Home News Attorney General issues inspiring advice to University of Chichester’s law students a year after her appointment

Attorney General issues inspiring advice to University of Chichester’s law students a year after her appointment

  • Rt Hon Suella Braverman QC MP told Chichester’s LLB Law students about her career at the forefront of UK politics
  • Britain’s youngest ever Attorney General is widely recognised as a trailblazer for young lawyers
  • During virtual event the MP spoke of her life growing up and imparted words of wisdom to the students

LAW students from the University of Chichester have revelled in the inspirational words of advice given to them by the Attorney General, on the week marking the first anniversary of her appointment.

The Right Honourable Suella Braverman QC MP, speaking virtually to undergraduates, spoke about her remarkable career which has led her to the forefront of the legal profession. As Britain’s youngest ever Attorney General, and only the second woman to be appointed to the role, Mrs Braverman is widely recognised as a trailblazer for young lawyers.

Addressing students on the University’s LLB Law degree, she said: “It was an incredible honour to be asked to serve as the Attorney General by the Prime Minister. I was first attracted to law for the intellectual challenges it presents, but also because I wanted to make a real-world impact.

“The law profession is a meritocracy and, if you’re willing to work hard, there are no limits to what you can achieve. The instinct of giving it your all is what makes a good lawyer.”

AG: “You can forge a successful career if you dedicate yourself to the profession and provide justice for those need it.”

Now working as the Government’s most senior legal advisor, her historic career has seen her defend the Home Office for immigration cases, the parole board in challenges by prisoners, and, most recently, lead on many of the legal adjustments of Brexit.

AG Braverman added: “The law in the UK is vast and the most successful law students acquire the skills to learn the law and then challenge or uphold it. It’s a tough profession, but there’s no better feeling then making a difference to the life of someone who has not been able to secure justice.”

The University’s LLB Law degree students were joined by more than 100 aspiring lawyers from south coast schools and colleges for the hour-long interview. Mrs Braverman also spoke about the challenges of her first term, including her referrals to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, following a number of high-profile cases.

“Sentencing is an art, rather than a science,” she said. “There’s not necessarily one right answer as to what a sentence should be, it often involves a delicate balancing act of aggravating features.”

The MP for Fareham, who was elected in 2015, rounded off the student interview by adding: “I come from an ordinary background, without any connections to law, but I am proof that you can forge a successful career if you dedicate yourself to the profession and provide justice for those need it.”

 

Second-year law student Millie Walker, who is also the University’s law society president, said: “This was a great talk and made me think of how I can expand my skills and knowledge for the future. The AG discussed her childhood background where she had no connections with the profession emphasising ‘it does not matter where you start, just to focus on where you want to go’.

“She highlighted she enjoyed how law had such an impact world-wide by her completing her masters in Paris and qualifying for the bar in New York. This shows the dedication needed to be successful in this career. “

Fellow aspiring lawyer Oliver Chandler, in his first year, said: “We know that law is one of the most challenging career paths out there, so to hear her journey to the top of the legal profession was truly inspiring. It shows us what we can achieve if we believe in ourselves.”

The University’s three-year LLB Law degree covers seven core areas which prepare students for a career at the Bar and the Solicitors’ Qualifying Examination, including Public, Criminal, Tort, Contract, Land, and EU law, alongside Equity and Trusts.

Senior lecturer Dr Amy Elkington, who oversees the degree, said: “It was an honour to welcome Suella. Her inspirational words struck a chord with our students, many of whom, like her, are the first in their family to go to university. Perhaps most significantly, it was important for our students to hear how she forged a career out of hard work and sheer determination to become one of the leading legal minds in the UK.”

Mrs Braverman is the latest in a serious of high-profile speakers to speak to students on the LLB Law degree about building a career in the highly sort-after profession.

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane Longmore, who opened the event, said: “The Attorney General’s highly-successful career exemplifies her core values of self-empowerment, taking responsibility, and service. These are values to which we subscribe as a University and I hope that her powerful account of her career will inspire our Law students to fulfil their aspirations.”

For more about the University of Chichester’s LLB (Hons) Law degree go to www.chi.ac.uk/law. Alternatively read more on the Rt Hon Braverman QC MP at www.suellabraverman.co.uk.

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