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Accommodation for students

The University of Law has an online accommodation portal for all students. Lawstudentpad provides:

Helpful advice on choosing a property to rent in Chester

Useful information about things to do and see around the Chester campus

Property listings search for students who have accepted at the Chester campus

Visit Studentpad to find out more.

If you’d like to find other University of Law students to privately rent with, or you have a spare room in your house/flat share, why not join our Housemate Hub Facebook group to chat and make living arrangements with fellow students? Find us on Facebook - search groups for ‘Official University of Law Group - Housemate Hub’.

Nowhere offers more opportunities to get involved than The University of Law in Chester. We offer a wide range of activities designed to develop your commercial awareness and ensure you are ready for practice.

Business and commercial awareness

Law firms increasingly tell us they are looking for trainees with a strong commercial awareness and business acumen. We provide a programme to build these key skills; this includes guest speakers and presentations from an impressive list of legal and business professionals. Topics on the agenda for this year included:

• Alternatives to private practice
  
• How to impress in applications
  
• Life as a civil litigator
  
• Self-presentation
  
• Commercial awareness

Share race competition

Every year our GDL students have the chance to prove that they are The Investment Managers of the future. The competition, sponsored by Rensburg Sheppard Investment Managers, gives students £100,000 in a virtual fund. The students invest this money over a five month period and the team which demonstrates the biggest growth win a prize. This is another fantastic way to increase financial acumen and a greater depth of commercial awareness.

Prize giving

We have an annual prize giving for the students who achieve the highest marks on each of the courses. Prizes are donated by several firms and other legal organisations and are awarded for a number of categories. The names of winners are added to the sponsored prize boards which are on display in our student area.

The prize giving normally takes place in February and is an evening event attended by University of Law tutors, sponsor organisations, student prize winners and their guests. This is a wonderful evening where individual student achievements are celebrated.

Mooting

Mooting is the oral presentation of a legal issue or problem. Students are given a legal issue and must present their side of the case to a panel of judges. This is a very important skill, constantly used by lawyers, so we offer many opportunities to practice mooting. Our students have also had the opportunity to use their mooting skills in national competitions, achieving excellent results.

Court visits

The University of Law in Chester arranges court visits – criminal, civil or an employment tribunal so that students are able to gain a true insight into how a court functions.

Mock trials and employment tribunals

We offer mock trials which are true to life with real judges and magistrates, local high schools play the part of the jury.

Regional law fairs

Regional law fairs are held in Chester and give students an excellent opportunity to meet potential employers and firms that are actively recruiting face to face, all in one afternoon. This gives students a great chance to find out more about the firms and for the firms to find their trainees and potential partners of the future.

Careers

Comprehensive careers advice and guidance from the Employability Service, including a team of legal careers consultants is an integral part of your support network here at The University of Law Chester. Visit resources and facilities to find out more. 

Pro bono

The University of Law has an award winning pro bono service. Below are details of some of the schemes we have run in Chester. There are changes year-to-year, but we will always provide a range of options designed to enhance the employability of our students.

Streetlaw

This is a legal education scheme, which aims to deliver lively and interactive presentations regarding the law to schools and groups in the local community. Students work in groups of three. The area of law is chosen by the community group or school. Past presentations have included topics such as consumer rights, human rights and eyewitness testimonies. Students will be required to conduct research and prepare their presentation throughout the course of the year. By the end of the presentation, the client group should have an understanding of the legal principles behind the area of law that students have been talking about. If you are nervous or lacking confidence in making presentations, this scheme is for you, simply because it is so different.

Legal Advice Centre (LAC)

The Legal Advice Centre gives you a chance to interview a real client face to face, over the phone or via email. Students are put in pairs and are given details of the client’s issue in advance. Students then carry out legal research, interview the client and then prepare a letter of advice within two weeks from the interview. This is fully supervised by the tutors here or local solicitors involved in the scheme, and normally takes place at the University. 

