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Name Address Line ONe Address Line Two Address Line three Postcode Beaverbrook and Sons Ltd 100 Morrissey Way Gravechester GC1 2TT Monday, 11th December 2017 Dear Mr Hussein, I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to apply for a work placement in your firm’s educational outreach department. I am currently in my second year of an LLB in International Law at Coventry University. Presenting is always something I have enjoyed. During my first year, I had to do a group presentation on UN peacekeeping in different countries around the world. As a result of my successful team work and research skills, I achieved 78% in this module. I have also frequently been called back by Tuckers’ Solicitors to accompany them on presentations about the firm and internships to students in secondary schools. Also, at the end of the presentation, the students are encouraged to ask me questions about my experience. Doing this has built up my confidence and this is a key quality I would bring to this placement upon selection. I am also very good at communicating with people from all kinds of backgrounds, and I believe this will be useful, especially when relating to solicitors, legal executives and paralegals where it is important to be yourself, yet still remain polite and respectful. As a community-led, community driven, law firm I believe that Beaverbrook and Sons will teach me a lot about working beyond my comfort zone, allow me to do things I have never done before and provide me with skills that are easily transferrable across career fields. Already, having read about the STAR method for interviews that you recommend; I believe that I will be stretched and challenged before starting to work with you and this is an extremely exciting prospect for me. The key skills I have learnt, not only whilst doing my degree but also whilst working part time jobs make me a perfect fit for your firm. I thoroughly enjoy research, and using databases like Westlaw and Lexis Nexis to find cases, journal articles, statutory provisions and more. I am also fully competent not just online, but at using paper databases to find the information I need. I believe that commercial awareness is paramount to the legal world in particular, as your aim is to help people with their current issues and in order to do this, you must know what is happening around the world. I keep up to date with current affairs by keeping track of the news. I was pleased to read that you were recently awarded Best Pro Bono Service of the Year. I believe that this award is a result of your genuine spirit (as a firm), and this is something I would love to be involved with. Growing up in a church is one of the best examples of community I have experienced. Church members of many different professions and backgrounds, have all contributed to my progress – so I know the great impact you have on your community. I am also highly organised and very good at communicating. I love working with people. I played netball for my entire secondary school career and I love being in the church choir. I will be available anytime from May onwards. Thank you for reading my letter, I longingly await your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Adjoa Adjei-Ntow

My most significant academic experience was achieving a high first class (78%) in my Academic and Personal Development module. This was a group presentation. We worked and researched well together, and we were able to communicate our ideas in an orderly manner. My most significant work experience was when I worked at the Royal Ascot serving food to customers. This was enjoyable as throughout my time here, I worked in a team with my colleagues. For example, when they had to carry several plates of food and needed help, and when cleaning up after we had finished serving food. My most significant voluntary experience was when I accompanied a Barrister, and made notes for him throughout the trial. He also allowed me to go to the cells to brief the client in custody. One of the key skills I have learnt whilst studying is time management. Every semester, I have three modules running simultaneously which all require preparation for seminars. Usually, there will also be coursework tasks for each of the different modules. I have had to learn how to manage my time efficiently, so that I get all my work done and do not fall behind on tasks. This will help me in my future career as I will be able to multitask efficiently in the work place. I have also learnt how to be analytical. Law is renowned for the vast amount of reading it involves, but unfortunately this reading is useless unless one knows how to critically analyse and build upon the points discussed. Whilst working, particularly as a lawyer, it is important to know how to analyse a situation. In practice, alternative viewpoints may also be required when looking at a piece of evidence. So far, I have found Comparative Law the most interesting not only because I had an opportunity many of my peers do not have, to study an international module; but also because I had the opportunity to compare and contrast different legal systems all around the world. This module taught me that Law is greatly influenced by culture, and in several jurisdictions, there is a great overlap between law, culture and religion. For example, India follows the English common law legal system, however separate personal laws may apply to Christians, Hindus and Muslims. Seeing how greatly this influence is has allowed me to develop a deeper understanding of traditions and trends in other countries. I found Contract Law the most challenging as I found it difficult to maintain the balance between applying the law to the facts, and embedding the opinions of academics. My Contract Law module was saturated with case law and statute which also made it difficult for me to sift through the information and apply what was relevant. In order to overcome this, in assessed situations I would make it my main priority to answer the question, and then intertwine any case law, or criticisms to support my argument; in that order. At the end of year one, I think I lacked analytical skills. I have worked on these in my second year by reading more articles, selecting key points from those articles to incorporate into my essay and forming an opinion of my own on these issues. I also try to incorporate my own opinions objectively and embed them into the argument. I practice this with every written task I am given, and it is a method I will employ whilst writing my upcoming exams. If I were asked to present a particular legal topic either to a school or to people in the community, it would be public law because I believe that this is an aspect of law which they may not know relates to them. Many refrain from voting because they do not understand why one party may be more beneficial to them than another. Others do not vote as they believe that politics does not affect them. I would give a presentation on the purposes of the three branches of government (legislative, executive and judicial) and how they affect us. I would also try to explain, in simple lay man terms; the points highlighted in the most recent Brexit report and how this affects the school and/or the community at large.

