Law for All Society: Welfare Officer

I would love to be the welfare officer for the law for all society for a variety of reasons. 

Firstly, I have benefitted greatly from the law for all society in recent months, attending events and evenings, making new connections, and finding a new outlet to fuel my ambition that I am very grateful for, and so in this way, I would like to give back.

Furthermore, I have a passion for helping others in need, as I enjoy listening to people's problems and helping them to feel happier in themselves. I assume this role will give me a platform to listen to people trying to balance their law ambitions with university, which is something I have experienced first hand and can help with.

I also consider myself to be approachable, friendly, and (sometimes painfully) talkative, so there will never be an issue I cannot discuss with you.

Lastly, I am an extremely passionate, aspiring lawyer, and with UCL being in the heart of London, there are many opportunities to grasp at. This role will help me continue my passions in an accelerated manner. 

Thank you for your consideration

I firmly believe being a Welfare Officer for the Law For All Society is the perfect role for me. My own welfare is something I take very seriously, from making time to go to the gym, or making sure I get as close to eight hours of sleep as possible, despite having an inability to say no to a night out. I would love the opportunity to help others ensure their Welfare needs are being met. As future lawyers, we all know our lives are about to be incredibly stressful and how important it is to have a genuine support system. As Welfare Officer, I would hope to not only ensure everyone has a safe space for when they are overwhelmed or stressed, but actively organise events to ensure some of this stress can be relieved. For example, drop-in sessions where society members can speak to the Welfare Officers could prove invaluable. Furthermore, introducing more informal social events can help foster a sense of community which can be particularly helpful as we begin our journey into the legal world. As someone who had an offer for Law at UCL and missed it by one mark, I know how infuriating the process of getting into law can be, and so I am always down to have a chat, whether about stress, or dealing with rejection and promise to always make time for others. I’m ready to listen, to support, and to ensure no one feels alone in this process.

I am interested in the role of Welfare Officer for the Law for All Society because I am passionate about fostering a supportive and inclusive community, especially within the legal field, which can be both demanding and competitive. As Welfare Officer, I aim to create an environment where members feel heard, valued, and encouraged to share their challenges and achievements. My experience as a Peer Mentor in school has prepared me well for this role. In that position, I supported younger students by planning and delivering lessons on mental health topics, providing a safe space for open discussions, and promoting mental wellness. This experience taught me the importance of empathy, active listening, and the impact of creating a supportive environment where individuals feel comfortable addressing their well-being. I enjoyed helping students build confidence and resilience, and I would bring the same dedication to the Welfare Officer role.

I would love to be your Welfare and Community Officer! 

I understand the challenges that come with aspiring to be a lawyer with a non-law degree. It’s stressful, and often feels as though we are at a disadvantage compared to Law students. I also know that university can be a  lonely time for many. My biggest motivation for this role lies in my intention on making these years at university as low stress as possible when thinking about the future. I also have previous experience in building networks and working as part of a support force!

Thus, as your Welfare Officer, I would make it my absolute objective to ensure every member feels supported and confident. 

Some ideas that I would implement: LFA study breaks during deadline-heavy periods and exam season where we can all socialise and de-stress together, relaxation activities in partnership with other UCL societies (such as Yoga society!), workshops with guest speakers with a specific focus on how to manage stress and pressure in the workplace – and of course drop-in sessions with the LFA team where you can discuss anything you’d like with us. 

I love being around people, and when I am stressed out about the future, it is amongst friends and community where I thrive. I want to help foster an active community where we can be that for one another. 

My hope is that as your Welfare Officer all members will feel confident to pursue any legal career they desire, and will feel as though they are a part of a lovely tight-knit community!

Pursuing law as a non-law student can be intimidating, stressful and sometimes disheartening. As Welfare Officer, I intend to support members’ mental health by organising regular wellbeing events or workshops to help people manage stress and other issues. I aim to be efficient in advertising resources to combat potential feelings of pressure or inadequacy for non-law students. I want to construct an inclusive environment in which students from all backgrounds feel comfortable in the society, and confident enough to explore law. As a dyslexic student studying English Lit, I understand how helpful access to wellbeing resources can be when trying to juggle academics and applications. I think it is crucial for information about support and mental health resources to be accessible, and I aim to be someone people can approach when seeking such resources. As the Head of Year Concerns Prefect in sixth form, I developed a good understanding of how to effectively promote open conversations about student wellbeing, and communicate concerns to the relevant entities. My ability to keep friendly relationships with the year group was invaluable: I was able to ensure all voices were heard and taken seriously. If elected, I would like to maintain open lines of communication between members of the society and myself by sending out anonymous forms that will help me gauge the wellbeing of society members, and plan events or send out information that align with people’s needs.

Hey I’m Lara! I’m standing for the role of welfare officer for Law for All society because I want to contribute to maintaining and enhancing an inclusive environment within the society. 

As a non-law student, I understand how making those first steps into law can seem overwhelming and challenging, therefore as welfare office I aim to provide moral and social support to fellow students from all degree disciplines to help ease their journey into law, whilst also making it fun and enjoyable! 

To me, inclusion is about bringing people together to act as a community. Therefore, I aim to act as a key point of contact for any society member with well-being queries, fostering a friendly and non-judgmental environment, and providing extra support resources if needed. I would like to encourage society members to get involved in LFA events to build meaningful and supportive relationships with fellow students to get excited about law and everything the society has to offer, embracing that community aspect. 

As a UCL geography student ambassador last year, a central aspect of my role was communication to make new students feel welcome and comfortable, which I can readily apply to the role of welfare officer for new and current members of the LFA society. I am excited by the opportunity to get to know LFA members on a personal level to foster positive experiences and grow inclusivity within the LFA community, making law more readily accessible for everyone!