Asking the right questions to Canada

University of Brighton law students, Fionnuala Richardson and Chloe Chatton continued to ask the right questions as their outstanding performance gave them victory by an overwhelming clear margin in the National Law Society Client Interviewing Competition in Sheffield on Saturday.

The University of Brighton pair had high hopes to continue their winning streak as they went into the final, held at the offices of one of the UK’s largest law firms, Irwin Mitchell LLP, against fellow regional heat winners, the universities of East Anglia, Gloucestershire, Hull, Kent, Manchester Met, Oxford Brookes and University of Law (Leeds).

The finalists fought hard for the final honour but it was Fionnuala and Chloe who used their well honed legal knowledge and interviewing skills to get through three difficult and differing client interviewing scenarios on a range of complex family law interviews.

The pair was once again judged victorious and the panel made up of legal academics, medical practitioners and practicing solicitors awarded the University of Brighton team first place by a clear margin.

Fionnuala and Chloe and the University of Brighton Law School were subsequently awarded prizes from the Law Society of England & Wales, which included the prestigious National Law Society Client Interviewing Competition cup, individual trophies for Fionnuala and Chloe, and sponsorship funding for the International Finals.

Winning team member Chloe Chatton said of the win:

“We’re really excited to be representing England and Wales in the final in Canada. We are so happy that our hard work paid off to get us to the national finals so to win was amazing and a testimony to everyone involved in the University of Brighton team!”

 The winning team Fionnuala Richardson and Chloe Chatton proudly show off the National Law Society Client Interviewing Competition cup.

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 their final success, commented:

“I am so thrilled for Fionnuala and Chloe as they worked so hard for this competition.  This is the first time we have made the national final so to win it is fantastic.  We need to start preparing for Canada where they’ll be representing England and Wales and competing against universities from around the world.”

Lucy Jones, Principle Lecturer in Law gave further praise to the winning team’s work ethic:

“I was delighted with the success of Fi and Chloe who had put in so much hard work. The nine judges were impressed with their calm, professional approach and their knowledge and understanding of the legal issues. Jeanette must also take some credit as the success of the students was clearly due in part to her excellent guidance and continuous support.”

Fionnuala and Chloe’s journey to success in The Law Society’s prestigious competition has seen them compete against universities from across the country for the national final and the esteemed honour of representing England & Wales in the International Client Consultation Competition Final at the University of Windsor in Canada in April.

Good luck Fionnuala and Chloe!