or just navigating the Christmas slump, she’s living proof that the SQE slog is survivable.

Find out more about the SQE at ULaw event “The SQE Explained” on 17 April 2025. Apply now to attend.

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Insider insights on everything from real estate and restructuring to tax, disputes and trainee tips

The Legal Cheek Spring 2025 Virtual Vacation Scheme and Law Fair, run in partnership with The University of Law (ULaw), welcomed thousands of students for three jam-packed days of insight into life at leading commercial law firms.

Across the Scheme, attendees explored practice areas spanning real estate, private equity, tax, disputes and more, with exclusive case study-led workshops delivered by lawyers and lecturers from some of the biggest names in the business.

Here’s the lowdown…

Day 1

Session 1: Real estate

The speakers:

• Rachel Munro, senior associate (real estate) at Shoosmiths
• Chelsea Collins, trainee solicitor at Shoosmiths
• Monda Ajazi, trainee solicitor at Shoosmiths

The lowdown:

The first session of the 2025 Spring Vacation Scheme focused on the world of real estate and took the form of Q&A with Shoosmiths senior associate Rachel Munro and trainees Monda Ajazi and Chelsea Collins.

The trio began by reflecting on their career journeys to date, before turning to current trends shaping the real estate sector. These included fluctuating interest rates, the drive for greater energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions, as well as the influence of changing political parties and their differing views on housebuilding.

Munro also highlighted the growing impact of AI in the sector — particularly in managing tenant data and streamlining the process of gathering information to value land and property.

Ajazi and Collins went on to outline some of the key tasks trainees can expect to undertake within the real estate team. These include drafting client emails, conducting property searches and carrying out research assignments.

The session concluded with a discussion of the case study, in which vacation scheme participants took on the role of trainees assisting a client with a property purchase. As part of the exercise, they were tasked with drafting a list of questions — known as ‘requisitions on title’ — to be sent to the seller’s solicitors.

Session 2: Private equity

The speakers:

• Harry Buchanan, associate at Willkie Farr & Gallagher

The lowdown:

Kicking off the session, Buchanan explained that private equity lawyers act for private equity firms on the purchase and sale of stakes in companies. At Willkie, private equity lawyers act for a range of clients on the purchase of a vast array of companies, with examples ranging from FTV Capital’s purchase of Zoovu to Bain Capital’s acquisition of Gail’s bakery.

Buchanan then delved into how private equity transactions work, breaking down the structure of private equity funds and how private equity firms identify suitable investment targets – with key factors including a clear exit strategy, strong management team, favourable industry trends and a competitive business plan.

Besides this, Buchanan also stressed the importance of due diligence, the different areas that legal diligence covers, and how junior lawyers play a fundamental role in this process. Broadly, the due diligence process serves to identify any red flags in a potential target company before an investment is made, and can include financial, legal, tax, commercial, technology and environmental diligence.

At the end of the session, Buchanan urged aspiring solicitors to seek out further insight opportunities to understand what commercial lawyers really do, as this knowledge will prove invaluable in the law firm application process.

Session 3: Employability Expo

The speakers:

• Dipa Mandal, senior lecturer at The University of Law (ULaw)
• Mandi Kaur, student recruitment manager at ULaw
• Adam White, student recruitment officer at ULaw
• Louise Musgrave, student recruitment manager at ULaw
• Jay Rees, student recruitment manager at ULaw

The lowdown:

The SQE Explained

Helen Avis, senior tutor at ULaw, led the session with a breakdown of the new route to qualification as a solicitor through the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).

Avis explained that the old LPC and training contract route is being phased out and replaced by SQE1 and SQE2 assessments, alongside two years of qualifying work experience (QWE). She detailed the structure of the exams, and how SQE1 tests legal knowledge while SQE2 focuses on practical legal skills, such as client interviewing, advocacy and legal drafting, across key areas like criminal law, business law and property.

She then introduced ULaw’s SQE preparation courses, which include tailored modules in corporate, commercial and private client practice areas, alongside a 7,500-word research project. The session wrapped up with a look at the flexibility of the SQE route, which may offer a quicker and more adaptable route to qualification than the traditional path.

Firm Research and Applications

Mandi Kaur, ULaw student recruitment manager, kicked off the session by detailing the importance of thorough research, arguing that you should be demonstrating how a specific firm suits your career aspirations.

Kaur then went on to argue that applications are a two-way process, explaining that it’s not only important for the firm to think the candidate is the right fit, but that the candidate also feels certain that the firm is the right place for them – with location, trainee intake, secondment opportunities and the firm’s key practice areas being some important aspects to consider.

Kaur then moved on to the applications portion of the session, where she discussed some of the key skills aspiring solicitors should be including in their applications. Commercial awareness, attention to detail and teamwork are some of the examples used during the session, with the use of the STAR method being commended to ensure effective and on-topic responses from applicants.

The session wrapped up by Kaur providing some practical advice to students, with proof reading, leaving yourself sufficient time and honesty being some of the key points to consider.

Writing Effective CVs and Cover Letters

White began his advice on writing effective CVs by outlining the typical structure of a legal CV. Under the work experience section, key action words must be included in the bullet points highlighting key responsibilities, he explained. He then delved into the principles that underpin both the style and content of an effective CV. To wrap up the first half of his presentation, White offered practical tips on printing and mailing physical copies when required by employers.

When it came to cover letters, White recommended using the person specification often found under job listings as a guide. This, he stressed, will help applicants tailor the letter to the specific role. White also supplied the structure of a typical letter, discussed the elements that make a letter stand out, before concluding the presentation by explaining the techniques of handling mitigating circumstances.

Ace your Interviews Workshop

During this session, ULaw student recruitment managers Louise Musgrave and Jay Rees shared their top tips for acing law firm interviews. Both began by breaking down the types of interview you may encounter, and the various factors to consider when approaching each one.

