Upcoming Events

Bringing Law to Life: A Conversation with Rachel Herron in the role of Associate General Council

Wednesday, April 9, 2025 - 17:00

Online - via Teams

Bringing Law to Life: Rachel Herron will talk about the ups and downs of a day in the life of In-House Counsel and the challenges (and opportunities) of working within the organisation that you advise. Rachel will also discuss topics such as key skills for In-house Counsel and some Legal “hot topics” that businesses are having to get to grips with.  

Bringing Law to Life: A Conversation with Dr Neil Graffin in the role of Senior Lecturer in Law

Wednesday, April 23, 2025 - 19:00

Online - via Teams

Neil is a central academic in the Open University Faculty of Business and Law. Neil will talk about the ups and downs of a day in the life of a legal academic and the challenges of the profession. Neil will also discuss how to achieve a work-life balance, and emerging themes in the industry. Neil will consider how accessible the profession is to someone with a disability and to those with a care experienced background.

Bringing Law to Life: A Conversation with Anna Pathe-Smith in the roles of Lecturer in Law and Legal Assistant

Wednesday, April 30, 2025 - 19:00

Online - via Teams

Anna is an Associate Lecturer in Law and Early Careers Researcher and has previously worked as a legal assistant at Freeths LLP, in the Court of Protection and Private Client department.  Anna will discuss the ups and downs of a day in the life of a solicitor, finding a work-life balance, the pros and cons of the profession, and emerging themes in the industry.   

Bringing Law to Life: A Conversation with Frances Lyons in the role of Solicitor (contract law and public sector law)

Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 19:00

Online - via Teams

Frances is a solicitor and an Associate Lecturer at the Open University. Frances has worked for a London law firm, an energy company, for DEFRA and for an infrastructure company. Frances will talk about the ups and downs of a day in the life of a solicitor and the challenges of the profession.  Frances will also discuss emerging themes in the profession, how to achieve a work-life balance and consider how accessible the profession to those with a care experienced background.

Land and Property Beyond the Centenary

Friday, May 16, 2025 - 10:00 to 17:00

Online

The OU Law School research cluster - Legal Histories will be hosting this free online conference, registration links TBC.

Bringing Law to Life: A Conversation with Gillian Mawdsley in the role of Policy Lawyer (Scottish qualified)

Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - 19:00

Online - via Teams

Gillian is a Scottish Qualified Policy Lawyer with experience of both UK and Scottish parliaments and Government civil service roles including the Crown Office. Gillian will discuss challenges of the profession, emerging themes within the industry and the ups and downs of a day in the life of a policy lawyer.

Bringing Law to Life: A Conversation with Cara Sells on the role of Criminal Defence Solicitor

Tuesday, June 3, 2025 - 19:00

Online - via Teams

Cara is a practising Criminal Defence Solicitor and an Associate Lecturer at the Open University. Cara will talk about the ups and downs of a day in the life of a solicitor and the challenges of the profession. Cara will be considering the pros and cons of the legal profession.

Bringing Law to Life: A Conversation with Francine Ryan in the roles of Solicitor (Disease Litigation) and Senior Lecturer

Wednesday, June 4, 2025 - 19:00

Online - via Teams

Francine is a non-practising solicitor who has transitioned from being a legal professional to a legal academic. Francine will discuss the ups and downs of a day in the life of a solicitor, the challenges of the profession, including its pros and cons, emerging themes in the profession, how to achieve a work-life balance and how law pre-law experience can be relevant to a career in legal practice.

Bringing Law to Life: A Conversation with Amanda Smith in the roles of Senior Crown Prosecutor and Legal Researcher

Wednesday, June 11, 2025 - 19:30

Online - via Teams

Amanda has been a Senior Crown Prosecutor, an Open University Associate Lecturer and is now a Legal Researcher. Amanda will talk about the ups and downs of a day in the life of a prosecutor, the challenges of the profession and how law plays an interdisciplinary role across sectors. Amanda will also discuss how to achieve a work-life balance, and different possible careers paths following a joint degree.

Bringing Law to Life: A Conversation with Emily Tanner in the role of Solicitor (non-practising) (Area of Expertise is Residential and Commercial Property Law and Private Client)

Tuesday, July 8, 2025 - 19:00

Online - via Teams

Emily practised as a solicitor for ten years and is now an Open University Associate Lecturer. Emily will talk about the ups and downs of a day in the life of a solicitor and the challenges of the profession. Emily will also discuss how to achieve a work-life balance, whether there are age limits in the profession and how accessible the profession is to someone with a disability. Emily will consider the way in which law plays an interdisciplinary role across sectors.

Bringing Law to Life: A Conversation with Sarah Powell in the role of Solicitor Advocate (Criminal Defence)

Tuesday, July 22, 2025 - 19:00

Sarah is a Solicitor Advocate in Criminal Defence. Sarah will discuss the ups and downs of a day in the life of a solicitor advocate, the challenges of the profession, including its pros and cons, how to achieve a work-life balance and how pre-law experience can be relevant to a career in legal practice. Sarah will also discuss different possible career paths following a joint degree with law.