Interview: UCLU Law for All

UCL offers students much more than just a degree. In particular, Clubs and Societies are the foundation of many students’ social lives, and eventual careers. This year Pi will be featuring a different society every week, to spotlight the diversity of students’ activities and to showcase the great work we do outside of academia.

Since UCL’s law society is only open to students taking a law degree, UCLU Law for All is the law society for non-law students, allowing all UCL students to experience the legal industry and see if it could be the career for them.

We spoke to this year’s society President, Elspeth Hunt, to find out more about what the society has in store for the coming year.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN LAW FOR ALL?

I have always had an inkling that I was interested in a legal career, so got involved with Law for All during my first year, attending their events and workshops. Through my experiences with the society in first year, I realised that I wanted to pursue a legal career, so thought working with the society would be a great way to gain a better experience of an industry I was really excited about. Then in my second year, I was fortunate enough to be the society’s Events Officer, and got to work with the committee and numerous firms and sponsors to organise our timetable of events. Now, I am even more fortunate to get to work with the committee and our members again as Law for All’s President, and I am so excited for the year we have ahead.

WHAT ARE UCLU LAW FOR ALL’S CORE ACTIVITIES?

Our core activities are all about giving members insight into and experience of the legal industry. We offer workshops, often run by top law firms, on a range of the skills they want from applicants. These span commercial awareness, interview and application tips, and those that give experience of what it’s really like to be a lawyer, such as negotiation skills. These workshops allow members to discuss real cases, and experience what it is like representing and negotiating for a client. We also hold talks from a variety of different law firms and individuals in the legal industry, who offer an insight into their work and how they progressed through their career.

WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING FOR 2015-16 THAT’S EXTRA EXCITING?

We have a few in-firm events planned for the year, such as an Interview Technique workshop at Weil’s offices, as well as a mergers and acquisitions workshop at Sherman & Sterling’s offices, in collaboration with UCLU Economics and Finance Society. In-firm events are always extra exciting, as they give our members the opportunity to visit the offices of some very prestigious city law firms. There is something very powerful about that experience, as it allows you to start to picture your own career and think about whether you can see yourself working in that sort of environment. It is also always a great networking opportunity for our members, as they get to meet more lawyers and trainees than at the on-campus events. This year we are also really developing our volunteering programme, and there will be some incredible opportunities for our members to volunteer with legal charities this upcoming year.

WHAT DOES LAW FOR ALL OFFER THAT A LAW DEGREE DOESN’T?

 Law for All offers a HUGE range of opportunities for development. Professionally, Law for All offers very tangible support for students entering into the complex and often confusing process of applying for legal opportunities. As I mentioned, we run numerous workshops to help with CV development, writing applications and also developing your interview technique. Additionally I think the society offers great opportunities for personal development. The volunteering opportunities always offer excellent insight into your personal character, and really help members develop their confidence. Also the society is incredibly supportive, and everyone offers personal support and assistance with each other’s career paths.

WHAT MAKES YOUR SOCIETY SPECIAL?

What makes our society special is our passion and commitment. We have an amazing committee who are all personally dedicated to a career in law, and their passion and knowledge really makes our society shine. What makes me proudest is when I hear that our members have secured jobs or training contracts. Over the years, Law for All has helped and supported many members with their applications and helped guide them through the interview process. I feel immense pride knowing that we played a small part in that person’s pathway into law.

You can find UCLU Law for All Society on Facebook, or at their first event of the term, ‘So You Think You Want To Be A Lawyer?’ on 8th October, 18.00, South Quad Teaching Room 3.