The workshop then delved into the types of questions you can expect, particularly those concerning commercial awareness and knowledge of the industry, as well as competency-based questions. When tackling these questions, Musgrave and Rees both highlighted the importance of using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to clearly structure your answers and create a good impression.

Day 2

Session 1: Finance

The speakers:

• Kevin Howes, partner at Slaughter and May
• Jessie Smith, trainee solicitor at Slaughter and May

The lowdown:

Slaughter and May’s Kevin Howes (partner) and Jessie Smith (trainee) talked all things finance and Magic Circle lawyer life for Legal Cheek’s third session of the 2025 Spring Vacation Scheme.

The session began with Kevin (“Kev”) and Jessie explaining their backgrounds, why Slaughters, and describing just what finance law is – along with deals and commercial points. Firstly, Kevin studied law and made partner with an entire career based at Slaughter and May, whilst Jessie converted to law after studying classics: about half of lawyers at Slaughters undertake the conversion route.

Kev discussed the way finance plugs into other practice areas, from real estate to tax, and emphasised Slaughter and May’s multi-specialist approach to training and client care at a full-service firm. Jessie’s perspective was very insightful on her two seats in the finance team, totalling six months.

They discussed household name clients from ASOS to Diageo (Guinness!) with Jessie being involved in the LIBOR test case for client Standard Chartered as a trainee. This fed nicely into exploring the different micro-specialisms in the finance department, which fall under two “hubs” – restructuring and insolvency and infrastructure – from technical derivatives to Kev’s favourite, debt capital markets. The field has cutting-edge commercial and legal impact.

Attendees were treated to a full daily schedule, from breakfast training sessions to urgent board meetings to coffee stops and Netflix — though noting no two days were the same.

The session concluded with a Q&A, talking lawtech and the key skills the firm looks for — including flexibility, resilience, and a positive attitude — before the take-home message to stay interested in the world and think about commercial knock-on effects all around you, from geopolitics to a covid’s impact on cinemas.

Day 3

Session 1: Restructuring and insolvency

The speakers:

• Sarah Robinson, senior associate (restructuring) at Pinsent Masons
• Caitlan Smith, associate (restructuring) at Pinsent Masons
• Joanne Ault, international graduate recruitment & development advisor at Pinsent Masons

The lowdown:

Samantha Poulton and Caitlan Smith, associates at Pinsent Masons, kicked off their presentation by sharing insight into their career journeys to date. Both worked as paralegals prior to starting their training contracts, with Poulton arguing that it provided her with a good understanding of how businesses and law firms operate.

During the discussion, Poulton recommended completing vacation schemes where possible, arguing that it gives students a fantastic insight into life at a firm and helps candidates ensure the firm is the right fit for them.

The pair then moved on to share insight into the work restructuring lawyers do, with Smith highlighting that trainees usually get involved in drafting application documents, preparing for hearings, legal research and much more – with both Smith and Poulton emphasising that the work the team completes is varied.

Wrapping up the presentation, the pair highlighted the importance of seeking out as many opportunities as possible, ending the presentation by urging students to push themselves and stay committed to ensure success in their career.

Moving on to the Q&A, we were joined by Joanne Ault, who discussed what the firm looks for in its trainees. Ault argued that a clear interest in commercial law and commercial awareness are crucial – with Ault wrapping up the session by discussing the key opportunities Pinsent Masons has to offer.

Session 2: Tax

The speakers:

• Tom Eyre-Brook, counsel (corporate & finance) at Hogan Lovells
• Ellie Pardy, associate (tax and incentives) at Hogan Lovells

The lowdown:

Kicking off the session, Tom Eyre-Brook and Ellie Pardy gave an introduction to their career journeys into law, and into tax law. With non-law backgrounds, both lawyers explained the value of bringing diverse experience to any practice.

Eyre-Brook and Pardy explained that tax lawyers advise clients on the tax implications of a wide range of transactions, helping them structure deals in a way that is commercially efficient and legally compliant. At Hogan Lovells, tax lawyers work alongside corporate teams on matters such as mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and financings, advising clients across the board from investment firms and multinational corporations to financial institutions.

Pardy and Eyre-Brook then delved into how tax law underpins these transactions and how structuring choices can significantly affect a deal’s overall cost or feasibility. They explained that a key part of the role is understanding both domestic tax rules and the cross-border implications of international deals.

At the end of the session, they encouraged aspiring solicitors to dig deeper into practice areas like tax, which are often misunderstood or overlooked, but which play a vital role in high-stakes commercial work. A strong grasp of what tax lawyers actually do, she noted, can help candidates stand out during law firm applications and interviews.

Session 3: Disputes

The speakers:

• Georgia Henderson-Cleland, senior associate (business and commercial disputes) at BCLP
• James Hall, barrister at Gatehouse Chambers
• Nicole Kalli, lecturer at ULaw

The lowdown:

Henderson-Cleland kicked off the final substantive session of the Scheme with an overview of life as a disputes solicitor. She outlined the tasks that solicitors undertake for client and case management, as well as the skills required to handle them. Her love for litigation, she revealed, stems from its variety. In fact, her tasks for the day included advising on the litigation risks for a corporate restructure, preparing a Russian law expert report, and speaking with the accountants working on a calculation for a corporate dispute.

As a barrister, Hall provided a different perspective into disputes. While acknowledging that strong people skills are essential for both barristers and solicitors, he noted how they are applied in very different contexts. He also shared insights into his academic and career journey, including the experiences that led him to specialise in professional negligence, as well as property and commercial litigation. After giving a whistle-stop tour of some of the most interesting cases over his long career, Hall concluded his talk by encouraging aspiring lawyers to ‘be ready for opportunities and seize them when you get them’.

Kalli discussed her career path, which began in real estate litigation as a solicitor, before the pandemic prompted her to re-evaluate and transition into teaching. She gave a rundown of the most topical commercial issues aspiring lawyers should be aware of, such as how AI is streamlining the dispute resolution process.

