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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From legal secretary, to employment lawyer, to SQE senior tutor, Joanne White has seen it all. We sat down with BARBRI’s SQE2 lead to hear her top tips for success

When she left school at 16, Joanne White had no plans to qualify as a lawyer. Now, with 15 years of experience in practice behind her, she is helping the next generation of students take their first steps into the profession as senior tutor and SQE2 lead at BARBRI.

“I took a bit of an alternative route into the legal profession” Joanne tells me, “I left school at 16 and didn’t go to college or university at that time. I left home and became a secretary.” While continuing to work full-time, Joanne eventually went back to night school to do her A levels followed by a law degree. Joanne completed her law degree while working as a secretary in a law firm, who then encouraged her to take the LPC. “I had never intended to do the LPC, I just wanted to see if I could get a degree!” she says. Nine years after she started night school to pick up her studies, Joanne was a qualified employment lawyer.

Having spent 15 years as a practising lawyer, Joanne moved into legal education in 2019. She finds that her unconventional route to qualification has motivated her to inspire others in a similar position to enter the profession. The route that I took was so laborious: it took me nine years as I was also working full-time, and I didn’t have a cheerleader,” she explains, “It’s rewarding for me and beneficial to others to share my experience, showing that you can work full time and study part time, and that you can get through the tough times – of which there are many!” It is these aspiring lawyers that the SQE aims to assist:

“The SQE was designed to encourage people from all walks of life to enter the law: some career-changers, some older candidates, some people from deprived backgrounds – I tick all of those boxes. It makes me a person who can share that experience, to help people get through what can be a challenging route to qualification.”

When speaking to students struggling to balance SQE preparation with their other commitments – whether that’s family life or a full-time job – Joanne feels her own experience can offer a source of confidence. “It’s easy to start thinking: Is this really for me? Can I do this? Am I just kidding myself?” she says, “being a cheerleader for those people, showing them it can be done – and I’m the proof – is really rewarding and students are grateful for it.”

So how does BARBRI’s online model make studying easier for those students balancing busy lives? “The online platform is very clearly set out,” Joanne responds. “The last thing you want if you’re tired and overwhelmed is to be thinking: Where do I even start? The simplicity of the platform is very valuable.” BARBRI also offer tailored support to each of their students. “Even though it’s an online course, the support is extensive,” Joanne tells me. “We have regular checkups with our students. If we see students’ grades are falling, we will check in with them to make sure everything’s okay. We have weekly strategy sessions where students can come and ask questions. We have tutor calls where students have a one-on-one with a tutor and can talk about their personal experience.”

SQE2 can sometimes seem particularly daunting for students as it takes a slightly different form from exams students may be familiar with. I ask Joanne to explain how this exam is different. “SQE1 is all about black letter law and that’s what most law students are comfortable doing: learn the law, learn the law, learn the law,” she replies. “SQE2 takes a little bit of that law – not all of it – and uses it to test students in six different skills.” These skills are client interview, advocacy, case and matter analysis, legal research, legal writing and legal drafting.

“The way to approach SQE2 is practice, practice, practice,” says Joanne. “At BARBRI, we give you 48 different practice assessments during your course. It’s not all about learning the law, although you might have to top up your knowledge, it’s about practising those skills. That’s the key difference between SQE1 and SQE2.”

One element of SQE2 that may seem particularly daunting for students is the oral assessments, where you are assessed on advocacy and client interview skills. Joanne assures me that students need not dread these assessments. “Students really fear the oral exams but, in reality, they often perform better in the oral exams than in the written.” She describes how practising exam techniques through role-play gets results, “Students are nervous at the beginning, but they always improve,” she says. The key with these assessments is confidence. “Often, it’s not about lack of ability, but lack of confidence. The ability is there but we need to get the confidence up – when the students improve their confidence, they thrive,” Joanne explains.

In terms of the skill that presents the most difficulty to students in their exam, Joanne mentions legal research. “There is a real skill to legal research. In practice as a lawyer, you get hours to do it — days even — but in SQE2 you have just one hour.” I ask how students can best approach this paper. “The key is time management,” is Joanne’s answer. “As lawyers we tend to be perfectionists; we want to do a perfect job”. The challenge for students is to know when it is good enough to hit the marking criteria and not waste time aiming for perfection – there simply isn’t the time in SQE2.”

So how can candidates prepare for these exams successfully? “Consistency is key. You have just got to keep going because it’s all about practice.” Joanne would also remind students to be resilient when things aren’t going to plan. “Your assessment grades will go up and down. Many students get deflated when there’s a dip in their grades. It’s important to take the rough with the smooth.”

As we wrap up our conversation, Joanne shares one last piece of advice for students approaching their SQE: “Trust the process.” “The BARBRI course has been very carefully compiled with success in mind, and our pass rates demonstrate that,” she elaborates. “Yes, it seems daunting; yes, it’s going to be hard work, but it’s absolutely doable if you follow our process and are consistent in your approach.” She also reminds students that they are not alone: “Make use of our support resources and engage with the course. If you do those things, you will set yourself up to pass the exam.”

Joanne White will be speaking at TOMORROW’S Legal Cheek virtual event, “SQE2 success stories: Sharing student strategies — with BARBRI” at 4pm. Apply now to attend.

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Charlotte Wanendeya, Head of Law at BPP (London) discusses dealing with generational conflict in the workplace and how employers can best support Gen Z lawyers

Charlotte Wanendeya, Head of Law at BPP (London), has over 30 years of experience guiding the newest generations of lawyers through the LPC, SQE and Bar Course. Having studied Anglo-French law at King’s College, London, and Sorbonne, Paris, she began her career as a trainee at Clifford Chance. However, after 5 years at the magic circle outfit, Charlotte was ready for a change.

“I realised what I liked best about my job were the educational and training aspects. So, I moved into professional higher education where I have worked ever since,” she tells me. I am keen to know how the legal profession has changed over the course of Charlotte’s career. How different is life as a lawyer now compared to her time at Clifford Chance? “One massive change, of course, is pre-internet and post-internet,” comes Charlotte’s immediate response. “When I was practising, there was pretty much no internet or email – it was embryonic. We had secretaries and dictaphones, and there was certainly no Google!”

Another significant change she mentions is the awareness around mental health issues in the workplace. “In my own experience as a Gen X-er, mental health wasn’t talked about in the office at the start of my career,” Charlotte explains. “The pace of life, and in particular, work life, has become so much faster and the consequence for the younger generation, Gen Z, has been a spike in anxiety and mental health problems. That has brought something entirely new to the workplace.”

