LAW 101 2018

The UKSLSS’

LAW 101

Definitive First-Year Guide for the Singapore Law Student in the UK

SCHOOL LIFE

Lifestyle in the UK: A London Guide

Raphael Khoo, University College London

Let’s just accept this, London isn’t cheap. In fact, a meal out with friends would set your wallet back about £10-20, depending on the dishes your order. But that does not mean that you can’t #lifehack your way through during university. This guide is tailored to students living in London but is not exclusive to London-only kids.

First, the trick of getting food on the cheap is to wait for the “special promotions” to arrive. The Japanese fast food stores (Wasabi and Itsu) have daily promotions of 50% off all food products 30mins before their store closes. Walk by the store in the day time and take note of the closing hours of the outlets near you and arrive at least 15mins before the promotion starts (7.15pm if the 50% off starts at 7.30pm) to ensure that you have a good selection of the food you want and beat the queue. Moreover, download apps like “Toogoodtogo” to get these discounted food options. If you happen to be a customer of Three (the tel-co), the “Wuntu” app has food promotions every other week, ranging from £5 meals at Italian restaurants and Taco-joints to free coffee

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from Costa Coffee (that’s right, free coffee); the plans are mostly affordable anyway and you can get your money back through these promotions.

Second, London is only boring if you sit in the library all day and do not explore the city; it has so much to offer and it’s highly suggested that you embrace the festivities! Websites like www.timeout.com/london provide weekly and monthly updates on the activities happening around the city and is a very useful resource to go out and bond with your friends. Some examples include the Guy Fawkes Night Bonfire, Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park, New Year’s Day Parade and the Queens’ Birthday Parade, to name a few. You could also visit interesting places such as Richmond Park, Kew Gardens, Greenwich and Kensington Gardens for a day trip. There are so many exciting things to do in London!

I hope this guide has been useful to you in some way and I hope you have an amazing time studying in the UK.

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Tips on Navigating Law School: Lectures, Tutorials and Textbooks Richard Chua, University of Durham

Navigating your first year of law school can be a daunting process, so here are a few tips to help you prepare for and survive.

1. Attend Your Lectures As Much As Possible Lectures are where the broad content of a module is outlined and explained, and different module leaders and lecturers have different focus areas. Hence, attending lectures not only gives you a basic level of understanding, but also allows you to know which aspects are more important. Nearing exams, some lecturers even give out exam-content tips!

2. Prepare Sufficiently for Tutorials Tutorials are small group discussions which delve deeper into the intricacies of the law.

Preparing sufficiently not only stops you from looking like a fool, but also enables you to contribute and learn quickly on the spot. This is where misunderstandings from lectures can be clarified.

3. Make Use of the Law Library Textbooks are essential to you gaining a broader and deeper understanding beyond the lecture notes. Where possible, do buy or borrow the single most important textbook assigned for each module. Make use of the library to read widely and learn more. Remember, if a book does not explain a concept clearly, another will likely have the answer!

4. Do the Weekly-Assigned Readings If there’s one thing you’ll be doing lots of, it’ll be reading. This includes lecture notes, textbook readings, academic essays and case summaries.

Make sure to do all of the key assigned reading and do not fall behind! If you do, you may never catch up.

5. Footnotes are VERY Important When reading textbooks and academic essays, you will come across a lot of footnotes. Footnotes are used to cite references or comment on a

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designated part of the text. Learn to be curious and follow the footnotes, you’ll be surprised at how much more you can learn! This is the single most important step for finding multiple sources when you have to write essays.

6. Network and Make Friends Reach out to fellow students and make friends.

You’ll need them for notes, study groups and even emotional support.

7. Build Effective Study Habits Time management is key to success in law school. Pace yourself and study throughout the year to stay on top of the mountain of course materials. While some may get away with cramming in the very last week, it’s certainly not an advisable route.

8. Lastly, Stay Healthy and Have Fun! Law school is stressful and will affect you both physically and mentally. Don’t fall into the typical cycle of getting no sleep and eating poorly!

Instead, establish a routine of regular exercising, healthy eating, having fun, and certainly some time to just be at peace with your inner self.

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Note-Taking 101 To summarise, it really depends on your writing style and how your lecturer teaches their classes (to each his/her own I guess?) But these are just my personal tips on how I personally format my notes: 1. Start with definitions.

2. Include any and all sections or acts that are mentioned by your lecturer (always remember to take note of the year and the subsections as well as the actual “phrasing” of what the act is trying to define!).

Joshua Chia, University of Warwick it). I have come to realise that lecturers who talk way too much to the extent that I cannot keep up with note-taking are usually the ones that provide solid points which will really help you get that bonus mark for essays or problem questions in exams.

lecturer is trying to convey (I usually do this in green).

