Where Law at Chester Can Take You

Eleanor

As the first in her family to attend university, Eleanor knew from day one that Chester’s Law School offered a welcoming and supportive learning environment to start her degree. “It felt like a place where I could genuinely grow,” she recalls. “I liked how close the campus was to the courts, which made the subject feel more connected to real world practice.”

A highlight for her was the interactive seminars and smaller group discussions that developed her confidence, critical thinking and ability to explore complex legal issues.

Eleanor made the most of extracurricular opportunities, getting involved in the Chester Community Law Project and contributing to the SPACE initiative, which offered accessible legal information to parents and carers. “This experience deepened my understanding of how the law affects everyday lives and helped me develop the communication skills needed to explain complex legal ideas in simple, supportive ways.”

She completed two internships, strengthening her professional skills and shaping her understanding of the legal workplace. Eleanor found the University’s Careers and Employability service particularly helpful when writing her CV, exploring career options and preparing for interviews.

This September, she’ll begin her role as a Trainee Contract at a Solicitor Law Firm, rotating across departments and gaining experience in contentious and non-contentious law. Her responsibilities will include supporting with legal research, attending client meetings and progressing matters, all whilst working towards qualification through the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) route.

Reflecting on her time at Chester, Eleanor says: “Chester gave me more than just a degree, it helped me build the confidence, experience, and skills I’ll be taking into my training contract.”

Her advice for future students? “Make the most of every opportunity available during your studies. Whether it's joining societies and attending career talks, to getting involved in mooting or volunteering with legal clinics, these experiences can really help you build skills and figure out what areas of law interest you.”

Will

Originally from the Isle of Man, Will chose Chester for its convenient location and similarities to his home city of Douglas. A key highlight of Chester for Will was the variety of legal topics covered, especially criminal law, which he feels particularly enthusiastic about.

Now back home, he’s building his legal career as a Trainee Advocate at a leading local law firm. “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,”  Will explains. “I will, however, be rotating to different areas of the firm as part of my two-year training contract.”

While studying, Will enhanced his legal skills through extracurriculars, including two mooting finals, one at the Supreme Court before Lord Burrows (pictured at the start of the blog), and another in an international competition before His Honour Judge Everett. He adds: “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 practical application of my knowledge in a court environment.”

For prospective students, he offers this advice: “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.”

Demi

When applying for university, Demi was drawn to Chester’s community feel, location, strong reputation, and support for Law students. “Chester is an absolutely beautiful city, and the campus is in such a stunning location, it really made the choice an easy one!”

Like Eleanor, Demi took advantage of extracurricular activities, including mooting (mock trials) and pro bono work, which helped build her practical skills and confidence. Her summer placement within Residential Property gave her insights into the area she now specialises in.

“One of the things I enjoyed most about my course was how the lecturers truly brought the subject to life. Their passion and expertise made even the most complex areas of law feel accessible and engaging. I also really appreciated the chance to explore a variety of legal fields, which helped me discover where my real interests lie.”

Since graduating, she now works as a Residential Property Paralegal, supporting solicitors on a variety of conveyancing matters. Her role involves drafting legal documents, reviewing title documents and searches, and liaising with clients, estate agents and solicitors to progress transactions.

Adjusting to full-time has been a positive challenge, as she explains: “It’s been rewarding to put what I’ve learned into practice and to feel like I’m contributing to real legal outcomes. Every day is a learning opportunity, and while it’s busy, it’s also exciting to be in a professional environment where I’m constantly developing.”

What’s her advice for aspiring legal professionals? “Stay curious and open minded. Law is such a broad and diverse field, so it’s perfectly normal not to know exactly which area you want to go into right away. Take full advantage of the opportunities available to you and start building your network early, it really does make a difference. Most importantly, believe in yourself and your ability to succeed. A career in law can be challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding if you remain focused and committed.”

Discover how Chester Law School can help you take the next step towards a successful career by exploring our undergraduate courses.