It’s not all bleak, however. “Gen Z have a stronger sense of balance which is a very good thing,” Charlotte notes. “Not everybody is necessarily aspiring to be a partner in a law firm. Some would rather prioritise spending time with their family over a massive salary.” She also highlights flexible working options as a positive change Gen Z will experience in their careers. “Boomers and Gen X never had the option of working from home. Before Covid, that flexibility wasn’t available. It wasn’t an option,” she recalls. “One of the things I struggled with early in my career was finding that balance whilst raising a family as a single parent. Working from home even one day a week would have helped a great deal.”

Charlotte elaborates on the factors affecting Gen Z’s approach to work. “These are what I call the five Cs,” she says. “Covid, climate change, cost of living, cyberspace and conflict. These factors have meant Gen Z have a different way of thinking and communicating.” She uses speaking on the phone as an example, “While we must be careful not to stereotype or pigeonhole people, those in Gen Z are much less likely to want to pick up the phone than their older colleagues, for whom this was the norm in the workplace.”

These generational differences have the potential to cause friction at work, according to Charlotte. “There are currently four generations in the workplace, Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y – also known as millennials – and Generation Z,” she explains. “Each generation has its own expectations and communication styles, which does cause some head-butting in the workplace. We need to address these differences so that all four generations can work smoothly together. This is what makes business sense.”

In addition to her role at BPP, Charlotte is also the vice chair of the City of London Law Society Training Committee, collaborating with corporate law firms to discuss training and support initiatives for the next generation of solicitors. Charlotte stresses the importance of conversations between professional higher education providers and law firms, “It’s important to get everybody around the table and promote that collaborative spirit,” she says. “Everyone is facing the same issues and trying to crack the same problems, so, in my view, a collaborative approach is the way to go.”

Seeing professional education providers as a bridge between Gen Z students and their future employers, Charlotte tells me, “We are providing law firms and chambers with the next generation of lawyers. That is a huge privilege as well as a responsibility. We have experience teaching this generation and we know how they think, learn and tick, as well as the challenges they’re facing.” She goes on, “We need to work together to support this generation and help them thrive – they are the future.”

As well as collaborations between law schools and employers (for placements and work experience), with the rapid development of Generative AI, Charlotte believes that also engaging and collaborating with tech experts would help Gen Z get ready for the workplace:

“We need to prepare students for the new technology that will be central to their careers (for example, understanding the basics of document management systems, prompting skills, data literacy and cybersecurity risks). To make that happen, we need more collaboration with the tech experts who are designing these tools.

So, how does BPP prepare its students for a rapidly evolving workplace? “At BPP, we are continually focused on making sure that what students learn in the classroom – including the skills they learn – aligns with how they’re assessed and, most importantly, aligns to the work they will be doing in their future careers as lawyers, to ensure they are practice-ready,” Charlotte responds. “For example, at BPP, we offer Essentials for Practice modules on our SQE Prep courses which are created in collaboration with law firms which mimic the work students will actually be doing once they get into practice.”

As we wrap up our discussion, I ask what Charlotte’s advice would be to employers and young lawyers navigating generational differences in the workplace. “Listen – and be kind!,” is her response. “That would be my advice to everyone. Listening and understanding goes both ways. We must always appreciate things from a different perspective to realise that we can work together effectively.”

Charlotte Wanendeya will be speaking on BPP’s panel, ‘Gen Z: expectations and realities’ at LegalEdCon 2025, Legal Cheek’s annual future of legal education and training conference, which takes place in-person on Thursday 15 May at Kings Place, London. Final release tickets for the Conference can be purchased here.

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Claire Flores, head of student sales at BARBRI, discusses qualifying via the SQE, the global appeal of US law firms, and how aspiring solicitors can stand out in a competitive market

If you’ve ever found yourself daydreaming about six-figure salaries, skyscraper offices, and glamorous cross-border deals, you’re not alone. The appeal of US-headquartered law firms has never been stronger among aspiring solicitors in the UK — especially those thinking about qualifying via the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE). But how do you actually get there?

Ahead of our virtual event How to qualify, apply and work for a US law firm — with BARBRI this afternoon (Tuesday 22 April), we caught up with Claire Flores, Head of Student Sales at global legal education provider BARBRI. A US-qualified lawyer herself, Flores now works with students across multiple jurisdictions, from London to New York to Mexico City, helping them navigate the path to qualification.

Her career journey, much like the legal profession itself, has been anything but linear. “I actually did my undergraduate at the University of Arkansas in marketing management and economics,” she tells Legal Cheek Careers. “But I always felt called to law — it offered a sense of purpose. I loved the complexity of US constitutional law and the academic challenge of it.”

She went on to study for her juris doctorate at Saint Louis University, later passing the bar exam using BARBRI’s prep course. “I’d worked for BARBRI as a student ambassador and later as head ambassador during law school. So, when I passed the bar, they offered me a full-time role, and it felt like the perfect blend of my interests in business, law, and education.”

Flores initially worked with law schools across the US Midwest, but as BARBRI expanded internationally, she was invited to support their London office. “In 2017 and 2018, I spent summers in London helping grow our presence here. At that time, we were promoting the US bar to international markets, but we also had our eyes on the UK — and when the SQE was announced, it was a natural fit.”

By 2020, BARBRI had launched its SQE1 Prep course in time for the 2021 exams, drawing on its expertise in multiple-choice legal testing, a format it had mastered through decades of US bar prep. “There was a clear synergy,” says Flores. “The SRA looked to the US bar exam when designing the SQE, and we already had the infrastructure and expertise in place. It made sense for us to step into the space.”

So, what is it that makes US law firms so attractive to UK students, particularly those looking to qualify via the SQE? “There’s quite a presence of US and internationally-founded firms operating in the UK,” says Flores. “They offer incredibly competitive training and opportunities, and I think that’s very appealing to the new generation of lawyers. The client work is interesting, the case work is challenging, and there’s often a strong culture of high performance.”

She adds that globalisation is driving much of the demand. “Law is becoming more complex as the world becomes more interconnected. That means more cross-border matters, more collaboration between offices, and more international mobility for lawyers. And firms that operate globally are looking for trainees who can operate in that space.”
The SQE route, she explains, fits well with this evolving legal landscape. “It’s flexible and accessible — whether you come from a law background or not, you can qualify through the SQE and tailor the journey around your own circumstances.”

She also highlights the benefits of BARBRI’s SQE Prep course for students targeting top firms. “Our training is deliberately structured to be direct and effective,” she explains. “Whether you’re juggling work, care responsibilities, or other commitments, the programme helps you focus on what you actually need to know, so you can open up time for practical experience or firm placements.”

Flores is especially passionate about the rise in dual qualification — something she’s spoken about recently at events at the British Embassies in Paris and Mexico City. “English law is used globally, especially in arbitration and cross-border transactions. So, it comes as no surprise that international lawyers are increasingly looking to add England and Wales to their qualifications.”

