Annual Legal Skills Triathlon

Every year Derby Law School work in partnership with Derby and District Law Society to host the hugely popular Annual Legal Skills Triathlon.

The Triathlon sees 8 paralegals/ trainee/newly qualified solicitors from local firms partnered up with a LL.B student from Derby Law School.

The standard is always very high and the teams work together to compete in an advocacy assessment (held in the mock courtroom at the Law School), an interview of a client and a negotiation. Competitors are given a unique opportunity to receive feedback and mentoring support from experienced practitioners, to showcase their skills and network.

Now in its 12th year, the event was held on Wednesday 21st March at Derby Law School’s iconic building, One Friar Gate Square with the day for the competitors starting at 8am for and concluding at 6pm.

Awards were kindly presented by President of Derby and District Law Society, Simon Stevens, with the awards ceremony being opened with a few words from Sue Jennings, Head of Derby Law School, who praised the high standard of all participants and the hard work that had been put in throughout the day.

Triathlon Participants

Team 1– Lewis Adamson, Geldards & Brad France, 3rd Year LL.B student

Team 2– Ryan Houghton, Elliot Mather & Alexander Wood, 2nd Year LL.B student

Team 3– William Kirk, Geldards & Iulian Bogdan, 3rd Year LL.B Student

Team 4– Emily Rose, Nelsons & Aneeqa Dar, 3rd Year LL.B Student

Team 5– Emma Winfield, Nelsons & Lorraine Obomanu, 3rd Year LL.B Student

Team 6 – Hannah Read, Smith Partnership & Remus Mihailescu, 3rd Year LL.B Student

Team 7– Daniel Greatorex, Geldards & Emily Slater, 3rd Year LL.B Student

Team 8– Katie Hempstock, Elliot Mather & Gianluca Baldissone, 3rd Year LL.B Student

Competition Judges

Advocacy – Simon Stevens, Eddowes Waldron & Vee Monro, Derby Law School and Deputy District Judge & Ben Lawson, Geldards

Interview – Manesha Ruparel, Alexander & Co, & Martin Salt, Right Legal Group & Virna Simoncelli-Allan, Derby Law School & Nikola Dzierzak, 1st Year LL.B Student who played the client

Negotiation – Sue Jennings, Derby Law School & Di Copestake, Freeths & Joel Klaff, Derby Law School

Triathlon Winners

Best Overall Team – £350

Daniel Greatorex, Trainee Solicitor, Geldards

Emily Slater, 3rd Year LL.B student

2nd Best Overall Team – £250

Emma Winfield, Trainee Solicitor, Nelsons

Lorraine Obomanu, 3rd Year LL.B student

3rd Best Overall Team – £200

Katie Hempstock, Crown Court Clerk/Accredited Police Station Representative, Elliot Mather LLP

Gianluca Baldissone, 3rd Year LL.B student

Best Individual in Advocacy – £150

Katie Hempstock, Crown Court Clerk/Accredited Police Station Representative, Elliot Mather LLP

Best Individual in Interviewing – £150

Daniel Greatorex, Trainee Solicitor, Geldards

Best Individual in Negotiation – £150

Hannah Read, Paralegal, Smith Partnership