Law Students Take to the Bench in New Facilities

A new generation of Law students have begun their training in brand new facilities developed at the University of Worcester.

The University has created a specialist Law suite at its Jenny Lind building, in the heart of the City, with a fully fitted Court Room, featuring benches for judges, barristers, defendants, witnesses and even members of the press, just like a working court. There is also a jury room next door to simulate the real court experience, and a number of seminar rooms. The work was carried out by local firm, Speller Metcalfe.

The first cohort of students on the University's new LLB Law degree are now enjoying full use of the suite and earlier this month took part in the first round of the ESU/Essex Court Chambers National Mooting Competition 2016-17, in the new facility, facing students from the University of Salford.

University of Worcester first years, Laura Taylor and William Morcom, successfully argued two grounds of appeal on the law of tort, an area of law that they have not yet studied, and are now through to the second round. They were assisted in their legal research by two of their fellow students, Samantha Envine and Jordan Oakes."grounds of appeal.

Head of Law, Bill Davies, said: "Our brand new Law Court suite provides students with an excellent learning environment and enables us to give students a real flavour of the courtroom environment alongside their theoretical learning."

The new LLB Law degree at the University of Worcester is a Qualifying Law degree, accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board and covers all the foundation subjects required to pass the "Academic Stage" " the first step in qualifying as a barrister or a solicitor.

The degree has a strong employability emphasis with a combination of skills-based training within the curriculum and opportunities for work-based experience. Alongside the tailor-made facility, a group of legal professionals from the police, the county council, law firms and the judiciary, have created a forum to support the University's School of Law and provide mentoring for students as they progress through their degrees.

Jonathan Brew, senior partner with Harrison Clark Rickerbys, who chairs the forum, said: "I think this type of collaboration is extremely valuable, both for the students and for forum members. It creates a true partnership between the university and the professional community, through which we can all learn and develop.

"It brings the students into contact with law in the real world, which is important for them, and it not only keeps all of us on our toes, but also gives us the chance to give something back to our profession."

The University is also establishing a pro bono Legal Advice Centre where LLB students will be able to give legal advice to members of the public, supervised by practising solicitors. The clinic will formally open in January and initially focus on Employment Law.