The speakers then came together for a Q&A session, diving deeper still into their motivations for pursing their current career paths, as well as the skills and qualities aspiring disputes lawyers should develop. To round off the session, they discussed key points for students to consider in the case study exercise, such as the costs associated with litigation, and whether it is the best way to resolve the dispute.

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We spoke to ULaw’s Nicole Kalli, lecturer and former litigator, about her move from practice to teaching and what it’s really like to work in disputes

When Nicole Kalli left private practice to become a law lecturer during the pandemic, she wasn’t escaping litigation. In fact, she was doubling down on what she loved most about the job.

“I really enjoyed working with NQs and trainees,” she says. “That was always my favourite part of the role — helping them develop, watching them grow in confidence. So, when the opportunity to join The University of Law (ULaw) came up, I thought, let’s give this a go.” It’s a move that clearly worked out. Now nearly five years into her lecturing career at ULaw, Nicole hasn’t looked back. She is set to share her insights at The Legal Cheek Spring Virtual Vacation Scheme and Law Fair 2025 in a specialist session on disputes.

Before diving into academia, Nicole trained and qualified as a solicitor at a regional firm in Kent, joining its real estate litigation team on qualification. She stayed put for several years before making the switch to a central London firm, also in real estate litigation. Like many lawyers, the 2020 lockdowns prompted a period of reflection. “I was still enjoying practice,” she explains, “but the job at ULaw really stood out to me. It felt like a chance to focus on the part of the work I got the most out of.”

She joined the university in September of that year and now teaches across courses including civil dispute resolution. For Nicole, the real buzz of lecturing comes from helping students succeed. “Watching them develop their legal knowledge and apply it in a practical way, and then seeing them go on to achieve what they’ve set out to do. That’s the best part,” she says. There’s also a more personal side to the role. “I really enjoy the one-to-one support side of it too, working as an Academic Coach, helping students navigate everything else that comes with law school.”

That blend of teaching and mentoring suits her down to the ground. It also mirrors what she loved about being a litigator. “Both jobs are rewarding in different ways,” Nicole reflects. “As a solicitor, going to court or settling a case for a client and getting a great result is incredibly satisfying. But helping students reach their own goals brings a similar kind of reward.”

It’s fair to say that not everyone is sold on litigation. “It’s a bit like Marmite,” Nicole admits with a smile. “You either love it or you don’t.” For her, the attraction was immediate. It was fast-paced, dynamic and full of variety. “I loved preparing for hearings, going to court, the build-up to trial. Those were my favourite parts,” she says.

That said, she’s quick to point out that litigation isn’t all courtrooms and legal arguments. “Going to trial is just a small part of the job,” she explains. “There’s a lot of preparation, and client relationships are a huge part of it too. I really enjoyed building those relationships. At both firms I worked at, we had long-standing clients who came back to us regularly, so you’d get to know them quite well.”

Nicole’s specialism, real estate litigation, covered a broad range of work. She handled everything from landlord and tenant disputes and possession proceedings to complex, high-value property issues. That variety, and the range of clients it brought, was a major draw. “No two days were the same,” she says. “And I loved that. You’d be dealing with a neighbour dispute one day and a leasehold enfranchisement matter the next.”

With such diversity in practice, what does it take to be a good litigator? “Organisation is huge,” she says firmly. “You’re juggling multiple files and court deadlines, so you need to stay on top of it all. Prioritisation is key. And communication, keeping clients updated, managing expectations, talking to them about costs, that’s just as important. Clients really value that transparency.”

Managing expectations, it turns out, is also one of the biggest challenges. “Clients can sometimes assume that being right means they’ll win at trial,” Nicole explains. “But litigation isn’t always that straightforward. Even if a client has a strong case in principle, there are other factors to consider like costs and proportionality. Helping them understand that can be difficult, especially if you really empathise with their situation.”

And while Hollywood might suggest otherwise, litigation isn’t all fireworks and dramatic courtroom scenes. “There’s definitely a gap between what students think litigation is, often influenced by TV, and what it’s actually like day to day,” she laughs. “That’s something I try to demystify when I’m teaching.” It helps that ULaw’s courses are delivered by experienced practitioners like Nicole, who can link theory to real-life examples, she says. “When I’m teaching something like limitation periods, I don’t just explain the law,” she says. “I’ll talk about how, in practice, you’d need to diarise those dates, warn the client in advance. The practical steps you’d actually take. That context is so important.”

This practice-based approach, she believes, puts students in a strong position to hit the ground running when they enter the profession. “It’s not just about legal knowledge. It’s about how you apply it. We help students develop habits and skills that they’ll use throughout their careers.”

So, what advice does Nicole have for students considering a career in disputes? “Get as much experience as you can in different areas,” she advises. “Not just disputes. When I was interviewing, it really helped to be able to talk about the type of work I wanted to undertake.” She adds that you don’t need to have it all figured out. “You might think you want to go into one area, then discover something totally different that you love. That happened to me.”

And even if you’re sure you want to be a solicitor, she recommends doing a mini pupillage or some shadowing with barristers. “It helps you make an informed decision. You might surprise yourself.”

Nicole also stresses that experience doesn’t have to be strictly legal. “I did a lot of volunteering, and I talked about that in my interviews,” she says. “The key is having a broad range of experiences that you can draw from. It all adds up.”

She’ll be bringing these insights and more to The Legal Cheek Spring Virtual Vacation Scheme and Law Fair 2025, where she’s leading a session on disputes. Her top tip for students attending?

“Engage as much as possible,” she says. “Ask questions, get involved with the speakers. There’s so much you can gain. It’s a brilliant way to find out what you like, what you might want to explore further and what kind of work or firm could be right for you.”

And if she could give her younger self one piece of advice? “Keep your options open,” she says without hesitation. “When I started my training contract, I thought I wanted to qualify into a totally different area. But it wasn’t the right fit. Then I did my seat in real estate litigation and absolutely loved it. Land law wasn’t even my favourite subject at uni, but in practice, it clicked. So just stay open. You never know what’s going to spark your interest.”

