Law (with Arts and Social Sciences subjects) BA(Hons): Links with business and industry

We have close links with organisations such as the Surrey Law Society and legal firms. Connection to the professional world is further strengthened through lecturing staff, some whom combine teaching with legal practice. These links can benefit you in the following ways.

• The calibre of Kingston Law graduates is recognised throughout the legal profession.
• The course incorporates the latest professional developments. 
• You will have exposure to practising professionals who can provide practical career advice and insight.
• The sponsorship of competitions and prizes adds a fun way for you to hone your skills, gain recognition and add weight to your CV.

In addition, an active student Law Society at Kingston works with the legal profession to arrange talks and career events, as well as social activities.

Below are some examples of the way in which we work with outside contacts:

• Surrey Law Society is the local branch of the Law Society. We are in regular contact with the Society, which supports our in-house client interviewing competition. (See further down the page for information about the competition.)
• Colemans-ctts is one of Kingston's largest firms of solicitors. Our good relationship has enabled students to gain work placements at the organisation. 
• Halliwells LLP is another leading commercial law firm, which co-sponsors our Centre for Insolvency Law and Policy.
• Sweet & Maxwell Ltd publishes information for the legal profession and sponsors a prize for the top graduate each year.
• Cavendish Publishing Ltd is an independent publisher of law books that sponsors a Year 1 prize for the highest marks in LLB Law courses.

Client interviewing competitions

Improve your practical skills and raise your personal profile by taking up the challenge of client interviewing. It's fun and adds something to your CV that separates you from the competition. A Year 2 module teaches the necessary skills through a series of workshops. Once you have perfected them, take part in the competitions!

In-house competition: The in-house competition is sponsored by the Surrey Law Society. Competitors take part in a role-play interview with a 'client' in front of a panel of judges. Legal knowledge will be considered but your client-care skills are more important.

National competition: In the national competition, you work in teams of two, but otherwise the format is the same as the in-house competition, which is therefore great training for the National. There are usually around 26 teams competing. Kingston students won the National Competition in 2001 and 2004.

International competition: When a team wins the national, they go on to represent England and Wales in the international client counseling competition (American spelling as they sponsor it!) at the host nation. Kingston teams have competed in competitions held in New Zealand and Glasgow; 2005's final was in Hawaii. Teams come from approximately 16 countries, including America, Canada, Australia, Sri Lanka and India.