Programme and student lead (LPC and SQE) at The University of Law, Laura Duffy, discusses the challenges facing lawyers-to-be and the opportunities in the North
Laura Duffy, Programme and Student Lead (LPC and SQE) at The University of Law, has over twelve years’ experience in practice. These days, she supervises the LPC and SQE programmes for ULaw students at the Leeds campus and at the ULaw satellite campuses at the Newcastle University, the University of Sheffield and the University of Hull. “It’s my responsibility to make sure those programmes are rolled out correctly at these campuses and to ensure that students have a good experience,” she tells me.
Duffy sees her experience in practice as vital to her role as an educator. “One of ULaw’s key selling points is that all of our lecturers teaching on our post-graduate law programmes come from a practice background,” she says. “We’re not just here to teach the course content, but to share our skills and experiences with students as well.”
I am keen to know what Duffy’s time as a lawyer has taught her about the skills students need to succeed in this profession. “A determination to succeed,” is her immediate answer. “It’s not easy getting there, it’s tough,” she goes on, “You have to get through your degree, through the SQE qualifications, and most likely multiple job applications.”
This is something Duffy learned during her own path to qualification. “It was quite a journey for me,” she says wryly. Having completed a law degree and LPC at the University of Sheffield, Duffy secured a training contract while working on a legal helpline. Unfortunately, this training contract was cancelled, “a month or two before it was due to start”, following the 2008 financial crisis and recession. Back to square one, Duffy managed to land a paralegal role at a mid-sized firm in Manchester and, after five years as a paralegal, ultimately secured a training contract at the same firm where she qualified as a solicitor.
Duffy also emphasises the importance of public speaking skills. “I think a lot of students come into their career as a solicitor not expecting to have to talk out loud,” she comments. “It’s a really important skill to have as a solicitor but it’s unfortunately not one that many students gain much experience of at school or at undergraduate level.”
I am curious about Duffy’s insights into legal careers in the North, having practised in Manchester and now supporting students studying in Leeds, Newcastle and Sheffield. “London was never an option for me when I started my career,” she says. “I was keen to stay close to family and friends, and tales of exceedingly long hours were not an attraction.” She continues, “Regional firms can offer a better work life balance, but with similar opportunities that you might find elsewhere — there are lots of great opportunities in the North which I feel may be overlooked by some students setting their sights on London!”
Since taking on the role of Programme and Student Lead, Duffy has taken a step away from teaching. However, when she can be found in the classroom, she steers future lawyers through dispute resolution, personal injury and clinical negligence, areas she practised in during her time as a solicitor. I’m curious to know which of these subjects she finds throws up problems for students. “I do think some students can find dispute resolution tricky. It is very structured and it can be hard to follow that structure without having gone through the process in practice, so I am very practical when I’m teaching and try to break it down stage by stage.” She adds, “I hope that my students enjoy it by the end!”
And, with the benefit of Duffy’s role overseeing the SQE Masters and preparation courses at ULaw, what are the most challenging aspects of this new format of exam? “I feel that there is still a fear of the unknown with the SQE assessments,” she says. “It is still a very new assessment and, one which unfortunately hasn’t had a great pass rate so far nationally, so students feel they don’t know what they’re going into.” The format of the SQE1 assessment in particular is a challenge in itself. “Students are required to answer 360 single best answer questions over two days, covering a range of professional practice and academic law subjects,” Duffy explains. “I prefer to be honest with students. It is very likely going to be the hardest and longest assessment you are ever going to sit!”
I ask Duffy how ULaw supports its students, academically and pastorally, as they approach these undeniably tough exams. “We have loads of support for our students,” she assures me. “Right from day one students are allocated an academic coach who will support them throughout the programme – this is their go-to if they have any questions about the programme or need support with how to approach their studies.” I hear that ULaw students are also provided with a student journey advisor for non-academic queries as well as a wellbeing team, a “fantastic” employability team and library team. In particular Duffy shouts out the university’s study skills team – who are “great for supporting students one to one, and who can assist with creating revision plans and advice on time management.” Duffy emphasises that this support network is made as easily available as possible to students, “Our MyULaw app is available to all students and offers an easy way of accessing all of these support services.”
From Duffy’s perspective, ULaw’s approach yields results. “Our figures are showing that many of our students taking ULaw’s SQE programmes are seeing great results in the SQE assessments and I couldn’t prouder of them,” she tells me. “Yes, there is no denying that they have to work hard,” she admits, “but, if they engage in our programme of study, follow our advice, seeking support where needed and get in lots of practice of single best answer questions via ULaw’s SQE Revision App, there is no reason why they can’t do well.”
Laura Duffy will be speaking at ‘Secrets to Success Leeds — with Eversheds Sutherland, Pinsent Masons and ULaw’, an in-person student event taking place TOMORROW (Thursday 3 July). Apply now to attend.
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