Inspirational students

Sheila Bamugemereire is a 2nd year law student and co-manager of the Shajara Collective of African writers, Vice President of the Intersectional Feminist Society and co-creator of radio shows for BCFM and Ujima. In future she seeks to combine the skills built up during her degree and extra-curriculars to aid in the implementation of intersectional and rights-based policy in Uganda and to create, and enable other people to create, safe spaces for individuals from marginalised communities.

Bella Cooper is a final year law student who was part of the Litigants in Person (LiP) Service when the team was awarded 2017 Team of the Year Award by the Bristol Law Society. In a piece written for the Law Clinic she reflects on the challenges and rewards of her pro bono work experience, and how the skills gained while volunteering have helped her in different areas, including securing an internship with Baker McKenzie.

Rhona Egerton was Student Director of the Law Clinic 2016-2017, together with co-director Oliver Foudah. In an interview she talks about the different types of cases she worked on at the Law Clinic, from PI claims and consumer rights issues, to housing and employment disputes. Her time at the Law Clinic also oversaw the launch of new projects with organisations such as CLIC Sargent and the Bristol Drug Project, and, in working directly with members of the public on real life legal issues, confirmed her aims to pursue a legal career in a client facing environment. Upon graduating Rhona secured a position with Allen and Overy.

Kelly Emelle is 3rd year law student and aspiring media lawyer with an interest in black/African literature. She organises opportunities for 'Bristol is the new Black' members through the initiative’s partnership with Ujima Radio, is a marketing intern for the black-owned natural hair company Root2Tip and shares her passion for natural hair through her personal blog ‘My Afro Is Political’.

Jacqueline Fong graduated from the University of Bristol in 1997, after which she went on to have high level career in investment banking. In a Q&A Jacqueline talks about her time at Bristol - and how she grew from an 'awkward' student to winning International awards for protecting the livelihoods of highly skilled Malaysian artisans, having set up an initiative working in heritage preservation, women empowerment and rural community building.

Paige Franks is a recent graduate who has secured a position at RPC. While studying she chose to pursue areas of Family Law, Medical Law and Reproduction Law, Ethics & Policy, with a Final Year Research Project on whether the law should permit patients with body dysmorphic disorder to have cosmetic surgery. In a Q&A Paige discusses how her pro bono work has influenced her aspirations; gaining practical legal experience through the Law Clinic has solidified her decision to pursue a career in Law.

Phillippa Kaufmann, barrister at Matrix Chambers, graduated in 1988. She specialised in both public and private law tackling the unlawful use of the coercive machinery of the state against the individual, including in the fields of prisoners’ rights, mental health, inquests and actions against the police. She took silk in 2011, since when she has been involved in a number of cases seeking to challenge government cuts to legal aid, and was awarded 'Human Rights and Public Law Silk of the Year' at the 2014 Chambers Bar Awards. Phillippa has often supported students as part of the Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series and most recently acted for two victims of the black-cab rapist John Worboys case in the Supreme Court, resulting in a landmark ruling in favour of her clients.

Mariya Kolomiyets is a previous winner of the annual Law Clinic Volunteer of the Year award. During her MA in Law Mariya worked for the Law Clinic's pro bono drop-in initiative, a partnership with CLIC Sargent, helping parents of children and young people living with cancer manage the legal obstacles that arise with the diagnosis. The experience inspired her to pursue a client-facing and socially responsible legal career, and she has gone on to secure a training contract with Norton Rose Fulbright.

Wambui Mwangi graduated from the Law School in 1996 and went on to study for an LLM in International and European Law. Amongst other things she worked with Anti-Slavery International, was a member of Garden Court Chambers in London focusing upon criminal and immigration work, and has worked for the UN at the International War Crimes Tribunals at the Hague and in Arusha, and for the UN in New York. Wambui, who studied the units Sex, Gender and the Law and Human Rights at Bristol, has long been passionate about human and, in particular, women's and girls' rights.

Sanya Rajpal has been actively involved in politics for young people through Bristol Youth Council and the UK Youth Parliament. She has worked closely with the police and the young people's charity Fixers to produce a film, 'Stop and Search Solutions', educating people on their legal rights, showcasing how communication and empowerment can inspire social change. Sanya is a member of the board of trustees for Bristol Women's Voice, a coordinator for the Law Clinic’s Streetlaw initiative has worked with the Bristol Drugs Project. Volunteering with the Law Clinic reinforced her ambition to work in policy.

Alice Ratcliffe was the first recipient of the Best Student Volunteer in the Law Clinic award, which was established in 2016. In an article reflecting upon her experience at the Law Clinic, both during her studies and as a summer intern after graduating, Alice discusses the way in which her work contributed to developing greater commercial acumen, public speaking skills, adaptability and drive. She has since secured a prestigious training contract with DAC Beachcroft LLP.

Lily Walker-Parr was President of the Bar Society 2016-2017 and upon graduating secured a prestigious pupillage with 5RB chambers. In an interview she discusses the benefits of exploring a wide range of academic, work and extracurricular possibilities, her aspirations to a career at the Bar as well as how the university supports students from diverse or unrepresented backgrounds access opportunities.