Durham University Student Law Society launches its 2025/26 Mentorship Scheme
The Durham University student Law Society’s Mentorship Scheme was set up to bridge the gap between academic learning and professional practice by pairing aspiring legal professionals with experienced mentors. For 2025/26, we are inviting Durham Alumni, particularly those in the legal profession, to participate in the scheme as mentors.
In 2024/25, around 100 students were successfully matched with mentors drawn from a diverse range of backgrounds, including solicitors, barristers, trainees and legal professionals in academic or alternative careers. Mentor-mentee communication spans the academic year, from November through July, and involves flexible interaction tailored to each pair, whether through virtual meetings, emails or in-person discussions.
The Durham Law Society would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all mentors who kindly offered their time and expertise in the 2024/2025 academic year and contributed to the scheme’s continued success.
Mentors offer a ‘support system’ for applications, interviews, career decisions and academics, while also encouraging students to maintain balance and confidence during an intense stage of their lives. For many mentees, the value lies equally in the practical support and in knowing they have someone who understands the challenges of pursuing law.
To illustrate the benefits and achievements of the scheme, a student now progressing into his third year at Durham reflected:
“Entering such a prestigious institution as Durham, I found the initial weeks to be both exhilarating and overwhelming, particularly as I navigated the demands of my law cohort and participated in Law Society events. However, discovering the mentorship scheme and being successfully paired with a mentor, especially one affiliated with my target law firm, provided immense relief and reassurance.
My mentor’s guidance was invaluable throughout the application season. She meticulously reviewed my applications and CV, helping me to refine them to a professional standard. Her support was instrumental in my securing a placement in the Latham & Watkins first-year scheme, a milestone I attribute in large part to her dedicated mentorship.
Perhaps more importantly, she encouraged me to keep a balance, reminding me to stay socially active and engaged with societies. Having someone who had recently faced the same challenges was incredibly reassuring. I cannot recommend this programme highly enough.”
Long-time mentor for the Durham Law Society, Mr. Kapil Kirpalani , Global Chief Compliance Officer, also reflected on the power of good mentorship and how it facilitates the message of the following quote:
“The hardest thing to teach and the hardest thing to believe consistently—is that there is nothing ‘out there’ to go and get. There is no part, no career, no opportunity for which you should be searching and scrounging and coveting. All of the preparation is within, and you keep yourself mentally and physically fit; you remain generous with yourself and others; you stay deeply in study about your craft. Whatever is yours will then arrive.
— Marian Seldes”
If you are considering becoming a mentor and helping guide dedicated students, here is the link to the sign-up form. Details on mentor-mentee pairings will be sent out in mid to late-October.