How I won ‘Best law society president’ at LawCareers.Net’s Student Law Society Awards 2023

Reading time: two minutes 

Hello! I’m Meenakshi Sundaram Sakthikumar, president of the Mooting Society and a final-year law student at the University of Nottingham. Starting as an avid mooter in my initial university years motivated me to run for president and I’m delighted to have won the ‘Best law society president’ at the LawCareers.Net Student Law Society Awards.  

Winning this award is a great honour and a humbling experience. The biggest reason behind our society’s successful year was our collective passion, unity among members and creativity. I was motivated by my love for the society and its people. My committee members and I worked tirelessly to create engaging and inclusive events.  

At the start of the year, I envisioned greater accessibility for beginner mooters and hoped to make mooting one of the law schools' greatest strengths. My passion for mooting made me optimistic and prepared me for challenging obstacles. However, what made this possible was the collective effort of 12 other like-minded, passionate committee members on this journey. Further, a society is only as strong as its members; they should feel connected with us. Therefore, we ensured that we showcased our passion through creative events, which brought all the members together. Being a united front, we achieved success and faced obstacles together, making us a stronger team. Ultimately, this allowed us to create memorable events to think back on fondly.  

One event that stood out was our inaugural Nottingham Moot Cup, in which eight universities around the UK participated. An accumulation of effort, planning and constructive arguments contributed to the event's success. We had two categories –beginner and advanced – to ensure a welcoming environment, reducing the stress and anxiety that often comes with mooting. Several similar events have involved and assisted numerous students throughout the year, which supported our nomination for the best mooting society. 

I’m incredibly grateful for the recognition and support my fellow Mooting Society members have given us. The testimonials about me melt my heart – one member said: “They’re the best at leadership and bring everyone together. Everyone loves them! They were the most popular choice to become the president, and they’re proving everyone right.” 

I’m unsure if I deserve such an excellent comment and award, but it’s given me a feeling of increased responsibility and I want to work harder to make an impact. I’m determined to continue working and contributing to societies in any  capacity I can. Thank you to the members, law school and my family for their continuous support. 

Lastly, my main advice to future leaders and presidents is to be passionate about their work. Sometimes, our motivation to enhance our resume can overshadow what we want to do. But remember, passion drives our ideas and is far more sustainable. This will, in turn, bring in excellent opportunities to showcase your talent and create an impact. So, whatever happens, never –give up! 

Meenakshi Sundaram Sakthikumar (he/him) is the president of the Nottingham Mooting Society you can connect with him on LinkedIn.