Law School Success at the National Client Interviewing Competition 2026

It was a privilege to see undergraduate law students Lillie Barratt and Geremy Miller progress to the Finals of the National Client Interviewing Competition 2026 held at St Mary’s University, and to support them throughout their preparation as their academic and legal practice coach, alongside fellow Law School academics Dr James Slater and Charley Ann Gordon. Their professionalism, empathy, and strategic thinking were of an exceptionally high standard and exemplified the core principles of effective, holistic, client‑centred legal practice.

Their exceptional performance in the initial round – ranking 6th out of 25 teams – saw them compete successfully against teams from the University of Exeter and Bangor University, tackling complex client scenarios with professionalism involving neighbour disputes and tree preservation orders in land law.

Competing against 12 leading university teams from across the UK, the students continued to perform at a consistently high level in the national final. They undertook three 40‑minute client interviews across a broad range of challenging legal topics, including aggravated trespass, occupiers’ liability, and negligence. The Buckingham team ultimately finished 8th overall, placing ahead of teams from the University of Brighton, Cardiff University, the University of Kent, and the University of Winchester.

This achievement reflects both the students’ commitment and resilience, and the strength of the University’s advocacy and practical skills training.

Acting as a Judge at the national final, I was particularly proud to see Buckingham students competing with such confidence and composure against leading universities from across the country. Their ability to listen attentively, build rapport, and deliver clear, practical advice under strict time pressures demonstrated both their individual dedication and the effectiveness of Buckingham’s skills based clinical legal education. This result is richly deserved and marks an outstanding achievement.

Student Reflections

Lillie Barratt, Full-time LLB Hons December 2026 Finalist, says:

“It was an honour to represent The University of Buckingham in the regional round of the Client Interviewing Competition 2026. The competition focuses on teamwork, communication, quick thinking, legal knowledge, and, most importantly, empathy. This experience has shown me that while legal knowledge is essential, clients themselves are rarely focused purely on the law. They want practical solutions, clarity about costs, and reassurance that they are not alone in the process. I am proud of our efforts and grateful for the support we have received from the Law Faculty.”

Geremy Miller, Full-Time LLB Hons December 2026 Finalist, says:

“Representing The University of Buckingham at the National Finals of the Client Interviewing Competition 2026 is something I will not forget. Travelling to compete against some of the best law students in the country was, in equal measure, surreal & deeply exciting.

Lillie and I diligently prepared our strategy; with only two weeks to prepare for our interviews, we had to learn whole topics in law that we had not yet covered in our modules. With the gracious help of our faculty coaches, we prepared notes on key topics and practised mock interviews, which gave us the confidence to walk into that room and trust ourselves.

I am incredibly grateful to the Law Faculty for their support throughout this journey, and proud to have carried Buckingham’s name to the national stage.”