Final year student

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Welcome back to Nottingham Law School and welcome to the 2024/25 academic year as you begin the final year of your law degree.

As the Deputy Dean of the School, I have had, and continue to have, responsibility for ensuring that you have the best possible student experience during your time studying with us, and that continues into this important final year.  You may have already experienced some of the wealth of opportunities, activities and support that are available to you to inspire you to succeed, but as you enter your final year, I encourage you to look out for further opportunities and activities to enhance your year and to make the most of the support that is available.

Along with my academic and administrative colleagues, I will be here to help and support you throughout your studies. I hope that you have a wonderful year and I look forward to celebrating your achievements with you at graduation at the end of the academic year.

Best wishes for what I hope will be a fantastic and successful year for you at Nottingham Law School.

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As Head of the Undergraduate Portfolio, I am delighted to welcome you back to Nottingham Law School for your final year.

You are now in the final stretch of your exciting journey toward completing your undergraduate law degree. Our courses this year will continue to integrate academic knowledge and practical skills, further preparing you with the employability skills essential for your future careers. We encourage you to make the most of the opportunities available to you during this crucial year.

I wish you all the best in your studies and hope you find this final year both rewarding and enjoyable.

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As the Head of Postgraduate Portfolio at Nottingham Law School my role encompasses the Legal Practice Course, our suite of Preparation Courses for the Solicitor’s Qualifying Examination (SQE), the Barristers Training Course, the Post Graduate Diploma in Law, and the Academic Masters.

Our courses prepare you exceptionally well for your future careers and our team of tutors are committed to providing you with the support you need to succeed during your time at NLS.

You have an exciting time ahead of you at NLS. Enjoy your time with us and I wish you every success in your studies.

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As Head of NLS Legal, I am delighted to welcome you back to the Law School.

We recognise that studying law is more than just textbooks, which is why we also equip you with vital practical skills in preparation for your future. Here in NLS Legal, the UK's only regulated law firm integrated into a law school, you will have the opportunity to work with our team of lawyers on real life cases whilst supporting the local community by providing access to justice.

If you are interested in finding out more about how you can get involved with the NLS Legal, either as part of your course or on an extra-curricular basis, please check out our NOW learning room or contact nlslegalvolunteers@ntu.ac.uk

At NLS, you can also gain legal work experience via our partnership with the national charity Support Through Court (STC). STC provides practical and emotional support to those going through court proceedings without the benefit of legal representation. For more information see STC’s NOW Learning Room.

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As the Director of External Engagement and Head of the Practitioner Portfolio, I am delighted to welcome you back to NLS for your third year.

In my role I work with practitioners, law firms and legal service providers across the country, many of whom will visit NLS from time to time.  As you work towards the end of your studies, do take the opportunities on offer to meet these employers and other visitors. Many of them will have workplace opportunities that you may only find out about by attending their sessions. So use your time well and embrace the opportunities on offer wherever possible, as they will both enhance your academic experience and help you to understand the professional environment you may be working in after you finish university.

I wish you a very happy and successful year here at NLS.

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NLS has a vibrant and inclusive research culture with many members of staff involved in writing books, journal articles and conference presentations.

We have staff members who are leading researchers in their fields and who have global links and excellent contacts within the legal sector.

Research by members of the Law School has impact beyond the University, having been cited by courts, government bodies and NGOs. Staff have provided expert advice to governmental, legislative, regulatory and other organisations both nationally and internationally.

The main research activities are organised by our research centres and groups, which enable staff with similar research interests to consider ideas and develop joint projects, such as conferences and publications.

• Centre for Business and Insolvency Law
• Centre for Rights and Justice
• Centre for Legal Education

The Nottingham Law Journal is an annual, peer-reviewed publication featuring academic articles and critical commentary on matters of contemporary legal interest.

At NLS, we encourage students to spend some of their time studying in another country. You will have the opportunity to study in Europe, Australia, the United States or further afield with one of the study abroad programmes. Depending on your course, you can study abroad for either a semester or a year. You will benefit from both academic and personal experiences during your study exchange.

