Informal and supportive schemes for students to connect with professional and alumni mentors working in the legal and business sectors. Student mentees receive support with professional development, teamwork and communication skills. The schemes provide an opportunity to network with legal practitioners and professionals from the UK and international corporate world.
What are the benefits?
The schemes help students to develop a range of transferable skills including:
- Communication: Improve your ability to express your expectations, goals and concerns.
- Professionalism: Learn what it is like to work in the legal sector and commerce.
- Networking: Learn the importance of connecting with like-minded professionals, and how to do it effectively.
- Feedback: Receive honest independent feedback to help prepare you for the next steps in your career development.
Which organisations participate?
Mentoring is offered by regional law firms: EMW Law, BP Collins and the Buckingham alumni community including: Fiona Hewitt, Buckingham Alumna, Employment Solicitor & Partner with Constantine Law and Najma Dunnett, Senior Associate Solicitor in Construction Law with Howard Kennedy. Students have the opportunity to receive mentoring guidance for careers in governance and commerce from Eitan Fono, CEO and International Lawyer and Honorary Senior Fellow at Buckingham.
What do students think of the mentoring experience?
“The times were perfect it was not too much to fit into my uni schedule. Thank you Eitan! You were easy to talk to which made opening up come naturally. You were also very insightful and helped me to think a little more about the field I would like to work in.”
– Willandra. Mentor: Eitan Fono
“I would like to thank the whole team for taking their to help us understand what a career in law is like.”
– Savanna. Mentor: EMW Law
How did the students find the 1-1 meetings?
“My mentor has been, and continues to be extremely helpful. I have met him on several occasions and he has provided very good advice. I completed two days of work experience with Stephen and he went out of his way to maximise the value of this.”
– Rory, PT LLB student
“I think just overall getting an insight from someone who has actually made it through everything is incredibly helpful. Having a contact to talk to about my career plans and things that have gone well and not so well just gave me a better perspective on becoming a solicitor, and I think also helped me accept that rejection and failure are just part of the journey to successfully landing the vacation scheme or training contract you’re after.”
– Tessa, FT LLB student
“The most memorable thing for me was learning about the different forms for family and employment practice, and especially knowing how the client fees are calculated. I really didn’t know much about it prior to the workshop but by the end I felt like I had a really good grasp on it. Overall, I’m very grateful for this experience. The team at SE were nothing short of wonderful, incredibly knowledgeable and so friendly. They really could make anything interesting.”
– Zainab, FT LLB Student
Find out more
Take a look through our frequently asked questions for further details.