She says many of the lawyers she speaks to cite similar motivations. “The lawyers who are dual qualified all say that having that comparative legal knowledge makes them better lawyers. They’re better able to advise clients, spot issues across systems, and build credibility, both academically and professionally.”

Having worked with thousands of BARBRI students over the years, Flores has a solid sense of what sets the most successful ones apart. “Discipline and dedication are essential — you can’t get through the SQE or the bar exam without those,” she says. “But the students who thrive at the top firms also know who they are. They know their strengths and can present them clearly to a recruiter.”

That doesn’t mean having your whole career mapped out from day one, she adds. “I always ask students: what kind of law are you drawn to? What unique experiences can you bring? Maybe you’ve worked in another industry, maybe you speak another language — those things can set you apart if you learn to present them confidently.”

She encourages students to experiment and stay open-minded. “Sometimes it’s about learning what you don’t want to do. And that’s just as valuable. Trying different areas of law is how you home in on your path.”

As for the SQE itself, Flores has two top tips:

“First, trust the process,” she says. “We’ve designed our courses using learning science. Every assignment, every module has a purpose. It might feel different to what you did at uni, but it works. Trust it, follow it, and you’ll be in a good place.”

Her second tip is about exam-day nerves. “In the last two or three weeks before your exam, start practising your perfect exam day. Go to bed at the time you will the night before the exam. Wake up at the time you’ll need to on the day. Eat the breakfast you plan to eat. Take the same journey. Literally rehearse the day.”

Why? “Because it helps reduce anxiety,” she explains. “You can’t control the trains or the noise outside the test centre, but you can control your routine. It made such a difference when I did it. I walked into the exam calm, well-rested, and already in the mindset I needed to be in.”

Want to hear more? Join us for ‘How to qualify, apply and work for a US law firm — with BARBRI’ THIS AFTERNOON at 4pm. The virtual event will explore the realities of qualifying and practising at a US law firm, and how BARBRI’s SQE Prep courses can help you get there. Speakers include Claire Flores and lawyers from top US-headquartered firms.

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Prep built in

Queen Mary University of London has become the first London-based Russell Group university to offer SQE preparation as part of its Master of Laws (LLM) programmes.

The new programme, launched in partnership with BARBRI, enables Queen Mary students to combine their SQE preparation with a master’s degree. Available across sixteen LLM specialisms, it allows students to gain expertise in their chosen field while working towards solicitor qualification.

Officially launching September 2025, aspiring lawyers will study in-person at Queen Mary for their LLM and study online with BARBRI for their SQE prep.

Commenting on the tie-up, Dr Nigel Spencer, director of QMUL’s Hub for Professional Practice, said:

“We have aimed to structure this SQE offering as an option for students to add into our high-quality LLM programmes. Students still have a wide choice of studying their preferred area of legal specialism with our expert faculty, and now also can build the required SQE legal practice skills and knowledge for the next steps in their careers.”

This latest partnership builds on previous SQE collaborations, including agreements with Derby, Bradford, and Liverpool John Moores.

Christopher Howard, university partnerships director at BARBRI, added:

“BARBRI is delighted to be entering into this ground-breaking collaboration with the renowned School of Law at Queen Mary University of London. This programme, which combines the opportunity to gain a prestigious specialist LLM with expert preparation for the education stage of qualification as a solicitor of England & Wales, provides a superb new option for students seeking a top-flight legal career.”

Elsewhere in the law school market, The College of Legal Practice (CoLP) has established similar SQE partnerships with the universities of York, Keele, Southampton Solent, Manchester Met, and Middlesex.

Meanwhile, The University of Law has secured agreements to deliver its SQE courses at universities including Exeter, Liverpool, Reading, Royal Holloway, Newcastle, Southampton, and UEA.

BPP has also secured a range of exclusive partnerships with City law firms, including the prestigious City Consortium: Freshfields, Herbert Smith Freehills, Hogan Lovells, Linklaters, Norton Rose Fulbright, and Slaughter and May.

Join us this afternoon (Thursday, 27 February) for ‘Beyond the law firm: Why qualifying as an in-house lawyer might be right for you’, a virtual student in partnership with BARBRI. Apply now!

BCLP’s Bradley Fisher shares his experience

The number of solicitor apprenticeships offered by law firms has been steadily climbing over the last few years, providing school-leavers the opportunity to earn money and gain work experience while they complete their legal studies.

Bradley Fisher, associate in the real estate team at BCLP, completed a solicitor apprenticeship with the firm while studying with BPP University. We sat down with Fisher, ahead of his appearance at next week’s Pre-SQE Student Summit Manchester — in partnership with BPP, to hear about his experience with BPP, how he balanced work and studying, and his top tips for SQE preparation.

Why did you decide to pursue a solicitor apprenticeship?

I came across solicitor apprenticeships by chance. My dad sent me a link to an article talking about legal apprenticeships and some firms offering them. Apprenticeships were not really promoted when I was at college, so I had to do my own research to find out more information.

I discovered that I could learn whilst I earn, obtain a law degree, pass the solicitors exams, gain a lot of practical experience and get my foot in the door at a firm from a young age. All of this felt like a no-brainer to me and fitted in with my aspirations.

I applied to a few firms and I was lucky enough to come across BCLP. The firm and its offerings sounded perfect. After an assessment centre, I was offered the role to start in October 2017. Since then, I have never looked back.

Can you tell us about your apprenticeship experience?

I started at the firm working in the post-completion team, dealing with Land Registry applications of all shapes and sizes. This was my first taste of the legal profession, and it kick-started my aspirations to become a real estate lawyer. I loved working in the Land Registry team. I found it fascinating to say I had played a small part in something for a skyscraper in London, or a major supermarket. From there, I moved on to the legal administration team and then one of our client teams.

I then moved into our structured finance team where I was working for a big US investment bank. The demands in this team were high, both internally and from the client. I learned a lot from being in this team, especially how to become more resilient. Next, I moved back to Real Estate, this time in our core asset management team, where I stayed for my first seat in September 2022 as part of my training contract. I really enjoyed this team and worked on challenging matters and got involved with some great clients.

I was seconded to Heathrow Airport for my next seat in February 2023, which meant I moved down to London for 6 months. This has been one of my favourite experiences to date and I worked on some interesting deals. The office for the legal team was right next to one of the runways, which was very cool. I still keep in touch with my contacts at Heathrow today and hope to work with them again in the future!

In September 2023, I came back to BCLP and sat in our Office of General Counsel team. I took SQE1 in this seat which I passed in January 2024, having completed the prep course with BPP, so had some time off to sit those exams.

In March 2024, I rotated back into real estate, based in a client team. I then sat SQE2 in April and May. Once I came back from those exams, I was given the chance to move into our real estate disputes team.

