Legal professionals empower students in Cumbria

Legal professionals from Carlisle's Bendles and barrister Gerard Rogerson recently engaged with students at the University of Cumbria during the university's annual law conference, organised by the student-led Law Society. Mr Rogerson offered insights into his career and provided an overview of the local courts and legal system. Following him, Ms Smith discussed the intricacies of child law and family justice.

The event proved invaluable for the LLB (Hons) students, bringing together legal practitioners and representatives from local public organisations like Citizens Advice to create an atmosphere of inspiration. Workshops highlighted the free legal advice provided by Citizens Advice and offered students a chance to interact with representatives from the HM Courts and Tribunals Service who elaborated on the court system’s operations. A police-led session, in collaboration with Cumbria Constabulary, delved into the investigative process from arrest to conviction. The day concluded with an engaging Q&A session.

University of Cumbria’s ongoing dedication to experiential learning and student involvement was evident throughout the event. Ellie McKenna, law society president and second-year student, expressed her enthusiasm saying, “We are delighted to have welcomed our guests, and we thank them for coming along and giving their time in support of our students.” She stressed the importance of events like this in providing students insights into their future careers.

Kieron Metcalf, a law lecturer at the university, highlighted the conference's unique opportunities, stating, “The conference provides fascinating insights into the daily lives of legal professionals. For students, they gain an invaluable opportunity to network with inspiring local practitioners.”

Hannah Smith, a partner at Bendles, shared her appreciation for the occasion, stating, “I was delighted to be invited to speak at the University of Cumbria’s annual law conference. It was fantastic to see so many familiar faces in the student body, alongside new ones.” She emphasized the crucial role events like this play in supporting and inspiring future lawyers and maintaining strong relationships between Bendles and the university.

Looking ahead, the law society is gearing up for its annual law ball at The Halston in Carlisle on 12 May, building on the momentum established at the conference. The University of Cumbria’s law programme continues to excel, recently ranked first for satisfaction with feedback out of 108 law schools nationally.