Government Legal Careers - a panel discussion and networking

Our panellists will discuss topics such as:

    What were the main factors you considered when choosing not to go in to private law practice?
    What do you enjoy the most about your work and how does it relate back to your degree?
    What is a typical day for you?
    What advice would you give an undergraduate who is interested in pursuing a career similar to your own?

GLS representatives:
• What is the application process for the GLS?
• What qualities are you looking for in graduate trainees?
Our panellists are:

Natalie Cox: Research Officer, Fast Stream, Family Justice Research, Access to Justice Analytical Services

BA (Hons) Law and Society and PGCert Socio-Legal Research (Exeter)

Natalie studied for her Undergraduate degree at Exeter, doing Law and Society under the Flexible Combined Honours scheme. She then accepted an Alzheimer's Society studentship for her Masters of Research in Health Science but continued at Exeter part-time to get her PGCert in Socio-Legal Research. She now works as a Social Researcher at the Ministry of Justice in London. She works in Family Justice doing both private and public family law. Her research is a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods and has real-life impact, which is important to her. She hopes to come back to Exeter from September 2015 to do a PhD part-time alongside her work with the MoJ.

Sophie Quinton Carter: Pupil Barrister, CPS

LLB Maitrise (Exeter 2012)

Sophie is currently a Pupil Barrister with with Crown Prosecution Service. Prior to this she was an Adjudicator for the Financial Ombudsman Service.

From Government Legal Services:

Andrew Hood: Head of International and EU law at the Attorney General’s Office

Andrew graduated from Exeter in 1998. After qualifying as a barrister he joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office where he has provided legal advice on a wide range of international, human rights and EU legal issues. He was posted to Iraq in 2004-5 and Brussels 2009-12. Since returning from Brussels, Andrew has led the Government-wide ‘Balance of Competence Review’ on the work of the EU and how it affects UK interests. He is currently the Head of International and EU law at the Attorney General’s Office and was appointed as the Prime Minister’s legal adviser in October 2014.

Aidan Crook, Lawyer, Department of Work and Pensions: I studied History at Cardiff University and the University of Cambridge. I completed the Graduate Diploma in Law and the Bar Vocational Course at the College of Law in London, and then worked for several years as a paralegal for a legal charity, before obtaining pupillage at a general common law set of chambers. After pupillage, I accepted a tenancy in a second set of chambers in London, where I developed a broad practice encompassing Family Law, Housing Law and Public Law. After practising in chambers for two years, I moved to an employed role within the Treasury Solicitor’s Department, where I now work as a lawyer in the EU, Equalities and Social Justice team within the Department for Work and Pensions. In my current role I am primarily responsible for coordinating my department’s approach to European and International Equalities Law, and for assisting with litigation work concerning European Law and the HRA 1998.

Steven Richards, Lawyer, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Steven Richards (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) will provide an insight into the work of the GLS,  its lawyers and the recruitment process for its legal trainee scheme. Steven is an alumnus of the University of Exeter (Bsc Chemistry & Law 1999 and BA Law 2000) and joined the GLS as a legal trainee.  Since qualifying as a barrister, Steven has worked in a number of legal roles within BIS