Nicole Kalli will be speaking on the disputes session during The Legal Cheek Spring Virtual Vacation Scheme and Law Fair 2025, a virtual event over three days, starting MONDAY (31 April 2025). Apply now to attend.

 

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Amanda Crutchley, head of pro bono at ULaw, shares her insights on life in criminal defence and the power of pro bono for aspiring lawyers

After 20 years as a criminal defence solicitor, Amanda Crutchley made the move into legal education — combining her passion for advocacy with a commitment to helping the next generation of lawyers find their feet in the profession. Now head of pro bono and supervising solicitor at The University of Law (ULaw), she works closely with students across the country to develop their legal and professional skills through hands-on experience.

In this Q&A, Crutchley reflects on her career at the criminal bar, why pro bono is so important for aspiring lawyers, and how she helps students build confidence and prepare for practice. With ‘Secrets to Success Bristol — with Osborne Clarke, RWK Goodman, Bevan Brittan and ULaw’ just around the corner on Thursday 13 March, her advice is perfectly timed for those looking to launch their legal careers.

1. Can you walk me through your career journey so far, and what attracted you to law?

I undertook a week of work experience at the magistrates’ courts, sitting next to a court clerk on the bench. I was transfixed by proceedings, which highlighted the complexities of human life and tried to achieve a just and productive way forwards for all. What stood out to me was how a skilled advocate could paint a whole picture for the court with language, elicit empathy for someone that didn’t merit it at face value through wonderful advocacy, and could change the course of events through skilled persuasion. After that week, I knew I wanted to be a court advocate.

I worked for 20 years as a criminal defence solicitor, representing cases in the police stations, magistrates’ and crown courts before an opportunity arose to mentor the next generation of lawyers at The University of Law. A role developing students’ skills and confidence combined with pro bono work assisting people achieve access to justice was too exciting an opportunity to miss.

2. You work as head of pro bono & supervising solicitor for ULaw, can you talk to me about this role, and what attracted you to pro bono work?

My remit is to oversee design and delivery of the university’s pro bono programme. Pro bono is invaluable on so many levels; it provides critical advice and assistance to members of the public who would not otherwise access justice but, importantly for our students, it affords them the opportunity to understand the importance of the ethos of access to justice, network with lawyers, expose them to different areas of legal practice, engages them in practical application of their legal skills and learning and helps them gain confidence in their abilities.

Students that engage in pro bono experience the practicality of legal work that often classroom studies can’t provide; clients are complex, ethical issues arise, often legal queries are multi-faceted and sometimes a client needs practical advice in addition to legal advice. The exposure to client work during studies provides students with context to their learning, skill demonstration examples for interviews but also confidence in their future career.

3. Having spent nearly two decades working in criminal defence, what initially attracted you to the world of criminal law?

The first seat in my training contract was in crime. It was like a baptism of fire initially but after a few weeks, I loved the variety and stimulation of the work. No one day was the same and you constantly had to think on your feet and respond to the situation in police stations and the court.

When I attend court visits with students, I often yearn to jump back on my feet and advocate. I help students understand the advocacy skills they are witnessing in court; what is not said is as important as what is said. I take students through how witnesses are carefully questioned and how pages of evidence can be condensed into one single probing question. Any prospective law student should visit a court and observe proceedings. If you get hooked, there will be no going back!

4. What do you think are the most important skills that lawyers working in criminal defence need to possess?

Client care and communication skills are vital. We are helping people often at the most vulnerable point in their life and must represent with sensitivity to this. Criminal lawyers need to analyse evidence and instructions, apply the law and then, importantly, communicate advice and reasoning clearly and concisely.

Confident and practical application of the law is also an essential skill. Decisions taken early on in isolation will have a significant impact on a case months later; as an example, whether a client should or should not answer questions at a police station can sometimes be a determiner of a case outcome.

5. At ULaw Bristol, how do you help law students to build these skills?

Pro Bono engagement provides students with an opportunity to develop an array of highly transferable employability skills that encompass both legal and non-legal skills; problem solving, client care, commercial awareness, professional ethics awareness, time management; the list is vast. When students apply for jobs, academics are almost a given; employers are seeking demonstration of these employability skills and capability. Pro bono is a fantastic and rewarding means of gaining contextual examples to discuss on applications and at interview.

Each University of Law campus has a dedicated pro bono coordinator and programme that will engage students and support them developing skills and reflecting on their development to gain confidence and understand their learning in a wider context. In law clinic work, students can see the application of their studies to a client’s legal issue and with community programmes they can hone their presentation and communication skills.

6. In your opinion, what are the best features of the Bristol campus for ULaw students?

Bristol is a fabulous campus to study at and it has a great energy about it. The size of the campus affords staff the opportunity to really get to know the students, understand their ambitions and support them. We often make suggestions to students about areas of practice or specific firms that we may think would suit their personality and strengths that they had not thought of before. For staff, getting to really know our students, supporting their development and then seeing them thrive in their careers is a wonderful part of the job.

7. Why should aspiring lawyers consider Bristol for their legal education and their budding careers?

Bristol is a thriving and collaborative legal community and many of our students remain in the city for their careers. The University of Law is located in the heart of that community. It has a strong law society, an impactful law centre, an active (and very social!) Junior Lawyers Division and many highly regarded law firms.

Students will be afforded opportunities to network and be a part of this community, whether it is through campus talks, events, court visits and — of course — pro bono assistance in the community. Our local Bristol Community Clinic supports litigants progressing through the Employment Tribunal, the Family Court and also has a local family law clinic supported by local lawyers who not only support the client advice but are also generous in spending time talking to students too about their career journeys and their area of work.