Find out more about our study abroad programmes. Please note these opportunities will be subject to Government and University policies on travel.

NLS has been running summer schools in various European cities for more than 15 years. Summer schools run for one week, are open to all NLS students, and are taught in English.

For Summer 2025, there will be an opportunity for visit Berlin – with a focus on international criminal justice including war crimes and the work of the International Criminal Court.

Summer schools are subject to Government and University travel policies.

Our students have many opportunities to develop and practice their mooting and mediation skills while studying with us.

Mooting

Mooting consists of arguing a legal problem against an opponent in front of a judge and has been a part of Law School almost as long as they have existed. Today mooting involves students producing written skeleton arguments in advance of the moot before presenting their arguments orally, as if in an appellate court. It requires students to have a detailed understanding of legal principles and an ability to apply these to specific factual circumstances. It is an indispensable skill for anyone wanting to go the Bar and is highly sought after in all legal careers. However, mooting also equips students with the transferable skills not just to be proficient lawyers and advocates, but also adept business people, presenting their points to colleagues with confidence and knowing how to argue and defend their position.

Due to these transferable skills Mooting is integrated throughout the LLB courses, with two core modules, Contract Law in year one and Criminal Law in year two assessed by moot. The most successful students also have the option to take mooting as a final year module.

Outside of modules, there are many opportunities to get involved with mooting throughout their time at NLS. The NLS Mooters Guild runs a number of internal competitions including a school-wide mooting competition and several issue specific competitions including a woman’s day moot and an international law moot. The Guild also organises for students to compete externally in a range of national and international competitions. To support students in this, the Guild runs workshops throughout the year to help students develop and practice the skills needed within mooting. Alongside this, NTSU’s student law society (LEX) runs successful internal mooting competitions and activities designed to assist students with their mooting skills.

Mediation and Negotiation

NLS is committed to equipping students with skills to be effective in the legal environment. Negotiation is a fundamental skill which pervades every area of the practice of law. Lawyers negotiate with or without their client present. Mediation is a process where parties to a dispute are present, with or without lawyers, and are assisted by an impartial third party (a mediator) to reach a mutually acceptable outcome through negotiation. In both negotiation and mediation, the lawyer’s skill in preparing for the negotiation and representation of their client is crucial. Our Centre for Mediation and Dispute resolution is dedicated to providing our students with the opportunities to learn and practise these skills in the form of internal competitions from which winners may enter national and international competitions.

Winners of the NLS internal competitions are awarded the Professor Miryana Nesic Memorial Prize for either Negotiation or Mediation Skills. Teams from NLS have previously won the UK Mediation Skills Competition held in the City of London and the International Commercial Mediation Competition held by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris.

NLS aims to ensure the highest level of competency and understanding for its students. In order to help achieve this, we arrange a series of lectures delivered by leading practitioners from a range of solicitors’ firms. It gives you the opportunity to see how the skills you are developing will be applied in a commercial and professional context. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions and network with practitioners. Details of the individual lectures for 2024/25 will be communicated throughout the year.

The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) is the centralised assessment for anyone who would like to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. NLS are offering a wide range of SQE preparation courses which will prepare you to sit the SQE and you will be given more information about  the SQE route to becoming a solicitor as you continue your studies.  As an LLB undergraduate student some of your modules may also help you prepare for the SQE.

Having delivered training for the Bar since 1997, in December 2019 NTU became an Authorised Education and Training Organisation and, as such, is authorised by the Bar Standards Board to deliver the vocational component of training leading to Call to the Bar.

We offer a 9 month LLM Barristers Training Course and a 6 month PgDip Barristers Training Course.

Those who successfully complete the vocational component and wish to practise at the Bar of England and Wales are required to undertake a one year pupillage.

The Bar Standards Board provides a useful overview of Bar training on its website. You may also wish to read the Bar Council’s downloadable publication Becoming a Barrister.

We offer a wide range of Masters in Law (LLM) programmes, where you will be able to enhance your knowledge of the legal profession by focusing on specific areas of the law. There will also be opportunities for you to work with our various research centres and groups, each specialising in their own areas of legal expertise.