6. Lastly: ALWAYS REMEMBER TO TAKE NOTES! They really come in handy during Term 3 where you find yourself cramming, especially for Term 1 lectures that are the introductory foundations of your module, and where you are bound to forget some points! So always remember to write notes as much as you can. So when term 3 comes along, you have your own material to go through and study, which will make sense to YOU since it is organised and written in YOUR own words!

5. If your lecturer seems to go off in a tangent or is talking way too fast and you seem to lose track of what he/she is saying, do not panic and try to type AS FAST AS YOU CAN. Just try to take down as much as the lecturer is saying. Go over them once the lecturer is done and try to piece together bits that you have missed (recorded lectures are a lifesaver if your school provides

7. I personally enjoy using FLASH CARDS. So, I like to go through my notes as much as I can.

Memorise or make them even more concise, and write them out on flash cards so you can go though them throughout the day (Eating, cooking, watching shows etc.) Just a handy little tool that helps consolidate any points or cases that you’ll need.

3. Underline/bold key words that really emphasise what the act is trying to define to explain.

4. Highlight cases that show/support the point the

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Example: Property Offences Offences which protect our interests in the ownership of property.

Includes: 1) Criminal Damage 2) Fraud: Using deception to induce another person to make decisions on their own property that they wouldn’t have otherwise made 3) Dual Rationales: Offences that do 2 separate things, Burglary (entering the premises as a trespasser and stealing something, trespass + theft), Robbery (attempting to steal something by inducing force on another, violence + theft)

Theft -

Theft Act 1968

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Complete document, a single source that codified offences relating to theft offences.

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Used modern statutory codes, non-technical terms.

S.1 Theft Act 1968 “A person is guilty of theft if he dishonestly appropriates property belonging to another (AR) with the intention of permanently depriving (MR) the other of it” -

Permanently depriving: Borrowing does not count! Only exception to borrowing is to do with cars! Joy-riding does not count.

AR A) Appropriation (s.3) B) Of Property (s.4) C) Belonging to another (s.5) Appropriation (s.3) An act accompanied by mental element s.3(1) “Any assumption by a person of the rights of an owner amounts to an appropriation” Owner: The rights bestowed on someone who owns the item. E.g. I can lend my textbook to a friend and my friends benefit from the lending.

Unauthorised Acts: Mcpherson (1980) – McPherson and her friend stole a bottle of whiskey and put it inside her 6

bag. Store detective found the whiskey in the shopping bag. She argued that she hasn’t taken the whiskey, the whiskey is still inside the shop. Argument is that she hasn’t stolen anything yet. Courts held that: Mcpherson was being dishonest, her friend created the distraction, put the whiskey into her bag, and the act of doing that was not authorised by the shopkeeper.

Monetary assumption: Corcoran v Anderton (1980) – Corcoran charged with robbery. Argued that since the victim did not let her handbag go, and they didn’t get the bag, robbery didn’t occur.

CAREER HELP

Balancing Academic and University Life Koh Cheng Jun, King’s College London It is with a bit of reticence that I embark on writing this piece. For whatever I write is chiefly based off of my own life in year one, and as much as I would like to give a lyrical description or conduct imaginative constructs of how other first-year law students go about theirs, my narrative here would be insufficient and less than representative.

Ultimately, each individual is different and that you should chart your own life in your first year according to your personal goals and priorities. These include the societies you join, the academic and career-related goals you are setting, the friendships you would like to make, and the connections you would like to cultivate. What are your personal goals? Does it require you to work hard in your first year? As you may already know, the results of your first year in law school either does not count (e.g. UCL) or does not count for much (e.g. in KCL, around 10%) toward your final degree in university. However, they are still important for internships and vacation schemes in your second year, or opportunities for further education such as double degree programmes like the LLB-JD programme with Columbia (offered at KCL, UCL and LSE) and the LLB-LLM Asian Law programme with NUS/

HKU (offered at KCL), where your application is judged primarily on your first-year results.

Do you have to apply for vacation schemes? No. Do you have to get into one of these dual degree programmes?

No. Your three-year LLB degree already has so much value in itself, without having to attach yourself to dual degree programmes or vacation schemes with Magic Circle firms, for example. A large part of a law degree is about how you are able to market yourself, and that has so many permutations with no two persons being identical.

It is about what you want, what is important to you at this stage of your life, and what you value and envision yourself to do in the future. If you are undecided, fret not, as you will have time to figure it out. However, once you are set, my suggestion is to stay focused on what you truly want, pick your battles (being able to compete or fight for something doesn’t mean you should), and stay true to yourself. Doing otherwise would make you feel torn, overwhelmed, and ultimately unsatisfied. For the ease of reading, I offer two main tips (deliberately general to cater to whatever your priorities are): 7

CAREER HELP

Tip #1 Stay on The Front Foot Be proactive. Be curious. Be open-minded. There are so many opportunities in law school that will make you spoilt for choice. It is recommended that you be courageous and try stepping out of your comfort zone (for example, in mooting) before deciding if an activity is for you or not. This also applies to non-law activities.