8. What is one piece of advice you would offer to all aspiring lawyers?

Take all opportunities to network and experience different areas of practice; whether that is through court visits, work experience, insight days, or simply talking to those in practice. Obviously, try to undertake some pro bono volunteering — not only is it highly rewarding, but it will also afford you the opportunity to develop many employability skills. You can learn where your strengths and weaknesses are (both invaluable insights), and experience different areas of practice to understand what interests you. At ULaw, we don’t want our students to find “a job” when they leave us, we want them to find a career they will thrive in.

The University of Law Bristol will be hosting ‘Secrets to Success Bristol — with Osborne Clarke, RWK Goodman, Bevan Brittan and ULaw’ on Thursday 13 March, 4pm to 6:30pm. Apply now to attend.

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James Mannouch, pro bono coordinator at ULaw and president of Liverpool Law Society, shares his insights on breaking into law, the value of pro bono, and gaining practical experience

After a diverse career spanning advertising and retail, James Mannouch made the leap into law — a decision that ultimately led him to his role as pro bono coordinator for The University of Law’s (ULaw) Liverpool and Chester campuses. Now also president of Liverpool Law Society, he brings a wealth of experience in client service, business operations, and legal education, helping students bridge the gap between academic study and real-world practice.

In this Q&A, Mannouch shares his career journey, his passion for pro bono work, and why gaining practical legal experience is essential for aspiring lawyers. He also offers insights into life at ULaw Liverpool, the benefits of starting a legal career in the city, and his top advice for students hoping to stand out in the profession.

1. You had a varied career before moving into the legal industry. What types of work were you involved in previously to law, and what skills did you bring with you to the legal industry?

I worked in television advertising (Millward Brown International) and then moved over to retail (GUS/Argos Retail Group and Bunzl plc). Advertising is a bit like legal services because you are at the back of the business. You have clients and deadlines, and the work is very intensive — not at all like people might imagine. You must also account for your time in incremental units, something I would not see again before I moved into legal services.

Turning to retail, I was recruited by GUS to work across the business and moved from one business function to another. There were parallels to a training contract though the work was much more varied (merchandising, warehousing, distribution and customer services). I was trained in project management and in process management – both handy skills. I ended up working in 3rd party business services, so perhaps the notion of a ‘client’ is always necessary to me. I moved to Bunzl, which is purely business to business, so was back to satisfying clients so there is a common theme.

In terms of skills I brought with me into legal services, the most obvious is client service. I know how to build and augment relationships. I am also a good manager, and this has proved useful in law. Knowing how business works helps too because, in essence, this lies at the heart of commercial awareness.

2. Why did you choose to move into law?

I had an epiphany whilst driving to a plastic bag factory. An old friend called me whilst driving. We had previously worked together in advertising. My friend had now left the industry and was having a bit of a break. When he asked me where I was travelling to, I told him about the factory, and he seemed astonished. He could not believe how far I had departed from what I had originally been doing. It is funny, but you can make a few sideways moves and find yourself a long way away from where you started. He asked me what I would rather be doing, and I replied, “Driving across Europe!”, to which he replied “Well, why don’t we?”. Looking back, I was ready for a change, and this was simply the catalyst. Business becomes a bit samey after a while (you do similar things in different settings) so I thought law might be a good change. I had studied law for A Level and nearly chose to study it for my degree. What better excuse to find out if I was right…

3. You work as a pro bono coordinator for Law’s Liverpool and Chester campuses. What types of pro bono projects can students get involved in?

All sorts really. I do two main things. On one hand, I find external opportunities for our students to get involved in. On the other, I run internal legal clinics where students advise real-life clients.

The external opportunities can be anything that I consider useful to the students. They could be advising, advocating, researching, or presenting. They could be writing persuasively to a national government or within a legal industry magazine. They could be helping someone sort out their gas bill or supporting someone at court. As I say, anything really.

The internal clinics are great experience. We tend to focus on family law but will advise in other areas too. Over the years, we have helped a lot of individuals and organisations. Some of the matters are very colourful. We advised one client on the implications of manufacturing Jurgen Klopp dolls. We advised another client that created crocheted octopuses for premature babies. All of our internal clinics provide formal written advice. I see this as vital for a client. It is not enough to listen; clients need a structured map of where to go and how to get there.

4. Why is pro-bono work so important?

Well, it’s important in so many ways, isn’t it? Aside from the fact it helps protect and empower clients, it also does our law students a lot of good. Pro bono develops skills that are difficult to acquire elsewhere. It helps students demonstrate that — should they be offered a position in a law firm — they can and will do the job well. It helps students decide on the areas of law they want to pursue and, as importantly, the areas they do not. It provides students with a depth that education alone cannot provide. I volunteered for pro bono as a LPC student, and it helped me turn my training contract interview into a conversation.

5. What do you think ULaw students enjoy most about the Liverpool campus?

From conversations I have had, they like the course, and they like the teaching. They also like the support they receive from our Student Information teams and the wider ULaw support infrastructure. This includes things like Library & Digital Academy, Welfare Team and, of course Employability (comprising Careers and Pro Bono). ULaw students receive dedicated support throughout their time with us. Students can easily book personal 1-2-1 appointments and certain support can even be accessed after our students have left us. The Careers Service is an example.

We sit within the University of Liverpool’s main campus, and I know the students love this setting. I studied at the University of Liverpool, and I am yards away from where I sat as a student! The University of Liverpool is such a pleasant place to study, and I always smile when I walk on to campus.

6. Why do think Liverpool is a great city for law students to launch their legal careers?

Liverpool is an important city in terms of professional legal services. This is demonstrated by the firms which operate here and the clients they satisfy. I trained at a Liverpool firm (Hill Dickinson) and can say it was first-class. The firm was professional in all its dealings and demonstrated the type of ethics necessary for a newly qualified lawyer to succeed in their career.

Liverpool is not a large city, and this lends an intimacy to its legal services industry. People tend to know people and the city is all the better for it. Liverpool is strong in professional services (finance, securities, insurance, accountancy, tax, architecture) and the various professions happily mingle. This is especially useful to someone starting out as a lawyer.