1. Met with a careers consultant to discuss career and/or further study options.
2. Researched application deadlines for postgraduate study (including scholarships), legal work experience and/or training contract opportunities
3. Spoken to law firms and other graduate recruiters about early career opportunities at the NLS Law Fair and NTU’s jobs fairs.
4. Searched the extensive – and ever-changing – vacancy listings on MyEmployability for legal or non-legal graduate roles.
5. Reviewed the ‘Applications and interviews’ section of MyEmployability and booked an appointment to receive feedback on your application and/or interview technique.
6. Applied to participate in one of NLS’ mentoring programmes.
7. Applied for a volunteer role at NLS Legal and/or Support Through Court via the NLS Legal and Pro Bono NOW Learning Room.
8. Explored NTU’s extra-curricular Employability Awards, including the LawTech section of the Digital Award.
9. Attended at least one employability event advertised via NLS’ Employability Resource NOW Learning Room.
10. The Bar Standards Board provides a useful overview of Bar training on its website. You may also wish to read the Bar Council’s downloadable publication Becoming a Barrister.

NLS has set up the Alumni Fellowship Programme to support the professional and personal development of current undergraduate and postgraduate students.

The programme draws upon a select group of NLS graduates, known as Alumni Fellows, who have volunteered to share their knowledge and experience to help improve students’ employability prospects and gain insight into the legal profession and alternative careers.

These are fantastic opportunities for you to: learn from the experiences of former NLS students, build your professional network and gain insight into the broad range of career options open to NLS graduates. Details of Alumni Fellowship activities will be shared during Terms 1 and 2, so make sure to check your emails, 'MyEmployability - Events and Opportunities' and the NLS Employability NOW Learning Room.

NTU’s Employability Awards are designed to provide you with CV-worthy recognition of your employability-related extra-curricular activities. A suite of new, themed awards (Sustainability, Digital, Global and Enterprise) offer the opportunity to align your award experience with your interests, passions and values.

A vital part of this support is providing personal tutors for all students. You will meet your personal tutor in the first week, in a session with your seminar group. You will continue to meet with your personal tutor throughout the year and undertake timetabled sessions with them and your seminar group. It is vital you attend these tutorials as they are designed to support your transition to university life, both academically and socially.

NTU aims to provide a supportive and caring community, and urge you to seek out advice, guidance and support at the earliest opportunity. The Student Services Centre offers fantastic support for our students, so we encourage you to use this facility if you have any issue at all.

NLS Central brings together helpful resources on Academic and Student Support – all in one Central location. It contains many useful guides to help you understand what is expected of you by the University and your tutors. It contains information on study techniques, student support, personal tutor support, referencing and good academic practice and is where you will also find the training package on how to improve your understanding of academic irregularities.

NLS Central will appear as a Learning Room under the ‘Student Communities’ heading when you log onto NOW. Scroll down the list of rooms and you will find NLS Central. You can Search for NLS Central in the search function in NOW and pin the page so that it always appears in your list of favourite learning rooms.

We need student course and School Representatives to let us know if there are any issues that we need to resolve, and to give feedback on what is going well, or not so well. You will be given details of how to put yourself forward for these positions at the beginning of each academic year.

We set up focus groups, to find out more about the student experience and to get feedback on course delivery and innovation. We really appreciate any student feedback and welcome your views, comments and suggestions. Our aim is to continually improve the student experience. Watch out for communications inviting you to attend these sessions.

The focus of the forum is to exchange ideas and develop and improve systems to facilitate events and activities, which will enhance the Law School community and demonstrate your leadership, employability and workplace skills to the outside world.

Students will be invited to volunteer to be on the forum at the start of the academic year. If you are interested in being part of the forum, email matthew.homewood@ntu.ac.uk to contact the Deputy Dean.

As well as focus groups, we will ask you to complete feedback questionnaires throughout your course. These may include MySay questionnaires on your modules / course and the National Student Survey (NSS), which is a national survey completed annually by final year undergraduate students. We use the feedback you give us to make improvements to your course and would encourage you to complete these surveys.