I found out I passed SQE2 in August 2024. I knew I wanted to qualify into real estate in our core asset management team. Luckily, there was a spot for a newly qualified lawyer in the team and I was absolutely delighted to be offered the role. I qualified as solicitor on 3 February 2025, and am now an associate in our Real Estate team, based in Manchester.

Tell us a bit more about how, being a part-time student, you managed to fit your studies with BPP around your work.

I had an allocated study day, and the programme was entirely online. I found the study day to be vital, as it meant I could attend the live online lectures without worrying too much about work. It also allowed me to complete all of the pre-work for the lecture, and consolidation work afterwards, in good time. Additionally, I did extra work at the weekends to make sure I was on top of everything.

I enjoyed my studies with BPP. I did a different topic each term, sometimes two topics each term. I found the courses to be engaging and well taught.

What are the benefits (and challenges!) of studying while working?

One of the main benefits is being able to apply what you have learned in practice to your studies, and vice versa. For example, when my property topics came up on my university course, I was eager to learn more about it as it was my current area of practice. I found I was able to apply some of the work and knowledge I already had to help answer assessment questions. I was also able to apply what I learned at BPP to my work. Another benefit was that I didn’t get into any student debt, as the firm covered the costs of my education as part of the apprenticeship.

In terms of challenges, I found it difficult at first to get into the groove of online lectures and not going to a lecture hall or classroom. However, over time I got used to it and enjoyed it in the end.

What advice would you give current apprentices on balancing your studies with work?

My advice would be to utilise the study day as best you can. I made sure I was up and about on my study day, finishing off pre-lecture work, attending live lectures and completing consolidation. It was almost like an actual working day, just that I was learning and not working.

I was quite strict with my study days during my apprenticeship. I rarely logged on to work or checked emails, as my study day was where I could focus hard on my learning.

Another tip would be to use your spare time wisely. I made sure I did some extra studies at the weekends, just so I was prepared for the week ahead. Just a few hours on a Saturday or a Sunday, sometimes both if an exam was coming up, but that extra work really went a long way and helped secure my understanding of topics and prepared me for lectures and exams.

You have successfully passed SQE 1 and 2! What is the secret to your success?

From my experience, time is the big concern when sitting SQE. If you can make the most of your time, both before and during the exam, you will be in a good place.

I started my revision five months before I sat SQE1. This gave me a good amount of time to prepare.

Making sure you attempt practice questions in timed conditions will be a massive help. I was nervous I would run out of time in the SQE1 exams as I was taking longer than the recommended time to answer questions. But by the time SQE1 came around, I found that because I had honed my exam technique quite well, I even had time left to check through my answers.

I found SQE2 to be more about focusing your knowledge into a skills-based framework, and applying what you know to the facts presented to you. The mock questions from BPP were very helpful. I found attempting them myself with access to my notes first helped to build my confidence. I then took away the notes and sat the mock papers in exam conditions, so I had experience of the time constraints in the actual exams for SQE 2.

The ‘Discussion of Assessment’ documents for the SQE 2 sample papers are also very helpful when it comes to understanding what the assessor is looking for in terms of the standard, as well as how best to set out your answers.

I also tried not to be too hard on myself throughout the whole process, and not ‘over-revise’ – if you can call it that. There were some challenging moments in the lead-up to exams, but I made sure to give myself plenty of breaks and down time to spend with my family and friends. Keeping active was a good release, as was finding an easy TV show to dip in and out of to give my mind a bit of a rest.

What support did you receive from BPP while completing the SQE prep course?

I found BPP to be very supportive in providing live teaching, comprehensive materials, MCQ practice, scenario practice for SQE2, and live revision lectures with tutors. The revision lectures were particularly helpful, as they were a couple of hours long for each topic and really focused on the core principles. BPP also ran formative assessments for SQE2 with their tutors, who provided feedback on my performance and areas for improvement, which was very useful. I also knew that the BPP tutors were available should I have any concerns.

All in all, I felt well supported throughout the process.

Join us on the afternoon of Wednesday 19 February for The Legal Cheek Pre-SQE Student Summit — in partnership with BPP University Law School. The summit will take place in both London and Manchester. Apply now.

 

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BPP student Samantha Howlett discusses her finding the right firm, balancing apprenticeship and parenthood, and her insider advice for acing SQE1

It was a personal experience with the legal system that motivated Samantha Howlett to pursue a career as a solicitor. “I saw how important it is for vulnerable people to understand their rights and feel like there is someone on their side,” she tells me. “This kickstarted my interest in law and my decision to finish my studies.” Already a mum of three, Howlett studied law as a mature student at the University of Essex. She then went on to study the SQE with BPP University Law School while completing a graduate solicitor apprenticeship at a private client firm based in London and Essex.

Howlett is currently working in the private family law department at her firm, an interest she has been developing since her undergraduate degree. “I’ve always been very interested in family law. At university I was student director of the law clinic for two years, where I worked really closely with the family law project and domestic and sexual abuse project,” she tells me.

I ask her about the process of securing qualifying work experience, a hurdle many aspiring lawyers struggle with. “I went for a few interviews with London firms and local firms which gave me a really good indication of what I was really looking for,” she responds. “I realised I was looking for a firm which felt more collegiate and decided to focus on firms in my local area.” She spoke to tutors at her university as well as university alumni, asking about their experiences with local firms. “That direct, face-to-face research was so important,” she says.
“When you’re looking for a firm, remember you’ll be spending a lot of time there so it has to be right for you.”

Offering some advice to current law students, Howlett says, “Have confidence in yourself.” She continues, “At my first few interviews I didn’t feel fully confident so I spent some time building up my confidence, practising talking about myself in a positive light – it’s not something that comes naturally to a lot of us!” This was pivotal in her ability to secure a graduate apprenticeship: “I could sell myself in interviews without feeling so awkward,” she laughs.

While working, Howlett has been studying with BPP and passed her SQE1 in July 2024. She sat SQE2 back in October and is waiting for her results. Looking back on her SQE journey, Howlett tells me how helpful the ability to study online with BPP while completing an apprenticeship has been. “The real benefit is being able to earn money while studying,” she says. “This is really important, especially for someone like me who has a young family to support.” Howlett spends four days a week in the office and studies in a live online classroom one day a week. “I find this works really well and I’m able to tackle my revision and studying at a steady pace,” she tells me. As well as providing income, working while studying can actually make the course content sink in faster, she explains: “I have been able to directly apply the practical skills the SQE teaches as I have learnt them, which is really good for consolidating the skills and knowledge. A lot of the core skills the SQE teaches are very applicable to my work.”

