1. ONE STOP SHOP FOR LAW EMPLOYABILITY DEPARTMENT OF LAW & CRIMINOLOGY
SALLY GILL
DIRECTOR - LEGAL ADVICE CENTRE
LAW EMPLOYABILITY COORDINATOR/ SENIOR LECTURER

2. OVERVIEW BACKGROUND RE-BRAND OF LAW EMPLOYABILITY – ONE STOP SHOP
PROGRESS SO FAR / RECENT STATS
CURRICULUM INTEGRATION
LAW IN PRACTICE (LEVEL 4) – ADVOCACY & PROFESSIONAL (LEVEL 5)
STUDENT SOCIETIES
STUDENT FEEDBACK – BOS
FUTURE PLANS
ACTIVITY
FEEDBACK

3. BACKGROUND STARTED IN 2007-2008 LAW ADVISORY FORUM SET UP IN 2008
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF STAFF GIVEN BAW
KEY PARTNERS – HIGH PROFILE (BEDFORD ROW; HSBC; ALLEN & OVERY)
LAW IN COMMUNITY PLACEMENTS AS PART OF CURRICULUM
YEARLY CAREERS FAIR IN READING WEEK
DECISION TO SPREAD ACROSS THE YEAR & EMBED INTO THE LEGAL METHOD CURRICULUM (THIS IS NOW LAW IN PRACTICE)
PROBLEMS – RESOURCING – SAME STUDENTS - ENGAGEMENT OF HARDER TO REACH STUDENTS – MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS – IT WAS LITTLE PIECEMEAL IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT

4. REBRAND – ONE STOP SHOP WHAT WAS THE INTENTION OF THE REBRANDING?
Put an umbrella over everything employability related
Put one person in charge with the strategic overview –less piecemeal more outcome based
Legal Advice Centre – placements – work experience – mooting – talks – mentoring – essay competitions
Create a contemporary recognisable brand
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS S WEEKLY UPDATE
MOODLE PRESENCE
Calendar
Online sign up for events
Booklet summarising opportunities available
@Sandroidsally
END OF TERM BOS SURVEY FOR FEEDBACK

6. Current events - November 2015
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
WEEK 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
WEEK 2 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
WEEK 3 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
WEEK 4 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
WEEK 5 30 1
9/11/15
Legal Advice Centre training session 4-6pm QA063
12/11/15
7 Bedford Row Chambers Annual Reception
6.30-8pm
16/11/15
Assessment Centre & Psychometric Test workshop 11am-1pm QA080
17/11/15
Amicus Talk pm QA075
16/11/15
Law Society
Talk: Tucker’s Solicitors 4-6pm KW315
25/11/15
Faulty Get Into Teaching Fair
12am – 3pm Stockwell St 11_1021
Current events - November 2015

7. Current events - December 2015
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
WEEK 1 30 1 2 3 4 5 6
WEEK 2 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
WEEK 3 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
WEEK 4 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
WEEK 5 28 29 31
3/12/15
Aspiring Solicitors Talk
4-6pm QA063
1/12/15
HSBC Interview Workshop Evening pm
2/12/15
London Law Fair pm Law Society
7/12/15
Legal Advice Centre training session 4-6pm TBC
10/12/15
Kath Nicholson Head of Law, Lewisham Legal Services talk,
4 -6pm QA080
9/12/15
White & Case Interview Evening 6.30pm
Current events - December 2015

8. Progress
The rebrand is now fully embedded and is in the 2nd year of operation
The opportunities on offer have been refined to reflect student feedback & inevitable changes
Weekly project plan
1st term is front loaded to capture enthusiasm
Mentoring and mock interview evenings are undertaken in the 1st term
Talks are carefully scheduled to avoid exams/ assessments and clashes with faculty initiatives
Faculty initiatives are part of the overall programme of events on offer and are not replicated by the LAC Department
Student Law Society & Commercial Awareness Society centre stage in term 2

9. Curriculum INTEGRATION
Law in practice – year 1 – students prepare a CV & PDP – they record their attendance at employability events & reflect on their experience- this links into ACE
Advocacy & Professional Ethics – year 2 - it is planned to assess client interviewing / legal research through the Advice Centre – PDP’s will continue once this is rolled out in the 2nd year
Pro bono option – year 3 includes:
Legal Advice Centre
Innocence Project
Law in the community placements

