Solicitor Mentor Scheme
What is the Solicitor Mentor Scheme?
All students studying the Legal Practice Course have the opportunity to join the Solicitor Mentor Scheme. The scheme aims to enhance the links between the local profession and aspiring solicitors. It gives students an opportunity to gain insight into life in a solicitor’s office and to forge links with local employers. It is also valuable experience to include in a CV.
The LPC Careers Officer will try to match the student’s area of interest to a local solicitor or experienced trainee solicitor in a local firm. Whilst the student is with the solicitor mentor they will observe life in a law firm. This could include sitting in on client interviews, going to court, reading through client files and accompanying the mentor to meetings with barristers.
We have almost fifty solicitor mentors working in a wide range of legal settings including local law firms (high street practice and large commercial firms), the Crown Prosecution Service, the Magistrates Court Service, in-house for companies, welfare rights organisations and Local Authorities.
If you are not currently a mentor, and think that you could be in 2010, then please contact Carol Maginn for further information at c.maginn@ljmu.ac.uk
Solicitor Mentor Scheme 2009
As always this year, LPC students at LJMU geared up for placements with a variety of local solicitors.
For example, LPC student Jessica Foy (pictured right) had her placement with David Woods, at Keith Levin Solicitors in Huyton.
Jessica says:
“This was a great placement. I’m interested in crime and family, and I gained a great deal of insight into both.
“On my first day, I attended court on a dog cruelty case brought by the RSPCA, which was both interesting and unusual. I went to bail applications, the youth court, the magistrates’ court, and the Crown Court. I also helped put documents together in a family matter.
“Keith Levin were flexible with me, and I really appreciated my time with them.”
The Solicitor Mentor Scheme is unusual in that we work hard to place each student in the area of law in which they think they would like to work. The placement will either confirm that this is what they want to do – or, occasionally, convince a student that this is not, after all, the area for them! Either way, it is a toe in the water, and an invaluable experience.
We are lucky to have so many firms willing to work with us to help on our Solicitor Mentor Scheme. Solicitors from large commercial practices, small niche firms, high street firms, not-for-profit sector, youth advocacy, magistrates court and local authority all offer placements to our students.
Pictured above: Jessica Foy and her Mentor at Keith Levin Solicitors, David Woods
Solicitor Mentor Scheme 2008 
LJMU once again extends a big 'thank you' to all the many solicitors who acted as mentors to our Legal Practice students. The students spent up to two days on placement, shadowing the work of their mentors and learning about the reality of legal life.
We at LJMU are hearing back from both students and solicitors, and the reports are good – our students seem to have thoroughly enjoyed their placements, and solicitor mentors have found our students keen and able.
Take, for example, Shaun Newcombe who, together with Rory Taylor, was placed with JST Lawyers.
Head of Marketing Lesley Martin-Wright said, "We now require solicitors who have people skills, not just the academic knowledge. Both Shaun and Rory had plenty of knowledge, a relaxed, confident and approachable manner; ideal for a client-facing environment. We enjoyed working with them."
Shaun Newcombe said, "This was a great opportunity. Everyone at JST made us welcome. I was treated as a colleague, not just someone on work placement - I didn’t make the tea once!"
We are now beginning to prepare for the Solicitor Mentor Scheme 2009. We are hugely grateful to all the firms who made this year’s scheme such a success – everyone from national commercial firms to CABx, from in-house counsel to insolvency practitioners, from magistrates courts to family law firms and local authorities.
Pictured l-r: Partner Chris Harmer, Shaun Newcombe, and Partner Debra Grant
What our students and their mentors say about the Scheme:
Catherine Moore - Lime Pictures
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my mentor scheme. Everyone has treated me like a colleague and not just someone on work experience. I would recommend the scheme to anyone."
They said: "Catherine is coming back for a further week's experience in the summer. We have been happy to give her the opportunity to learn about the work of an in-house legal department. It's been a pleasure to work with Catherine, who is eager to learn and a girl of initiative."
John Rowan - Liverpool Magistrates
"I was able to view in action what I had previously only seen in textbooks...and also to make those vital contacts! It was an important and invaluable part of my year."
They said: "During his time with us, John observed a variety of different courts and met District Judges, Magistrates, Legal Advisers and Administrative Officers who were very impressed with his interest and enthusiasm."
Jo Cox - EEI
"I enjoyed working with them! It was a very valuable experience."
They said: "We enjoyed working with Jo and were impressed with her professionalism."
