Signatories
All signatories have well-being training to help them support their committee and members
The President:
The President is the face Society and decides on its overall direction. As a signatory, the President has legal and financial responsibility for the Society as well as an administrative role in answering emails, booking rooms and social media advertising. They establish the goals, objectives, and intended achievements for the academic year, overseeing everything the Society does. At their discretion, the President may delegate appropriate duties to other committee members. They make executive decisions over competitions, venues, funding, events, charities, sponsors, and are often the member of the Society seen giving speeches, talks and introductory welcomes. As with any Society President, they have a ‘ceremonial’ role at events, introducing speakers, and forging connections for the Society for the benefit of its members. The President acts as a bridge between the Society and the senior staff of the Faculty of Law – responsible for scheduling and holding meetings where they can act as a voice for the Society and its members.
– This year the President is also managing the Social and Support Zone of the committee and will be responsible for overseeing the work of the Social Secretary, the First Year Representative, the Support and Wellbeing Officer and the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Officer. Therefore, being in charge of any social events including the Law Ball and Freshers Fair, reviewing participation levels, communicating with students and managing any memberships.
The Vice-President:
As a signatory position, the Vice President has legal and financial responsibility of the Society as well as an administrative role in answering emails, booking rooms and social media advertising. The exact nature of their duties are determined by the President and how much they delegate or otherwise confer on the Vice-President – ” this will vary from year-to-year. Ultimately, the Vice-President serves to support the President, completing all Presidential duties where the President cannot including speeches, meeting with the Faculty of Law or speaking to other contacts.
This year the Vice-President is also managing the Professional Development Zone and will be responsible for overseeing the work of the Law Careers Officer.
Treasurer:
As a signatory position, the Treasurer has legal and financial responsibility of the Society as well as an administrative role in answering emails, booking rooms and social media advertising. They are is in charge of budget responsibility and keeping track of all expenses of the Society. This involves ensuring appropriate distribution and record keeping as well as raising funds through initiatives if necessary. Their expertise is often called upon when deciding ticket prices, sponsorship requests and negotiating deals, and they act alongside the President to secure sponsorship. They are also the members of the Society responsible for communicating with the Student Union.
– This year the Treasurer is managing the Competitions Zone of the committee and will be responsible for overseeing the work of the Mooting Officer, the Commercial Awareness Officer, the Client Interviewing Officer and the Negotiations Officer. Therefore, being in charge of applications to any regional or national competitions the Society wishes to enter, including hosting internal competitions.
Social and Support Zone
Social Secretary:
The Social Secretary is in charge of organising, planning, running and manning social events throughout the academic year. This includes bar crawls, dinners and collaborations with other societies and clubs. They may also arrange study sessions or informal gatherings for students. They are required to prepare risk assessments and negotiate the appropriate locations, routes, deals and venues for all social events. They must request and allocate funds for any associated costs to these events including ticket prices and wristbands or merchandise.
Support and Wellbeing Officer:
The Support and Wellbeing Officer will be trained upon election in well-being and it is their role to offer support and advice (or refer to someone best positioned to give advice) to the other committee members and anyone engaging in the Law Society. They are responsible for organising the Society’s mentoring scheme: allocating willing mentors with lower year mentees and offering guidance to mentors where needed. If any member of the Society is struggling, the Support and Wellbeing Officer can be there to offer reassurance and speak to the signatory team about how to rearrange workloads if necessary. They have a duty to report any wellbeing concerns whilst maintaining appropriate confidentiality. They gather feedback for the members on Society events and feed back to the signatories so the Society can improve its approach and increase engagement levels. They will focus on ensuring we are striving for the highest possible STARS accreditation, by helping to organise charity and fundraising events.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Officer:
The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion officers primary role is to make all students feel involved and welcomed into our society by promoting an EDI perspective. They will feedback any issues or concerns following events to both the Law Society and the School of Law. They will take a proactive role in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion by organising specific events and activities such as last years ‘Women in Law’ event.
First Year Representative:
The First Year Representative reports the feelings, desires and concerns of first-year students to the University of Surrey. They will act as a bridge between the first-year students and the Society, helping to understand what is needed to better engage with the freshers each year. They will be concerned with increasing engagement from these students (particularly in social events) and so should also attend as many events as possible.
Competitions Zone
Mooting Officer:
The Mooting Officer is in charge of operating the internal mooting competitions as well as entering the Society into any regional or national mooting competitions approved by the signatories. They are responsible for choosing teams to compete (holding auditions where necessary), providing the appropriate training and support. The Mooting Officer also runs regular workshops to build legal skills, introducing students to Mooting as well as refreshing regulars. They must also request, allocate and manage competition funds for entry fees and transportation and be ready to stand in as a backup competitor if needed.
Client-Interviewing Officer:
This Officer is responsible for the effective operation of the internal client interviewing competition, the regional client interviewing competition, and any external competitions the Officer would like to enter teams into. It is their decision which applicants make up the teams and hold auditions where necessary. They must train, assist and support any participants, as well as preparing workshops and competitions where students can perfect their legal skills. They must also request, allocate and manage competition funds for entry fees and transportation and be ready as a backup competitor to step in if needed.
Negotiations Officer:
The Negotiations Officer manages the internal negotiations competition, and any external competitions the Society wishes to enter. The Officer also runs a number of internal workshops to build legal skills, introducing students to negotiation as well as refreshing regulars. They will prepare materials and training for workshops, as well as offering support to any participants. Teams compete at the Officer’s discretion, and it is their decision which applicants represent the Society in any externals. They must also request, allocate and manage competition funds for entry fees and transportation and be ready as a backup competitor if needed. Although not strictly negotiation, any similar Alternative Dispute Resolution competition (such as mediation) would fall under this role.
Commercial Awareness Officer:
This is a brand new role for 2021/2022. The Commercial Awareness Officer manages the internal competitions, and any external competitions the Society wishes to enter. The Officer this year will be running a number of internal workshops in order to help students learn about commercial awareness and how to use it to their advantage in their studies and professional career, including submitting applications for vacation schemes and training contracts. The Commercial awareness officer will prepare their own workshop materials and post commercial awareness updates on our Law Soc Blog. Teams often compete at the officers discretion, and it is their decision which applicants represent the Society in any externals. They must also request, allocate and manage competition funds for entry fees and transportation and be ready as a backup competitor if needed.
Professional Development
Law Careers Officer:
The Law Careers Officer deals with any events designed for students looking to pursue a career as a solicitor or barrister. They work with ULaw and BPP running skills sessions; they organise trips to Guildford Crown Court, the Supreme Court, the Royal Courts of Justice and the Old Bailey, and help to run and advertise the Alumni Networking event. They will keep in contact with the Society’s list of current professional contacts and actively look for local firms and professionals to invite to Society events including the Alumni Networking event, the annual student/professional charity quiz and the Law Ball. They will also provide students with post-graduate information and any employment opportunities available to members.
Clinics Officer:
The Clinics Officer works alongside the Law School to run the clinics throughout the year.