Barrister Alastair Hodge (LLB 1996) is determined that those following in his footsteps will benefit from everything his Bristol education afforded him, by pledging a gift in his Will to the University.
Graduating with a degree in law & german, Alastair went on to take the Bar Vocational Course, followed by his one-year pupillage, and today is a successful barrister working in London. Alastair regularly returns to Bristol to speak to current law students and offer career advice, something he says he benefited from when he was a student. “If I derive a benefit from something I always try to give back,” says Alastair. “I love to see the enthusiasm of students when I come back to give talks, all those interested and expectant faces in the audience.”
As a student himself, when not dealing with the intricacies of the law, Alastair was a keen member of the Drama Society, the Pantomime Society, the Opera Society, and the Stage Technicians Association. Although he moved from mostly acting roles in his first year, to more technical specialties in later years, he does have fond memories of playing Ariel in a Midsummer Night’s Dream in his final year!
Alastair credits Bristol with not only giving him a great introduction to adult life, as well as good social support via the residences (he stayed at Badock Hall) but also a great start to his career. He has practised as an Employment Lawyer and also represents SEN children. Nowadays as well as his work as a barrister, he teaches advocacy skills worldwide. He has been Professor of Advocacy at Nottingham Trent University since 2016 and one of his current projects is on the island of Jersey, teaching courtroom skills to social workers.
Alastair is a fan of forward planning and was keen to include Bristol in his Will. “Your university days are usually some of the most enjoyable days of your life,” he says. “It’s good to look back on them. At the time I took for granted that there was a good Law library, a good general library. But nowadays there is a reduction in funding from the government and elsewhere, the money has to come from somewhere.”
“We should enhance and advance the next generations of students, teachers, and researchers in the face of funding cuts. When I’m gone, others will benefit from my legacy.”
When he’s not travelling and teaching, Alastair can be found on the golf course, a sport he enthusiastically took up while studying at Bristol. He is next in line for Captain of the Inner Temple Golfing Society.
If you, like Alastair, would also like to support Bristol by leaving a gift in your Will, you are most welcome to contact the Planned Giving Team. Legacy gifts over the years have enabled a variety of wonderful things including scholarships, PhDs, and research. You can ensure that Bristol’s excellence lives on by making a gift in your Will today.
Details on how to leave a gift in your Will are available online