So, what was the secret to Howlett’s SQE1 success? “My first piece of advice is to break it down into manageable chunks,” she says. “It’s a huge exam, with a lot of content. It can be very overwhelming when you look at it as a whole.” She advises a more practical method: “Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to cover absolutely everything. The best approach is to get a solid amount of knowledge on each module and prioritise breadth.” She also gives some useful tips for exam preparation and revision. “It really helped me to as many practice questions as possible,” she shares. “The more you’re used to the format of the exam, including the timing and how the questions are worded, the better you will do.”

She also cites the support she received from BPP during her prep course as a reason for her success. Of her tutors who delivered her regular live teaching, she says, “I really felt that they wanted me to pass and were willing to go the extra mile to help me out.” She goes on, “Every single one of them were happy to answer any question I had, and were prepared to receive emails and stay after sessions to give explanations.” She tells me that the online resources are “easily accessible and clearly laid out”, commenting that, “I was very well-guided during the course and never felt like I was left to do it alone.”

Juggling work, studying and childcare responsibilities is no mean feat. I ask Howlett how she manages her time to fit in all these commitments. “It’s really challenging – I’ve got to be honest,” she says frankly, adding, “I think I’ll be looking for that perfect balance for a very long time.” However, she is keen to point out the advantages that being a parent has given her. “There are lots of skills that you have as a mother that are very transferable to the law,” she begins. “The organisational skills I learned through parenting, have really helped me in my career so far. As a parent, organisation is so important – you have to have your life organised down to the minute sometimes,” she laughs. In terms of advice, she would offer others balancing the same responsibilities, she says, “It is workable. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and make sure you have a good support network to rely on.”

Join us TOMORROW for our virtual student event “SQE student panel: all your questions answered — in partnership with BPP University Law School”.

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Beverley Dawes, head of the Bar Practice Course at ULaw, offers her advice on getting work experience, dealing with rejection and acing interviews

Head of the Bar Practice Course of The University of Law, Beverley Dawes began her career as a barrister at Leeds’ KBW Chambers. Having experienced the pupillage application process as an aspiring barrister and as a legal educator, she has some particularly valuable advice to offer pupillage applicants.

Dawes sat down with Legal Cheek Careers to share some of these pearls of wisdom ahead of her appearance at Legal Cheek’s virtual student event ‘Pupillage application masterclass — with Gatehouse, Henderson, Keating, Landmark, Radcliffe Chambers and ULaw’. We discuss how to select the right bar course provider and the support ULaw offers to their students, as well as advice on securing a pupillage and dealing with rejection.

Can you tell me a bit about your role as head of the BPC at ULaw?

My role as head of the BPC at ULaw involves managing the design, delivery, regulation and assessment of the Bar Course across our eight BPC campuses at ULaw. We offer a full-time and part-time BPC at ULaw. My role is varied, including student recruitment, assessment design, course materials design, course structure planning and more. I work closely with our BPC programme director and the BPC programme leads across our campuses to ensure the smooth running of the course.

How should students go about selecting a bar course provider?

There’s a lot for students to consider when choosing their Bar course provider. One should consider where they want to study in the country (i.e in which city), their preferred study mode (part-time or full-time), their preferred course (bar course or combined bar course with LLM) and other factors such as accommodation and travel costs, for example. Students often base their bar course provider choice on geographical location, course structure, available financial support (e.g scholarships and bursaries), course entry requirements and success rates in terms of employability or assessment performance. I would recommend that students attend open days – either physically at a campus or virtually, online — to help them make their decision. Don’t be afraid to ask plenty of questions at an open day; providers will be happy to answer them and give you all the information you need to make an informed decision about the right course and provider for you.

What kind of experiences and opportunities should students be looking out for during their bar studies?

Practical work experience, voluntary work and any opportunities which offer insight into the work of a barrister, are invaluable. Mini-pupillages are popular and offer students the opportunity to see the day-to-day work of barristers. Marshalling a judge offers an interesting perspective from a different aspect in the courtroom, as well as a unique opportunity to learn about the judiciary’s work. Pro bono work, such as legal advice clinics and other advisory work, gives you first-hand experience of representing and advising clients. Mooting, debating, negotiating and other similar activities will help you hone your oral skills. I would also recommend that students attend law fairs, pupillage open days, CV or interview-preparation workshops, guest speaker events, mentoring schemes etc; anything that will give you valuable insight into a career at the Bar. I also recommend undertaking some work experience at a solicitors firm (i.e a vacation scheme), to further understand the work of solicitors.

How does ULaw support students when applying for pupillage?

Students can access our Employability Service from the moment they accept their place onto the course. ULaw offers support to students with writing their CV and pupillage applications and preparing for pupillage interviews. Students can book at 1-2-1 with a member of the Employability team at any time. We arrange and host law fairs, guest speaker events, practical workshops and other events to support students with their pupillage applications. We also offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities — such as mooting, negotiation, pro bono opportunities and more — to help students gain skills and insight which will help them with preparing for applying for pupillage.

Do you have any advice for using non-legal experience within pupillage applications?

Non-legal experience is valuable and offers the opportunity to develop practical skills which are useful for a career at the bar, so don’t be afraid to detail non-legal experience in your pupillage applications. Just make sure you are explaining what you learned from the experience, rather than simply listing what you did. Explain how the experience has prepared you for a career as a barrister; whether that’s time management, dealing with difficult situations, working independently on a project, managing several clients/projects at once, having to make quick decisions or anything else which is transferrable to the bar.

How should students approach commercial awareness in pupillage interviews?

Keep up-to-date with what’s going on in the world. One piece of advice I always give to students is to read the news — and different viewpoints on — current affairs. Social media platforms such as LinkedIn and X can be useful for keeping up to date on interesting legal developments. There are also plenty of digital and hard copy publications — such as “Counsel” — that are also worth reading. Sign up for commercial awareness mailing lists, if your University has one. In pupillage interviews, be prepared to give your opinion on a question or topic, with reasoning. It’s also good to explore alternative opinions from different viewpoints on recent developments, cases and things in the news, so that you can demonstrate this in pupillage interviews too.

Do you have advice for students facing rejection?

Don’t be disheartened by rejection; it is something that most aspiring barristers will experience along their pupillage application journey. The most important thing, in my opinion, is to ask for feedback following a rejection and use that feedback wisely. Carefully digest the feedback and consider how you could improve your application/interview technique for the next round of applications. Rejection should always be taken constructively and used to help strengthen your applications/interview technique.

Finally, what’s one thing that all students applying for pupillage should keep in mind?

The pupillage application process is likely to be a marathon, not a sprint. The pupillage application process takes time: start researching chambers early, set aside plenty of time to write applications (and very carefully proofread them), book an appointment with your Employability service and be prepared to apply more than just one year. Don’t try to rush the process: give each application the time it needs to be high quality. If I could only offer one tip, it would be to aim for quality over quantity when it comes to submitting pupillage applications. Submitting fewer, high quality pupillage applications is better than submitting a larger number of rushed applications.