Liverpool also has a strong high street practice, with long established and well-respected firms and this is strong area in which to practice.

Above all Liverpool is fun. You will not see too many lights on after 5pm which is never a bad thing is it…

7. What are your biggest tips for aspiring lawyers?

Before you go down the road of a career in law, try to spend time in as many law firms and in as many legal departments you can. Firms differ from one to another, but departments also differ within firms. You want to make sure you are in a department that suits you. Law is a funny career because it is relatively difficult to change tack once you have started, so best to dedicate some time in advance.

Once you have started at a firm, try to impress.

Impress your clients by knowing what’s going on in their matter and by doing what you say you are going to do. Give 100% whenever you can because there will be times when you cannot and you’ll want your clients to understand. And don’t forget to call your clients for a chat whenever you have a spare half hour. They like that sort of thing.

Impress your employer by looking for things to do. Do not wait to be told to do everything. Instead, read the files and make suggestions. And, when you are given something to do, do it well and then try to think of the next action and draft it for your manager’s approval. People who demonstrate these traits are the people who really get on.

The University of Law Liverpool will be hosting ‘Secrets to Success Liverpool — with Weightmans, Brabners, Exchange Chambers and ULaw’ TODAY (Thursday 6 March), 4pm to 6:30pm. Apply now to attend.

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Pauline Walker, academic manager at ULaw and former barrister, shares her insights on the key skills aspiring barristers need and how students can set themselves up for success on the Bar Practice Course

After a decade at the bar, Pauline Walker made the jump to legal education — swapping the courtroom for the classroom. Now an academic manager at The University of Law (ULaw)’s Nottingham campus, she brings her wealth of experience to aspiring barristers, helping them navigate the challenges of pupillage applications, advocacy training, and the all-important Bar Practice Course (BPC).

In this Q&A, Walker shares insights into her career journey, the skills aspiring barristers should focus on, and her top tips for succeeding on the BPC. She also gives us a glimpse into life at ULaw Nottingham and how the law school supports its students in preparing for life at the bar.

Can you walk me through your career journey so far, and what initially attracted you to law?

I actually came to law as a mature student after I’d been working in an administration department in a university. I admit, at the time I was feeling disillusioned with my role, and I decided it was time to challenge myself and see if I could achieve a degree. For me, the obvious choice was law — I had always been fascinated by how it pervades every area of our lives whether we realise it or not. I was also intrigued by the wigs and gowns! After graduating from my law degree, I went straight into the Bar Vocational Course and eight months after completing it, I started my pupillage.

What were the biggest challenges of moving to legal education after being a barrister for 10 years?

For me, the biggest challenge was going from being my own boss to being an employee and having my working life governed by someone other than me. I had moved from a situation where once I had finished my court work for the day, I could decide what I wanted to do with the rest of my day — shopping, go for a coffee, home to watch TV or back to chambers to do admin. Once I made the move to legal education, I was an employee — someone else controlled my time from 9am to 5pm Mon to Friday — and that took some getting used to!

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

I enjoy watching the progression of students from the point of starting the course to the end, watching them develop and improve, and seeing their confidence in their own abilities increase. It really is very satisfying to know that you perhaps had a small part in that progression. It is also lovely to hear that your students have obtained pupillage and to celebrate that success with them. I am also always touched that students feel that they can approach me if there is a situation beyond the course that is impacting their ability to engage with the course and with which they need additional support.

On the Nottingham campus, what are the most attractive features of the law school for ULaw students?

We are fortunate at the Nottingham campus that we have a fantastic building and facilities for the students to enjoy, both in the classroom and the student social areas. We are a small campus and there are many benefits to this. We get to know the students and their circumstances rather than perhaps them feeling that they are just a number. As our cohorts are smaller, we can build up relationships with the students and can offer support if and where needed.

Having a decade of experience at the bar, what do you think are the greatest skills that aspiring barristers should build for a successful career?

It goes without saying that the academic side of the law is hugely important, as is language; words are the tools of a barrister — whether written or spoken. Therefore, my advice would be to start developing your written skills and advocacy as soon as you start the Bar course. Legal documents such as opinions and statements of case require a particular style that students have not usually encountered before and are very different to writing an essay at undergraduate level.

Similarly, the oral skills of witness handling and making submissions in court are hugely important. Pupillage interviews will quite often include a written or oral exercise as part of the process, and you want to be able to impress chambers with your skills in these areas. Working on and developing these skills from early on in your legal career will stand you in good stead as you move into practice.

How does ULaw Nottingham support students to build this skillset?

As students on the Bar Course, you will be assessed in the skills areas of witness handling, advocacy, opinion writing and drafting, therefore you will be taught these throughout the course and given opportunities to practice them to aid with your development. After each of these opportunities, students are given individual feedback to assist them in improving going forward.

We also offer extra-curricular activities such as internal and external mooting competitions, negotiation competitions and additional exercises to practice written skills that students can choose to undertake.

What are your biggest tips for students hoping to succeed on the Bar Practice Course?

Be organised. Understand what is required of you to be called to the bar. Try to have all (or as many) of your mini-pupillages and qualifying sessions completed before you come onto the bar course, as taking time off from the course to attend these can be damaging. The bar course is intensive and fast-paced, and it’s really difficult to catch-up if you miss sessions.

Secondly, take on board what you are told at the start of the course — you need to be studying towards the centralised assessments from the moment you start the course. Keep revisiting the areas that are covered in the teaching sessions as you go along.

Finally, the litigation syllabuses are enormous, so take advantage of all the practice opportunities you are given for the skills that are taught on the BPC — practice makes perfect!

What is one piece of careers advice you think every law student should hear?

If at first, you don’t succeed — try again! Be resilient. There are many students who won’t secure pupillage at the first attempt and will have to try again.

The University of Law Nottingham will be hosting ‘Secrets to Success Nottingham — with Shoosmiths, Gateley and ULaw’ TOMORROW (Tuesday 25 February), 4pm to 6:30pm. Apply now to attend.

