The 2018/19 Kent Law School Professional Mentoring Scheme launches this week and Law School students seeking a legal career are encouraged to apply now for a mentor.
Mentors, many of whom are Kent Law School alumni, volunteer their time to help students develop their understanding of the legal world. They offer expert advice on CVs, assistance with applications and mock interviews in a bid to help guide their mentees through the application process for both work and study. They work with their mentees over the course of one academic year, from June until the end of the Spring term.
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.’ And Jayne encourages students to apply as soon as possible: ‘Those whom apply early will achieve the best match to a mentor.’
Previous participants in the Scheme have attested to the benefits of a mentoring partnership and/or the networking opportunities afforded by the Scheme:
- Law student Chantal Cohen (pictured left) gained a new sense of confidence and self-belief. She also gained a mini pupillage, enhanced networking skills and a two-week work experience placement
- Law student James Mapley (pictured centre) found himself in the enviable position of being able to choose from one of three offers for a training contract
- Law School alumnus Patrik Jacobsson (pictured right) began working as a trainee with a leading firm of international solicitors.
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 2018. Full details (and an application form) are available on Moodle (see DP1950 Employabilty).
As the Mentoring Scheme develops, Jayne is also keen to hear from students seeking mentors working in non-legal professions: klsprofessionalmentoring@kent.ac.uk
Students beginning their studies at Kent Law School in September 2018 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 was ranked 7th in The Complete University Guide 2018, 15th in The Times Good University Guide 2018 and 15th in The Guardian University Guide 2018
- Kent Law School is ranked 11th in the UK for career prospects (and 19th overall) in the Simply Law Jobs University Rankings 2018
- 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