Celebrating Jan Steele’s Contribution to Southampton Law School
Southampton Law School is celebrating Jan Steele’s contribution to the Law School community as she retires.
As September gets underway and preparation begins for the start of a new academic year welcoming new cohorts of students and welcoming back returning students, Southampton Law School is saying goodbye to a member of staff who has been at the core of the student experience for over 10 years: Jan Steele.
Jan say she was “delighted to be able to work even more closely with law students and staff” after joining the Law School in 2012. She previously worked for thirteen years at the University as a Careers Adviser. During her time at Southampton Law School, Jan has been Senior Tutor and continued as Employability Co-ordinator. Jan has been instrumental in providing unstinting pastoral support to students in their academic studies, as well as showing leadership in developing longstanding links with a number of law firms and barristers’ chambers. Jan has led in organising the popular annual law fair which has an annual set piece in showcasing our students, and enabling them to get a better sense of what life as a legal professional has to offer.
Reflecting on her time at Southampton Law School, Jan said “I have always thoroughly enjoyed advising law students. The law sector is constantly evolving and developing with new opportunities, employers and routes to qualification. It has been equally rewarding to see how our students are valued in the same way by professions outside of the legal sector.
In my time in the Law School I have worked with many outstanding students who have gone on to high profile and important roles within and outside the legal profession. This is one of the aspects of my working life which I will most miss.”
I have enjoyed building up the network of employer contacts and postgraduate providers and developing fruitful relationships to broaden the range of opportunities for our students and graduates. It has also been a privilege and pleasure to work with such talented, interesting and committed colleagues in the Law School as well as our many dedicated and generous Alumni. They have all given their time and resources to support our students and graduates into their future careers or further study. I thank them for making the past 11 years the most worthwhile and enjoyable of my career.”
Commenting on Jan’s contribution to the life of the School, Head of School Professor Werner Scholtz, said “Jan has been pivotal in enhancing student experience and well-being through the execution of her duties as Senior Tutor and Employability Coordinator at the School. Her calm and compassionate approach to students has been a reassuring element of her pastoral care. Jan’s bespoke employability programme remains one of our important unique selling points which has supported our recruitment strategies. Jan has also been an important link to the profession and our alumni and I have always been impressed by the fact that she has a vast knowledge of our alumni who she usually knows by name. Jan is not merely a competent colleague but she is also a friendly and supportive colleague. Jan’s joyful nature will be dearly missed by Southampton Law School. I wish Jan all the best and hope that she will enjoy some well-deserved rest.”
Professor Scholtz’s predecessor as Head of School Professor Brenda Hannigan (2016-2020) commented further, “Over many years of service to the School, Jan has been an invaluable help to our students. As Senior Tutor, she has supported them through their studies and the many challenges that life throws at them, combining empathy with practical, constructive, help. As Employability Lead, she has guided them as they move on to their professional careers, cheering them at every step. She will be much missed.”
A huge thank you from all the Southampton Law School community – past and present – for all you have done, Jan.