Discover CEPLER at the University of Birmingham Law School. It's your gateway to employability, pro bono work, and real-world legal experience. Don’t miss out!
Ever wondered what sets the University of Birmingham Law School apart beyond its impressive ranking? In this blog, I’ll introduce you to CEPLER which is the Centre for Employability, Professional Legal Education and Research. It’s a resource you can’t afford to miss during your time at UoB.
Let’s start with the basics. The Centre for Employability, Professional Legal Education and Research (CEPLER) is a central part of the Birmingham Law School experience, and it exists to bridge the gap between legal education and real-life legal practice. CEPLER partners with NGOs, law firms, and other legal organisations to deliver employability schemes and practical skills that truly matter in the workplace.
From hosting events and collaborating with law firms on programmes and pro bono initiatives, to inviting legal professionals as guest lecturers and working with external partners, CEPLER is behind much of the professional exposure available to law students. Whatever experience you think you need to make it as either a barrister or a solicitor, CEPLER provides opportunities to explore it. Even if you are unsure about which legal pathway to take, there are events designed to help guide and inform your decision.
One of CEPLER’s main goals is employability, and they take a very hands-on approach to achieving this. From running careers talks, workshops, law fairs and skills sessions led by legal professionals and alumni, CEPLER gives students valuable insight into different legal careers, how to prepare for them, and how to choose the pathway that best suits them.
You get to learn about all the career paths available to you, develop the skills that help you stand out to future employers and CEPLER helps students feel ready, confident and more informed about their legal future. They also work hand in hand with the University Law School and Careers Network making shadowing opportunities or any other work experience opportunity available to students and make sure that we are not navigating the job market alone.
I am currently part of the pro bono volunteers for the 2025/2026 academic year, and this is something that I am passionate about. The pro bono initiative from CEPLER is one of its most exciting and competitive parts, it helps us get involved meaningfully in legal work whilst studying.
With CEPLER, you can volunteer in projects that provide free legal advice, support and education to people who need it but cannot afford it. Some of these initiatives are:
While taking part in pro bono work undoubtedly looks great on your CV, it goes far beyond that. It is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others while developing practical skills such as communication, legal research and legal drafting.
Although I cannot speak in detail about specific cases, I am a volunteer with the Free Legal Advice Group (FLAG). Working with FLAG has helped me gain hands-on experience in client interviewing, making clients feel comfortable enough to share their issues, improving my note-taking abilities and strengthening my legal writing skills. I have also been exposed to areas such as Employment Law and Wills and Probate, while working alongside lawyers from top firms in Birmingham.
Beyond the classroom learning, CEPLER helps facilitate work experience and placement opportunities with firms. CEPLER uses the connections with employers they have to provide students with opportunities with top firms like; Crown Prosecution Service, Gowling WLG, No5 Chambers, Pinsent Masons, St. Phillips Chambers…and best part is that the placement opportunities are unique to the University of Birmingham Law Students.
What CEPLER aimed to achieve with this scheme is to expose us students to as much as possible to make an informed decision on the career path we want to follow. Often, students may be interested in a particular area of law until they experience it first-hand and realise it may not be the right fit. CEPLER helps students discover what truly interests them early on and with the range of opportunities available, the possibilities feel endless.
What truly makes CEPLER stand out is that it is not something every law school has. It is a tailored initiative designed specifically for the University of Birmingham Law School experience, integrating employability, professional development and legal research directly into your degree.
CEPLER doesn’t just focus on getting students a job - it focuses on preparing students to become thoughtful, skilled and ethical legal professionals. That combination of academic learning, practical experience and professional exposure is a real selling point for studying law at Birmingham.
If you are studying law at the University of Birmingham, CEPLER is one of those resources you will be glad you engaged with early. Whether you are interested in pro bono work, building employability skills, exploring career options or gaining real legal experience, CEPLER offers loads of opportunities that can genuinely shape your time at law school and beyond.
So, if you are looking to get more out of your degree than just lectures and exams, CEPLER is definitely worth checking out.
I love reading, listening to music and travelling.
