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President - Lucy Knight
Course & Year: I’m
currently in the 2nd year of the LLB European / Maitrise course
Aims for the BLS: As President of the Bracton
Law Society, I’m lucky to be
working alongside a great committee who are all dedicated to working
for its members. We hope to continue the good work of previous
committees and develop what they have put into place. This year
the BLS will aim to increase our members’ awareness
of career opportunities, whether in the legal profession or not.
We are also going to extend member benefits and aim to ensure that
the BLS is as efficient and transparent a society as possible.
Personal: You’ll
probably find me around campus, in the Ram, law library(!) or on
Saturdays I’ll
probably be in the Lemmy! Admittedly I love to take part in all
the classic Exeter-student activities … bolt it! … Otherwise,
I love shopping, travelling, music, swimming, dance and spending
the summer term on the beach after exams.
In my fourth year I’ll be going to live in Rennes, France,
where I’m going to study French law for a year. Living in Rennes
should be a totally different experience and I can’t wait to
go! When I’ve finished university, I would like to become a
corporate solicitor in the City. In the longer term I’d love
to live abroad. |
Vice President - Nick Daniels
As
someone who wants to work in a commercial law firm in the future,
I am very focussed on the industry and am keen to promote law firms
to all those who are interested in practicing as solicitors. Getting
accepted for two summer vacation schemes in London after numerous
applications and several interviews means I have a good knowledge
of what is available to undergraduates and how best to go about preparing
for a career in a law firm.
My interests range from British politics both
past and present to travelling in Kenya and I am also Co-Chairman
of the Debating Society. An amateur herpetologist in my earlier
years I went to school and grew up in North Somerset and support
Bristol City (when they're doing well). I play football for the
Law Society and also enjoy rugby and cricket – if
for no other reason than to blend in as a typical Exeter student!
I urge the many quality footballers in the Law School to sign up
for the team and make it a real success in 05/06.
It gives me great
pleasure to commend the current Bracton Law Society committee to
everyone who is keen to be involved and I very much look forward
to many varied socials, good banter, and a legendary law ball that
is the envy of all those not able to get a ticket. The Bracton
Law Society really is an asset to the University and having been
elected to serve such a high-calibre bunch of students I, along
with the rest of the committee, will work tirelessly to meet the
understandably high level of expectation. |
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General Secretary - Andy Baker
Hi
i'm Andy and I’m the General Secretary for the BLS again
this year. My role involves sorting out the sporting side of
the society (which is very enjoyable), as well as taking minutes
in meetings (which isn’t!).
This year we are definitely offering
Bracton Law Society Football
and Netball sides, and possibly a mixed hockey side depending upon
the interest. If you’re interested in playing Hockey let
me know asap. The BLS sports sides are the envy of most other teams
as we attract sponsorship from some of the country’s top
law firms and this allows us to have brand new kits every year.
Getting
yourself into a sports team is an excellent, and probably the
best way to make friends at Uni. It doesn’t matter how
good or bad you are, everyone is welcome to come along and join
in. The main purpose of BLS sport is getting the chance to meet
people on your course and have a laugh, although obviously winning
is nice too! If you fancy your chances of getting into one of the
University representative sides, you can still turn out for the
BLS. You’ll be more than welcome!
There are even more reasons to join this year, as there are plans
to enter football, rugby and netball sides in a tournament at
another University in October. We played in Cardiff last year
and although the results didn’t all go our way, it was
a fantastic day out.
The social side of the sports teams is, as you can imagine very
much alive. Each team will have at least one social a term, and
there may even be a mixed social next year, which should be fun
to say the least!
If you’re interested in playing sport for the BLS, come and
find us at the Freshers’ squash or contact me at A.J.Baker@exeter.ac.uk.
Everyone is welcome! |
Treasurer - Ben Francis
Hi guys,
My name is Ben Francis and I’m the Treasurer of the BLS.
I’m currently in my second year at Exeter, and without sounding
too cheesy am looking forward to getting involved with the committee
next year. The fact that I’m not the only Welshman in the
society will also help with the boyo-banter, which is a relief!
My role involves the controlling of the society’s finances,
ensuring that sufficient dollar is available so we
can continue to stage the awesome socials that we are now famed
for, and which the likes of the psychology department only wish
they could emulate !!!! .
In my spare time I enjoy travelling, watching and playing sports
and socialising with my mates while sampling some of the hottest
nightspots Exeter’s club scene has to offer, except of course
on Sunday, when all roads lead to Duckes Meadow where I play for
the mighty Oxford Road United in the pressure cooker-type atmosphere
that is Exeter University’s intra-mural league division 3.
My Judas like transfer from the BLS’ football team last season
has set up a much anticipated grudge match against Andy and his
boys- so roll on next season!
My time at Exeter will hopefully have provided me with the necessary
skills that a career in law will demand, with the experience I
will have gained through my position on the committee hopefully
contributing towards this. It should be an interesting year to
say the least!
