Aberdeen students carry Scotland banner after client consultation win

Two University of Aberdeen Diploma students are to represent Scotland at international level after winning the Scottish Client Consultation Competition.

Jennifer Baird and Euan Thompson saw off competition from Robert Gordon, Strathclyde, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee University law schools in the contest hosted by Strathclyde, in which the six teams took part in simulated lawyer/client interviews before a panel of expert judges.

The theme of this year’s competition was "residential neighbours", with scenarios including a hedge dispute and children causing a nuisance and damage to property.

As Scottish winners the Aberdeen team can now look forward to representing Scotland when the International Client Consultation Competition takes place at the University of Kent later this year.

“The judges gave us helpful feedback after each interview but it was really difficult to tell how well we had done”, Ms Baird said.

“Luckily we were the final interview of the day and didn't have to wait too long. When we found out we had won we were gobsmacked but delighted!”

Both team members are already volunteers with the Citizens Advice Bureau, which has provided them with valuable experience relevant to the competition.”

Susan Stokeld, director of the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at Aberdeen and who prepared the team, commented: “This is an exciting win for Jennifer and Euan, and the Law School is very proud of the level of commitment they showed in their preparations for the Client Consultation Competition."