Durham Law School launched its 2026/27 Employability Course on Monday, 5th October. Philip Bennett and six Law students introduced the course to the new cohort of first year Law UGs in the opening lecture.
The Employability Course is a unique opportunity for Durham University’s Law students to develop the skills, confidence, and professional awareness needed to succeed in the legal sector and beyond.
The course comprises a series of lectures and practical assignments designed to give students a comprehensive insight into the legal profession. Sessions cover topics such as career planning, professional skills development, and talks from alumni and practitioners providing insight into their work and the variety of roles within law. Through these experiences, students are better equipped to succeed in applications; whether for a mini-pupillage, vacation scheme, or other professional opportunity.
The six students who presented James Shilton, Ethan Goh, Charlie Everitt, Justine Cheung, Neve Longthorn , and Kiah Malkani, had all completed the 2024/25 or 2025/26 course. Drawing on their own experiences, they spoke to the first-year students about the value of engaging early with employability opportunities, and how participation in the course helped them strengthen transferable skills, confidence, and a clearer sense of career direction.
Speaking about his experience, 2024/25 Course finisher James Shilton said:
“The Employability Course was a vital contributor to both my personal journey to securing a ‘Magic Circle’ training contract and the journeys of many of the panellists involved in this year’s launch talk. Throughout the programme, students are provided with a wide variety of opportunities to improve their application strategies and presentation skills, network with leading practitioners, build meaningful connections with peers, and develop a better understanding of how they can best present themselves in an increasingly competitive graduate market. With support from Professor Bennett and the wider Durham Law School team, this year’s students are sure to benefit greatly from participating in the Course.”
Further support for the launch was provided by 2nd and 3rd year students, James Carvell, Lara Kabir Jennings, Luka Kuchukhidze, Xingjian Ning, Grace Robinson, and Ollie Whiting who had completed the course or successfully drawn on its resources and who generously gave their time to help with the Q&A sessions.
Commenting on the launch of the 2025/26 Employability Course, the Law School’s Deputy Dean, Education, Rachel Avery, commented:
“Durham Law School is very proud of its unique employability course and the important, additional skills that it gives our students. In a job market which is becoming increasingly competitive, this course (very kindly supported by Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer) allows our students to develop their confidence and readiness for the workplace.
The Employability Course is a central part of Durham Law School’s ongoing commitment to supporting students’ personal and professional development. This course gives students the tools and confidence to take the next step in their professional journeys.
2025/26 Course finisher, Kiah Malkani added:
“The Employability Course has been priceless in helping me prepare for my vacation scheme applications. The practice for written assessments as well as the online tests were very helpful, and I would recommend it to all first years who can devote their time to it”
The Course’s leader, Professor in Practice Philip Bennett, said:
“ The Employability Course is now in its fourth year. It is but one part of what I call the ‘Durham Difference’. The cohort who completed the 2023/24 Course graduated in July this year. Some of them very generously shared publicly their employability success stories together with a number of other July 2026 Law graduates (more here ) and welcomed the benefits of the Employability Course and its resources in contributing towards their career successes. The Course continues to be very much a collaboration between the Law School, its main law related student societies and its students. And its aim remains to provide our students with additional resources and support, complementing those provided by the Careers and Enterprise Service, to help them achieve the careers they aspire to..”
The Law School’s teaching team to support delivery of the Employability Course includes the Law School’s Deputy Dean, Education, Rachel Avery, Professor in Practice, Mark Grant, and Associate Professor Dr Emily Roach.
More about Durham Law School here
Click on their names for more about: James Shilton, Ethan Goh, Charlie Everitt, Justine Cheung, Neve Longthorn, and Kiah Malkani (you will need to sign into LinkedIn first).
Click on their names for more about: James Carvell, Lara Kabir Jennings, Luka Kuchukhidze, Xingjian Ning, Grace Robinson, and Ollie Whiting (you will need to sign into LinkedIn first).
More about Rachel Avery here
More about Philip Bennett here
More about Mark Grant here
More about Emily Roach here
