Cornet Vincent Ségurel 2024 Prize : interview with the winner !

How did you hear about the Cornet Vincent Ségurel prize?

I heard about the Cornet Vincent Ségurel prize through Michel Dupuis, director of our Master’s programme. He explained that this competition, organised in collaboration with Cornet Vincent Ségurel, is an essential part of our programme. The competition aims to develop a crucial skill in students: the communication skills that are essential if they are to excel as lawyers.

In preparing for this competition, we learn how to synthesise and convey legal concepts clearly and concisely.

What inspired you to take part in this competition? Perhaps an anecdote?

Yes, I do have one to tell you.

It goes back to my school days. I was shy at the time and to remedy this, I chose the theatre option. At an end-of-year performance, I found myself in an unexpected situation: I had to sing ‘The Snow Queen’! It wasn’t exactly my finest moment, but the experience confronted me with stage fright and pressure, and I managed to overcome my fears and deliver my performance.

This episode made me realise that stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to some wonderful surprises.

Since that day, I’ve cultivated a taste for challenges and competitions, always seeking to surpass myself and explore new horizons. That’s how I found the motivation to take part in this competition, convinced that every challenge is an opportunity for personal and professional growth.

And once again, a big thank you to my drama teacher, Madame CAUDMONT, in case she happens to be passing by!

Can you remind us of your subject and explain why you chose it?

Of course I can. The subject I tackled for the Cornet Vincent Ségurel Prize concerns the ‘media tribunal’ and its influence on the presumption of innocence.

In particular, I highlighted the phenomenon of early condemnation on social networks and in the media, even before a court decision has been handed down by a criminal court.

This media process can create public pressure and influence opinion before the person concerned has had the opportunity to be judged according to the law. This raises fundamental questions about how the presumption of innocence is respected in an environment where information and opinions circulate rapidly and sometimes thoughtlessly and out of context.

Do you have a technique of your own (unusual or special) to prepare for going in front of the jury?

Yes, I was a bit apprehensive about the stage. To manage my stage fright, I put several strategies in place. As you can imagine, my years of theatre experience have helped me to manage stress and stay calm and confident in front of an audience.

So, beforehand, I made sure I had a good grasp of my subject by doing a lot of research and rehearsing my presentation over and over again, walking around my house with a bottle of perfume as a microphone !

Then I remembered that I had knowledge to share and a subject that was close to my heart, which helped me to feel more comfortable on stage.

What have you gained from this adventure?

Taking part in the competition gave me valuable experience on several levels. First of all, it gave me the opportunity to work on my communication and oral presentation skills, which will be very useful in my future career, but also to deepen my knowledge of a specific subject so that I can present it in a concise and persuasive way.

I also appreciated the opportunity to exchange ideas with my peers and to receive constructive feedback from the jury.

Finally, I felt a sense of achievement and self-confidence in realising that I am capable of rising to challenges and surpassing myself.

How do you see your future career?

For the rest of my career, I plan to continue in the legal field as an in-house lawyer. I have a passionate interest in legal issues and I’m keen to expand my knowledge.

This could mean exploring different areas of law, perhaps even specialising in a particular field such as IT-Data, which I’m particularly interested in as I’m doing my two-year work-study placement with a company that is a SaaS software platform called WOOP.

However, I’m still open to the opportunities and directions that the professional world might have in store for me. I’m convinced that every experience, every challenge, will help to enrich my outlook and shape my professional and personal development.

Congratulations again to Lucile Piquet on winning this competition !