Beverley Dawes will be speaking at ‘Pupillage application masterclass — with Gatehouse, Henderson, Keating, Landmark, Radcliffe Chambers and ULaw’, a virtual event taking place Wednesday 22 January 2025. Apply to attend.

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Student ambassador at The University of Law, Poppy Baverstock gives an insight into life on campus, her favourite study spots and the best things about studying in northern city

Legal Cheek is coming to Newcastle this January to host the first in-person Secrets to Success event of 2025. In preparation, we sat down with Poppy Baverstock, student ambassador and LLM Legal Practice (SQE 1 & 2) student at The University of Law (ULaw) in Newcastle to get the down-low on what life is really like as a ULaw student in the Toon.

What persuaded you to study the LLM Legal Practice (SQE 1 & 2) at the University of Law? What stage are you at in your course?

I decided to study the LLM Legal Practice (SQE 1 & 2) at the University of Law because although there are various law school providers offering the course, this was the best fit for me as they have a campus here in Newcastle. I had previously completed the law conversion course at this campus, which I really enjoyed, so I decided to stay for another year. I am currently preparing to take the SQE 1 exams, so I am about a third of the way through the course. I still have the SQE 2 and the SQE plus to complete and the course should be finish at the start of September this year.

What has been your favourite module so far, and why?

My favourite module so far has been Dispute Resolution. This encompasses quite a few of the black-letter law topics and integrates these theories into the practical application of real-life legal disputes. It has been interesting to see how cases progress through the court system and to witness the law in action; trying to balance the needs of all the parties in the pursuit of justice. Practical topics like this bring the theoretical law a step closer to the day-to-day life of a working solicitor.

What’s the best thing about campus life at ULaw Newcastle?

The best part is undoubtedly the access you have to Newcastle University itself. Whether you are already familiar with the campus, or are brand new, you can make the most of everything the campus offers to its students. This includes full access to the 24/7 library, the Phillip Robinson, as well as each of the individual course libraries, and a wide range of student clubs and societies. In addition to this, the ULaw building has its own student union, common room area and holds events too.

Why did you decide to be a student ambassador? What does your role involve?

I have always been active in saying yes to opportunities, and the role of student ambassador felt like a great fit to go alongside my course. The role is flexible, with a hands-up shift policy, meaning you always volunteer your time rather than being assigned specific working hours. My responsibilities are varied and range from attending in-person open day events to answering questions during virtual talks. The role gives a chance for ambassadors to share their experiences at ULaw and help prospective students gain an insight into the day-to-day life of a student.

Where is your favourite place to study and why? Are you a café, library, or at home person?

I am definitely a silent studier! I love any space that is a silent study space, of which there are plenty on campus. If you prefer to work with friends or with a bit of background noise, there are plenty of cafés across Newcastle to study in, as well as dedicated group study areas. The ULaw building has a common room of its own with spaces to sit and work, these are really useful if you have classes close together or need to meet up with classmates before workshops begin.

What is the ULaw campus location like?

The campus location is really convenient. The Haymarket metro and bus stop are just at the bottom of the hill, a few minutes away from the ULaw building. The metro is also connected to Newcastle Central station, and there is a car park close to the building too. The centre of Newcastle is only 5 minutes away and has plenty of bars and restaurants, but many of our classes end in The Hancock which is even closer … and definitely a studenty place!

What’s the best thing about studying in Newcastle?

Newcastle is a great city to be a student in. The combination of a great study environment, a vibrant social scene as well as green spaces throughout the city means you have everything you could need as a student. The city is very accommodating of students and with there being two main universities in the city, Newcastle and Northumbria, there is a strong sense of community and support for students.

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

Every student is given a personal tutor who is someone to go to with any initial queries. However, I have found that the Newcastle campus creates a wonderful community and every tutor, even if not your assigned personal one, is always more than happy to talk through questions or answer emails. There is also plenty of contact from the careers and wellbeing support teams. They often send weekly newsletters linking opportunities such as talks and events, as well as reminders for deadlines.

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

Fitting in extra commitments is enjoyable, if a bit chaotic! Life at any university can be really busy, especially on a post-graduate course. However, I still find time to take exercise classes and organise beach trips with my friends. I also travel to different UK cities to catch up with old university friends at the weekends – I find the busyness really enjoyable, and the weeks really do fly by. ULaw also integrates consolidation weeks and mock exam weeks in the timetable, meaning there are breaks during term time to either catch up with work or take some time to rest.

What are your plans for the future?

In the near-future, I plan to move away from Newcastle to begin a training contract with a law firm in Cambridge. This will be for at least two years and will allow me to fully qualify as a solicitor. Beyond that — I haven’t really had time to think!

The University of Law Newcastle will be hosting ‘Secrets to Success Newcastle — with Norton Rose Fulbright, Womble Bond Dickinson and ULaw’ on Thursday 30 January, 3:30pm to 6pm. Apply now to attend.

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BPP award leader Allison Banks joins successful SQE candidates to discuss the challenges

The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) continues to present a formidable challenge to aspiring solicitors, with over half of candidates who sat SQE1 in July 2024 failing to pass both papers. These statistics place even greater pressure on students to beat the odds, and increase uncertainty around the most effective preparation techniques.

With that in mind, during a recent Legal Cheek virtual event (full video above) BPP took a deep dive into why, overall, so many candidates are underperforming, and how to avoid these pitfalls.

The discussion was led by BPP’s award leader, senior lecturer and fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Allison Banks, who was be joined by a panel of successful SQE candidates from BPP, including Brian Okwaisie, Charlotte Isted, Chloe Hayes and Jacqueline Andra Bot. Together, they examined the format and content of the assessments, common pitfalls in the preparation process and the most effective study techniques. The speakers also shared their experiences of sitting the exams, and offered advice to those considering this route to qualification as a solicitor.

Additionally, the event closed with a virtual networking session with the BPP University Law School team, who answered attendees’ follow-up questions and provided further careers advice.

Legal Cheek is running ‘The SQE series’ with BPP University Law School. The video of each session will be made available one month after each virtual event together with further FAQs arising from each session which SQE experts from BPP are answering.

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Andrea Spears discusses the differences between academic life and legal practice and how BARBRI aims to bridge this gap

In the fast-paced and competitive world of law, junior lawyers looking to get ahead will need more than just legal know-how. Andrea Spears is part of a team at BARBRI developing skills training courses which aim to bridge the gap between academic study and legal practice. BARBRI launched its Legal Life Skills courses earlier this year, focusing on essential practical skills for a successful law career that are not covered by the SQE.

