L-R: Faiza Afzak, Amina Razzaq, Fatima Yasar
Four students from The Sixth Form Bolton have recently had the invaluable opportunity to work alongside practicing solicitors from Addleshaw Goddard (recently named The Lawyer's Law Firm of the Year) as part of the Law Industry Society.
Essentially, the Law Industry Society is a 4-month programme hosted by Addleshaw Goddard in their Central Manchester office. It is a free, immersive, social mobility programme for motivated Year 12 students, inspired by a university society model, to prepare them for higher education and the world of work. Tailored towards those with an interest in law, the students taking part worked with other society members and received support on real-world challenges from Addleshaw Goddard employees at monthly touchpoints designed to develop their skills and build their career aspirations. Students graduated from the programme in May, having gained crucial work experience, mentorship, awards, certificates, and valuable experience to add to their CV or UCAS statement.
Faiza Afzal, a former Kings Leadership Academy student who now studies A Level English Literature, History, and Politics at The Sixth Form Bolton, said:
"I signed up to the programme to enhance my understanding of the legal system, develop essential skills for legal analysis and practice, and network with legal professionals. I really enjoyed the programme because it provided valuable insights into the legal system, enhanced my analytical skills, and offered opportunities to network with legal professionals. The best part was definitely the bar mock trial. It was an incredible opportunity to apply what I had learned in a realistic courtroom setting and it was both exhilarating and immensely educational. Working within a team to build a case and present it convincingly was also a fantastic experience.
The most challenging part was mastering the art of thinking quickly and adapting to unexpected arguments during the mock trial."
Amina Ahmed Razzaq, a former Bolton Islamic Girls School student who now studies A Level Law, Politics, and Psychology at The Sixth Form Bolton, said:
"I applied to take part to gain more experience in a legal setting. It was a really fun experience and my favourite part was the mock trial. I really loved the programme and would be keen to take part in more opportunities like this."
Fatima Yasar, a former Ladybridge High School student who now studies A Level English Language & Literature, Law, and Spanish at The Sixth Form Bolton, said:
"I took part as a career in law has always been my dream. The programme was very insightful. Networking with the staff at Addleshaw Goddard allowed me to learn a lot more about the legal sector. My favourite part of the programme was the court viewing. It was great to see a court in ‘real life’ and understand more about the court proceedings."
Alistair Semple, Programme Manager at Upskill Me & Talent Spaces who facilitated the programme, was really impressed by the students, saying:
"The students all put an incredible amount of effort and energy into the final challenge, which involved pitching to a panel of senior judges from the firm and beyond. We were especially impressed by Kennedy, who we chose to receive a Rising Star award, for being a member of the cohort who has shown the most growth across the programme."
A huge thank you to everyone from Upskill Me and Addleshaw Goddard who helped to deliver this fantastic programme. Our Careers team share work placement opportunities throughout the year, and students should watch out for updates to find one that meets their needs.
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