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In my role as newly appointed social secretary,
I feel it is vital to both maintain the reputation of the Bracton
Law Society as having the best socials and make sure we all get
the fun we deserve as hard working law students! Along with the
academic stimulus and unparalleled support it provides, we on
the Bracton Law Society committee intend to reward it’s
members with the greatest (and unbeatably drunkest) parties possible.
As we all know, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!
My interest in studying law started in college when I choose
it as my fourth AS option with the intention of dropping it after
first year, but I soon realized it had sparked an interest worth
pursuing, so here I am! I’m not a typical Law student as
I’m studying Law and Society course which involves studying
two law modules and two sociology modules a year. I initially
became a member of BLS to attend the notorious Freshers’ social,
but quickly became integrated as an active member, including
joining the netball team on a highly…cough victorious
cough… trip to Cardiff, hopefully this year’s team
will prove us slightly better, but fixtures and results aside,
with a host of new friends and sporting (and drinking) injuries,
the trip to Cardiff was definitely one to be remembered!
Personal experiences of such role include organizing a trip
to Tenby for class mates and tutors for a weekend of ‘‘intensive
revision’’, however it quickly became a weekend of
sunshine, beach rugby and vino fuelled hilarity! We intend to
provide you all with such experience to the best Exeter can offer,
only with a bit of luck not losing my voice for a week this time!
My
personal interests include listening (and dedicating a good proportion
of my loan to) music and shoes! Enjoy swimming and playing sports
such as squash/badminton, netball particularly shoddily, my aim
the summer is to learn to finally learn to surf and perfect my
simultaneous darts/pub quiz technique. And, naturally, am a passionate
Welsh rugby aficionado, but I’m less of a danger
to the public if watching than if playing. I hope to channel the
sense of elation of these into some of the best socials possible,
and am looking forward to being part of a new committee dedicated
to it’s members interests and enjoyment! |
Having
become the social secretary for the lovely law society, I feel
that we bring the valuable element of relaxation and fun to the
mix of our hard working Bracton Law Society members. With
a deep interest in family law, I have been involved in the field
during my time at Hillier’s firm, in case work and behind
the scenes looking at the guts of the legal profession. Concerned
with human rights, I've spent time in South Africa, specifically
Bloemfontein, supporting workers at the miracle house orphanage,
a truly life changing experience that I will never forget.
With
a passion for travel, I've yet to satisfy my desire to see the
world and look forward in earnest to further travels, after having
gone to Australia and New Zealand previously, another life changing
experience, especially New Zealand, having Maori heritage myself
I was truly enabled to experience my ancestry first hand, even
if it did involve a rather fetching chin tattoo for a few months!
I'm involved with Cancer research, a charity and institution that
I feel is worthy of anyone's effort, which I'm only glad to give
in exchange for furthering this important cause.
I've been glad
to discover both a happy and invigorating atmosphere among the
law society and look forward to putting some events on our collective
map that will enhance our time here at this wonderful university
of ours and hopefully on into our work after university in law! |
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Publicity
Officer - Nicola Bell
As co-publicity officer of the Bracton Law Society, I hope to
raise awareness of what the BLS entails and would like to make
it more accessible to students studying law. The BLS is one
of the largest societies at Exeter University and our job is to
ensure that students can access any information that they desire. Throughout
the year we will be advertising socials, open days and any exciting
developments in the law calendar.
As I am an international student
from Cape Town, South Africa, I hope to offer a friendly and approachable
face to any international students. After my degree, I would like to work in a commercial
law firm or in a corporate environment. I have travelled
extensively and have gained experience in the property world of
developing and investment, and am interested in perhaps pursuing
this one day.
Apart from law, my interests lie mainly in travelling, shopping,
music and normal Exeter activities, such as sampling the Exeter nightlife. I
am also an avid sports fanatic, particularly in watching cricket
(what South-African isn’t?!) and rugby. I was vice-president
of the Self Catering Residents Association in my first year at uni,
so am accustomed to organising and advertising events, hopefully
this will help in making the 2005/2006 BLS extremely approachable
and a lot of fun!! |
Publicity Officer - Gemma Bond 
As your new publicity officers, we aim to ensure that you guys
know everything there is to know about socials, law events and
law firms information. We will be regularly updating this
website with news, photos and info, so as to keep everyone updated!
Keep an eye on the notice-board for upcoming events too!
The Bracton Law Society is well known for organising a variety of events designed
to benefit your career and also social life! Aside from its annual law careers
fair, organised lectures by eminent legal figures, sports teams, termly magazine
Obiter Dicta and trips to law firms, the BLS is renowned for its many social
events, of which a number are characterised by copious amounts of alcohol and
exciting memories.
As we are sure you will already be aware Law is not just about being
a conscientious hard-working student spending many hours in the Law
library (hmmm?), its also about having a good time and getting to
know a wide variety of people. Or, as the Law firms would say – developing
those much needed personal and communicative skills invaluable for
later as a promising solicitor or barrister.
