The Legal Week.co.uk

Atlantic Chambers on hand for mentoring scheme

Posted by Vicky Anderson on November 15, 2007 6:55 AM | 

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ATLANTIC Chambers is one of several leading Liverpool law firms participating in a scheme with the University of Liverpool to help shape Liverpool’s lawyers of the future.

The contribution from the Cook Street-based chambers will enhance and support the academic experience for students at the University’s Law School.

Funding and expertise from the Chambers will be used to help run the new pro bono clinic to offer free, impartial legal advice to the public and students, and set up a unique law school mentoring scheme.

The mentoring scheme will offer expertise and advice to second year students from a cross section of the legal world in and around Liverpool.

Benefits to students will include an insight into a mentor’s role and an understanding of other roles available in the profession, improved CV and interview technique and a possible network of contacts within the legal field.

Scott Donovan, Head of Civil Practice at Atlantic Chambers has been instrumental in setting up the scheme.

He said: “Atlantic Chambers is delighted to be able to support Liverpool University. It offers a real opportunity for practising lawyers to work with academic lawyers in the development of the law.

“The need to understand and experience the challenges of practice as a solicitor or barrister has never been more important than now, as competition for training contracts and pupilages intensifies. Already there has been a very positive response from the students.

“I strongly endorse the Law School’s creation of a professional practice Mentoring Scheme to enable law students to be mentored by experienced solicitors and barristers.�

Professor Anu Arora, Dean of the Liverpool Law School, added: “In an increasingly competitive market students need the skills to be immediately effective in the work place and to manage their own careers.�

Pictured is (left to right), Professor Arora, Scott Donovan of Atlantic Chambers, and second year law students Ben Davies and Amanda Griffiths.

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Comments (1)

Tom Harel wrote...

Dear Vicky, thank you for sharing the good news about Atlantic Chambers.

I think the key quote is right here: "The need to understand and experience the challenges of practice as a solicitor or barrister has never been more important than now, as competition for training contracts and pupilages intensifies. Already there has been a very positive response from the students."

With a massive 7% of the total graduate vacancies in the UK being associated with Law firms (source: Association of Graduate Recruiters Survey), a large number of the professionals of tomorrow could benefit from the forward thinking approach of Atlantic Chambers. I can only hope that more law firms will be joining this initiative in the near future.

Posted by: Tom Harel  | May 25, 2008 9:04 PM

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