Top Performance Student Success Bright Future An inspiration to us ...

08
SPreadiNg
THe wOrd
Rachelle Harrison
eNHaNCed
exPerieNCe
Amy Walton
when law graduate amy walton came
to our Open day, it was the emphasis
on extra ways to enhance her CV that
really clinched it for her. and since
then she’s certainly taken full
advantage of everything on offer…
www.bcu.ac.uk/postgraduate
if the mark of a successful student is
one who feels inspired to promote the
University and our courses to others,
rachelle Harrison is surely a shining
example.
Alongside an intensive Legal Practice Course,
(LPC) Amy’s still found time to gain some
invaluable experience. Regular pro bono
work at a local Employment Advice Centre has
given her a fantastic insight into the skills
she’ll need as a solicitor. “I’ve had casework
experience I might not otherwise have had,
learning to run my own case and deal with
time limits. I’ve been to tribunals and
represented clients – it’s great experience.”
Amy has also been heavily involved in a
Student Academic Partnership project to
create more opportunities for law students
to volunteer. Working closely with her Deputy
Course Director, Louise Costello, she has
pinpointed local businesses, charities and
advice centres that can offer students valuable
placements and work experience.
Amy’s managed all this alongside a
part-time job in a local farm shop. “The
LPC is a big investment and that focuses
you – especially if you pay for it yourself”,
she says. “I’ve really enjoyed it. The teaching
groups are small, so you know the tutors
and they know you. You can go to them
about anything.”
Most of all, she’s really relished the
chance to get hands-on experience. “Law is
all about your CV,” explains Amy. “If you’re
proactive, it’s amazing what experience you
can get!”
Rachelle undertook her LLB Law degree
from 2007-10, where she was ‘Head Mooter’
in the Mooting Society for students to practise
their debating skills; a student representative for
her course; a student ambassador and a mentor
to younger students.
Since returning to complete an LLM Master’s
in Law with International Human Rights, she
has been asked by the Law School careers
tutor to hold career sessions for undergraduate
LLB students and has obtained a number of
public speaking engagements where she has
had to talk about certain aspects of law and her
journey to where she is today.
She said: “I was drawn to the University by
the opportunities to gain a practical application
of the law. The teachers were so friendly and
welcoming, and any time I needed help their
doors were always open.”
Rachelle built her skills by taking
part in mooting competitions in front of real
judges and, as a result of her performance
in one competition, she was invited to shadow
Judge Martin Cardinal for a period of time.
And as part of her dissertation, she got to
spend time working at a top criminal law
firm in New York.
She said: “I’ve undertaken a lot of legal
research that has been used throughout a trial,
taken part in trial preparation, interviewing
witnesses and attended court on numerous
occasions. I’m able to use this experience for
academic credit towards my Master’s.”
Having achieved her aim of becoming a
barrister, Rachelle remains ambitious for more
success, and hopes to achieve Queen’s Counsel
status in future.
“I intend to practise in criminal and
family law, but I always wanted to have
a diverse practice so I am open to different
areas of law. I’ve also considered undertaking
a PhD, so I will have to see what the
future holds.”
www.bcu.ac.uk/law
ProGress 2012
Law
ProGress 2012
Social Sciences
graBBiNg
OPPOrTUNiTieS
wiTH BOTH
HaNdS
Sophie Grace Rowe
from the moment she started her
Criminology degree, Sophie grace
rowe was determined to take
advantage of everything her time
with us had to offer.
Her enthusiasm, hard work and commitment
have led to awards and opportunities,
which have given her a great foundation
for future success.
Sophie graduated in 2011 with a First
Class Honours Degree in Criminology. She
was then awarded the Howard League Bursary,
from the charitable penal reform organisation,
and is now studying towards her Master’s in
Criminology, under the guidance of leading
Criminologist Professor David Wilson.
She has also taken over the Howard
League Society at the University, attracting
increased funding, recruiting over 150 new
members and organising events and speakers,
including ex-convicts such as reformed
offender Noel ‘Razor’ Smith.
But that’s just the start. Alongside her
studies Sophie has managed several roles
including, Student Liaison Officer, Aimhigher
Associate, Senior Student Ambassador,
Support Worker, Student Representative and
committee member for the national Student
Learning and Teaching Network.
In addition, she is Chair of the
Birmingham branch of the New Bridge
befriending organisation, writing to and
visiting prisoners, and a member of the
Warwickshire Youth Offender Panel, which
works to help young offenders understand
the consequences of what they have done
and assigns reparation tasks.
As a result of her extensive involvement
in criminal justice-related organisations
she has been granted professional
membership to the Institute of Community
Justice Professionals.
There is no doubting Sophie’s strong
work ethic. “When I was studying my
undergraduate course I had five part-time
jobs. The knowledge I learnt through my
volunteering roles definitely helped me
achieve a First Class degree and I enjoy
what I do.”
During her time on the course, Sophie
has been filmed for Channel 5’s Killers Behind
Bars programme; her appearance impressed
the director and she hopes to do further
commentary work in the future. “There are
so many opportunities for the future. It’s
very exciting,” she says.
www.bcu.ac.uk/socialsciences
09
aCadeMiC wiNS
PreSTigiOUS
TraVelliNg award
An academic from the University was the
only person in the West Midlands to receive
a prestigious Winston Churchill Travelling
Fellowship.
Criminologist Martin Glynn used the grant
from the Fellowship to travel to Baltimore in the
USA to examine the impact of fatherlessness in
anti-social behaviour.
Martin explains: “My current work in
criminology has identified fatherlessness,
father hunger and father deficit as some key
indicators and contributory factors, motivating
some young men to seek and find solace
in gangs, live risky lifestyles, and engage
in anti-social behaviour.”
Martin’s research assisted in the
understanding of issues affecting young
black men in the region as well as informing
his current PhD ‘The Sankofa Paradigm –
Towards a Critical Race Theory of Desistance’.
eValUaTiNg USe
Of arT iN PriSONS
Senior Lecturer in Criminal and Forensic
Psychology, Dr Laura Caulfield, has been
awarded a grant to investigate the effects of
artistic and creative activities in prisons.
The funding from the Economic and Social
Research Council (ESRC) will support a series
of seminars on enrichment activities in the
criminal justice system, involving a mixture
of academic and practitioner input, with
highly-respected speakers from the UK and US.
As a leading expert in evaluating enrichment
activities in prisons and course director for our
MSc Forensic Psychology programme, Laura
was an obvious candidate to drive the project
forward. She said: “We hope the seminars will
allow us to share best practice in delivering
and evaluating arts based projects in criminal
justice systems around the world.
“It will be a valuable opportunity for people
to learn from experts who have taken part in
criminal justice based initiatives and to draw
on competing and complementary views.”
www.bcu.ac.uk/postgraduate