Please, tell us something about yourself 

I’m Alex Mullen, I am currently a pupil barrister at QEB Hollis Whiteman, a criminal chambers in London. I am currently working towards hopefully being taken on as a tenant in chambers. Outside of the time I spend working I enjoy volunteering with St John Ambulance (having started volunteering with the charity during my time at Royal Holloway).

Why did you choose to study Law at Royal Holloway?

I chose to study law at Royal Holloway having visited an Open Day when I was at sixth-form college. The overall feel of the university seemed to fit me really well, and I could see myself both studying and living there happily for the duration of my degree course. The Law course was very new when I started, and it was exciting to be a part of the foundation of a new degree at the university.

What was your experience like at RHUL? What did you enjoy the most?

I had a great time at Royal Holloway, both on the Law course and in my spare time.  It was important for me that the campus and surrounding area was a nice place to spend my time and it certainly was. I found great enjoyment in participating in various societies and sports – including of course the First Aid Society but also the Law Society, with which I had significant involvement.

Did you take advantage of any of the extra-curricular activities organised by the Department? Do you think they helped you? How and why?

I did take part in law extra-curriculars. Of particular note for me was Mooting, which was, at that time, a shared responsibility between the Law Society and the Law Department. I mooted a great deal in my first year, and went on to become the elected Mooting Officer in my second year. I continued to help out in my third year, and the mooting skills that I had gained during my time at Royal Holloway went on to assist me greatly when mooting at Gray’s Inn while I was at Bar School., and indeed continue to assist me today in pupillage. I also took part in negotiation and mock client interviews, which again developed skills that I still use today.

How did your experience at the Department prepare for your career?

Naturally my experience in the department prepared me for my career in that it was the academic stage of training required for me to become a fully-fledged lawyer after some more training. The extra-curriculars that I described above were of course of great assistance, alongside the enthusiasm and interest in the law that I had developed thanks to the teaching on the Law course.

Are there any members of the academic and administrative staff who you would like to commend for the support they gave you?

I hope they are still in the Department but a big thank you to Dr David Yuratich, who assisted greatly with running the mooting competitions in the early years of the course; Dr Leonardo VP de Oliveira for his passion for his subject; and Robert Jago who directed the course in those early years. They are the members of staff who come to mind when I think about those who helped me get to where I am today.

Did you enjoy your years at RHUL?

I enjoyed my time at RHUL greatly. I continue to recommend it to others who are choosing a university today. I hope that, by achieving success in my field, I can show the legal profession that it is a university that produces quality graduates who can compete for the very top roles.

Any tips for applicants or newly-enrolled students?

My advice to new applicants and new students is to enjoy yourself at university. It is the best years of your life – do the things you enjoy, meet new people. The degree is important, but ensuring that you emerge from university as a well-rounded, decent individual with a broad range of experiences is key to ensuring your success on the job market but more importantly your future happiness and life satisfaction.