The British Inter-University Commercial Awareness Competition is a highly competitive opportunity for law students nationally, this year’s competition had 22 law firm sponsors.

The aim is to level the playing field by allowing students from non-Russell Group universities to showcase their talents and secure experience with some of the most prestigious law firms in the UK.

Tell us more about your achievement.

I am a final year Law with Spanish student, and outside of this I also work as an Entrepreneurship Connector for the university.

In December 2021, after multiple rounds, I was able to attend the Finals held at Ashurst LLP’s London office. It was a great experience and I placed within the top 10 from around 2,000 contestants, winning a prize with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer!

What did the day consist of?

I had to prepare for two presentations on the day with topics ranging from macroeconomics, quantitative easing, equity vs debt financing and start-up financing. There was also a case study with a fictional business where I had to analyse commercial and legal risks and provide solutions. On the day itself, I presented for 8 minutes to a panel of law firm partners and answered unseen questions for 4 minutes. This may seem more daunting than it was, but I welcomed the challenge and overall I am really glad I took part.

What did you get out of it?

I met a lot of people, challenged myself and I gained a lot of confidence. I was able to visit a city law firm for the first time which was fantastic and I also expanded my knowledge on commercial topics through each round. It was nice to be able to go beyond my law degree modules to learn more and prepare myself for a career in commercial law.

I also networked and followed up with trainees, graduate recruitment and partners who I met on the day, to learn more about the work they do and the firms themselves. This really helped me figure out what it is that I want out of a career.