With over 250 student-run societies at Kent — from sports and academic networks to cultural groups, media, and volunteering — there’s something for everyone. These groups bring students together around shared interests, offer support, run events, and create opportunities to build friendships and skills beyond the classroom.
Kent Law School students are particularly active across the student societies in general, and the law specific societies in particular. From shared events, networking opportunities and employability focused initiatives to informal social gatherings, formal dinners and beyond, these societies enable students to build community and make lasting friendships.
Learn more about the activities of one such society, culminating in their annual law dinner:
‘I am Carly Hewett and I have just graduated with a Law LLB (Hons) from the University of Kent. I am from Guildford, so also the South of England but the opposite side to Kent!
The KSLS is the Kent Student Law Society. It is the general law society for anyone interested in pursuing a career in law and is the biggest academic society on the Canterbury campus! We have been going since 2005 and we do a lot of different things but one annual tradition is the KSLS Law Dinner. I was on the society’s committee in 2023-24 (in my second year) as the Social Events Officer and again in 2024-25 as Vice-President. Both years have been great, as we have had active, involved and enthusiastic committees.
A busy year …
This academic year started with our annual freshers event which is a law themed Kahoot game above Woody’s bar and restaurant situated in lovely Park Wood, on the University of Kent campus, Canterbury. We also had pub golf and craft events. As the year progressed we held panel events for the ‘in the city series’. One was for Black History month and one for Women’s History month, in collaboration with the BAME Law and Empowering Womxn in Law societies.
We held SQE information events for those interested in becoming a solicitor. We have multiple magic and silver circle firms as sponsors which helps us to hold an annual law dinner at Canterbury Cathedral that is affordable for students.
We have also delivered events in collaboration with the Sustainability Working Group, such as a screening of famed Environmental Lawyer Erin Brockovich in America. Additionally we hosted a panel called ‘Vacation schemers’ where current Vacation scheme and Training contract holders still studying at Kent answered questions on the whole process. Those are just a few of the things the committee have arranged this year whilst studying full time and often holding multiple other society roles.
The law dinner
When I came to University the concept of a law dinner was new to me. It sounded fun but I didn’t understand its significance. While it is fair to think of it as a nice recreational, albeit course related, event with some great food, there is actually so much more to it!
Attending a law dinner is in fact integral to the development of skills required for a future career in Law. It is a great way to learn about dinner etiquette and practice for events that your future firm or chambers may host. Indeed, the Kent Law Temple Society, which is a sort of ‘twin’ society that is older than KSLS and directed more to potential Barristers, also holds a Law Ball a little later in the year, which has the same purpose but different networking opportunities.
Holding a law dinner is not just about etiquette, which could seem elitist or inaccessible. It is also about confidence and empowering you as students to feel confident in what could be an intimidating setting. One of the most important aspects is the fact that along with other students or friends on your table, you may be sat with a legal professional who can give you advice, experience or help forge connections. Who you are sat with is not completely random and the organisers will try to match you to those connected with your interest whether it is academia, corporate criminal or civil. The conversations at the table can go far beyond those at law fairs or insight days.
Hosting a law dinner is even even more valuable experience too because your name becomes familiar with all the legal professionals you converse with and you gain experience organising events alongside studies. This is attractive to an employer as it shows confidence, experience, motivation and initiative. It is also a great talking point as not many students will have had this experience.
In recent years, the KSLS law dinner was held at Cathedral Lodge next to Canterbury Cathedral. This is a special location, which also makes for some cool photos in front of the Cathedral in your fancy outfit! Attendees usually include academics from Kent Law School, including the Head of School and alumni. Many of the legal professional attendees will usually be from our sponsor firms such as Hogan Lovells and from well known Kent firms such as Boys & Maughan. There will also be a keynote speaker, in past years it has been Lubna Shuja, the first Muslim woman head of the Law Society for England and Wales. This year we were lucky to have Judge Julian Smith, who was very entertaining.
The event tends to start with a drinks reception and canapes upstairs, whilst musical entertainment allows time for everyone to arrive and chat. After a while everyone files into the dinner hall and finds their table. Speeches take place between courses. This year’s dinner opened with speeches from the law dinner organisers, Nicole and Callum. Then the President, Kashvi, gave her speech followed by the KSLS shield being awarded to an alumnus of the society. This year it was awarded to Timo Weyhe who, during his time on the committee, held commercial awareness competitions and helped whoever needed support, as well as achieving a training contract with Linklaters in his second year. Then I as the Vice-President made a speech and presented our keynote speaker.
It was a great experience organising the event, but I can’t take the credit alone. Kashvi, Nicole and Callum did so much work. Organising it included many conversations with our treasurer Uche, communication with the venue, invites for legal professionals, coordination with the student Union to arrange ticketing, flowers, balloons, checking allergens and much more. It was a lot straight after Christmas, but completely worth it.
With a large proportion of the committee being finalists, many of us have recently graduated. However, next year’s President has been elected already, Samira Ali, who was a fantastic commercial events officer this year. We also have some committee members rerunning and I don’t doubt there will be great things to come next year.
If students are interested in committee positions I would recommend following the society on Instagram and using the bio to join the WhatsApp group through Linktree. If possible make sure you have membership through the student union website (it’s free). There also tend to be one or two roles left for first years at the freshers fair. So just contact the society and register your interest!’