The SCL Student Challenge is designed to give students a taste of a day in the life of a tech lawyer with teams tackling a mock negotiation and a data breach while being supported and evaluated by volunteer mentors, all of whom are professionals working in the tech law sector.
How does it work?
In teams of two, you will have the opportunity to develop your practical skills by living a day in the life of a tech lawyer and competing against other teams.
Your tasks throughout the day will include negotiating the commercial terms of an IT/Technology Contract and some reactive tasks that will test your legal and business knowledge, commercial decision-making and presentation skills. The tasks will be relevant to legal issues at the forefront of current tech law practice including Intellectual Property, Information Technology, Data Protection and Cyber Security.
Who should enter?
- If you are studying at any UK university and are interested or curious about technology law or technology businesses.
- If you’re looking to expand your knowledge, experience and network in the most exciting area of law.
- If you are searching for graduate opportunities including training contracts, pupillage etc
- You should be studying or planning to study a LLB, GDL, LPC, BPTC, LLM or other related law course.
Why enter?
This innovative competition will give you a taste of the sort of issues tech lawyers and tech businesses face on a day to day basis. You will get practice at advising your client on a number of legal and commercial issues that go to the heart of the tech industry. To read a detailed write up of a previous challenge, and read some accounts from winners and runners up; click here
Not only this but it will provide the competitors with the chance to network with some of the brightest and best technology lawyers in the industry.
What can you win?
Traditionally the winning team has won work experience with a law firm or organisation prominent in the tech sector. Previous firms include Clifford Chance, Fenwick Elliott and Wärtsilä,
Runners up will also receive awards for their achievements.
Sponsor the SCL Student Tech Law Challenge 2021
Do you want to be part of a competition as unique and exciting as this one? Why not sponsor the Tech Law Challenge next year to enable students from far and wide to get involved with this amazing project?
Gold Sponsor Package – £2,750 + VAT
This package will be used for reimbursing students their travel expenses. We have teams taking part from all over the UK and beyond and sponsorship will help enable those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend to get involved.
Supporter Package – £1000 + VAT
The supporter package will be used for refreshments for the teams throughout the day, and for providing trophies for the winning team and runners up etc.
Work Placement
A work placement is a fantastic way of giving the winners some real hands-on experience and a chance for them to see how to apply what they’ve learned during the competition. This competition attracts a very high calibre of candidate – exactly the people you want to recruit. So if you can offer one week’s work experience, please contact us.
Mentoring
We need volunteers to be mentors and/or judges. Your role is to help guide the teams through the challenges offering support and advice. You are fully briefed on the tasks and problems the teams tackle beforehand. Whatever level you’re working – trainee, senior partner, in-house counsel, barrister – please get in touch.
For more details about sponsorship, please email maddie.southorn@scl.org
Further Event FAQs
1. Do I need to be an expert or have any special knowledge?
No, you don’t need to have any particular legal knowledge or experience to take part. Just a willingness to learn and a keen interest in technology law. There will be mentors on hand to offer guidance and tips during the challenge. The challenges will be issued in advance to participants and we encourage you to do some research in advance.
2. Is the event only open to students?
Yes, to ensure a level-playing field for all competitors all entrants should be enrolled as students at the time of the competition.
3. What should I bring with me?
Please bring a laptop or tablet so you can look things up on the day and write up and submit your challenge answers. There will be free wifi available at the venue. Refreshments and a light lunch will be provided and there are also supermarkets close by. If you have a special diet, we suggest that you bring lunch with you.
4. Who are the mentors/judges?
A full list of mentors/judges is confirmed shortly prior to the event. If you would like to volunteer to be a mentor or judge for the competition please get in touch with us at hello@scl.org
Also see:
Free membership for UK students in full-time education: SCL provides free membership for UK students in full-time education with a valid ac.uk email address. SCL student members are also eligible to attend SCL events at concessionary rates. UK students in full-time education can apply to join SCL for free by emailing hello@scl.org
SCL Student Bytes – the online content hub run by students, designed for students.