The LGBTQ+ and Law Society was founded in 2019

Alumni support helps LGBTQ+ society reach more students

The student society LGBTQ+ and Law Exeter was founded in March 2019 to create a community of students (with a law or non-law background) who are interested in pursuing a legal career, supporting their journeys, and providing networking opportunities with other LGBTQ+ legal professionals.

Last year the society was awarded some funding from the Alumni Annual Fund to help promote their events and raise awareness of activity. Thanks to the support the society was able to increase their visibility on campus and as a result, more students attended workshops and events.

The events were really well received by students, just a few comments are below:

• “Thank you so much for organising this entire scheme. I now have a clearer idea of what I want to do in the future, and my mentor has been so lovely!!! Definitely applying again next year.”
• “The discussion about being QTIPOC in university (especially when you’re trying to break into such high-pressure careers) was a conversation I never thought I needed to hear, but now I want to be a part of. There is so much to be done, and you handled it super well. Thank you for asking the panel about this!”
• “This event is by far the best one I’ve been to this year. I knew I wanted to go into employment law, but I never thought about how different the workplace is for trans people. Absolutely loved Robin. Thank you all for organising this.”

Alumna Bridget Garrood who has volunteered with the society since 2019, said: “I have been privileged to be involved in a supportive role with Exeter LGBTQ and Law since before the launch of this unique student initiative, which I was very happy to attend in September 2019. Despite the pandemic and its unique challenges, the successive student leadership teams have taken this from strength to strength.

“Their range of events this year have been impressive, as has the mix of social and professional events. Both have built on the success of the founding committee. As a mentor of LGBTQ law students at other universities I am aware how much this work has been needed more than ever during the pandemic which has left so many marginalised students isolated, especially those in hostile homes and/or jurisdictions. The engagement which these events have managed to achieve is clear evidence of the lifeline these connections offer to so many.”

Date: 27 July 2021