Spears initially studied international business at university before completing a law conversion and qualifying at a commercial law firm. With eight years of experience as a corporate M&A lawyer in private practice and time spent working in-house for a global manufacturing company, she brings diverse insights from the legal profession. Later, she pivoted to legal education, creating a customised LPC course for a Magic Circle firm. Now a learning and development consultant with extensive experience in both face to face and virtual skills training and professional development, Spears focuses at BARBRI on preparing students for success in the workplace beyond the SQE.

I kick off our conversation by asking Spears about the skills that trainee solicitors and junior lawyers overlook as they begin their careers. “I would say business writing,” she responds.

“When you get into practice, you don’t immediately draft contracts or advise clients – the tasks that your formal training has prepared you for,” she says. “You’re much more likely to start off writing emails and legal research notes. It is these things that many trainees aren’t prepared for.”

Reflecting on her own experience as a trainee solicitor, as well as those she has supervised, she continues: “For many of us before we enter the workplace, our experience of writing has been academic. This means that we write to demonstrate our knowledge and understanding of a topic.” Recognising the new audience you’re writing for, busy professionals, is essential to effective business writing, Spears explains: “Whether writing for colleagues or clients, your audience is short on time—they want writing that’s succinct, clear, and sharp.”

Spears also stresses the importance of commercial awareness and understanding business. “If you want to get on, just being a good technical lawyer is not going to cut it,” she explains. “While in education, our focus is on finding the best legal solution to a problem, but this isn’t always what clients are looking for. For our clients, they have a business opportunity or challenge, which has a legal aspect to it. Junior lawyers need to learn to balance their technical legal knowledge with an understanding of commercial risk to help their clients strike a balance between achieving their business goals and ensuring their client’s don’t take undue legal risk.”

For those training in private practice, it is equally important to understand your law firm as a business. “You need to apply that commercial mindset to the business you work for, understanding your role within the firm,” Spears says. “I went into my legal career thinking that my role was to get better at law.” This mindset is shared by many trainees eager to build their technical legal knowledge. However, Spears says “the firm is going to expect something back, and are looking for you to make a valuable contribution to the business You therefore need to start thinking beyond legal skills and start building solid business development skills, be those networking or presentation skills, in order to contribute.”

The final set of skills Spears identifies are management skills. “This often comes down to time and stress management,” she says. Again, she emphasises the disconnect that exists between student life and life in a law firm. “It is easy to think that you have cracked time management because you have been balancing university work with a part-time job. However, in an office environment, your time isn’t necessarily your own. You will have that last-minute meeting or an urgent call which disrupts your schedule.” In order to really thrive as a trainee or junior lawyer, you will need to do more than just complete your tasks, says Spears. “It’s about managing your time in such a way that you don’t undersell yourself by producing work that is less than top quality due to stress and time constraints.”

As the legal industry evolves and the growth of legal tech continues, all these skills are only becoming more important. “When I was a trainee, much of our work involved routine document and time intensive tasks which are now taken care of by legal technology,” she says. From Spears’ perspective, this will have a positive effect on junior lawyers. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for those getting into the profession,” Spears tells me, adding, “You will get more client-facing work which will push you to that next level quicker. The flipside is that whilst these skills have always been important in the profession, to cope with this more client focused work, aspiring lawyers will need to be prepared: “law firms are going to be looking for these legal life skills more and more when they are recruiting.”

So how do BARBRI’s Legal Life Skills courses support those looking to develop these crucial skills? “Many young lawyers will be told which skills they lack, but they are rarely told how to develop them,” Spears responds. “These courses give you the practical tools to build key skills.” The courses are aimed at anyone looking to get into the legal profession: “This could be trainees and paralegals or aspiring trainees and paralegals who want to be practiced in these skills when they get through the door on day one,” Spears says. But they are also vital to junior lawyers in practice who want to accelerate the development of their existing skills. The courses were developed by the BARBRI team in consultation with lawyers, trainees, paralegals, clients and learning and development specialists working in law firms. “It was important to get a balanced view on the skills junior lawyers need as well as what is reasonable to expect from lawyers at this stage,” Spears reflects.

Additionally, these online courses can be completed in short bitesize chunks on your own timetable. “The days of going out for a full day of training are behind us because of the cost and time involved,” Spears explains. “We also find that a day in a training room doesn’t work as effectively when it comes to learning and development – there’s only so much a person can take in at a time, especially when the training is scheduled for a specific day where they have other demands on their time.” The online content is complemented with live masterclasses led by a subject matter expert during which students can discuss and reflect on what they’ve learnt and develop even more skills. “Participating in a live session where you can talk and ask questions is key for building confidence,” Spears says.

To wrap up our discussion, I ask Spears how these skills, which are so important for lawyers to develop at the start of their careers, pave the way for long-term career growth. “Based on my experience, both in private practice and in-house, is that lawyers never stop learning”, she responds. “You will be continually building your skills throughout your career. In order to do this, you need a firm foundation — that’s where these skills come in. If you start off your career understanding the need for these critical skills and how to develop them, you will build a solid career which won’t crumble later down the line due to weak foundations,” she concludes.

Find out more from BARBRI about employability skills at ‘Supercharge your CV: essential skills for aspiring solicitors — with BARBRI’, a virtual student event taking place TOMORROW (Thursday, 31 October). Apply now to attend.

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The University of Law student Lewis Francis gives an insight into life on campus, the best things about studying in city and how he keeps busy outside of his studies

As Lewis Francis navigates his journey through the three-year LLB programme at The University of Law (ULaw) in Leeds, he’s already making strides towards a career as a lawyer. We caught up with Lewis to get an insider’s perspective on what life is really like as a ULaw student and how he spends his downtime.

What course are you studying and why did you choose The University of Law?

I am currently in my third and final year of my LLB law (honours) degree, which has come around rather quickly. In the beginning, I wasn’t sure what degree to do; however, my mind was made up through consultations with family. What drew me to The University of Law was their different approach to teaching. Whilst most people can succeed with the more traditional model of teaching at university, I was concerned I would find it harder, having been diagnosed with severe dyslexia at the age of 17. The more interactive way that The University of Law teaches the LLB degree suits my style of learning much better.

How did you become a campus ambassador and what does this role involve?

I knew I wanted to be a campus ambassador before I even joined the university. The ambassador who showed round was so kind to me whilst I was considering the tough decision of which university to choose. Once I became settled in my life at the university, I applied for the position through an application form and an interview before being given the role. One of the many reasons I enjoy being a campus ambassador, is the variety of events that are available to get involved with, ranging from post-graduate open days all the way to events held for local schools. One of these is the University’s highly successful criminal investigation day, where school students work through a case, review the evidence and see how a trial unfolds. Being an ambassador has been a great journey for me as I have been given opportunities to take responsibility and represent the university in a variety of settings, whilst hopefully inspiring others to study law.

What has been your favourite module you have completed so far in your degree?

