University of Leicester’s Student Law Society: My Experience

In the wake of Fresher’s Fair I thought I would do a recap of what the University of Leicester’s Student Law Society has to offer and share with you my experiences of the group.

What the Student Law Society has to offer:

• COMPETITIONS – Debating, mooting, negotiating, client interviewing, mediation.
• PRO BONO – Legal Advice Clinic, Pro Bono Research into Alleged Miscarriages of Justice, Street Law and the Asylum Project
• LAW REVIEW – academic legal publication consisting of articles written by students.
• SPORTS – weekly training and matches for the Society’s sports teams.
• WORKSHOPS AND TALKS – the Student Law Society also arranges workshops and talks given by employers and academics.

My experience:

The Legal Advice Clinic

During both my first and second year I was part of the Legal Advice Clinic team. In my first year I performed the role of Administrator which involved greeting clients when they arrived at the clinic and talking them through the Legal Advice Clinic process and paperwork. One of the perks of the Administrator role is that you are invited to observe the client interviews, conducted by second and third year law students, which gives you a feel for how a successful client interview is conducted.

In my second year I took on the role of Clinic Adviser. The role requires you to conduct client interviews and thoroughly research the issues raised by your client. You are given details of your clients concern before the interview takes place so that you are able to read up on the issues before their appointment. Clinic Advisers are paired with another Adviser and so you conduct client interviews with your partner and discuss the findings of your research with them, before agreeing on the advice you intend to give. Being able to work effectively as a team is a vital part of the role.

I gained a great deal from being a part of the Legal Advice Clinic. The experience helped me develop my communication and research skills and gave me an insight into this particular aspect of the work undertaken by lawyers. The experience also gave me the opportunity to apply the law to real life scenarios and added an extra dimension to my legal studies.

Law Society Netball Team

During my second year I also joined the Law Society Netball team. We train for an hour each week and we also play against the netball teams of other societies each Sunday. Being a part of one of the Law Society’s sports teams is a great way to socialise, let off steam and improve or develop your skills in your chosen sport. It’s definitely something I’d really recommend.

Strasbourg Trip

Last year I went on the Strasbourg trip which was organised by the Student Law Society and included a visit to the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and the European Court of Human Rights. It was really great to see the institutions you will learn about during your first and second year and all for a pretty reasonable price! (£210 including accommodation and travel!)

So as you can see the University of Leicester’s Student Law Society has had a pretty big influence on my student experience. I’d definitely recommend signing up to the society because they offer such a wide variety of opportunities and experiences throughout the year.

For more information about what the Student Law Society has to offer and for event updates you can check out their website and Facebook page.