Will Clarke

Why did you choose Chester?

Being from the Isle of Man, Chester is in a convenient location to get to, and from the Island by plane or boat. Chester is also a great place to live, and in many aspects is similar to my home city of Douglas. The location of the university and accommodation meant I had access to Chester city centre without having to take a bus or a train. The  University of Chester is also smaller and offers a more personalised experience than you would receive at a larger university

What did you enjoy most about your course?

The thing I enjoyed most about the course was the wide range of different areas of law covered, in particular criminal law, which I am very enthusiastic about. Additionally, the opportunities provided to me by the university, such as mooting and the CCLP, provided a practical element to the content, which I very much appreciated.

Do you have any advice for someone who is thinking about a career in law?

You should try and gain some work experience in a legal setting, prior to university, to determine whether this is for you or not. As you will need to put a lot of time into studying, it must be something that you enjoy. You can also use this as an opportunity to identify which path you would like to take, whether that be a barrister, or solicitor, or perhaps which area of law you might like to work in. Having a clear long-term objective at an early stage will help you when you come to choose your options in the third year.

On embarking on your degree, make sure you work hard and give yourself enough time to study, especially during assessment periods. Completing coursework in plenty of time can give you time to evaluate your work and add more detail or perhaps correct any errors you may have made. For an exam, it can give you enough time to satisfy your mind that you are prepared.

What graduate role have you commenced? What area(s) of law are you working in and what does this entail day-to-day?

I have started work as a Trainee Advocate at a leading law firm in the Isle of Man. In the Isle of Man, an advocate encompasses both the barrister and solicitor roles in the UK, hence operating as a combined profession. Currently, I am working in Anti Money Laundering /Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) compliance for various clients who operate in the Island’s e-gaming sector. I will, however, be rotating to different areas of the firm as part of my two-year training contract.

How did your time at Chester prepare you for your current role?

The course has given me a good grounding in various aspects of law and legal skills, which I have been able to utilise and build upon in my current work as a Trainee Advocate. In completing assignments, I have developed a strong attention to detail and time management skills, which are proving invaluable.

How are you finding the transition from university to working life?

As I had taken a year out prior to university to work in investments in a life assurance company, which I returned to during holidays, I already had experience of working in a professional environment. However, during my time as project manager on the CAB project for CCLP, I gained valuable experience interacting with legal professionals, which has definitely eased my transition.

Did you take part in any extracurricular activities, societies, or internships while studying?

I took part in booting, where I was fortunate to compete in two moot finals, one being at the Supreme Court before Lord Burrows and the other an internal competition before His Honour Judge Everett.

I also have taken part in the CCLP as a project manager for the CAB project. During this time, I participated in and later led training sessions for CAB advisors to enhance their knowledge on requested areas of law.

As part of the university's work-based learning scheme, I was given the opportunity to undertake a mini-pupillage with a local barrister’s chambers. This provided valuable court experience as well as allowing me to view the practical application of my knowledge in a court environment.