Hi Siobhan, could you please introduce yourself to the readers?
Hello TSL and readers, I'm excited to chat with you all. My name is Siobhan, and I am Founder and Editor‑in‑Chief of the St Andrews Law Review. I will enter my fourth year studying Social Anthropology at the University of St Andrews in September. I will also serve as School President for the Department next year.
I am interested in pursuing a career in commercial law and have previously interned at firms such as White & Case LLP and Allen & Overy. In my spare time, I enjoy playing the piano and violin. I am also an enthusiastic writer and have contributed to publications including The Lawyer Portal, the United Nations Association, Culture Trip, and the Foreign Affairs Review.
Could you tell us about the St Andrews Law Review and what you think sets it apart from other university publications?
The St Andrews Law Review was launched in 2020 as the first legal publication in the Fife coastal town. During my first two years of university, I met many other St Andrews students who shared my interest in pursuing a legal career. However, studying at a university without a law department meant we lacked access to a regular publication to discuss our legal interests. I was therefore inspired to establish the Law Review to foster a community of dedicated, enthusiastic aspiring legal professionals and guide them through this journey.
Over the past year, we have published over 150 articles covering a range of issues, from Coronavirus‑related legislation and legislative barriers to gender equality to concerns about the rise of Artificial Intelligence. Our team consists of around 60 students studying a variety of disciplines at universities across the country, not just St Andrews!
We also work with a range of partners and lawyers to guide students in transitioning to law and pursuing a legal career. For example, our Insight Series interviews solicitors from Magic Circle firms such as Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Allen & Overy and Clifford Chance. We are excited to be partnering with TSL to support aspiring solicitors further.
What are your top three tips for aspiring lawyers to get the most out of their university experience?
Build a strong academic foundation: law is highly competitive and academically and intellectually challenging. Most legal employers (especially commercial firms, if you're aiming for that route) require evidence of hard work and intellectual acumen through your university grades. Therefore, commit to fine-tuning your assignments and revising for your exams. It is also important not only to achieve high grades, but to show you've improved consistently over your degree. So, if you achieved a high 2:1 in your first year, boosting it to a First in your final year shows growth and development.
Pursue extracurricular interests and gain experience: any hobby, from knitting to playing a musical instrument, makes you a more well‑rounded and interesting person. This really shines through when employers review your CV or interview you. Moreover, joining a university society and taking on a leadership role (for example, as Secretary of your university's Badminton sports team) gives you crucial transferable skills to highlight to employers.
Take advantage of your university's support networks. Whether it's a CV‑review service or an alum network, universities offer a variety of support to prepare students for the working world. Research the resources available and how they can help with upcoming applications.
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