Two Law students from the University of Winchester are through to the finals of a national competition which tests their professional skills.
Jesse Bishop (pictured above on the left) and Tom Atkin, both second years, won their heat in this year’s Client Interviewing Competition held at the University of Law in Moorgate, London.
Teams are assessed according to criteria which take into account soft skills as well as their ability to handle legal problems.
Students work in teams of two in a simulated law office where they must interview and advise “clients” played by actors in two cases.
Competitors know the broad topic of the fictional cases (this year it was Contracts and Consumers) but are only given a few lines of information in a memo just prior to meeting their clients.
In their heat the Winchester pair dealt with “Alex” who wanted to make a claim for compensation against the organisers of a disastrous music festival and an airline customer who was angry that the price of their cheap ticket had been raised after booking.
Jesse and Tom defeated teams from the universities of Birmingham, Kent, Southampton, Northumbria, South Wales, Sunderland and Warwick.
Judges praised their teamwork, good notetaking and their ability to build up a rapport with their clients.
As can happen in real life, the “clients” became emotional during their consultation, one even slammed the table in anger. However, Jesse and Tom were able to calm the situation.
Tom, 20, from Leek in Staffordshire, said taking in part in real-life advice sessions with members of the public as part of the Law department’s Legal Advice Centre had been good preparation for the competition.
“Being in the same room with Jonathan Whettingsteel from Dutton Gregory and watching the way he deals with people has been very useful,” said Tom.
Jesse, 30, from Aldershot, also praised the practical aspects of the Winchester law course. “It’s a very experiential learning process and very holistic approach to the law. We also have plenty of opportunities to connect and interact with law firms.”
The Winchester pair now join 11 other teams at the national finals to be held at the University of Swansea on 8 March. The winner will go onto an International Final in Glasgow.
Jesse and Tom will be hoping to emulate the achievements of Amy Gallagher and Rebecca Clark who won the national contest for the University of Winchester in 2013.
Dr Emily Ottley, Lecturer in Law, said: “Placing first is a huge achievement and I think this is testament to both students' hard work and motivation preparing for the competition with weekly training sessions. I felt very proud of them when the results were announced!”
Head of the University’s Law Department, Emma Nottingham said: “The University of Winchester is committed to nurturing practical skills such as client interviewing, mooting, and negotiation. Jesse and Tom are a shining example of this and are a credit to the School of Law. We are extremely proud of their achievement.”
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