University life not purely about law school—you can join a sports society, a music society, or even a baking society.

Be active in seeking out these opportunities! Move on to the next one if you face rejections, for there is nothing to lose (university will be the last time where you are able to trial and error in a safe place before you enter the real world and workforce). Whatever you choose to embark on and commit your talents to, remember to give your 100%. It is much better to give your best in a couple of activities you actually take interest in than to be a passenger in a dozen societies by not turning up for events or engaging in a half-hearted manner.

Nevertheless, always be very clear about your personal goals. To use an analogy, your priority, or the personal goals you set for yourself, should be like the trunk of a tree while your commitments and involvement in other activities are like tree branches. If your priority is to do well academically, then studies would be your tree trunk.

Whatever happens to the branches is inconsequential if your tree trunk is strong and firm. Conversely, if your tree trunk collapses, however well you grow your branches would not serve much purpose.

Tip #2 Cultivate Healthy Relationships

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This is very important. By its very nature, with heavy workload and stress, no one can go through law school by themselves. University is an opportunity for you to make friends and connections. It is commonly said that your best friends are those that grow up with you in your teenage years (or army) and it is hard to make genuine friends in university. However, if you never try you will never know. Be kind, be open, be yourself and most importantly, be genuine. I cannot stress the last point enough. I have had experiences with people trying to maintain a façade of friendship but do not involve you in gatherings or events despite knowing you would be interested in it. A friendship would not be meaningful if one party is not honest with the other or see each other as competition in the pursuit of academia or opportunities. If you meet these people, simply maintain a level of friendliness and then jog on. You do not have to go out of your way if you are sure that the other party will not reciprocate in the same manner. That being said, if you meet someone genuine, treasure them and hold on to the friendship as these relationships are hard to come by. They would be your best support network in

times of need (and you would face many such occasions, especially emotionally). It is also an opportunity to try out a myriad of activities and hobbies that your friends have, thus enriching your university life further. Lastly, dedicate time to talk to your parents and friends back in Singapore - they are the ones whom you can always fall back and count upon.

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Extra-Curricular Activities As a starry-eyed fresher, I was amazed by the plethora of societies in university and was quite at a loss as to which societies to join. In my first year, I made the mistake of signing up for too many societies and was up to my neck trying to go for every event in line. As such, I have listed down 6 pointers that you have to consider before overcommitting.

1. Narrow Down Your Options In your first year, you will find many different clubs and societies. In the University of Nottingham, we have the Bellringing Society, Quidditch and Harry Potter Society, and Travel Society and many more. It would be wise to decide which societies you will stay committed to rather than joining 10 different societies and wearing yourself thin. Take note that some societies still allow you to join

Lorraine Low, University of Nottingham

in their activities even if you are a non-member but they may impose a (higher) cover charge for the event.

2. Law vs Non-Law Activities You have to discern whether to spend more time focusing on non-law activities or law-specific ones. It also depends on what your pursuit is, would it be for interest in the activity or for CV purposes? No doubt employers would like to see the relevance in your society affiliations to their firms but partaking in activities beyond the banal Law Society or Mooting Society will differentiate you from your fellow colleagues and give employers a peek into your personality. This may even give you an edge when submitting your application or interview as employers look beyond the cookie cutter honours student.

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3. Balancing Extra-Curricular Activities And Academic Life Some activities take up more time and this is largely dependent on the nature of the activity and the role you take up within the society. It is very easy to be worn thin, particularly when you take up the duties of being an executive committee member, when juggling multiple club commitments and university. However it may not be compulsory to attend all the events organised by your society, and one can choose which event to partake in.

As such, you can plan your activities according to the workload of that week and avoid overworking yourself.

Law is a very content heavy subject and this means that we may have less free time compared to our peers reading other subjects. I remember my geography friends being able to club twice or thrice a week while I was stuck in the library with my nose in the books.

If you intend to compete in competitions, you need strategic time management and strict discipline to maintain good academic records. Sometimes it may require sacrificing a lecture or two but there are more important experiences outside the classroom right?

4. Finances Some activities require a membership fee and you may incur costs from the partaking of any organised events.

Clubs like the equestrian society may incur more costs annually if you add in transport, lessons, equipment rental or purchase. Do consult the society members or any seniors if you are concerned about the expenditure that may be incurred and if need be, you can also look into saving money by buying second hand equipment or renting them.

5. Societies Fair Usually held during freshers’ week, societies are invited to host a stall to introduce their societies to the student body. At the fair, you can direct your queries to members, attend a trial session or pick up some pamphlets.

Although the enthusiastic members may beckon you to join their society, do not be quick to join immediately. Do have a look around before deciding which societies are good fit for you.

6. Joining Different Societies in Different Academic Years

You need not commit to the same societies throughout 10

your three years. I joined different societies every year and I had considerably scaled back on the number of societies with each passing year (work woes!). However if you are gearing for executive positions, do commit to that society otherwise it will undermine your legitimacy.

