Earlier in November, we ran our first SHU Law Connect Employability Academy. The Academy offered students the chance to hear from lawyers recruiting in the legal job market and to practise skills often used in legal job interviews and assessment days. The two-day programme included a careers panel discussion, as well as presentation skills and commercial awareness training. Participating students also had the opportunity to practise their group task and negotiation skills in thoroughly enjoyable workshop sessions. The highlight of the Academy were the mock job interviews – with students completing practice interviews with a member of SHU staff and an external legal professional. Successful students were even provided with the opportunity of work experience!
Mark Johnson, Senior Lecturer in Law and Employability Lead, who organised the Academy said, ‘the Academy was fantastic: our students performed incredibly well, and it was truly inspiring to see how their confidence and skills developed as the Academy progressed. A huge ‘thank you’ must go to all the SHU staff involved and, most of all, to all of the external legal professionals who gave up their time to share their experiences to enthuse and inspire our students.
Maha Baig, final year LLB Law student, commented, ‘the two days of the Academy were extremely helpful, informative and eased a lot of my anxiety regarding legal job selection processes – I feel much more confident having attended. I was also thrilled to be selected for work experience following my mock job interview!’
David Turner of Thompsons Solicitors said, ‘it was my pleasure to be involved in both the careers panel and the mock job interview sessions. All of the students involved are a credit to the university and I look forward to developing the relationship between Thompsons and Sheffield Hallam University further.’
If you are a legal professional and would like to be involved in future SHU Law Connect Employability Academies, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact Mark Johnson for further details: mark.johnson@shu.ac.uk.