Susan Starr, campus manager at The University of Law (ULaw) and former barrister, shares her insights on transitioning from practice to teaching, building essential litigation skills, and preparing students for success in an evolving legal landscape
After two decades as a barrister, Susan Starr swapped the courtroom for the classroom. Now campus manager at The University of Law in Exeter, she’s dedicated to guiding the next generation of legal talent in the Southwest.
Ahead of our upcoming in-person event ‘Secrets to Success Exeter — with Ashfords, Michelmores, Trowers & Hamlins and ULaw’ on 26 February, Starr shares her advice for aspiring barristers. In this Q&A, she details her journey from legal education to practice and back again, her top tips for aspiring litigators, and how students can leverage emerging technologies like generative AI to gain a competitive edge.
Can you walk me through your career journey so far, and what originally attracted you to the law?
As a child, I was fascinated by the TV programme Crown Court and I liked watching the barristers in their wigs and gowns. So, when I was older, I managed to secure a week’s work experience at the Southampton Combined Courts whilst at school and I was able to shadow a judge. I realised that this was the career I wanted to pursue as it seemed varied and challenging. I did the bar course and my first job after that was as a paralegal for a Local Authority, where they were able to provide authorisation for me to appear as an advocate on their behalf — this was the real experience I needed. The skills I had obtained as an advocate helped me secure a pupillage with a Chancery set of chambers in Lincolns Inn. Eventually, however, I moved to the Southwest and worked in house for local solicitors’ practices in their dispute resolution teams.
As a barrister for 20 years before joining ULaw in 2018, what drew you to legal education?
I was drawn to the legal education sector because I had always enjoyed working with trainees in practice. I provided the guidance and support they needed to develop their skills and knowledge, and I took pride in seeing my trainees reach their potential. I decided that I could capitalise on this by using those skills in teaching and have an impact on those entering the profession.
What are the biggest skills you learnt during your career as a barrister that you have brought with you to ULaw as a lecturer and campus manager in Exeter?
I suppose the biggest skill is the practical knowledge that I have gained. Students are far more receptive to learning if you can explain a process by reference to a case that you have actually worked on. It brings it to life. For example, students sometimes struggle to understand the tactical advantage provided by Part 36 offers and I use a real example to show how it can work and be used to avoid issues surrounding proportionality. Using these real-life examples means that the material starts to make sense for my students.
Also, another skill I feel I’ve brought with me to legal education is creativity and adaptability in terms of my approach to teaching, and recognising that students learn in different ways.
What do ULaw students enjoy the most about the Exeter campus?
In Exeter, we have a smaller cohort which means smaller class sizes. Students get a real opportunity to get to know their lecturers. This can be really useful as they then feel comfortable reaching out for support and assistance on both academic and wellbeing matters. Students at Exeter are also able to build strong peer relationships and I know that our students have then continued to develop those relationships when in practice. We also work with the students to build a community; we have evening socials and bring-your-lunch sessions that lecturers and students attend. It is a good chance to just have a chat. Exeter ULaw students also have access to the Exeter University facilities and can be active in sports and societies as an associate member!
Having decades of litigation experience, what do you think are the greatest skills that aspiring litigators should build for a successful career?
As a litigator, you need to be creative and think outside of the box. You really need to understand your client’s personal or commercial objectives as this will definitely impact the advice you might give a client, and how flexible they may need to be in terms of settlement.
How does ULaw Exeter support students to build this skillset?
At ULaw, we recognise that these are key skills. All of our courses, therefore, have a career-focused approach to learning and we look at developing commercial awareness. For example, in terms of case analysis, we will look at the impact of litigation on business relationships, and how resources are being diverted to deal with litigation in terms of time and money. We will then ask them to consider how these issues might alter their approach and the advice they give.
With the rise of generative AI in the legal industry, how can students leverage these tools to gain an advantage in their legal careers?
The first point to make here is that AI should not be seen as a replacement for the legal profession. Instead, it should be viewed as a tool that they can use to their advantage in the workplace. I suppose in terms of gaining an advantage, the starting point is to understand how AI is being implemented and how it works, because there will be an increasing demand for students who have AI literacy. In that respect, students should engage with articles, podcasts and local conferences that relate to AI and the legal profession.
What is one piece of careers advice you think every law student should hear?
Students should actively seek out opportunities at an early stage in their undergraduate career to build on their skills development, by either engaging in practice-related activities such as mooting, interviewing, and negotiating, or getting involved in pro bono activities to start to put those skills into practice. They should also take time to get to know the profession, in order to make informed career choices. So, I believe students should engage with local practice events or even join their local law society or junior lawyers’ division as a student member. Networking is a key part of life as a lawyer and this does not come easy, so practice makes perfect.
The University of Law Exeter will be hosting ‘Secrets to Success Exeter — with Ashfords, Michelmores, Trowers & Hamlins and ULaw’ on Wednesday 26 February, 4pm to 6:30pm. Apply now to attend.
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