Kara McLachan; 2023 - 24 GULS President and 2024 Scots Law Graduate
My name is Kara McLachlan – a Scots Law LLB student at the University of Glasgow who has spent the 2023/24 academic year acting as President of Glasgow University Law Society. Having joined the university in 2020, I found myself missing out on many long-anticipated student experiences during the first half of my degree, but my time as President has certainly made up for that! One highlight for me has been planning and hosting so many wonderful events, both academic and social. The feeling that comes from watching hundreds of students enjoy a night that you have worked so hard to plan is incomparable!
Can you tell us what your plans are following graduation from the School of Law?
After graduating from the School of Law with my undergraduate degree, I intend to complete the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice before embarking upon my traineeship with Brodies LLP. Though I am particularly interested in personal and family law, I believe it is important to keep an open mind during my traineeship – I may well find that I am more drawn to other practice areas once I experience what they entail!
How does the School of Law support students' employability journeys?
The School of Law supports the employability journeys of students in a myriad of ways. The Employability Bulletin, published regularly by the Employability Team, has been particularly valuable to me in this respect. Not only did these bulletins open my eyes to the vast array of career-furthering opportunities I may pursue, they also allowed me to keep track of summer placement and traineeship application deadlines with ease!
What activities or experiences did you find helped you when applying for summer placements and traineeships / training contracts?
I found that my time as a committee member of Glasgow University Law Society was extremely beneficial, as the activities I became involved in allowed me to develop many of the transferable skills that firms are looking for in applicants – time management, leadership and teamwork, for instance. I therefore encourage law students to become involved in the running of student societies, no matter the position. The society need not necessarily be a law society! So long as you can identify the skills you have developed in your role and explain how you intend to put these to use during a summer placement or traineeship, graduate recruitment teams will be impressed.
What advice would you give other students starting the LLB relating to employability?
My main piece of advice is to make sure you are aware of the employability services offered by the School of Law, and not to wait until your last year on the LLB to become familiar with them. That is not to say that you must have a clear plan for your future career during your first year at university. Believe me, no one is expecting this of you! However, an understanding of the different opportunities available to you – as well as how you may pursue these when the time is right – will definitely come in handy.