Exclusive look inside Law Without Walls

The Dean of Law, Professor Adolfo Paolini is delighted to share the Law School hosted the amazing Law Without Walls (LWOW) Sprint event over the weekend of 14 – 16 March.

They invited LWOW Founder, Professor Michelle de Stefano, Anita Ritchie Programme Director, University of Miami and sponsors from the legal and business community including Acuren, Disney, Dentons LLP, Nokia, White & Case, Pinsent Masons LLP, Microsoft, HSBC, NatWest, Lloyds Banking Group, EY Law, Nomads Foods , Ballard Spahr, Faegre Drinker, Perkins Coie, Simmons & Simmons LLP, and iManage to Buckingham.

There is no initiative like LWOW in the legal industry. It is the only programme of its kind that brings together academics, law, business and other multidisciplinary students, lawyers, and business professionals from around the world on a collaborative journey to solve pressing business law challenges.

As part of the event six University of Buckingham law students, Geremy Miller, Rory Mayes, Musa Raja, Isabel Ritchie, Caspar-Jakob Seeliger and business entrepreneurship student Rory Janes were competitively selected to participate in the intensive 3-day legal “hackathon” in which the participants learn design thinking principles. LWOW Sprint concentrates on learning best practices for multicultural teaming and new and collaborative ways of creative problem solving whilst celebrating diverse communities.

Friday Kick Off, held at the Buckingham Parish Church and Radcliffe Centre, saw the teams engaging in dynamic teaming and design- thinking exercises around problem- solving, consumer storytelling and solution development supported by industry and innovation coaches.

Saturday – Sunday, teams migrated into breakout rooms on campus culminating in a ConPosium in the Vinson Centre with ignite style presentations delivered by each team to a panel of judges.

LWOW first prize and students’ choice was awarded to the Ballard Spahr team including FT LLB undergraduate, Geremy Miller. Both awards have not been granted to one team in the 10 years + since the competition’s founding.

Alongside his teammates, Geremy reflected “I had the opportunity to work under the leadership of sponsor, Steven Mehr, Ballard Spahr partner – the connections, mentorship and insights I have garnered this past weekend are invaluable. I could not have done this without the unwavering support of all my professors. Everyone’s work to further distinguish our students, invest in this institution and provide a world class education has not gone unnoticed. For that I am very grateful”.

The event included several opportunities for collaborations and networking, kicking off with the Sponsors Reception on the Thursday at the Granary Room, Grand Junction, Buckingham; daily lunch and evening reception of cocktails & canapes in the OTM with the Winners Awards and a Champagne Toast in the Vinson Centre and farewells at the Community Celebration at Revolucion De Cuba, Milton Keynes on the Sunday evening!

Professor Paolini extends his sincere thanks to all staff engaged in this team wide University event including colleagues from Estates, Hospitality, Housekeeping, Security, IT, Finance, and Law School led by Dr Patricia Covarrubia, Dr Gar-Yein Ng, Dr Jessica Walsh and Julie O’Shea and Professor Nigel Adams who was the initial contact with alumnus James Batham senior partner Dentons LLP. Special thanks to Law School student volunteers: Eric Owusu, Nickeshia Medley, Ann Akanwa, Favour Aitanu, Augusta Banya, Manaal Siddique and Tamaeya Garbutt. Particular, special mention to the terrific Thisagan Kadupitiya, for the event photo and videography.