Remember that academics are still your priority and while your extra-curriculum activities can polish your CV, ultimately employers still examine your grades. However, do not let the stress of getting a First scare you into being a typical Singaporean mugger. Your myriad of nonacademic activities will provide life lessons beyond your 3 years of undergraduate life. So seize the opportunities while you can!

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“May it Please the Court…”

I would now like to make my first submission…

Mooting is often wrongly perceived to be an “extra burden” due to the fact that in many law schools, it is not offered as a module in their core curriculum. As such, some students shuffle through law school without ever having had the chance to moot. It is usually seen as an additional load to the already rigorous demands of the course. However, mooting sharpens your knowledge of the Law. It gives you the opportunity to dive deeper into specific areas of law, which you probably would not have covered in such great detail during lectures or tutorials.

By the time end-of-year examinations come around, you will find it much easier to revise the topics which you’ve spent hours in the library researching, in the process of preparing for your moot. In reality, mooting has proven to be more helpful than burdensome in my pursuit of a career in law.

Secondly, I submit that mooting enhances your practical application of the law. Learning the Law is so much more than just attending lectures, taking notes and doing your tutorial readings diligently. Mooting takes your learning to the next level and allows you to critically analyse areas of law and apply them to the facts of hypothetical cases.

Mooting also refines your ability to speak in public and to respond eloquently and effectively when put under pressure. To many, if not most, the idea of presenting your legal arguments in public before actual barristers,

Justin Jeremiah, University of Bristol

solicitors and sometimes even actual judges, giving them the opportunity to pick it apart, is terrifying. However, all I can say is that it gets better with time. A well-prepared moot almost certainly guarantees your ability to answer any question the judge may throw your way and to be able to respond coolly when confronted by opposing counsel with arguments that downright conflict your own is truly gratifying. The feeling of satisfaction, mixed with a hint of exhilaration that you experience in the aftermath is indescribable.

Finally, I submit that mooting allows you to explore if litigation is your cup of tea. It is not uncommon for you to have your heart set on becoming a barrister or a solicitor from the day you set foot into law school.

Mooting serves as the perfect platform for you to get a taste of what it is like to be in a real courtroom and to try advocacy yourself. Mooting may actually ignite your dormant passion for litigation and as the saying goes, “you’ll never know if you never try”.

To conclude, I submit that mooting is far more enjoyable than students actually give it credit for. Personally, it is probably the most fun I’ve had, at least academically, in law school. From experience, I dare to say that it is definitely more thrilling than living vicariously through popular courtroom TV dramas from the comfort of your couch. So, get up and get mooting!

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Pro Bono Many an aspiring lawyer enters law school with lofty ideals of justice, altruism, and the universal hope of “helping people”. Those are great aspirations to have—but let’s be real. Legal studies is highly academic and nitty-gritty, and everyone in law school seems more concerned with what it takes to get a first-class degree and meeting deadlines for the next internship application cycle. And that’s not even considering the long hours and commercial focus of working life that awaits us. Somewhere along the way, one will inadvertently end up asking that frightening question: “Was law the right choice?”

If serving others is what drives you, pro bono work is an excellent way of reminding yourself why you chose law in the first place. In my first year, I did pro bono work with an organisation called Centre for Criminal Appeals, working on applications to the Court of Appeal on behalf of convicted criminals, for their cases to be re-trialled. My contribution involved looking over evidence submitted in previous applications in order to craft a new version.

The skills I used were a refreshing change from poring over textbooks and memorising cases: reading about witness testimonies, DNA analysis and firearm evidence brought home the reality of my academic content.

If you’re interested in pro bono work, your university’s Law Society will definitely offer opportunities—all you need to do is seek them out. And if there aren’t any, why not initiate one on your own? Information on pro bono projects is available on LawWorks, and your institution’s Law Society will likely be eager to consider proposals on such an integral aspect to legal practice.

Certainly, pro bono will require some level of time commitment, and we know all too well the time constraints of an overloaded law student. But pro bono is worthwhile not least because it is meaningful; it gives you a rare chance to put legal skills to practical use, as well as to embellish your CV. Pro bono will be a regular fixture in your professional life (it is mandatory in Singapore!) so there is no better time to start than now.

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If volunteering during term-time is simply not possible with your existing commitments, why not consider doing it during your summer? The Law Society of Singapore offers an eye-opening two-week attachment with the Pro Bono Services, during which you will screen applicants attempting to make an appointment for free legal advice, and assist in running the legal clinic sessions.

