Point of law gives victory

 Left L-R, Chloe Chatton, Jeanette Ashton and Fionnuala Richardson

Fionnuala Richardson and Chloe Chatton asked all the right questions as they took victory by a single point in the regional final heats of the Law Society Client Interviewing Competition held at the University of Brighton on Wednesday Feb 10.

The University of Brighton pair was pitted against rival universities Sussex, Winchester and Staffordshire. After two tough interviews and a hard fought competition Fionnuala and Chloe emerged victorious.

The Law Society’s prestigious competition has seen universities across the country compete against one another. Competitors have had to conduct interviews on the theme of ‘family partnerships’, and are judged by panels consisting of a family law practitioner, an academic lawyer and a judge with a counseling background.

Winning team member Fionnuala commented:

“We have really enjoyed representing the University of Brighton in the regional finals of the client interviewing competition and we are very excited about the national finals in March. I have gained so much insight into this aspect of a solicitor’s role and how to conduct an initial interview, both of which will be invaluable for my future career.”

 Left, Fionnuala Richardson and Chloe Chatton interviewing a mock client during the competition

University of Brighton Senior Law Lecturer, Jeanette Ashton, who runs the university’s Client Interviewing Skills programme and has helped coach Fionnuala and Chloe to success through the various heats, commented:

“I am utterly delighted that Chloe and Fionnuala have won the Client Interviewing regional heat which we hosted this afternoon.  They have worked so hard for this and will go on to represent the University of Brighton in the Law Society national. This is Brighton’s third year of competing and I have every confidence that we can win the final!”

The University of Brighton team will now compete in the final that takes place at one of the UK’s largest law firms, Irwin Mitchell Solicitors in Sheffield in March.