Student Experience
At Newcastle Law School we don't just want to give you a first-rate education. We want to give you the best possible student experience.
The Society plays a key role in the life of the Law School. The Society organises many social events. These include an Annual Law Ball and the Graduation Ball, both prestigious events. It also organises Mooting and Client Interviewing. The Newcastle University Law Society has sports teams in football, hockey and netball.
The football team, "Barca Law-na", recently enjoyed winning seasons in the University League. The Society joins the Law School and the Careers Service in helping at the Annual Law Fair. It's a law recruiting event held annually. It's attended by 65 law firms and professional trainers, all keen to recruit our students. Finally, the Society publishes the annual Law School magazine, 'All Rise!'.
The Bar Society offers students an invaluable insight into life at the Bar.
The Society provides opportunities to learn what it takes to be a Barrister. You learn how to get pupillage. We provide essential skills through a series of talks, workshops, and panel events. What we do prepares our members for the next step in their legal career. We offer them personalised support through a mentoring scheme which comprises of:
- BPTC students
- Pupil Barristers
- County Court Advocates
- fully-fledged Barristers
Mentoring provides students with the most invaluable advice on CV’s and applications. It helps give students the best chance, with advice from people who have done it themselves.
Finally, we also help develop the skill of advocacy through our Advocacy Competition. With training, and judged by mentors, it provides the perfect start to life as a Barrister.
Mediation at Newcastle
Mediation is a growing form of dispute resolution found in a range of settings, including:
- commercial
- consumer
- family
- community
- employment
Courts are increasingly referring litigants to mediation. The legal profession has begun adopting it as another tool in their workbox to offer clients.
The School is setting up a new Mediation Society. The aim is to introduce students to mediation practice. We look at how to act as a legal representative in the process. The skills learned in mediation training are invaluable for all lawyers. That's whether they're acting within mediation or in general practice. You gain skills in communications, creativity and understanding clients’ needs and interests.
The Society will host training, events and guest seminars, and run student competitions. It will also send teams to represent Newcastle in national and international tournaments. Newcastle took part in the UK Law School Mediation Competition in January 2020. A team competed in the (online) Singapore International Mediation Institute Mediation and Mediation Advocacy competition in October and November 2020.
For further information, please contact Professor Bryan Clark.
Hear from a student
'The scope of international competition involvement with the Mediation activity at Newcastle is fantastic, setting you up with a more culturally aware and global mindset – perfect for anyone pursuing an international career. And finally, it’s a bit of fun – you get to meet new people, apply the soft skills learnt throughout your law degree to practical scenarios, and grow in confidence! So, get involved!'
Nadia Asbridge, LLB
Don't forget to read the full blog post on North East Law Review (NELR).
Mooting
Mooting is a means of gaining experience in the art of legal argument and dates back to the Middle Ages. Two teams of opposing advocates present legal arguments in a fictitious appeal. The judge may be a senior student, staff or a professional barrister. It depends on the stage of the competition.
The Newcastle Law School mooting programme culminates with the senior team final. This takes place in the Moot Hall in Newcastle's old Assize Court, built in 1809. It's judged by a prominent legal figure. Previous judges included Lord Hope and His Honour Judge Goss QC.
Mooting at University has proven helpful in the workplace. It can help with team working skills, discipline and public speaking experience. All skills valued by employers. Mooting activities are generously sponsored by Dere Street Barristers. If you'd like any further information, please email mooting@ncl.ac.uk
Client interviewing
Mock client interviewing in the context of a fictional legal dispute is important. It helps develops inter-personal skills, team working and meeting management.
Two client interviewing officers, elected by the students, run of the programme here. All first year students take part in a client interviewing exercise, in pairs. This enables students to interact with the local legal profession. Firms of solicitors provide judges for the exercise.
The two highest-scoring pairs take part in Newcastle Law School's Client Interviewing Finals. A prominent Newcastle-based solicitor judges the finals. We enter a team in The Client Interviewing Competition for England and Wales.
For further information email: client.interviewing@newcastle.ac.uk
Negotiating competition
Develop your negotiation skills by taking part in our negotiating competition.
Newcastle Law School started its negotiating competition in 2012 with only 30 teams.
Due to its success, more than 65 teams competed in the latest competition.
We send several teams to national negotiating competitions and other external competitions.
A negotiation is two teams who take part as "lawyers" for each of their respective clients. The two teams have a set of common facts which detail the situation. They tell of the circumstances that have arisen to result in the conflict. The negotiation aims to settle the matter.
Teams also receive a set of confidential facts. These are specific to each team and list instructions from respective clients. The teams have 20 minutes to negotiate agreement. It should best reflect their client's demands.