It also offers a two-week attachment with the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS), if you have a particular interest

Tan Jing Min, University of Cambridge in criminal law. If two weeks seems too much, perhaps just sign up to volunteer at Community Legal Clinics or with the Community Justice Centre, which would typically only be once a week, for as long as you indicate availability for (and perhaps less, if there is a long waiting list). Personally, both the attachment and legal clinics proved to be incredibly fulfilling for me—by watching lawyers interact with the applicants and chatting with them during lull periods, it showed me how legal training would equip one with the language and critical skills to enable others to understand their rights and obligations.

By listening to applicants’ legal quagmires and volunteer lawyers’ advice, us overseas law students are able keep in touch with Singapore law and its application. Finally, being in the Pro Bono Services office and doing backend administrative work to keep the pro bono gear of Singapore’s legal machine well-oiled and running gives one an appreciation of the other aspects of the system.

Legal analysis and crafting arguments are not the only makings of a lawyer—understanding the infrastructure and ecosystem one operates in is, too.

It goes without saying that we, on a journey to the noble profession of law, have been beneficiaries of an abundance of privilege. The end-goal of all our hard work cannot only be profit: we must always look forward knowing that we have seen further only by standing on the shoulders of giants, and commit ourselves to looking around to pull others up as well.

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Managing Time as a Law Student

Akshay Prasad, University of Oxford

Thick textbooks with an endless number of pages and to make things worse, tonnes of cases each over a hundred pages long. On first look, the life of a law student looks nothing short of depressing. It cannot be denied that law is one of the most demanding degrees. However, this does not always mean that you should be spending all your time in your room/ the library working through readings and essays. After all, you are in University and most importantly, you are doing it abroad in a foreign country that has so much to offer. So, time management is crucial for you to maximise your three years of study and milk as many enjoyable memories and experiences as possible. Through this piece, let me run through what your time in the UK should be spent on as well as dropping useful pointers of how to make best use of the limited time we have at our disposal.

Good grades, a social life and adequate sleep, these have always been considered 3 goals of an impossible trinity, where a student would have to necessarily sacrifice one in order to achieve the other two. In my experience and many around me, this is not necessarily true and through your degree, you should strive for all three. Grades and sleep being self-explanatory, it is the idea of a social life that sadly many law students fail to comprehend and therefore fail to achieve.

Social life is entirely subjective and it can include anything from partying, to involvement in societies or cheap

travels around Europe. The main idea is to do something outside of your degree that gives you a peace of mind and provides opportunities for holistic development.

Without this element, you may find that your time in the UK is not only torturous but also devoid of the experiences that make studying abroad one of the most exciting and enriching phases of your life. One thing that sets University life in the UK apart from that back home is that it does offer more time and opportunity for you to engage in such activities to have an enjoyable student life. So, on top of your academic work, do make ample time to have a social life and at times it is the refreshing perspective and energy that you get from these activities that propel you to succeed in the academic arena.

Now, moving on to pointers on how best to manage your academic workload. While the structure of your course may differ according to your university—an example being the emphasis Cambridge and Oxford places on their unique tutorial/supervision system, one thing that unites law students is the sheer amount of reading and the assessment style which consists of essays and problem questions. The key is to get through your reading as efficiently as possible. Never be daunted with the content on the reading lists, where even your tutors tend to indicate that certain materials are optional.

While it is always good to read as much as possible, it is more important to work smart to ensure you are keeping up with the week’s work without having to end up doing 13

SCHOOL LIFE catch up. The worst thing you could do for yourself is to attend a tutorial without having a clue on what is being covered because you’ve been catching up on last week’s material.

So here are my top tips on how best to manage the workload. Pick a primary textbook which will be your source of the theory that needs to be covered. It is pointless to read different textbooks each week where more often than not, the content is repeated and adds minimal value to your understanding. Use the alternative texts as a source of revision and building your knowledge closer to the exams.

Not every line of a judgment is useful. Firstly, identify the leading cases that you are required to cover in the week and focus on them. In these leading cases, pay attention to the leading judgment and if any, the dissents. Make concise notes on each of these that will be useful for revision without having to re-read the judgment all over again. The key to analysing cases is to form a cogent pattern which these leading cases establish and setting out the legal position which can then be easily applied to your questions.

Keep pace with the week’s work. With limited contact time with tutors, it is important to make the most of it. If you find yourself short of time, make sure to get a general idea of the week’s work at the least before attending the week’s lesson. Catching up is more suited for out of term time.

More generally, analyse your timetable closely and set out clear timelines as to when you should aim to finish the week’s work. If you are able to plan these around the other activities that you may want to engage in, then there is no reason why you should not be able to have fun and get work done as well.

Overall, while it may seem intimidating at first, as you progress in the course, you often tend to figure out how to allocate your time more efficiently in accordance to your learning style etc. Take it easy and make plenty of time to enjoy yourself. You only get one university experience! Good luck!

