Every year we have an internal family advocacy competition. The aim of the competition is to expose students to an area of law they may not be familiar with as well as a type of advocacy that will be quite alien to the most seasoned mooter.
The competition has been sponsored for many years by our good friends Becket Chambers. The winner receives a cash prize, a book and a mini-pupillage at the chambers. This year’s winner was Mia Pennington. Let’s see what she thought:
‘My name is Mia Pennington and I am a Stage 2 Law and Criminology student at Kent Law School. I grew up in Gravesend, Kent, where I still live, and attended Mayfield Grammar School from ages 11–18. I studied Law, Criminology and Art at A-Level, which is where my passion for law, particularly criminal law, really began.
Recently, I took part in the Family Law Advocacy Competition hosted by Becket Chambers. I entered purely to test the waters with family law. I had never studied it before and, honestly, knew almost nothing about it. But I am keen to explore as many areas of law as possible before deciding what is really for me – and I thought there was only one way to find out. I definitely did not expect to win.
The first round involved researching and preparing submissions for a Non-Molestation Order – something I had never even heard of before. It was completely new territory. We then presented our submissions before a barrister acting as judge. I found this round the most nerve-racking, partly because of the unfamiliar subject matter and partly because there were around 25 participants.
The second round followed a similar structure: research, preparation, and oral submissions. Four of us progressed to the final.
The final was more intense. I was up against a fellow student (who also happens to be my best friend) and presented in front of a panel of judges. The format remained the same, but the pressure definitely increased. I was interrupted with judicial questions during my submissions, which meant I had to think on my feet and respond clearly and confidently. It was nerve-racking, but also genuinely good fun.
Through the competition, I gained a huge amount of confidence and developed new knowledge of family law. Alongside some fantastic prizes, including a mini-pupillage with Becket Chambers (which I am currently undertaking), I also had a one-to-one meeting with a practising barrister. That conversation in particular was incredibly insightful and reinforced my ambition to pursue the Bar.
My future plans are to take the Bar and become a barrister. Advocacy is what excites me most. I naturally gravitate towards criminal law, but I have thoroughly enjoyed my exposure to family law and my studies in tort. For now, I am exploring different areas and allowing my experiences to shape my path rather than putting all my eggs in one basket.
My advice to fellow Kent students would be to take advantage of the opportunities available. Kent Law School consistently provides valuable experiences- often at no cost – and they truly make a difference. Don’t be afraid to throw yourself in at the deep end. I knew nothing about family law when I entered this competition, and that turned out to be one of the best decisions I have made. Sometimes you just have to back yourself and give it a go.’
Darren Weir, Director of Lawyering Skills said, ‘This annual competition is a particularly popular one. It gives Becket Chambers the opportunity to take a look at the new talent early and our students have gotten so much out of the experience.’
Later this term, the Civil Advocacy Competition will be taking place in collaboration with 42BR Chambers.