Witness Service

All criminal courts have a Witness Service Unit. We have close links with the Witness Service in Mold, Wrexham, Caernarvon, Crewe, Liverpool and Birkenhead. Students are placed in the courts to shadow the witness support workers. This normally takes place for one morning a week over a four week period, providing an excellent opportunity to have a look behind the scenes in court and even interview witnesses.

National Centre for Domestic Violence

This is an organisation that helps victims of domestic violence seek an injunction against their abusers. To become involved with this scheme you would need to have knowledge of the law relating to domestic violence and a working knowledge of NCDV proceedings. You would also need to attend a full day of training which will take place at our Manchester Centre. Once trained you are placed on a rota to telephone the client that day and interview them over the phone, using a pro forma. You would then be required to fill in the necessary paperwork to get the matter to court, usually that day, so that they can obtain an injunction. You would ring from the University and NCDV would expect a commitment of at least half a day a fortnight.

Domestic Abuse Family Safety Unit

Working out of Cheshire West and Chester Council this is an opportunity to help victims of domestic abuse apply for court orders. You would need to fill in an application form and take part in training.

Citizens Advice (CA)

This is an opportunity to become involved with CA, as either an Adviceline Assessor, a Generalist Adviser, a Gateway Adviser or a receptionist. We currently have connections with  Northwich, Winsford, Flintshire, Denbighshire, Liverpool and Halton.

Child and Family Contact Centres

A Child Contact Centre is a meeting place where children of separated families can enjoy contact with one (or both) parents, and sometimes other family members, in a comfortable and safe environment when there is no viable alternative. We have connections with Contact Centres in Southport, Bootle, Bury, Rochdale and Lancaster. To become involved you would need to fill in an application form and commit to one Saturday per month.

Personal Support Unit (PSU)

The PSU is a small independent charity that offers non-legal support to litigants in person, their family members and other supporters. The PSU's service is free, independent and confidential. The service is offered equally to anyone who asks. Requests vary from the very simple to the complex, and the overall aim of the charity is to help litigants better understand the court process. The PSU is based at Chester Civil and Family Justice Centre. To get involved you need to fill in an application form and commit to at least one day a month.

Cheshire, Halton & Warrington Race and Equality Centre (CHAWREC)

This is a scheme that operates in Chester and offers a free, independent and completely confidential discrimination casework service. As a volunteer you would be expected to provide support and assistance to the discrimination caseworkers with discrimination cases. You would receive on-the-job training and would have to be prepared to commit to at least half a day a week for six months.

National Justice Museum

The thinking behind the project is ultimately to deter children from offending in the future. Currently in Manchester, you would work in court during a mock trial, talking to school children about court procedures and the law involved. It is an opportunity for you and the children to meet with the real defendant, and also a valuable opportunity to network with practitioners.

Shadowing

We offer shadowing opportunities at  Liverpool Family and Civil Court. Dates for these are sent out to students on a regular basis and are allocated on a first come first served basis.

Second Voice Advocacy Scheme

The advocacy scheme is for young people living in the Wrexham area. You would be working alongside young people helping them to express their wishes and feelings and if appropriate speaking on their behalf. You would be expected to complete a training course that will count towards a qualification. 

The University of Law Chester offers many opportunities for a rich social and sporting life, whatever your interests. You will have the opportunity to join the Student Activities Committee that each year organises a full programme of sports and social events, supported by our Student Services team.

The activities are numerous but here are some examples:

• Party trips on the River Dee
  
• Sports including netball, hockey, rugby, football and rowing
  
• Christmas and summer balls
  
• Debating Society
  
• University band
  
• Choir
  
• Irish Society
  
• Welsh Club
  
• Theatre trips
  
• Three peaks challenge
  
• Snow sports.

If you have a different interest and wish to set up a society, go for it. There will probably be others who share your passion.

There is also a very convenient sports centre, including a swimming pool and gym within easy walking distance of The University of Law Chester in Christleton.