10. PRO BONO OPTION STUDENTS

11. STUDENT SOCIETIES Student Law Society Commercial Awareness Law Society
Working in partnership – facilitation of involvement
Room booking
Scheduling talks
Guarding contacts
Regular meetings
Recording attendance

12. Student feedback
Student feedback is obtained once a term using BOS; & focus group (the most regular attendees are invited) BOS login
Students wanted:
Work experience
Mentoring
Personal CV checks
Help with applications
Vacation schemes
Our research shows that students sign up for mentoring opportunities & work experience in large numbers
Aim to have a mentor for each student during their 2nd or 3rd year of their degree

13. Future plans Creation of an app to advertise all things employability
This will link with the virtual law clinic for the Legal Advice Centre
Continuation of integration within the curriculum in level 5
Development of the sandwich LLB to include a work experience placement between levels 5 and 6
Intention to increase mentoring on offer to students via the app by linking up law employability with the Legal Advice Centre volunteer lawyers network

14. CASE STUDY – JADE FINAL YEAR STUDENT
Over the Summer I worked at Plumstead Law Centre with an Employment Caseworker and some other law students from different year groups. 
Collectively, we took part in employment advice drop-ins and learned loads about being a lawyer. We were able to have first-hand experience of shadowing an experienced employment solicitor whilst doing interviews and during the actual advice sessions. This allowed us to progress to interview clients ourselves one-on-one, and with the approval of an employment solicitor, feedback advice to clients. 
This also coincides with my experience in the university Legal Advice Centre which revolves around the same basis - and is an excellent opportunity for any Law student. 
As I am doing employment law as a taught course this year the experience will really complement my course.
I really enjoy the work and the experiences and it has definitely firmed up my commitment to becoming a lawyer. 

15. Case study - Gabriella CURRENT LLB student
I was a mentee under the Deutche Bank mentoring scheme. I sent in a CV and covering letter and was chosen to be mentored by one of the lawyers at DB.
I met with my mentor (who is Head of Legal at DB) 4-5 times over coffee and he showed me round & introduced me to colleagues in the legal department.
I’ve found it really useful and inspirational. It’s allowed me to see the more commercial perspective. My mentor has said I can come in for work experience. I’ve kept in touch with him and he’s been so helpful sharing his experience. I had a mock interview with my mentor which was really useful. As I’m the first in my family to go to University, the mentoring scheme has really helped me develop a network, and consider a career I never thought I would have access too!

16. CASE study - Omotola CURRENT Llb student
The opportunity to volunteer at my own University’s Legal Advice Centre is a dream for every law student!
As well as work experience, it offers you the chance to experience life as a lawyer whilst studying. It gives you the confidence you need; erases your doubts about not being good enough; or establishes them, if law is not the field for you!
I know all this because I am an international student from Nigeria and through this work I have felt that I am already doing a pupillage! It didn’t used to be so; so far from home and doing a course like law, I had a lot of doubts and insecurities. But the responsibilities and work I have undertaken as part of the Legal Advice Centre since it opened in March 2014 has given me newfound confidence.
Omotola is one of our ‘top attendees’ at law employability events!

17. STATISTICS
387 more students engaged with law employability in 2014/ than in 2013/2014
Signs are excellent for this year’s stats looking at term one
E.g. comparing term one of 2014/2015 with term 2015/16 there have been considerable increases in Legal Training (including Legal Advice Centre Training, PIP, NCDV) and Job Seeking Strategies (workshops on CVs, psychometric testing, mock interview with corporate employers etc.)
Participation in Legal Training has increased by 267% (83 more students engaging in term one of 2015 compared with term one of ).

18. Statistics continued
Participation in Job seeking strategies has increased by 148% (40 more students taking up opportunities in term one of 2015 compared with term one of 2014).
So far all other participation is similar in term of numbers from term one of 2015/16 compared with the whole of 2014/15 so it appears that the rebranding is having a positive impact. #
There was a 19% increase in graduate employment in the DLHE stats – this year’s is yet to be published

19. OUR PARTNERS
Plans to gain agreement from all partners for advertising their logos on literature website and brochures.

20. ACTIVITY IN GROUPS TALK ABOUT WHAT YOUR DEPARTMENT DOES ALREADY
THINK ABOUT 3 WAYS YOU COULD APPROACH EMPLOYABILITY DIFFERENTLY
FEEDBACK TO THE GROUP