We are always on the look out for new student profiles to showcase your experiences to prospective students. Please email Elyse Wakelin if you would like to have your profile online.

NTU and NLS run many events throughout the year, including open days, seminars, lectures, and conferences.

The role of the Student Ambassador varies according to the event but it could include:

• staffing your course stand at an open event
• being prepared to talk about your experience studying with us
• helping at registration
• taking visitors on campus tours.

Ambassadors will receive training and will work alongside academic staff and members of the Marketing team.

The Student Ambassador scheme offers NTU students the opportunity to develop skills and confidence while being able to earn money by supporting these events.

Student Mentors are law students in their second or third year who have volunteered to help you settle in and find your way around NTU and NLS. They understand how you are feeling and can answer any questions you may have.

You will meet the mentors during Welcome Week and at key times throughout the year. Student Mentors offer you support, understanding, encouragement and help you become part of our Law School community.

Offers opportunities to make an impact through volunteering in both local and global communities.

By responding to growing areas of need in:

• Arts and Culture
• Crime and Justice
• Education and Attainment,
• Environment and Sustainable Futures
• Health and Wellbeing

You can help to make a difference while also developing essential skills that can support your studies and enhance your employability.

Globally, there are exciting volunteering opportunities to support charities in countries such as Romania, Greece, Uganda, Guatemala and Fiji.

Students in Classrooms make a difference in local schools. As a positive role model you will support pupil attainment and character development, whilst increasing awareness of higher education and the opportunities it can offer.

Get paid to work in local schools and colleges through initiatives such as:

• Outreach Ambassadors
• Learning Advocates
• Achievement Coaches.

LEX is the main law society here at NTU and is NTSU's Society of the Year! They were awarded this at the recent 2022 NTSU Awards for the outstanding work done offering a range of amazing opportunity!

LEX offers many opportunities, both academic and social, throughout the year to gain practical legal skills and access pro bono activities. LEX run a Buddy Scheme, provide a fortnightly Newsletter, run a Negotiation Series, and offer other exclusive opportunities in collaboration with NLS and external companies, and run independent events, like the publicly recognised ‘Women in Law Panel’! LEX also compete in Negotiation and Mooting competitions against other universities through Varsity and law firm events. As a society, they are incredibly social offering a range of socials, networking dinners, boat balls, trips and of course... the LEX Law Ball! They even have their very own football team.

Don’t miss out on your chance to join NTSU’s best society, gaining an amazing sense of community, whilst also having ample opportunity to develop professionally! They aren’t your average Law Society! Check out @ntu_law_society on Instagram to see everything on offer.

Our main aim is to help you develop your understanding of commercial awareness and develop this attribute for future applications. Commercial awareness is a vital skill not just for lawyers, but for a wide range of other careers. Commercial awareness is having an understanding of how businesses and organisations work and how current affairs can have an impact on them.

NTU Space Law & Exploration is the first society of its kind in Europe and is proud to be one of a handful in the world to give students the unique opportunity to learn and understand the national and international regulations surrounding all aspects of space. This includes the laws of satellite regulation and space shuttle launches to asteroid mining and Moon bases

Join the Space Law and Exploration Society

Nottingham Law School Tel: +44 (0)115 848 4270

General Student Enquiries: blsnlssubjectadmin@ntu.ac.uk

Undergraduate Courses: nlsadminllb@ntu.ac.uk

Full time Masters Courses: nlsadminllm@ntu.ac.uk

Distance Learning Masters Courses: nlsadminllmdl@ntu.ac.uk

Postgraduate Diploma in Law: nls.pgdl@ntu.ac.uk

Legal Practice Course: nls.lpc@ntu.ac.uk

SQE Preparation Courses: nls.sqe@ntu.ac.uk

Barristers Training Course: nls.bptc@ntu.ac.uk

Professional Programs: plsadminteam@ntu.ac.uk

Email addresses for all other members of staff can be found in the Staff Directory.