Durham Law School marked, with an Awards Ceremony on 28th October, 2024, the success of its 2023/24 first year Law Undergraduates who completed the 2023/24 Employability Course. Michael Aherne, distinguished Durham alumnus and Partner in leading international law firm, Herbert Smith Freehills, presented the Course Completion Certificates to the successful students before a large audience of mainly 2024/25 first year Law Undergraduates.
Drawing out the benefit of the course for students from backgrounds less familiar with the path to starting a career in Law, Legal 500 IT & Telecoms 'Rising Star' Jeremy Purton, Of Counsel, Herbert Smith Freehills, the keynote speaker, spoke on “Reflections on social mobility from a socially mobile kiwi”. Jeremy provided an insightful story of his own journey and of the steps Herbert Smith Freehills were taking to access the widest possible talent pool from which to select and develop their future trainees and lawyers.
The Employability Course is sponsored by Herbert Smith Freehills. In addition to Michael and Jeremy, the Law School was delighted to welcome, from Herbert Smith Freehills, Partner Hayley Brady, and Associates Kate Davison and Rupert Swallow, all Durham alumni.
As part of their Course sponsorship, Herbert Smith Freehills very kindly funded Completion of Course hoodies for the first group of students to complete the course in their Employability Teams and a post Awards Ceremony reception.
Drawing out the theme that the Employability Course is based on a collaboration between Durham Law School, its Law related student societies and its students, Georgia Hollett, 2023/24 Employability Course finisher, introduced Michael Aherne and Jeremy Purton. Elise Clayton, also a Course finisher, designed the Completion of Course hoodies and the photographs of the Awards Ceremony were taken by Sarah C Hu, a 2024/25 first year Law undergraduate and keen amateur photographer.
Law related student societies who collaborated on the Course were represented by Anna Metz, Chair of the Law Society, Andy Song, President of the Negotiation Society, Imogen Cole, President of the Non-Law into Law Society and Nargis Babar, President of the European Law Students’ Association Durham.
The Law School was represented by Rachel Avery, Deputy Dean, Education and Employability Course creator, Philip Bennett, Durham Law School’s first Professor in Practice.
Michael Aherne said:
“Many congratulations to all of the students who undertook, in effect, an extra module and competed the Course. We very much welcome the opportunities which the Course gives to students from all backgrounds by providing the additional resources and support for their journeys towards careers in Law.
We are delighted to sponsor the Durham Law School Employability Course created by Philip. As far as I know, it is the only such course in any UK Law School.”
Philip Bennett said:
“On behalf of the students who were awarded Course Completion Certificates and the Law School, I would like to thank Michael for presenting the Course Completion Certificates, Jeremy for his very insightful and excellent keynote speech, Hayley, Kate and Rupert for coming to the Awards Ceremony and to everyone else involved at Herbert Smith Freehills for their generous and enthusiastic support for the Course.
I hope that even more of the 2024/25 first year Law UGs will complete the Course than in 2023/24; perhaps inspired by the success of those presented with Course Completion Certificate at the Awards Ceremony.”
Pictures taken by Sarah at the Awards Ceremony are here.
Notes:
The Employability Course is part of the wide range of opportunities offered by Durham Law School which contribute to the “Durham Difference”. A podcast series about the Durham Law School Employability Course recorded, with the collaboration and support of Herbert Smith Freehills, is here and here.
More about Michael Aherne is : here
More about Jeremy Purton is: here
More about Rachel Avery is: here
More about Philip Bennett is here: here