The competition usually comprises of three rounds. The first round takes place in the first few weeks of November. The semi-finals are in December.
The competition itself pools resources from:
- staff at Newcastle Law School
- the students themselves
- our sponsors, DWF
The first round will be judged by experienced negotiators from the student body. They're finalists and external competitors from previous years. The latter rounds will be judged by solicitors from DWF.
The Routledge Prize for Best Performance in First Year
Routledge provides an annual prize of £75 worth of books. These go to the student who best performs in the first examination for the degree of Bachelor of Laws.
Oxford University Press Law Prize
Oxford University Press provides an annual prize of £150 worth of OUP books. These got to the student who best performs in the first exam of the following:
- LIM
- Constitutional Law
- Contract Law
- Land Law
In the event of many students achieving the same highest mark the prize may not be shared. The board of examiners decides which student should receive the award.
Michael Duffel Partners Prize
Michael Duffel provides an annual cash prize to the student who has:
- achieved the best overall performance in the current academic year
- come through the PARTNERS programme to study Law
- started their second year of study
- come from the North East and is living away from home
Legal Institutions & Method - Northern Dispute Resolution
Northern Dispute Resolution provides an annual cash prize to the student who gives the best performance in Legal Institutions and Method.
Public Law - Womble Bond Dickinson Public Law Prize
Womble Bond Dickinson provides an annual cash prize to the student who gives the best performance in Public Law.
Contract Law - The DLA Contract Prize
DLA Piper Solicitors, provide an annual cash prize to the student who gives the best performance in Contract Law.
Land Law - Womble Bond Dickinson
Womble Bond Dickinson provides an annual cash prize to the student who gives the best performance Land Law.
Sweet and Maxwell Prize
Sweet and Maxwell provides an annual prize of £150 worth of Sweet and Maxwell books. They go to the student who gives the best performance in the second examination for Bachelor of Laws.
Michael Duffel Partners Prize Stage 2
Michael Duffel provides a cash prize to the student who has:
- achieved the best overall performance in the current academic year
- come through the PARTNERS programme to study Law
- started their third year of study
- come from the North East and is living away from home
Tort - The DWF Prize
DWF Group plc provides an annual cash prize and a 1 week work placement. This is for the student who gives the best performance in the subject of Tort.
Evidence - Trinity Chambers Prize
Trinity Chambers of Newcastle upon Tyne, provides an annual cash prize. It goes to the student who gives the best performance in Evidence.
Medicine and the Law - The Medico-Legal Society Prize
The Medico-Legal Society provides an annual cash prize. It goes to the student who gives the best performance in Medicine and the Law.
The prize is presented at the Society’s AGM in October each year.
Company, Criminal, Equity or Trusts - Newcastle upon Tyne Law Society
Newcastle upon Tyne Law Society awards three prizes each year. They go to the students who give the best performance in the subjects of:
- Company Law
- Equity or Trusts
- Criminal Law
The value of each prize is determined by The Society annually. It's presented in person at the Annual Law Dinner.
Research Topic/Dissertation - The Patrick Dowdeswell Prize
This endowed prize provides a cash prize. It goes to the student who produces outstanding work for a research topic, or dissertation, in pensions law. The prize is awarded for an outstanding performance in the field of Equity, if no pensions law work is submitted.
Pippa Darlington Memorial Prize
Newcastle Law School provides an annual cash prize in memory of Pippa Darlington. This goes to the best-performing student on a Law degree that includes a year abroad.
DRS Prize
DRS Ltd provide an annual cash prize. It's awarded to the candidate with the best performance in the LLM in International Business Law.
Newcastle Law School LLM Prize
Awarded to the student with the highest overall grade. This follows completion of both taught components and dissertation on any LLM programmes.
The Student Voice Committee is made up of staff and student representatives. As a member, you can represent your peers and help to shape the future of their education. You'll be supported to lead projects they're passionate about to aid personal development.
You can help new students as they start their journey into University life. In your second and third year, you’ll have the opportunity to apply to become a mentor. You will be a source of guidance for advice, including how:
- to get the most out of lectures and the library
- best to enjoy Newcastle as a city
For information, please contact the Mentoring Coordinator, Sarah Morley.
You can become an ambassador for one of our open days where you will staff one of our information points. You will speak with prospective students and their parents about your experience.
Ncl+ initiative ensures every student can gain valuable, transferable skills besides their degree. Ncl+ brings together groups across the University. They offer opportunities and experiences that will make your time here more valuable. This will boost your employability, and enhance your degree.
Through ncl+ you can apply to become a Student Ambassador. As an ambassador you’ll support a range of recruitment and aspiration-raising activities/events. This is a paid position that it flexible to work around your studies. For more information, please visit the ncl+ website.
