SE-Solicitors Hosts Oxford Brookes Law School Client Interviewing Competition Grand Final

This spring, we were delighted to host the Oxford Brookes Law School Client Interviewing Competition Grand Final at our Oxford office, supporting students in developing essential, real‑world legal skills. Although the competition has been held previously, this year marked the first time SE‑Solicitors has hosted the grand final.

The event saw Oxford Brookes’ top‑performing law students step into the shoes of practising solicitors, tackling a challenging client scenario under pressure. Each of the three finalist teams had progressed as winners from their respective year groups, resulting in an exceptionally high standard of performance.

The students were assessed by an expert judging panel, made up of Marc Howe, Principal Lecturer in Law at Oxford Brookes University, alongside Patrick Mulcare, Deborah Davies and Anis Waiz of SE-Solicitors. Adding to the realism, Charlotte Houghteling, Senior Lecturer in Law at Oxford Brookes Law School, played the role of client, testing the students’ ability to build rapport, manage expectations and respond confidently to challenging situations.

In total, six students competed as three teams, each demonstrating a high standard of professionalism, teamwork and legal awareness. Judges assessed performances against key criteria including effective client communication, teamwork, information gathering, planning and the delivery of clear legal advice based on the facts obtained.

Following impressive performances from all finalists, the Year 3 team was named overall winner. Detailed feedback was provided to all finalists, giving students valuable insight into how to strengthen their interviewing technique and professional approach.

“We were proud to support the next generation of legal professionals by hosting this year’s grand final,” said Patrick Mulcare, Managing Director of SE-Solicitors. ”The standard of the students was extremely impressive, and it was a pleasure to see their skills and confidence develop in a real-world environment.”

Marc Howe commented: “Opportunities like this are invaluable for students. The competition allows them to apply legal knowledge in a realistic setting, build confidence in client communication and gain insight into the practical skills required in professional practice.”

For the students taking part, the final offered a valuable opportunity to put their learning into practice. One student finalist reflected: “Thank you to Anis, Deborah and Patrick for judging the competition and being open to talking with us. The opportunity to talk with experienced, generous and kind legal professionals, over some delicious pizza, is something I won’t soon forget!”.

Beyond the competition itself, the event gave students first‑hand experience of client‑facing legal work, helping them develop legal problem‑solving skills and the ability to identify relevant information when advising clients – all essential skills for a career in law.

Supporting the Next Generation of Legal Professionals

While the client interviewing competition sits separately from SE‑Solicitors’ mentoring programme with Oxford Brookes Law School, it forms part of our wider support for students entering the profession.

Our Oxford team regularly works with Oxford Brookes Law School on practical, careers‑focused initiatives. Earlier this year, Anis Waiz welcomed students to our Oxford office for a Banking and Finance careers lunch, offering insight into how law firms operate and pathways into the profession. Further, they conducted mock job interviews for several students; providing them with an insight into the interview process. 

This year’s Oxford Brookes Mentorship Programme has also included an applications workshop, a commercial awareness workshop, and an introductory mentoring morning. Students heard from Trainee Solicitors, CILEX Trainees, Senior Associates and Directors, who shared their career journeys and practical insight into life in the legal profession.

Hosting the competition final, alongside our wider work with Oxford Brookes University, reflects SE‑Solicitors’ ongoing commitment to supporting future legal professionals and strengthening the link between legal education and practice. We were pleased to welcome such talented students and look forward to continuing our relationship with the University.