Regina (Nicklinson) v Ministry of Justice [2015] A.C. 657; A Case Commentary Facts: This case concerns the right to die, and questioned whether the current law prohibiting assisted suicide is incompatible with the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), namely the Article 81 right to respect for private and family life. It also challenged the Director of Public Prosecutions2 code allowing prosecutions of those who have assisted suicide. After 9 years of having a stroke, Nicklinson became completely paralysed from the neck down. He wanted to kill himself but could not do so unless by starving himself. Nicklinson applied to the High Court for two declarations: that it would be lawful for a doctor to kill or assist him in terminating his life, (and if that was refused), that the law was incompatible with his right to a private life under Article 8. The High Court refused both. Nicklinson then died as a result of the refusal of medical treatment, pneumonia and starvation on 22nd August 2012. His wife Jane was then added as a party to the proceedings and appealed.

Decision: The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal brought by Nicklinson and Lamb (a similar case). The appeal brought forward by the DPP (concerning the 2010 policy) was allowed. On the first appeal, the Supreme Court held that the issue of whether the law on assisted suicide was incompatible with Article 8 should be for Parliament to decide and not the court.

Ratio: The Supreme Court held that according to the Convention, a ban on assisted suicide lay within the margin of appreciation of the United Kingdom3. The current law’s incompatibility with Article 8 was ruled a domestic question for the UK courts to decide under the Human Rights Act 1998. Therefore, Lord Neuberger, Lady Hale, Lord Mance, Lord Kerr and Lord Wilson held that the court could make a declaration of incompatibility in relation to the ban on assisted suicide4. The issue of assisted suicide in the UK is one of great moral value which is why it was deemed suitable for Parliament, the elected body of the Constitution. This was for several reasons: it involves a choice between moral values such as sanctity of life and the principle of autonomy; and because the Parliamentary process is a better way of resolving complex moral issues. During the Parliamentary process, many interests and opinions may be expressed and considered which seems to be a much fairer process than a single court ruling on an issue of such moral controversy5. This case is important to law students as it can be used to support the idea that Britain still maintains the principle of the separation of powers. Administrative and constitutional Law demonstrates that there are overlaps between the executive, legislative and judicial branches, however the decision in this case suggests otherwise. Despite the overlaps, this case provides evidence that separation is still the aim. The Lords did not want to meddle with what they felt should be decided democratically. This case is also important to law students because it encourages great discussion and academic debate of morally controversial decisions and whether they should be left to Parliament. Parliament is the elected branch of government. However, the voter may not agree with all of what their MP stands for; what if this is one of the issues they may disagree with? Would it be fair for an MP to be their mouthpiece on these issues? One could even argue that decisions like these require a referendum. This case introduces the sliding

1 Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (European Convention on Human Rights, as amended) (ECHR) art 8 2 [2002] 1 A.C. 800, at para 35 3 [2015] A.C. 657, at para 100 4 [2015] A.C. 657, at para 361 5 Rosalind English, ‘Supreme Court rejects right to die appeals’ (2014) UK Human Rights Blog

scale theory, that if Parliament were to allow assisted suicide, where would the line be drawn? In what cases would it be allowed and how would these differ from cases where it would not be allowed? Above all this case is important to law students because it demonstrates that the law is not just black and white; there are many grey areas in between.

Bibliography Primary Sources Cases R. (on the application of Pretty) v DPP [2002] 1 A.C. 800 R. (on the application of Nicklinson) v Ministry of Justice [2015] A.C. 657

Statutory Sources Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (European Convention on Human Rights, as amended)

Secondary Sources Books Elizabeth A. Martin and Jonathan Law, Oxford Dictionary of Law (7th ed. Oxford University Press 2009) Steve Foster, How to Write Better Law Essays (4th ed. Pearson Education Limited 2016)

Journal Articles Steve Foster, ‘Still no right to die: a study in the constitutional limitations of the UK judiciary’ (2017) 22(1) Cov. L.J. 57 Rosalind English, ‘Supreme Court rejects right to die appeals’ (2014) UK Human Rights Blog Nataly Papadopoulou, ‘From Pretty to Nicklinson: changing judicial attitudes to assisted dying’ (2017) 3, E.H.R.L.R. 298

Websites https://ukhumanrightsblog.com/2014/06/25/supreme-court-rejects-right-to-die-appeals/ Last accessed: 14/12/17

Word count excluding bibliography and footnotes: 1916...