We have a busy year ahead of us, with many jam-packed socials, which
are generally a good excuse to get to know your fellow law students
a bit better with the aid of a cheap drink or two. Enjoy
your time at this amazing university and above all, have a fantastic
3 or 4 years being a member of our fabulous society.
See you all soon! |
Obiter Dicta Editor - Simon Bailey
I am and always have been interested in the newspaper business
and have a wealth of experience in doing so. I produced my first
school newspaper way back in primary school and have edited numerous
editions through secondary school culminating in the production
of my 6th form's college first newspaper. The rewarding feeling
you get from creating a quality product is extremely satisfying
and I hope to continue producing quality with "Obiter Dicta" the
Bracton Law Society's magazine.
Myself and Jay are dedicated to upholding the excellent standards of previous
magazines while inputting our fresh ideas and creating a interesting, informative
and most important of all, entertaining magazine. We are both 1st year law
students and I have enjoyed this first year extremely. Getting involved in
numerous RAG activities such as hitchhiking to Dublin and dressing as Batman
and Robin to collect for charity in Liverpool reflects my outgoing and fun
personality, which i hope to add this to this already hugely successful society
and enjoy my second and third years as much as my first.
I am hugely honoured to be elected onto the Bracton Law Society committee and
hope to contribute into continuing the excellent work of the previous committees.
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Obiter Dicta Editor - Janakan Gangakumaran
"The
Bracton Law Society is one of the most prestigious societies at
the University of Exeter. I feel very privileged to be a member
of the committee. It has a fantastic reputation of putting on the
best socials that we usually have a lot of non-members turning
up.
My role in the committee is the co-editor of Obiter
Dicta, our magazine, along with Simon Bailey. Both of us have had
experience of editing magazines at our respective schools and we
hope to bring that flair into Obiter. I think the mix between relevant
information on future law careers and articles of general interest
are the components that make Obiter such a readable publication.
I will try to continue that tradition in the forthcoming issues.
Other interests include supporting Man Utd (whether
they win or not!) as well as having a game of football with my
mates once in while, with a game of squash thrown in for good measure.
The committee is elected by and run for its members.
This fact above all will not be forgotten as we try to offer everything
that you want from sport to socials. Have a good year.
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Master of the Moots - Adam Blewett
Hello there! Our names are Adam and Bex and we are Master and
Mistress of the Moots for the Committee this year. But what does
that mean for you? Well, quite a lot of things…!
Mooting
is a priceless supplement to any law degree – you
will often hear many employers talk of the importance placed
on mooting experience at university. Mooting while you are at
Exeter will mean you will learn more about legal principles and
how they are applied in an authentic legal hearing and it will
help to significantly improve your advocacy skills, and certainly
your confidence. With the two of us, you will be able to compete
internally in the Western Circuit Mooting Cup where you will
compete against other students here, or externally where you
can represent the University against other universities in national,
and hopefully international, moots. (Check out www.mooting.net for
early insight!)
Secondly, because we understand that mooting will
be new to many of you, we have organised introductory lectures
to help teach the basics, alongside practiced mooters and professionals.
Following that, throughout the year we will organise a number
of workshops and presentations from law firms and barrister’s
chambers from across the country with a view to improving your
skills whilst you are here.
We hope that we will be able to at the
very least help develop your legal skills of analysis and interpretation
and public speaking during the competition and workshops we provide.
Above all, mooting is about having great fun, and all the hard
work is worth it!
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Master of the Moots
- Rebecca Copcutt 
We organise the Internal and External Mooting competitions for
Exeter University. A moot is when two pairs of advocates (students
at the university) argue a fictitious legal case in front of a ‘judge’,
who is normally a lecturer, practicing barrister or in the Final
Round, a serving judge. Internally, the mooting is between the
students at Exeter, but externally, we will be competing against
other universities and we even have plans to take part in the D.M.
Harish Memorial Mooting Competition that takes place in India against
other universities from across the world.
Mooting is certainly a priceless supplement to a law degree, it will
help you learn more about legal principles and how they are applied
in an authentic legal hearing. We hope that we will be able to at
the very least help develop your legal skills of analysis and interpretation
and public speaking during the competition and workshops we provide.
Above all though, mooting is about having great fun, and all the
hard work is worth it! |
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Group Chair - Oliver Bacon
Im Oliver Bacon, the Bracton Law Society’s
current Bar Group Chair. I am currently in the third year of Exeter’s
Law with German law program.
It is my job to promote the career options at the Bar and to support people
in finding the experience necessary to successfully become a Barrister. So
basically, if you need any help with work experience; have any questions or
want to know more about the career options at the Bar, then I am your first
point of contact. I am of course, always happy to answer any questions that
you may have throughout the year.
I am also planning a career at the Bar and am hoping to end up in a common
law set of chambers with a mixed civil and criminal practise. Ultimately however,
I will be happy just about anywhere where I am allowed to wear a stripy suit
and read law books. |
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