Akil Hunte
LLB Hons Law, 2018
Why do you volunteer as an Alumni Fellow?
When I left Nottingham Trent, it was always my intention to give back to the university. I believed that I had some great experiences at the university that I wanted to share with students. I actually signed up to be an Alumni Fellow less than a month after graduating (I was very eager to get stuck in - I know!). It was a great opportunity to continue relationships with the committed staff at Nottingham Trent and I couldn’t say no!
What volunteering activities have you been involved with as an Alumni Fellow?
I was asked to be a speaker at the Alumni Fellow Welcome event in September 2018 - it was very intimidating speaking alongside the Dean of the School of Art and Design, and senior leaders in their industry! I volunteered as a speaker at NTSU Society induction day in September 2018, as a speaker at an Employability event in March 2019, the introductory event in September 2019 and as an interviewer at Future You conference for final years in January 2020.
What do you enjoy and find most rewarding most about being an Alumni Fellow?
I don’t think there’s any better feeling than seeing the impact you could make on students’ lives. To see how they relate to your experience, see themselves in your shoes and aspire to achieve their own goals is amazing to witness.
Do you have any advice for someone thinking about volunteering as an Alumni Fellow?
I’d say that Alumni Fellows are here to make sure students know people have been in their shoes and gotten through it. They’re not interested in how much you’ve achieved since you graduated, what car you drive or how much you earn (some might but don’t worry about them!). They’re interested in knowing that there’s people like them that have been where they are and got through it. You can be the hope that these young people take with them to the future. You could be the change in a young woman’s life that reassures her she is on the right path. It all could happen as a result of being an Alumni Fellow. One conversation can change everything and that’s the value of Alumni and Industry Fellows - to have conversations that students can relate to.
What do you do when you’re not volunteering?
Where do I start! I’m currently studying my LPC and once I finish I’ll be starting my training contract at CMS in February 2021 to work as a trainee solicitor.
I was formerly the Managing Director of The New Black UK, a not for profit social enterprise that aims to inspire young people between 16-25 from less privileged or marginalised communities to succeed against adversity in their personal and professional development. They aim to achieve this through; facilitating workshops, events, conferences and webinars, creating media content, forming partnerships and collaborations with likeminded corporations, institutions and organisations. Find them on all social media platforms @thenewblackuk or The New Black UK.
I’m Founder of LinkedIn Skills For Lawyers, a personalised marketing and branding coaching programme that aims to educate practising and aspiring lawyers on how to improve their brand visibility on LinkedIn.
I also volunteer at homeless shelters and mentor young people to get into law.