The annual Kent Law Fair took place on 13th November 2025. This important date in Kent Law School’s calendar provides an excellent opportunity for local, national, and international law firms and other legal providers to network with students from Kent Law School and the wider University of Kent community. This year, we were joined on our Canterbury campus in the beautiful Colyer-Fergusson Concert Hall by 29 exhibitors, including firms of solicitors, barristers’ chambers, the Government Legal Department and the Crown Prosecution Service. Among those representing various employers, we were thrilled to welcome back approximately 20 alumni. Across the day, approximately 380 students benefitted from in-depth discussions with legal professionals.
Third-year undergraduate law student Ella Batchelder kindly shares her experience of attending the Law Fair:
‘As a third-year Law student with a strong interest in criminal law, I’m currently at a stage where I’m thinking seriously about my next steps. I’m planning to pursue a Master’s in Law, not only because I value expanding my academic knowledge, but also because the postgraduate degree will help prepare me for the SQE. With that in mind, attending the Kent Law Fair felt like an important opportunity to learn more about the profession I hope to join.
Why I Attended the Fair
My main aim in attending the fair was to speak with practising solicitors and understand what working in law really looks like — beyond what we learn in lectures. I’ve always been drawn to criminal law, so I was especially eager to talk to trainees and solicitors who are already doing the work I aspire to do.
At the fair, I spoke with several firms including GT Stewart, Tassells Solicitors, and others specialising in various aspects of legal practice. These conversations gave me a real sense of the day-to-day challenges and rewards of the field.
What I Learned
One of the most valuable things I learned is that while there is a strong and growing demand for new lawyers, the journey into the field isn’t straightforward. Several trainees shared the reality that the challenge isn’t only securing a position — it’s the intense time commitment and steep learning curve that come with the early years of a legal career. For example, a few criminal trainees described the pressure of adjusting to unpredictable hours, late-night police station call-outs, and the responsibility of managing a constantly shifting caseload.
My Advice for Future Law Students
My biggest piece of advice is go to the law fair. It’s one of the easiest ways to get real insights into different areas of legal practice and to understand what firms actually value in applicants.
3 top tips:
- Don’t just walk up to a stand and say, “I like X law.” Be specific. For example, I explained that I’m particularly interested in sexual offences, and that opened up much deeper conversations.
- Ask recruiters and trainees about work experience opportunities, paralegal roles, or what they look for in strong candidates.
- Use the fair as a chance to compare firms’ cultures and priorities — things you can’t learn just by browsing their websites.’
The day finished with Kent Law Clinic hosting the “Cocoa and Cake Hub”. It was an opportunity to debrief after attending the fair, reflect on future legal careers and how being involved in the Clinic might help achieve those goals.
You can also see postgraduate law student Thavindya’s video about her experience at the Kent Law Fair here.
Looking ahead to next term, the University of Kent Careers and Employability Service will be hosting a Spring Careers Fair on 5th March and the Spring Employability Festival between 2nd – 6th March. This is open to all students, with local and national employers promoting their student and graduate roles from across sectors, and delivering employability skills workshops throughout the week. More details will be shared early next year but in the meantime, check out all of the upcoming events in January here.
