The Eldon Society
Congratulations! Firstly on getting good A-level results and secondly for choosing THE BEST place to spend the next three years of your life. Not only will you gain a respected degree from one of the best Law Schools in the country, Newcastle is also a great city to study in, so you’ll have an excellent time whilst doing it too!
Although a law degree is hard work, there’s also lots of time to have fun and to get involved with things non-study related and that is where the Eldon Society comes in! We are Newcastle University's Student Law Society and aim to ensure that not only do we have the best opportunities to succeed during and after University but also to make sure that we have a great time whilst doing it.
The Society is run by a team of students who believe that doing a law degree does not involve an eternity spent in our lovely library. We therefore try to make your time at Newcastle as enjoyable as possible. So for a modest fee you get membership of the most exclusive and desirable societies ever to grace the shores of the 'toon'.
The Eldon Society is here to help you settle in to life at Newcastle, not only at University but into the life of the city too. We plan loads of social events throughout the year with returning highlights from last year including the hypnotist night (where several committee members ended up stripping and kissing each other), a three-legged pub crawl around the BEST bars, pubs and clubs of this beautiful city, a law trip away to a SURPRISE DESTINATION (last year it was a highly ‘educational’ trip to Amsterdam). Added to various other events of a fun and frolical nature throughout the year, will be new ideas like trips to a wet ‘n’ wild and other non drink related nights! Not to be missed is the Annual Law School Ball, which is renowned throughout the University! We also run a wide range of highly successful intra-mural sports teams (Football, Rugby, Netball and Mixed Hockey), all of which take part in the Annual Sports Day at Manchester (a fantastic day/night, with us all returning at 5am the next morning)! In addition to all of the above we publish our very own award winning student journal 'All Rise' in which all members can demonstrate their literary talents.
Above all, the Eldon Society is here to help you. We are heavily involved with the Careers Service, organising talks and fairs, meeting ex-Newcastle graduates and members of differing professions in an attempt to land that dream career, whether you want to be a lawyer or not. We also organise an internal mooting competition as well as attending numerous external competitions and there is a formal client interviewing competition for students (which you ALL have to take part in – but don’t worry, it’s not that scary really!). These will equip you with invaluable people skills, for careers in and beyond the legal profession.
Finally, we run a ‘mentoring’ system where freshers can benefit from the wit, wisdom, charm and experience?! of 2nd, 3rd year and 4th year students, on every aspect of life as a Newcastle Law student. Your mentor will be there to answer any questions you may have about university life be it study related or otherwise they will also encourage you to 'integrate' into the Law School and make loads of friends, not only within your own year group but with us ‘old timers’ too. Your first couple of weeks here could be rather scary but we are here to ensure they aren't by giving you all the support and help you need. Do make use of these great volunteers and if you have any problems do get in touch with either them or a member of the committee who will always be willing to help.
Your time at University will be what you make of it and joining the Eldon Society can play a huge part in making that time what it should be - the best three years of your life.
Geoff Keighley
President 2006/2007
Geoffrey.Kieghley@ncl.ac.uk