Hi everyone! My name is Tom McCoubrie, and I’m standing for Debate Secretary with a clear goal: to reshape and revitalise the debating experience at the University of Leeds Law Society.
Debating is an essential skill for any aspiring lawyer, and it’s something I am deeply passionate about. This year, I reached the semi-finals of the internal competition, and I was also invited to represent Leeds at the UCL Inter-Varsity Law Society Debating Competition, competing against teams from universities like UCL, KCL, Queen Mary’s, Bristol, and SOAS. These opportunities have shown me the potential of what Leeds could achieve in the world of law debating.
Coming from a state school where opportunities like this were scarce, I understand how important it is to make debating accessible and approachable to all students, no matter their experience level. It's about creating an environment where everyone feels supported and encouraged to participate, whether you're just starting or are already an experienced debater.
If I am elected Debate Secretary, I want to focus on making our debating society more dynamic, inclusive, and professional. My vision isn’t to just maintain what we have but to expand it, improve it, and make it an experience that adds real value to your time at university.
Here’s how I plan to do it:
✅ ENGAGE
More opportunities– Strengthen connections with other universities and law societies, expanding our competitive opportunities and creating inter-varsity events.
• Engage with local schools to introduce state school students to debating, creating an early pathway into law.
• Media & public engagement, publishing a Podcast or YouTube series featuring recorded debates.
• Collaborate with local law firms, chambers, and alumni to increase networking opportunities.
• Form partnerships with other university law societies for annual Varsity Debates (i.e. the Debating Union, Labour Society, Lawyers Without Borders)
✅ EMPOWER
Strengthen skills – Provide individual feedback and support to help everyone, regardless of experience, improve their debating skills and confidence. Bring in high-profile speakers and host debates on current legal and societal issues to keep the debates relevant and engaging for all members.
• Develop a mentorship scheme pairing experienced debaters with newcomers.
• Recruit more subcommittee members to revitalise feedback and run more workshop sessions so that those who miss out on the Debating Secretary will have a great delegated role in the process.
• Organise mooting vs. debating sessions to help students bridge the gap between advocacy and competitive debating.
• “Open Floor” Debate Nights with casual, interactive topics to attract new members.
• Use AI alongside personal feedback to re-imagine feedback, tailor improvement, and accelerate learning.
✅ EXPAND
New ideas – Ensure that all members have access to beginner-friendly workshops, masterclasses from top professionals, and a variety of debate formats to suit all levels.
• Create a new Parliament Debate Competition simulating parliamentary debates on current law, policy and political issues - where participants assume the role of UK Political Parties. This will run alongside the existing internal Competition, which continues to be about broader social issues.
• Mini “Speed-Debate” Socials, where members argue quickfire topics over drinks.
• Invite High-Profile guest debates & speaker events.
• Increase participation in external competitions, ensuring Leeds is well-represented in national law debating tournaments.
I’m passionate about helping others develop their debating abilities, and as Debate Secretary, I will work hard to create a vibrant, inclusive, and high-performing debating environment for the entire society.
If you have any questions or would like to chat more about my vision for the society, feel free to email me at tom.mccoubrie@icloud or DM me on Instagram @tom4debatingsec
Thank you for your support!
