Hi everyone!
My name is Kat Lytle. I am a first year student in the two year LLB Programme at the University of Leeds and one of the current First Year Reps on Law Soc and I am running for the position of General Secretary for the 2022/23 school year.
I am originally from Toronto, Canada where I completed a Bachelor’s degree in History, as well as a Certificate in Law, before moving to Leeds to pursue an LLB. Being part of the Law Soc Committee this year has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my university career and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to run for General Secretary, where I hope to continue making Law Soc the great organization that it is and provide the same amazing experiences for the Law students of Leeds.
Campaign Pillars:
I have built my campaign on three unique pillars to create a fun, inclusive, interactive and informative experience for all Law Soc members. These pillars are community and inclusivity; support; and communication.
Community and inclusivity: As General Secretary, one of my main objectives would be to create a sense of community among all Law Soc members. As someone who had never lived in the UK before coming to the University of Leeds, Law Soc provided me with amazing opportunities to connect with other students and create lasting bonds, which I hope to continue as General Secretary for current and future members.
Support: We can all agree that navigating law school and a potential future in law can be difficult and at times be very overwhelming. This is why one of my primary goals as General Secretary will be creating a supportive environment, not only encouraging events to help students navigate their way to a career in law, but also for succeeding in your law programme.
Communication: As General Secretary, I will commit all of my efforts to ensuring there is effective communication within the Law Society, whether that be between society members and the committee, between sponsors and society members, and between committee members, as this is an essential role of the General Secretary and has a significant impact on the success of the society. I will also serve as a friendly face around the Liberty Building and campus to talk to or express concerns that I will bring to the Law Soc and advocate on your behalf.
Why vote for me?
I believe that I have the attributes, experience and commitment to succeed in this role and make it a great experience for all Law Soc members. Organization is an essential characteristic for the General Secretary, whose responsibilities include coordinating much of the goings-on within the Committee and Law Society as a whole, including meetings, elections, and events in Fresher’s Week and throughout the year, and I have a great deal of experience from my role as First Year Rep. I am also approachable and have the communication and interpersonal skills to be a point of contact from students to Committee members regarding questions, concerns, or any other administrative matters within the Society. My sense of professionalism would also be a significant advantage in many of the General Secretaries' roles, such as communicating with potential and current sponsors, as well as with the Union. My reliability, dedication and enthusiasm would also suit the role of General Secretary very well.
Experience
My current position on the Law Soc Committee as First Year Representative gives me a unique advantage, as I have already experienced first-hand the role our current Gen Sec Holly plays on the committee, as well as already help in running the Society. The role of General Secretary is a big undertaking and it is important that potential candidates not only have an understanding of the role itself, but also the way Law Soc is run, something that my membership on the Committee has provided me with.
My previous work experience as an administrative assistant for a business and real estate investor also makes me highly qualified for the role of General Secretary. Here, I helped run the administrative side of their businesses, researched future investment opportunities, sourced and managed contractors, set up meetings with potential clients, and sat in on meetings, recording all significant details.
I also have experience serving as an executive on other committees. When completing my first undergrad degree, I was an executive for the universities Mental Health Awareness Committee, and co-chair for the Athletics and Wellness Subcommittee. Here, I was in charge of organizing different events to bring awareness about mental health on campus.
I was also a member of my previous universities Pre-Law Society, where I took part in activities that provided resources and a community to assist students interested in pursuing a legal education.
While completing my first degree, I was a class representative for my history courses, where I served as a point of connection between members of my classes and the department student council, and in high school, I was my grade representative on the Student’s Council. In this role, I organized and ran school-wide events with the other Student Council members, and was the liaison between students and the Student’s Council.
I have also been very involved in sports throughout my high school and university years, playing on several teams, which is a testament to my dedication, reliability, and ability to handle all commitments I take on.
Overall, I believe that my breadth of experience, work ethic and enthusiasm would allow me to continue to be an asset to the Leeds Law Society and students.
Thank you all very much for your time and consideration; I hope to be able to serve as your General Secretary for the next school year.
Sincerely,
Kat Lytle
