Tara Dugdale
Tara Dugdale
Bachelor of Law (LLB)
School of Law
If you are ready, willing and able to put in 'your all' at Hertfordshire then the levels of support will really bring out the best in you.
As I reflect on my time at as a student I would say the course was tough but the rewards are well worth it; the staff here really want their students to do well and if you show them that you are motivated they will set aside time to help you achieve your goals.
I was involved in the Mooting and Mock Trials team and represented the University in successive years in the ESU Essex Court Chambers National mooting competition. We made it through to the semi finals at the Royal Courts of Justice in London in 2010.
The University is one of the few law schools which offer extra-curricular “lessons” in how to moot and the lecturers will stay behind after hours to watch students do run-throughs before competitions and will give individual feedback.
The opportunity to join the Mooting Team is open to everyone and is a “must” for all those considering a career at the Bar.
I have also acted as a jury member in Southwark Crown Court to assist trainee Police Officers in how to present their evidence, and in my second year I was a student-advisor for the University Law Clinic.
My time in the School's Law Clinic gave me a “taster” of life as a solicitor as we met real clients, carried our own case loads throughout the academic year and were responsible for providing them with advice. The training, support and guidance provided by the supervisory solicitors, who are part of the School's staff, was excellent.
The Law School is keen for its students to bolster their curriculum vitae and thus offers other pro-bono work in the form of “Streetlaw” projects.
I was involved in one of these projects last year which entailed a trip to a local school with a couple of us giving a presentation on the law behind theft and anti social behaviour orders to a group of year 9 students.
If you grab the opportunities which come your way at the School of Law it will also be easier to get work experience, which is necessary when applying for training contracts or pupillage.
My summer entailed four mini-pupillages, marshalling a judge and work experience with a small firm of solicitors in my home town, who have since offered me a training contract.
The results I achieved exceeded my own expectations and prepared me well for the future.
About Tara Dugdale
Tara Dugdale (LLB 2010) graduated with First Class honours.
Represented the University in the ESU/Essex Court Chambers National Mooting Competition, reaching the quarter finals in 2009 and the semi finals in 2010.
Member of the School's Law Clinic in 2008/09.
Winner of the A&R Woolf Charitable Trust Bursary for the best final year student.