 

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Susan Starr, campus manager at The University of Law (ULaw) and former barrister, shares her insights on transitioning from practice to teaching, building essential litigation skills, and preparing students for success in an evolving legal landscape

After two decades as a barrister, Susan Starr swapped the courtroom for the classroom. Now campus manager at The University of Law in Exeter, she’s dedicated to guiding the next generation of legal talent in the Southwest.

Ahead of our upcoming in-person event ‘Secrets to Success Exeter — with Ashfords, Michelmores, Trowers & Hamlins and ULaw’ on 26 February, Starr shares her advice for aspiring barristers. In this Q&A, she details her journey from legal education to practice and back again, her top tips for aspiring litigators, and how students can leverage emerging technologies like generative AI to gain a competitive edge.

Can you walk me through your career journey so far, and what originally attracted you to the law?

As a child, I was fascinated by the TV programme Crown Court and I liked watching the barristers in their wigs and gowns. So, when I was older, I managed to secure a week’s work experience at the Southampton Combined Courts whilst at school and I was able to shadow a judge. I realised that this was the career I wanted to pursue as it seemed varied and challenging. I did the bar course and my first job after that was as a paralegal for a Local Authority, where they were able to provide authorisation for me to appear as an advocate on their behalf — this was the real experience I needed. The skills I had obtained as an advocate helped me secure a pupillage with a Chancery set of chambers in Lincolns Inn. Eventually, however, I moved to the Southwest and worked in house for local solicitors’ practices in their dispute resolution teams.

As a barrister for 20 years before joining ULaw in 2018, what drew you to legal education?

I was drawn to the legal education sector because I had always enjoyed working with trainees in practice. I provided the guidance and support they needed to develop their skills and knowledge, and I took pride in seeing my trainees reach their potential. I decided that I could capitalise on this by using those skills in teaching and have an impact on those entering the profession.

What are the biggest skills you learnt during your career as a barrister that you have brought with you to ULaw as a lecturer and campus manager in Exeter?

I suppose the biggest skill is the practical knowledge that I have gained. Students are far more receptive to learning if you can explain a process by reference to a case that you have actually worked on. It brings it to life. For example, students sometimes struggle to understand the tactical advantage provided by Part 36 offers and I use a real example to show how it can work and be used to avoid issues surrounding proportionality. Using these real-life examples means that the material starts to make sense for my students.

Also, another skill I feel I’ve brought with me to legal education is creativity and adaptability in terms of my approach to teaching, and recognising that students learn in different ways.

What do ULaw students enjoy the most about the Exeter campus?

In Exeter, we have a smaller cohort which means smaller class sizes. Students get a real opportunity to get to know their lecturers. This can be really useful as they then feel comfortable reaching out for support and assistance on both academic and wellbeing matters.  Students at Exeter are also able to build strong peer relationships and I know that our students have then continued to develop those relationships when in practice. We also work with the students to build a community; we have evening socials and bring-your-lunch sessions that lecturers and students attend. It is a good chance to just have a chat. Exeter ULaw students also have access to the Exeter University facilities and can be active in sports and societies as an associate member!

Having decades of litigation experience, what do you think are the greatest skills that aspiring litigators should build for a successful career?

As a litigator, you need to be creative and think outside of the box. You really need to understand your client’s personal or commercial objectives as this will definitely impact the advice you might give a client, and how flexible they may need to be in terms of settlement.

How does ULaw Exeter support students to build this skillset?

At ULaw, we recognise that these are key skills. All of our courses, therefore, have a career-focused approach to learning and we look at developing commercial awareness. For example, in terms of case analysis, we will look at the impact of litigation on business relationships, and how resources are being diverted to deal with litigation in terms of time and money. We will then ask them to consider how these issues might alter their approach and the advice they give.

With the rise of generative AI in the legal industry, how can students leverage these tools to gain an advantage in their legal careers?

The first point to make here is that AI should not be seen as a replacement for the legal profession. Instead, it should be viewed as a tool that they can use to their advantage in the workplace. I suppose in terms of gaining an advantage, the starting point is to understand how AI is being implemented and how it works, because there will be an increasing demand for students who have AI literacy. In that respect, students should engage with articles, podcasts and local conferences that relate to AI and the legal profession.

What is one piece of careers advice you think every law student should hear?

Students should actively seek out opportunities at an early stage in their undergraduate career to build on their skills development, by either engaging in practice-related activities such as mooting, interviewing, and negotiating, or getting involved in pro bono activities to start to put those skills into practice. They should also take time to get to know the profession, in order to make informed career choices. So, I believe students should engage with local practice events or even join their local law society or junior lawyers’ division as a student member. Networking is a key part of life as a lawyer and this does not come easy, so practice makes perfect.

The University of Law Exeter will be hosting ‘Secrets to Success Exeter — with Ashfords, Michelmores, Trowers & Hamlins and ULaw’ on Wednesday 26 February, 4pm to 6:30pm. Apply now to attend.

 

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Alice Kemp, ULaw student and future trainee at the London office of a US law firm, shares her insights on navigating the SQE, landing a training contract and staying motivated through the challenges of qualification

The University of Law student, Alice Kemp, bagged a US law firm TC and is currently studying the SQE. Having experienced the competitive application process as well as facing the challenge of the qualifying exams, she is in a prime position to offer her advice to aspiring City lawyers.

In this Q&A, Kemp shares her legal journey so far and her pearls of wisdom for aspiring solicitors ahead of Legal Cheek’s virtual student event, ‘Secrets to Success London – with Ashurst, Willkie and ULaw’. We discuss how she is finding SQE prep so far, and her advice for future lawyers who are soon to take on the challenge of qualifying.

1. Can you walk me through your educational journey so far, and what attracted you to law?

I studied my undergraduate degree in English Literature at Durham University, and then moved to London to complete the MA Law Conversion with The University of Law, which included writing a dissertation on intellectual property. After gaining a training contract with a global law firm and passing the SQE1, I paused my studying to work temporarily for an investment management company and a private hedge fund, and now I am returning to ULaw to take the SQE2 and SQE Plus to complete my LLM Legal Practice course.

