qLegal has hit the ground running in 2021 with another intake of students joining in January.
This is the first time qLegal has had a double intake; with over 200 students from across the world. The additional start date also means that qLegal is able to run in the summer semester, continuing to support clients in June and July. qLegal’s growing numbers is reflective of the increasing student demand for practical UK-based experience enabling students to develop their professional skills. To enable this scaling up, we have streamlined our operational processes, including taking everything online which has had the additional benefit of allowing students to carry out their qLegal work wherever they may be. It has also meant better productivity and efficiency of qLegal’s various programmes.
Take for instance our Legal Advisory Programme, which involves the provision of free preliminary legal advice. Last year, 28 letters of advice were sent out to clients, covering complex issues of corporate, commercial, data protection and intellectual property law. However, with the larger cohort of students, qLegal has already achieved this number by February, only halfway through the academic year. It is rewarding to be able to increase the number of clients we can help as well as giving students additional opportunities.Of course, we recognise the need to ensure the quality of what we deliver, both to clients and to students. As such, qLegal students undertake extensive training programmes delivered by the qLegal staff, the legal profession and academics.
qLegal has also adopted a “train the trainer” approach whereby in February, some senior students who had joined qLegal in September volunteered to help integrate the new students into qLegal’s programmes. The senior students shared valuable first-hand information and tips as well as how to overcome challenges, such as managing time when juggling, studying and carrying out qLegal work. Students on the Public Legal Education programme who had already gained experience delivering online workshops ran the Presentation Skills training for the January starters. On the Legal Advisory programme, senior students were able to help their new colleagues navigate the case management system. This mentoring approach has proven to be a great success and provides an additional level of guidance to that provided by the qLegal team.
The large intake of diverse students along with the quality training they receive in an online setting is an indication of qLegal’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity, flexibility and innovation.
This piece was written by qLegal students Katlego Mmuoe and Manuliza Faktaufon