Tuesday 25-10-2016 - 10:16

Today's blog was written by our Student Advisor, Kim, who runs the Advice Centre. On Friday the 21st October, we sent her down to London for some very important training which she wrote about for us. 

 

Friday 21^st October

Today I’m off to London for a half day training course on Academic Appeals and Misconduct. This will hopefully help me to better support you if you ever find yourself in a sticky situation with the University. The training is witha solicitor, so I’m guessing it will be all very “legal”, we shall see.

I arrive at Chester train station and conduct my usual pre train journey ritual, which involves purchasing a grab bag of hula hoops, bottle of water and overpriced coffee for the journey. I settle down in my seat for my two hour and ten minute journey to London Euston, hoping that I will manage to find my way around the London Underground.

Once in Euston I follow the steady stream of passengers to the Underground clutching my tatty piece of paper on which I wrote my underground directions. Victoria Line to Victoria then Circle Line to Temple.  Thankfully this is surprisingly easy and I arrive at my destination. 

I’ve never been to Temple before, it must be the “legal quarter” of London judging by all the suites. I feel overwhelmingly underdressed and out of place in my jeans, dirty boots and scruffy coat. I find the Solicitors and realise I’m 45 minutes early, so try to find somewhere to sit. No benches in Temple so I perch on a step and pull out the remainder of my hula hoops.  As the suites walk past, I wonder if they think I’m homeless. Perhaps someone will toss me some loose change if I’m lucky!!

The training is facilitated by Daniel, a Barrister don’t you know. Daniel is really engaging and explains that he has represented lots of Students in Appeals and Misconduct Hearings. I ponder on how much he charges for his services, a small fortune I would imagine. Daniel provides us with loads of hints and tips for representing Students and talks about case studies and his succession of wins. He uses terms like “probable” and “disputes of fact”. I wonder if I could dazzle Appeal Panels with all this legal lingo.

 

 

As Daniel talks about his cases I am reminded of some of my current cases and scribble down notes and ideas so that I can work on them when I get back to the office. I’m really inspired and excited. If only I could rewind 20 years and train to be a solicitor. In another life maybe.

The training is over with before I know it. I leave wishing it was a longer course, half a day to suck up all those ideas and knowledge just isn’t enough. I might email Daniel and let him know. Due to my “off peak” train ticket, I have to hang around for an hour or so before I can hop back on the train. Jeez London is a busy place, all those faces!!

I finally arrive home at 10pm, exhausted but happy. TGI Friday!!