While I have enjoyed pretty much every single module I have completed at the university, I would have to say that the Employment module and the Legal Technology and Innovation module which I completed in the second year of my studies have been my favourites.

I thoroughly enjoyed some amazing workshop sessions on employment law. I found it clearer and easier to understand than some other areas of law that I have studied.
On the other hand, I enjoyed Legal Technology and Innovation for a completely different reason. I loved this module because of its constantly evolving nature and up-to-date application. It allowed me and my fellow students to think critically about how technology, particularly artificial intelligence, has helped make the legal sector more efficient and the possible future application of these technologies.

What’s the best thing about campus life at The University of Law in Leeds?

The best thing about the ULaw campus is its position. Being located right in the centre means that everything you need is right outside the university. This includes several cafes, pubs and food stops. Just like most of the people in Leeds, I thoroughly enjoy the options, but a personal favourite spot of mine is the Pinnacle beer and gin bar. This bar has great options for drinking, as well as pool tables and darts boards.

On top of the activities, there are several screens which allow you to have a drink and enjoy sporting events, and it is especially exciting when Leeds United are playing! This spot is excellent for letting off steam after hard work, but if there are deadlines approaching and work that needs to be done, there is a Santander work cafe around the corner that does excellent coffee and hot chocolates. This is a great little spot to get work done as it can be a change of scenery from your usual working spots but also gives you that motivation needed as those who are also in the cafe are getting on with their own work, whether that be on business or personal projects.

What’s the best thing about studying in Leeds?

I personally think that the best thing about studying in Leeds is the variety that the city offers. Due to Leeds being home to lots of different cultures, the city represents that mix, which, as a student, is fantastic as you can satisfy every need that you possibly have. This is not just limited to food; it stretches to entertainment, shopping and opportunities. It also helps that it’s so easy to get in and out of Leeds as a city with multiple options each day. I tend to use the trains due to the university being a 5-minute walk away from Leeds train station. These transport links out of Leeds mean I can get in and out of Leeds pretty much anytime of the day and night.

How do you spend your time outside of your studies?

I have always been someone who finds it hard to sit around and do nothing, so I have plenty of commitments outside of university, including a part-time job and several sports and family commitments. I find that while these outside commitments mean, I have less time to do my university work, they have helped me to rest after long weeks at university as well as having helped me to be efficient with my time when it comes to my work. From a personal point of view, I have always liked being an in-depth planner of my time to make sure I can balance my commitments and make sure each gets the attention they need. However, in this fast-paced world we live in, a bit of flexibility is needed, which hasn’t always been my strongest skill. However, I believe I have gotten significantly better at it through the last two years at university.

What does a typical week in your life look like?

As I like to keep busy, my week tends to be quite full on. I try to make the most out of every single day. I once told a close friend of mine about my week’s plans, and their response was ‘I do less than that in a month!’ My busy week includes university lectures and workshops, working three days a week, four gym workouts, and a team sports training and match on the weekend. On top of these consistent commitments, I also try to see my ageing grandparents, as well as visit the aunties and uncles who live close to me. Then I try and fit as many campus ambassador events into my routine as I can while prioritising my family and academic study.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in your degree so far?

I would say that the biggest challenge has been the large amounts of reading necessary for my degree and trying to balance university work with applying for work experience and training contracts. I was warned about the amount of reading that was required in a law degree, however I still didn’t anticipate the amount that I have had to do.

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

There isn’t a bad word I can say about the academic and pastoral support staff at the university. No matter what the issue is, they are more than happy to help and, from my personal experience, can get things sorted quickly and correctly. I personally think these support staff roles go under-appreciated — they are a group of such kind and helpful staff. The university has worked out an effective system and provides every student with an academic coach who can help with any non-subject-based academic questions. As well as the academic coach, each student also gets a Student Journey Advisor who is there to help answer non-academic questions. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the careers team work tirelessly to help students take their next steps after finishing their degree. They arrange the yearly careers fair event, email about possible job opportunities, and even go as far as proofreading and advising on students’ CVs.

 

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Cambridge takes top spot

The latest set of law school rankings has been released, with Nottingham and Edinburgh firing into the top ten.

The latest 2024 Complete University Guide also shows some movement in the top four, with Cambridge climbing into pole position, and Oxford dropping below London outfits UCL and LSE to take the fourth spot.

Further down King’s College London has kept its 5th position, with Durham remaining in 6th, and Glasgow and Bristol 7th and 8th respectively.

Impressively, Edinburgh University has climbed five places to come in at number nine, followed by the University of Nottingham, climbing eight places to rank at 10th.

There have been some even more substantial shifts further down on the 109-university power list. The University of Gloucestershire has climbed 17 spots to reach 76th, with Abertay University rising 27 positions to 68th.

New entrant Bath Spa University clocked in at 41st.

The rankings are based on entry standards, student satisfaction, research quality and graduate prospects.

Ranking	Law school
1	Cambridge
2	UCL
3	LSE
4	Oxford
5	King’s College London
6	Durham
7	Glasgow
8	Bristol
9	Edinburgh
10	Nottingham
11	Queen’s University Belfast
12	Strathclyde
13	Warwick
14	Queen Mary
15	York
16	Sheffield
17	Aberdeen
18	Exeter
19	Cardiff
20	Leeds

Cambridge takes top spot

The latest law school rankings have just dropped, and its good news for Scottish universities.

Four of the top 10 in this year’s Good University Guide hail from north of the border, with Glasgow securing the accolade of highest ranking Scottish law school in third spot. Cambridge took this year’s law school crown, ahead of UCL in second.

The 2024 guide, compiled by the Times newspaper, scores unis on a range of criteria including teaching quality, student experience and entry standards. Legal Cheek has used the filter feature to focus on law courses only.

Elsewhere on this year’s list, Oxford and KCL placed fourth and fifth, respectively, while Scottish uni Strathclyde scooped sixth spot.

Rounding off the top 10 were Edinburgh (7th), Durham (8th), Aberdeen (9th) and Warwick (10th).

At the other end of the table, Liverpool Hope finished 102nd, just behind Staffordshire (101st) and Canterbury Christ Church (100th).

You can check out the full list here, but be sure to filter by subject and select ‘law’.

Top 20 law schools 2024 (Good University Guide)

Ranking	Law school
1	Cambridge
2	UCL
3	Glasgow
4	Oxford
5	KCL
6	Strathclyde
7	Edinburgh
8	Durham
9	Aberdeen
10	Warwick
11	Lancaster
12	LSE
= 13	Bristol
= 13	York
15	Dundee
16	Exeter
17	Leeds
18	Queen Mary
19	Ulster
20	Cardiff

The Legal Cheek Scottish Law Fair 2023 takes place IN-PERSON on Tuesday 24 October at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh. The Fair gives students from across Scotland the opportunity to meet the nation’s leading law firms. Register to attend.