University of Aberdeen Law Diploma students Jennifer Baird and Euan Thompson are set to represent Scotland on the international stage after winning the Scottish Client Consultation Competition.
The competition, which was held at Strathclyde University, saw teams from six Scottish law schools take part in a simulated lawyer/client interview where they were marked on their performance by a panel of expert judges.
Jennifer and Euan had earlier won Aberdeen’s internal client consultation competition, which was co-ordinated by law lecturer Malcolm Combe and judged by retired solicitors Elizabeth Merson and Keith Napier.
The theme of this year's national competition was ‘residential neighbours’, which saw the Aberdeen team tackle the thorny issue of a hedge dispute, while another mock scenario involved children causing a nuisance and damage to property.
“The judges gave us helpful feedback after each interview but it was really difficult to tell how well we had done,” Jennifer said.
“Luckily we were the final interview of the day and didn't have to wait too long. When we found out we had won we were gobsmacked but delighted!”
Having come out on top against opposition from RGU, Strathclyde, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee Universities, the Aberdeen team can now look forward to representing Scotland when the International Client Consultation Competition takes place at the University of Kent later this year.
Euan said: “We'll be competing against the best from other countries, but we’ll just take each round and client as it comes, and rely on the skills we know we have.
“No matter what happens in Kent we have already achieved something to be proud of.”
Jennifer added that the experience of participating in the competition will stand them in good stead in their future careers.
“I think the competition has been invaluable to both of us, through gaining interview skills, the experience of working under pressure to find solutions and managing client expectations.
“Both Euan and myself are volunteers with the Citizens Advice Bureau so the experience is coming in very handy there too!”
Susan Stokeld, who is the Director of the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice, congratulated the pair on their success.
She said: “This is an exciting win for Jennifer and Euan, and the Law School is very proud of the level of commitment they showed in their preparations for the Client Consultation Competition.
“Their success is a testament to the talent that we have here at the school, and of the efforts that our students go to when representing the University. I will now be helping them to prepare the International Competition in Kent, which I wish them every success in.”