And after winning first place in the UK Law School Challenge, they celebrated in serious style with an invitation to the House of Lords.
What’s the Law School Challenge? It’s a nationwide competition where teams of law students from universities and law schools around the country engage in fun and imaginative ways to fundraise for two free legal advice charities – Advocate and LawWorks. The money raised is then used by the charities to offer free legal advice to help people who can’t afford it and to raise awareness of the services they provide.
Our team of 26 motivated students didn’t just present a strong case, they won it, raising the most money from a whole series of clever and innovative ideas.
Their mission kicked off in January with a quiz night featuring a highly coveted raffle prize – the chance to shadow the President of the Leicestershire Law Society. Much excitement created among the students? Beyond reasonable doubt.
Next up, they booted up for a sponsored legal walk around Leicester’s most important historical and legal landmarks. An enthusiastic turnout for this resulted in some equally enthusiastic donations for the fundraising pot.
March brought ‘Java for Justice’, a coffee morning where students were invited to donate to the challenge in exchange for a fabulous networking opportunity. In a beans-filled brew of frothy lattes, buzzing conversation, and more than a hundred students and local legal professionals, the funds were boosted further.
By April, the team were on a roll. They combined their fundraising event with the launch of the Law Lab Enterprise, attracting big names including the President and Vice President of the Law Society of England and Wales. It was a perfect high-profile moment to spotlight the team’s cause: access to justice for everyone.
Group photo featuring law students Ruth Kargbo and Krisztina Pall, and staff members Sharan Sandhu, Serena Boulton, Louise Neilson and Alwyn Jones
All the hard work paid off when our winning team were invited to attend the LawWorks and Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards at the House of Lords, celebrating the best pro bono activities undertaken by law schools across the UK. Representing De Montfort University were law students Ruth Kargbo and Krisztina Pall, and staff members Sharan Sandhu, Serena Boulton, Louise Neilson and Alwyn Jones.
Krisztina said it all: “Taking part in the Law School Challenge meant a lot to me, as we have managed to raise more awareness about access to justice and showed that we care. Winning the Challenge and receiving an award from the Attorney General was an amazing achievement, and I am very proud of the whole team for accomplishing this!”
Ruth was equally proud, and also mindful about what the money raised will do: “Receiving an award from the Attorney General was an incredible honour. But the true victory was helping to raise funds so more people can access justice, as they truly deserve it.”
Case well and truly closed.