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CAREER HELP

The Route to Qualification: Singapore Adelle Yii, University College London As a Singaporean reading Law overseas, there are several additional steps you need to cover before you can be called to the Singapore Bar. The process has been an area of confusion for many, including some current students, thus I will attempt to paint a clearer picture for your benefit. To put it very simply, Law graduates from Overseas Scheduled Universities must complete a Relevant Legal Training (RLT) of 6 months as well as the Part A Bar Examinations, on top of the usual Training Contract and Part B Bar Examinations. On average, the entire process will stretch over 2 years.

page. Although this document is catered more to those who will be graduating in 2018 or 2019, you can use it to have an idea of the timelines that you may need to work with.

There are two routes which you can consider, and I will discuss the main advantages and disadvantages of each route in detail. To sum it up briefly, the two routes are:

Route One

I highly recommend attending the briefings which will be conducted by the Singapore Institute of Legal Education (SILE). The briefings will be held on the 23rd, 29th and 30th August, and will cover the possible routes to qualification and how you can structure your RLT and Part A Bar Examinations. The registration link and the accompanying flyer can be found on our Facebook Page and you will be asked to send a confirmation of student status upon registering. Alongside the briefing, you will find a document containing all the necessary information pertaining to the application process on our Facebook 15

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Route Two

Upon completing one of the abovementioned routes, you will be considered a “qualified person” in Singapore.

There are a number of pre-requisites for this, but the key ones are that you must be a Singaporean Citizen and you must have graduated with at least a Lower Second Class Honours from a Scheduled University.

There may be exemptions for the Part A Examinations, but there are no exemptions for the Relevant Legal Training. An exemption may be granted for the Part A Examinations if one is a senior lawyer with substantial experience, although exemptions are granted on a caseby-case basis. With regards to the Part B Examinations and Training Contract period, one may be exempted where one: · Is a “qualified person”; · Is admitted to practise in a common law jurisdiction; · Has obtained at least two years of RLT and/or “relevant legal practice or work”.

Therefore, applying these requirements in a general manner, fresh graduates from UK universities will not be exempted from the Part B and Training Contract periods.

I sincerely hope that this has provided clarity on the qualification process, although this is admittedly a watered-down version of all the information that one must take note of in the future. Remember to keep yourself up to date with the process by checking the SILE website before submitting your application for the relevant examinations. Please don’t hesitate to drop an email to president@ukslss.com if you have any queries!

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The Route to Qualification: UK NB: -

The route to qualifying as a solicitor is projected to change in September 2020 with the introduction of ‘Solicitors Qualifying Exams’.

Hello incoming freshies! Are you aspiring to qualify as a lawyer in England and Wales but have no idea how?

Do not fret as this article is written with the purpose of answering your queries! This entry will primarily address in a succinct manner, the routes to become a lawyer. It will first consider the difference between solicitor and barrister – the two branches of the legal profession in the UK. Secondly, it will map out the qualifying routes for each branch. Lastly, some additional information regarding visa requirements will be provided.

Difference Between Solicitors and Barristers The English legal profession is divided between legal advisers (known as solicitors) and legal advocates (known as barristers).

The main difference between each is that barristers have a right of audience in the higher courts, while solicitors’ right of audience is restricted to the lower courts. In practice, this means that solicitors would not normally represent clients before a judge, except in minor hearings. Briefly put, barristers mainly advocates for their clients in court and a solicitor mainly performs legal work outside court.

Undergraduate Law Degree A qualifying law degree (QLD) is the primary route into the legal profession. In order for a law degree to be classified as a QLD, seven core modules (also known as the ‘foundations of legal knowledge’) have to be taken and passed without exceeding a maximum of three attempts. These modules are: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Public Law (Constitution/Administrative Law) European Union Law Criminal Law Law of Contract Law of Torts Property Law (Land Law) Law of Trusts and Equity

In addition to the above ‘foundations of legal knowledge’, the law degree must not exceed six years to complete and there must be no deliberate academic misconduct (e.g. plagiarism/cheating) during the course of study.

Darren Tan, University of Birmingham

Once you have completed your QLD, you will need to complete a postgraduate diploma (vocational stage) where the pathways for aspiring solicitors and barristers starts to diverge.

Solicitor Route For aspiring solicitors, you will be required to complete the Legal Practice Course (LPC). The LPC is the vocational stage of solicitor training which typically runs for one year (full-time) or two years (part-time). There are many institutions in England and Wales which provides the LPC (e.g. The University of Law / BPP University). However, certain law firms may have preferred institutions where they expect you to study at. Also, there may be specific modules that the firm might require you to complete. In most cases, law firms will assist you in both enrolling into the preferred institutions and courses. If not, make sure you check with the firms before applying for your LPC. After completing the LPC, you will have to undertake a two-years training contract with a law firm (in which you will have to pass a Professional Skills Course during that time as well). Once you have completed your LPC and training contract, you can then apply for admission to the roll of solicitors. One point worth noting would be the application deadlines for training contracts.

Training contract applications typically opens two years in advance. This mean that you will have to start applying for training contracts during the near end of your penultimate year! Nonetheless, some firms still do welcome applications from final year students, albeit that your training contract will commence one year later (than if you were to apply in your second year).

