Weekly Newsletter 4
UCL Law Society Weekly Newsletter 4 - 2/10/2023
Dear all,
A new year is now here for us all. For freshers, this year represents the beginning of a new chapter in life, marked with having a great time and making lifelong friends. For our second years, now begins a period of settling into the degree more and starting to think about specific interests within law. Lastly, while we might’ve lost some friends to schemes for studying abroad, the final years are getting ready for the last push and feeling the sudden need to say “I can’t believe it’s final year already” 100 times.
Before the important stuff starts, a repetition of the important reminder from last newsletter: this newsletter is where every important bit of information will be sent out this year. If you do not at least skim over these, you will miss all of the Law Society’s opportunities!
Presidential Election
Congratulations to Paul Holler on his election as the new President of the Law Society! Under new leadership, the Law Society Committee is excited to work with our peers to deliver our usual package of amazing events and opportunities.
Congratulations also to Mike Gilks for his fantastic campaign and dedication to important causes and principles.
First and Second Year Representative Elections
A reminder that nominations are open for the vacant positions of First and Second Year Representative. Detailed information on this can be found in our previous email. We wish the best of luck to all candidates!
Junior Mooting Competition Sign-Ups: Participating & Judging
The JMC, open to first years, is now accepting sign-ups! A fantastic way to get into mooting, testing your skills in a mock court environment, the JMC is the perfect opportunity for aspiring barristers and anyone wishing to practice their advocacy and speaking skills. Second and third years can also sign up to help their peers by judging the competition!
Please contact the Junior Moots Officer Donald Chan at tze.chan.22@ucl.ac.uk with any questions.
To sign up as a participant, please fill in the form here.
To sign up as a judge, please fill in the form here.
Deadline: 11:59pm, Monday 9th October
Senior Mooting Competition Sign-Ups: Participating & Judging
The SMC is the centrepiece of mooting at UCL. Open to second, third and fourth years, this competition promises to deliver some of the highest quality mooting in the country. Problems range from Equity & Trusts, Tort Law, and EU Law, and are written by leading academics.
The final of the competition takes place at the UK Supreme Court, and will be judged by a Supreme Court Justice in March 2024. Please contact the Senior Moots Officer at saiba.ahuja.21@ucl.ac.uk with any questions.
To sign up as a participant, please fill in the form here.
To sign up as a judge, please fill in the form here.
Deadline: 11:59pm, Monday 9th October
LAN Staff Writer Positions
Applications are now open for freshers for the position of Staff Writer at the LAN. If you enjoy writing, are interested in commercial and legal developments, and want to get involved in a less competitive side of the Law Society, then this is the perfect role for you.
More information is available on the application form, which can be found here.
To subscribe to, and read past editions of the LAN, please visit this link. If you have any questions, please get in touch with the Publications Officer at james.hall.21@ucl.ac.uk. Best of luck!
Deadline: 11:59pm, Sunday 12th October
Client Interviewing Competition
Sign-ups are now open for the Client Interviewing Competition! This is a fantastic opportunity to practice your skills in a professional legal environment, and get valuable experience in interviewing clients as you might as a solicitor. There are two roles you can sign up for to take part in the competition:
If you are a first year, you can sign up to take part as a client using the form here.
If you are a second or final year, you can sign up to take part as the interviewing solicitor here.
Please email the Vocations Officer at matthian.tan.22@ucl.ac.uk with any questions.
Deadline: 11:59pm, Monday 9th October
UCL & TCLA Mentoring Scheme
This year, UCL Law Society is running a mentoring scheme with The Corporate Law Academy, which helps connect students of all years with their peers who have had success in their commercial law applications. People who take part will also have the opportunity to attend an exclusive drop-in session on October 25th with Jaysen Sutton, TCLA’s founder. Contact the Careers Secretary at imaadh.ahmed.21@ucl.ac.uk with any questions. To sign up, please fill in the form here.
Deadline: 5:00pm, Thursday 5th October
Advocate of the Year Competition
BPP’s annual Advocate of the Year 2023-24 national mock trial competition is now open. It will involve preparing and delivering aspects of realistic cases, and the winner will receive a scholarship for BPP’s Barrister Training Course, with other prizes awarded to the most promising advocates.
The competition is open to all years, so long as you have not participated in the competition before. The first round will take place online on Saturday 18th November 2023. The Grand Final will take place at the Old Bailey on 23rd March 2024. All competitors must also be available on both 18th November 2023 and 23rd March 2024.
To register your interest in being part of the UCL team for this mooting competition, please email our Bar Careers Secretary at ishaan.khosla.22@ucl.ac.uk. Please include no more than 500 words on why you would like to be a part of UCL’s team this year. Please note that Ishaan may require more information as part of your application later.
Deadline: Midday, Thursday 19th October
Black History Month Panel
As we enter October, the significance of Black History Month is highlighted. It’s a time to come together and recognise and celebrate the remarkable contributions of black people in the past and present. Black History Month serves as a time to acknowledge the efforts of individuals who made significant contributions in all aspects of society, often against major adversity, and inspires us even now to break down barriers and challenge injustice.
At the UCL Law Society, we acknowledge that it is necessary to celebrate these parts of our history, especially those which tend to be glazed over. As testament to our commitment, the Diversity, Inclusion, and Overseas Subcommittee will be hosting a panel in collaboration with Eversheds Sutherland and Freshfields to receive insight from black individuals in the legal sector and learn from their experiences.
We encourage all members of our community to join us on October 10th at 6:00pm in LG17 Bentham House to join us as we celebrate Black History Month. Please contact the DIO Officer at meral.abibula.21@ucl.ac.uk with any questions.
The link to RSVP for this event can be found here.
Pro Bono Opportunities
We would like to invite you, alongside the Student Pro Bono Committee and the Centre for Access to Justice, to the Pro Bono Fair! It will take place in the Jeremy Bentham Room on October 4th at 2:30pm. For more information on what it involves and which organisations will be attending, as well as to register your interest in attending, please visit the link here.
In addition, applications have begun opening for some fantastic pro-bono opportunities. To see the complete guide for opportunities and deadlines, visit the link here.
Anyone particularly interested in pro bono work may wish to follow UCL Pro Bono on Instagram, an account with some very useful links in their bio. Their account can be found here.
If you have any questions, please contact the Pro Bono Officer at eren.i’anson.21@ucl.ac.uk.
Herbert Smith Freehills Breakfast Morning
Herbert Smith Freehills are kindly inviting our members to a breakfast morning at their Primrose Street office on the 11th October from 9:00-11:00am. This is a brilliant chance to network with their associates and trainees prior to vacation scheme openings. To sign up, please visit the link here.
Deadline: Friday 6th October
Debate Judging Reminder
Sign-ups are still open for the opportunity to judge our debates using the form here! It is a fantastic opportunity to improve your skills through judging while giving something back to your fellow debaters. Please contact the Speakers Secretary at tvisha.shukla.21@ucl.ac.uk with any questions.
James Hall
Publications Officer
On behalf of the UCL Law Society
Another great newsletter - thanks for the info!