Law students seeking a legal career are encouraged to apply early to Kent Law School’s Professional Mentoring Scheme for priority matching with a mentor in the legal profession.
Mentors, many of whom are Kent Law School alumni, volunteer their time to help students develop their understanding of the legal world. They may be able to offer advice on: informal career planning; how to develop skills and qualities needed for a career in law; diversity schemes within the legal profession; preparing for interviews for vacation schemes, mini-pupillages etc; what to expect in daily working life as a legal professional; and how to enhance your CV and/or LinkedIn profile.
Mentors work with their mentees for between six and 12 months. Most often, guidance is offered via email but many mentors arrange to meet with their mentees and supportive relationships can endure beyond the end of the scheme.
Law School Employability and Career Development Officer Jayne Instone, who coordinates the scheme, said: ‘This is a great way to build a network in law, have your questions answered, get support with applications, understand the profession and achieve success.’
In addition to be matched with a mentor, participants in the scheme are offered training in networking skills; they’re invited to attend the annual Kent Law School Professional Mentoring Networking event in London or Canterbury, enabling them to meet with a wider range of legal professionals.
Previous participants in the Scheme have attested to the benefits of a mentoring partnership and/or the networking opportunities afforded by the Scheme:
- Chantal Cohen who gained a mini pupillage, enhanced networking skills and a two-week work experience placement
- Meghan Daniels who gained pupillage less than 18 months after graduating from Kent
- Patrik Jacobsson who secured work as a trainee with a leading firm of international solicitors
- Leigh Leach who secured a training contract with a leading law firm in Kent
- Jessica Luu whose mentoring partnership evolved into full-time employment
- James Mapley who found himself in the enviable position of being able to choose from one of three offers for a training contract
The scheme comprises more than 100 legal professionals working in the UK and in countries all over the world including: Canada; Nigeria; Trinidad and Tobago; Malaysia; and the United Arab Emirates. It’s open to any law school student returning to study at Kent in September 2019. Full details (and an application form) are available on Moodle (see DP1950 Employabilty).
Completed application forms should be submitted to klsprofessionalmentoring@kent.ac.uk by Tuesday 7 May – early applications will get the strongest match.
Students beginning their studies at Kent Law School in September 2019 are encouraged to watch out for Jayne’s weekly emails and to follow her Employability Blog for news of further possible mentoring opportunities towards the end of this year.
Kent Law School makes every effort to help prepare students for successful and rewarding careers and our excellent international reputation means that our students proceed to practice in numerous countries worldwide:
- For graduate prospects, Law at Kent scored 86% in The Guardian University Guide 2019
- Of Law students who graduated from Kent in 2016, over 97% of those who responded to a national survey were in work or further study within six months (DLHE).
- Explore our alumni profiles for more insight into what our graduates do