I was initially attracted to law because of the people; having been involved with charities and student-led fundraising at university, I was motivated by the invaluable relationships that I built during those experiences, and reaching out to lawyers on platforms like LinkedIn helped me understand the wide variety of work and what it means to be part of a driven, innovative team. I also attended an inspiring career talk led by human rights barrister Parosha Chandran, who discussed the importance that a legal role has for others. It was encouraging to hear about these different pathways into law, and how I could relay my transferable skillset from my undergraduate degree and work experience to pursue a legal profession.

2. You work as a student ambassador for ULaw, can you talk to me about this role, and what your biggest learnings have been?

I have been a Student Ambassador at ULaw for nearly two years, and it’s a fantastic role that has developed my confidence and interpersonal skills when engaging with guests. As a representative, I act as the first point of contact to welcome visitors at our student recruitment events, including open days, taster sessions, and online events, such as The Legal Cheek Virtual Law Fairs. The ambassadors lead informative campus tours, share knowledge about the courses and facilities at ULaw, and provide assistance in group presentations and Q&As.

I have learned the most in this role about how different everyone’s journeys are into law. Being an ambassador has given me the opportunity to meet so many new people, from sixth-form students interested in solicitor apprenticeships, to postgraduate students enquiring about training contracts and pupillages, to career changers with a wealth of experience. I really enjoy giving advice about which course may best suit their needs, and answering the same questions that I had when I first discovered the conversion course — it’s very rewarding to be able to share my story, and hear about their motivations in return.

3. You’re a student on the LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) with ULaw. How are you finding the SQE so far, and what aspect of the LLM are you finding most useful at this stage?

The SQEs are certainly challenging. I found the transition from my MA to the SQE1 relatively smooth, because we do Single Best Answer Questions as part of our learning and assessments on the conversion course, and so I felt familiar with the question style. The SQE2 is also based on the same modules, but for me these exams are more about putting that knowledge into practice and gaining a commercial skillset, as they challenge you in real-life situations such as speaking before a judge or interviewing a client. This means that I have been continuously revising my academic knowledge as well as developing my legal practice skills.

The most useful resource so far has been the ULaw Revision App — it’s a bank of over 3000 SBAQs that you can use to practice and track your progress for the SQE1. I would answer around 30 questions every weekday morning, before I did any studying, to get used to the different wording formats and revisit detailed knowledge, and towards the end of my course I would sit 90-question mocks that were reflective of the 2.5 hour exam. This was extremely helpful for me, because you have to sit and concentrate for a long time in the SQE1! I am currently collecting mocks for the SQE2 from my course and online, with the intention of practicing these papers in the same way and building my preparation over time.

4. Taking the Plus modules on the LLM means that you can additional modules in key practice areas. Which modules are you taking? Which are you enjoying most and why?

I have just started the SQE Plus component of my course, which includes presentations and coursework-based assessments. I am taking modules in the corporate and commercial pathway that have been chosen by my law firm, because they are the key practice areas that the firm specialises in and will be the most helpful for my seats when I join as a trainee solicitor, such as Capital Markets. I am also taking the Preparation for Practice module which underpins the legal practice content and focusses on developing your commercial skills as a lawyer. Whilst I have only just started the Plus, my favourite module on the SQEs so far has been Dispute Resolution, as I really enjoy the dynamics of litigation and the variation of the precedents that define our contentious laws.

5. Many SQE students have fears going into this challenging set of exams. Can you walk me through any tips on how to keep your cool throughout your studies?

It can be daunting to study for these exams when they are still relatively new, but my advice to anyone taking them would be to organise your work gradually, if you are able to, over a period of time. I am treating my studies like a 9-to-5 job, so I will make sure that I am at my desk in the morning, have a lunch break, and then carry on throughout the afternoon, with the evening to relax and recuperate. This routine means that I am revising for the majority of the day but splitting it up into manageable amounts and giving myself regular breaks. I also play hockey matches on a Saturday, which is a great way to handle my stress by letting off some steam!

Additionally, I would advise SQE students to make sure that they celebrate small milestones. It can be quite overwhelming to revise for these exams, so taking a small break after studying or practising questions is a good way to boost your morale and refocus. Whether it’s making a cup of tea, going for a walk to the park, or having dinner with my friends, I would always try to celebrate my achievements, no matter how small, and be proud of myself and my progress.

6. What have you learned about yourself through your SQE journey so far?

I would say that I have learned about my ability to persevere more than anything! I am happy with the way that I have kept myself going throughout the conversion course, the SQEs, and even training contract applications, which has so far been an intense yet fulfilling process. Persevering through small setbacks, like getting a low score on a practice test, and self-motivating to carry on has been tricky at times, but I always remain determined and try again. I am really looking forward to returning to ULaw with my cohort and starting the SQE Plus modules whilst pressing ahead with my revision for the SQE2.

7. What are your biggest tips for SQE candidates?

My first tip would definitely be to utilise your tutors and peers. If you’re struggling with a particular topic or finding a type of question difficult to answer, then reach out and ask for help! For example, I arranged to have a couple of virtual lessons with my Business Law tutor to help me with tax, and she was incredibly supportive. It can also be useful to answer SBAQs or plan a mock SQE2 paper with your classmates, so that you can compare answers and learn from one another’s methods and perspectives. I would also suggest that SQE candidates go through the SRA’s website thoroughly, using the assessment specification as a topic list and making use of the practice papers that they provide – they are the closest to the real thing!

Lastly, my main advice to anyone would simply be: practice, practice, practice. The more questions you complete, the more familiar you will feel with the structure and wording, and this helps me understand exactly what they’re asking for. Remember to also give equal attention to the different parts of the exam, as they all count equally towards the final result. I wish you the best of luck!

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