Barrister Route Unlike the solicitor route mentioned above, aspiring barristers must complete the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) instead. The BPTC typically runs for one year (full-time) or two years (part-time). Like the LPC, there are many institutions which provides this course as well (e.g. The University of Law). Before you embark on your BPTC however, you must join one of the Inns of Court (namely – The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple and The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple) as it is these associations that have the sole right to call qualified students to the bar.

After completing the BPTC, you will have to undertake a one year pupillage with a barristers’ chamber. Once

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you have completed both the BPTC and pupillage, you can then apply for tenancy as a self-employed barrister in chambers or go into practice as an employed barrister.

Visa Requirements Apart from the academic/vocational requirements, you will also be required to apply for a Tier 2 work visa, as your Tier 4 student visa would have expired by then. The requirements of a Tier 2 visa is similar to the Tier 4 visa (i.e. a certificate of sponsorship, proving knowledge of English etc.) with the inclusion of an “appropriate salary” requirement. A general work visa typically requires a salary of at least £30,000 per year, or the ‘appropriate rate’ for the job you’re offered - whichever is higher.

This may pose a problem to some as the salary for nonLondon firms would typically be lower than £30,000.

You may however, choose to switch your Tier 4 visa to a Tier 2 (General) if you are applying from inside the UK. A graduate switching from a Tier 4 to Tier 2 can meet the ‘new entrant’ salary rate which in many cases, starts off at £20,800. Also, not all law firms will issue a certificate of sponsorship. It is therefore pertinent to clarify with the firms you are applying to before committing further.

And there we go! The above pretty much summarises the route to qualifying as a lawyer in England and Wales!

There are however, other factors which you may wish to consider as well such as the income tax rates and costs of living. Apart from that, I hope that this short entry has provided you with a clearer understanding on qualification in the UK!

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Lost in a Career Bubble?

Suchetra Sivakumar, Queen Mary University of London

It is important to realise that reading law is extremely different from that of practice. Some stumble upon this reality even before pursuing a law degree. But if not then, one will eventually come to the realisation through work experience during your university years such as internships and vacation schemes. Either way, it is possible that you may no longer feel interested in pursuing a career in mainstream law (solicitors, barristers, paralegals) despite enjoying the academic side of it.

Such thoughts can be reasoned through many views; but if they are convincing enough for you to start looking into other fields, by all means. A law degree does not strictly mean that you have to become a lawyer no matter how desirable society views it to be.

Reading law has a plethora of transferrable benefits which can make you a good fit in many alternative sectors. As law students, punctuality and discipline is instilled into us as we often work against the pressure of deadlines. While this is not mutually exclusive to law graduates, it is an essential quality to possess in every field of work. Moreover, we are able to hone our written and communication skills through academia and extracurricular opportunities (mooting, negotiating, essaywriting) that we are exposed to in law school. More importantly, our research and investigative skills as well as our ability to analyse issues from different perspectives build a solid foundation in being able to think outside the box, enhancing our delivery of arguments and solutions.

I view this trait to be very crucial at this point in time, where creativity and innovation are highly-valued in our growing economy.

But, you may worry that all those years of hard work and struggling through law school is put to waste if you pursue a non-law career. You can put those thoughts to rest as that is not necessarily the case. For example, journalism provides you with a good avenue to utilise your legal knowledge when analysing a story or writing a report on a recent judgement. Or, you can even stick close to soliciting by becoming an in-house adviser for companies, where activities like mergers and acquisitions would not go through without your backing. Finance sectors too, especially where taxation is concerned, are reliant on legal knowledge if you venture into corporate finance or research. The list goes on, with many more career options out there that allows you to utilise your legal background. Needless to say, thorough research to find out your suitability in different career paths should do the trick.

The road to these careers might seem daunting as law schools might tend to push students towards mainstream careers in law. Peers around you will also be on a run to secure internships, vacation schemes and ultimately, training contracts. As a result, it is likely that you will feel unmotivated or left out. However, do not be disheartened! Keep your strength and head up as job satisfaction in the long run will be worth it in the end. In the meantime, be proactive - carry out research about the workings of the different industries that are of interest to you, work internships, and talk to people about their work in these fields. These experiences will definitely help you realise your true calling.

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Vacation Schemes and Open Days Many of us study law overseas with the goal of coming home and practising in Singapore. This is a very practical and popular strategy as most of us intend to work where our home and family is.

With that said, I would advise any overseas law student to explore the options available to them in the UK while they are there. Within the City of London, there are many international law firms that offer students work placements and even training contract opportunities regardless of whether they are home or international students. These include Open Days, First-Year Schemes, Vacation Schemes, and direct training contract applications.

