Speed networking at BPP Law School, Leeds
31 March 2009
Last week saw the launch of another successful initiative from BPP Law School in Leeds, introducing a speed networking evening – speed dating without the date.
Current BPP students and university undergraduates from Bradford, Huddersfield, Leeds, Sheffield and York attended this fun event where they were able to meet and converse with up to eight local solicitors during the course of the evening.
Firms represented included Adddleshaws, Irwin Mitchell, Lyons Davidson, Gordons, Eversheds, Beachcroft, Plexus Law, The Government Legal Service, Mills & Reeve, Refugee & Migrant Society, Crockett and Co, Walker Morris, Schofield Sweeney and Chancery House Chambers came along and engaged in a series of five minute conversations with the students assisting them in building their confidence in networking with legal professionals.
Andrew Meehan, Senior Solicitor at Mills & Reeve said: “I was delighted to be involved in this excellent new initiative which is further demonstration of BPP's continuing commitment to enable students not only to increase their networking skills, which is of huge importance in today's economic climate, but also to foster links with local lawyers. I also found the event to be extremely useful from my own perspective. It enabled me to increase awareness both of my work as a family lawyer in Leeds as well as meet potential applicants for positions within Mills & Reeve LLP.”
Joe Speakman, trainee solicitor at Irwin Mitchell said: “The event was an ideal opportunity for BPP students to engage and increase their confidence at networking events with the trainees and young solicitors of Leeds. It was a very successful evening with new contacts being on both sides of the table.”
Peter Mills an alumni student commencing his training contract at Eversheds in the autumn said: “In speed networking BPP have created an event so unique that it not only gives aspiring lawyers the opportunity to network in the wider legal community, but also to develop skills that will help them succeed at the highest level. Well done to the BPP teaching staff for creating such an innovative and fun event.”
Thanks to the support of the local legal community this is scheduled to become a regular event at BPP Law School helping to achieve their aim of increasing student access to law firms and organisations with a local, regional and national presence, and to enhance legal opportunities for students to secure legal work or a training contract in the future.
Notes to Editors:
The speed networking event attracted representatives from commercial, high street and publicly funded firms and organisations. Over fifty individuals took part in the event which ran from 5.30pm to 7.30pm on Wednesday 25th March at BPP Law School, Whitehall 2, Whitehall Quay, Leeds.
About BPP College of Professional Studies Limited:
BPP College of Professional Studies Limited (“BPP College”), which comprises BPP Business School and BPP Law School, is the first private sector, publicly-owned company to be granted degree-awarding powers by the Privy Council. BPP College delivers business and law programmes across four centres; Leeds, London (Holborn and Waterloo) and Manchester and has more than 5,500 students. For more information about BPP College please visit www.bppuc.com
For further information Hilary Yeo or Kate Bassett at BPP Law school, Leeds on 0113 386 8274/8295 or email hilaryyeo@bpp.com or katebassett@bpp.com.