Developing skills
To help you prepare for careers both in and out of law there are many opportunities to develop the necessary skills employers are looking for. Able to think critically, you will graduate as an inquiring individual with a rich appreciation of law in business and society.
Advocacy skills
Developing strong advocacy skills is recognised as a key component to succeeding in any future legal or non-legal career. Having the ability to communicate effectively is a core aim of co-curricular activities in the Law School. With the appointment of a new Director of Advocacy, the Law School and student society activities cover a wide range of opportunities for you to explore and hone these skills in the following areas.
Bristol University Law School is a passport. It is a calling card. If you have it on your CV you know that if it is not to open the door, it will facilitate your way in. I and my peers have all gone on to do very well indeed in the law, and without the law. Why? Because they studied here at Bristol University.
Contact us
For information on Law School specific career activities please contact our Employability team on law-employability@bristol.ac.uk
You can also visit the Careers Service for support and advice on where your degree can take you.
How to get involved
We will advertise Law School and student-led opportunities in our weekly Employability Bulletin and publicise competitions on our Law School Student Employability Blog.
Mooting and debating
Mooting is a specialised form of legal debating, allowing you to combine your academic studies with a taste of what it is like to be a real lawyer. The Law School sponsored and student-led mooting programmes help students to argue cases for 'clients' through mock moots, often with real judges, within the university and in national competitions. The Law School also coordinates an exciting programme of intervarsity mooting competitions with at least two teams competing in international competitions annually.
Negotiation
Negotiation skills are crucial for the highly competitive recruitment process of leading law firms. You will need them to negotiate at interviews, open days and during vacation schemes. Developing negotiation skills will help in all aspects of your life and can be honed in our Law School sponsored, student-led competitions.
Mediation
Mediation is the involvement of an impartial third party to support those involved in a conflict to find a resolution. Mediation skills can be developed by working in our Law Clinic or Human Rights Law Clinic, where you are encouraged to enter mediation competitions and continue to develop skills.
Law School and employer skills sessions
The Law School works very closely with our distinguished alumni and Careers Service throughout the academic year to offer a wide range of events to promote careers within and outside of the law - and expose you to a variety of employers and skills sessions. Expanding your professional network allows you to make informed decisions about your career.
Get to know our student societies
Many of these skills can be developed through opportunities in our Law School sponsored student societies. From the Bar Society, to Pro Bono, Environemntal Law to Commercial Awareness, there is a wide range of ways to explore your interests.