It is important to understand that applications for such work opportunities are fiercely competitive. As such, it would serve students well to do research on the different types of law firms in London, as well as apply for and attend Open Days to gain an insight into life as a trainee solicitor in the City of London. As they usually operate on a rolling basis with a number of law firms, do apply early for such opportunities!

Some important factors to take note of when applying to these international firms include: whether the firm is headquartered in the UK or the US, the firm’s main practice areas, their trainee intake size, international secondment opportunities, its training programme structure, and the firm’s culture.

Many international law firms recruit trainees through vacation schemes which normally run across 2 to 3 weeks in the summer, and includes assessed assignments and socials throughout the programme. You can apply for vacation schemes in the summer, spring and winter during your penultimate as well as your final years, which will maximise your experience and increase your chances of securing a training contact in the UK. For first years, you can apply for Open days and Firstyear schemes to gain an intimate look into the firms’ offices in London as well as get to know the lawyers and graduate recruitment team who are on the lookout for keen, talented aspiring commercial solicitors.

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Nevertheless, I would highly recommend anyone considering applying to gain work experience in the UK to do the same for law firms in Singapore. Most of you will be returning to Singapore in the future, and it will be wise to gain insight to the legal landscape in Singapore

Sylvester Tan, University of Leeds

as such internships provide you with an understanding of the perspectives and cultures of Singaporean law firms. It will broaden your options in applying for training contracts here, and provide a comparison to better equip you in your decision on which route to eventually take.

Ultimately, take advantage of the unique opportunities that are open to you as a Singaporean UK law student and try to develop a holistic, cross-jurisdictional understanding of the practice of law. Such exposure will only serve you well wherever you choose to pursue your legal practice.

CAREER HELP

Brand Ambassadors Adelle Yii, University College London The term “Brand Ambassadors” is one that you will be accustomed to in the course of your degree, perhaps more famously known as a flexible source of income for students. A Brand Ambassador is (typically) a rising second year student who works part-time for companies and firms as a promoter within their own campus. However, as an incoming first year student, you should keep an eye out for companies or firms which you may want to work for.

When it comes to finding an ambassador for a law firm, they may prefer someone who has attended their open days or firm events!

Brand Ambassadors are generally paid £8-£10 per hour, although this varies from firm to firm, and the majority of the work is carried out online. You may be required to attend certain events in person, such as law firm visits to your campus, or to man a booth at the careers fair. Personally, I probably spend a maximum of 5 hours per week working on campaign, save where there are careers fairs which I have to attend in person. Your work will vary based on your campaign, but as a general rule of thumb, you should be comfortable with sharing events and information across several social media platforms.

The use of technology is central to the role of a Brand Ambassador, since it is impossible to speak to every one of your course mates in person. Most of your posts are generally shared on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. That being said, you don’t have to be a social media influencer to do well in the job, you just have to be creative in your posts and know the best platforms to make yourself heard. As long as you ensure that you meet your campaign hours and mailing list sign-ups, you will do just fine! Some firms even offer monetary bonuses if you hit a certain number of sign-ups or run certain presentations for them.

I will touch briefly on the application process.

Applications tend to open in Summer and are sometimes considered on a rolling basis. You will usually be asked to complete an application form with a couple questions, alongside a submission of your CV. Depending on the firm you have applied for, you may be required to submit a short video detailing why you want to be a Brand Ambassador.

Don’t worry at all – your video doesn’t have to be of the best quality, it is simply an opportunity to see how enthusiastic you are and how comfortable

you are when it comes to speaking to strangers.

A tip would be to make your video as creative as possible, don’t simply sit in front of your computer and speak to the camera throughout. Move around, use props and use this time to demonstrate your knowledge of the company that you would like to work for. Most companies and firms will give you an offer rather quickly if they like your video!

There are tremendous advantages to working as a Brand Ambassador. The first, of course, is that you are well paid for the work you do. The second and more important advantage, is that it differentiates you when it comes to application season. Firms prefer hiring Brand Ambassadors because it means that you’re comfortable being in different situations and you’re well versed in organising events and is capable of juggling various responsibilities at once.

Personally, I don’t think there was too much to handle alongside academic work, given that your work hours are flexible, and you account to your campaign managers online as opposed to meeting them in person. You’re also free to come up with suggestions and ideas that are catered to your university, so you don’t necessarily have to follow in the footsteps of your predecessor.

However, if you are concerned about handling the workload, I’d suggest getting in touch with the Brand Ambassadors of campaigns that you are interested in. They will understand the nature of the work that needs to be done and how much time you should be ready to set aside. The campaign managers are often really friendly, so you can get in touch with them before submitting your application, to sort out any worries you may have. Please feel free to drop me an email or message as well and I will try my best to assist you in any way possible!

Lastly, as I have mentioned before, it is still early to be considering the position as an incoming student.

Don’t worry if it’s something that you are still unsure of or simply does not appeal to you, there will always be an opportunity that suits you out there! I wish you all the best in your future endeavours.

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