Raphael Louis Levy

Philosopher | Aspiring Barrister | Blogger | Traveller

Education

Queen Mary, University of London | PhD (Forthcoming beginning in September 2024)

My PhD will, broadly, look at the role of positive obligations in the European Convention on Human Rights.

London School of Economics | LLM (2022-2023)

Overall: Merit, Legal Research and Writing Skills (67%), Commercial Remedies (68%), Comparative Constitutional Law (67%), Comparative Constitutional Rights (71%), European Human Rights Law (72%), Principles of Corporate Insolvency Law (68%), Principles of Global Competition Law (68%) and Rethinking EU Law (65%).

BPP University | BPTC (2019-2020)

Overall: Very Competent (71%), Professional Ethics (88%), REDOC (86%), Drafting (84%), Conference (81%), Commercial Dispute Resolution (80%), Civil Litigation (71%) Advocacy 3 (69%), Judicial Review (67%), Advocacy 1 (67%), Criminal Litigation (66%), Advocacy 2 (60%), Opinion Writing (60%)

The University of Oxford | Jurisprudence BA with Senior Status (2017-2019)

Overall: 2.1, EU Law (70%), Administrative Law (70%), Tort Law (68%), Jurisprudence (67%), Constitutional Law (67%), Contract Law (66%), Trusts Law (65%), Criminal Law (66%) and Land Law (61%). I was awarded the Law Network prize for outstanding performance.

The University of Cambridge | Philosophy M.Phil. (2015-2017)

Overall: Pass. My 12,000-word thesis critically assessed the role, if any, that backwards-looking emotions should have in criminal punishment. I intermitted in Easter Term 2016 on medical grounds.

The University of Warwick | Philosophy, Politics and Economics BA (2012-2015)

Overall: 69.4%, 2.1 (1st year: 71.8%, 2nd year: 71% and 3rd Year: 67.8%) including 81% in both my 10,000-word dissertation entitled: ‘Unfinished business: How Socrates responds to Callicles in the Republic’ (second highest in the year) and my 5000-word extended essay entitled: ‘Is Locke’s account of personal identity threatened by Kant’s argument in the third paralogism?’ (third highest in the year).

Employment History

RD&L Investments and Legal Services Ltd (“RD&L”) | Director, self-employed (Legal) (June 2020-present)

RD&L provides a comprehensive range of unreserved legal services. These range from legal consultancy on an ongoing basis to assisting litigants in person as a lay representative or McKenzie Friend on a case-by-case basis. I am currently assisting a start-up claims management company assists tenants with making housing disrepair claims or claims under s.82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and a leaseholder with various disputes that have arisen because of mismanagement of the building by the RTM Company. Previous work examples include assisting an energy start up with an employment dispute concerning whether a consultant was properly classed as an employee for redundancy purposes; a particulars of claim in a negligence claim against a high-street bank; and the available defences in a breach of contract claim.

Stamp Duty Rebate Ltd (“SDR”) | Legal Specialist (October 2022-April 2023), Head of the Legal Department (April 2023-October 2024)

SDR specialised in recovering overpaid Stamp Duty Land Tax (“SDLT”) from HMRC. I had overall responsibility for the legal team. I led our response to an HMRC investigation into whether our claims comply with their guidance. I managed judicial review proceedings on behalf of SDR, advised the directors on legal principles including legitimate expectations, drafted our pre-action protocol letter and issued the judicial review proceedings.

Intelligent Data Technologies Ltd (t/a “Lucid”) | Head of Marketing (October 2020-August 2022)

I was responsible for Lucid's marketing strategy and assisted the CEO, CTO and Head of Sales with Lucid's business strategy. I devised and implemented a comprehensive marketing plan and set up and managed Lucid’s social media accounts. I also led pitches explaining our app and strategy to investors and potential partners, often at short notice.

Wolters Kluwer | Editorial Consultant (June 2014-present)

I am responsible for researching tax law and other relevant information for conducting business in Israel, updating two separate files monthly.

Legal Work Experience

Various Assessed and unassessed mini-pupillages (March 2015-February 2020)

I have attended mini-pupillages at over 15 different sets of Chambers including Brick Court Chambers, 11KBW, 3VB, South Square, 4 Stone Buildings, Garden Court Chambers, 2 Bedford Row, Landmark Chambers and XXIV Old Buildings.

Asserson Law Offices | Summer Vacation Intern (August 2018)

This was a two-week internship in Asserson’s offices in Tel Aviv. I drafted advice concerning the teaching of LGBT issues in faith schools, specifically concerning s.149 of the Equality Act 2010 and Article 9 of the ECHR. I was commended on my clarity and persuasiveness. I enjoyed aspects of the experience, specifically drafting the advice, but it confirmed my desire to pursue a career at the Bar.

Advocacy and Public Speaking

Lay Representative | Mayor’s and City of London County Court (30th January 2019)

My client was a defendant in a summary judgment hearing concerning a debt. I successfully secured an adjournment, having received my instructions the afternoon before. My client praised my calmness and I further developed client management and interpersonal skills, necessary for a career at the Bar.

Free Representation Unit (FRU) | Social Security and Employment (October 2018-October 2022)

Mooting encouraged me to apply to FRU to develop my oral and written advocacy in a more practical setting. I initially attended a Social Security training day but on 13/10/2019 I attended an employment training day as well. I successfully represented an ESA claimant, ensuring her appeal was allowed and built up a strong relationship with my client.

Mooting Experience (March 2015 - present)

I began mooting at Warwick before I had even started studying law, developing my legal research and drafting skills. Since then, I have participated in moots at every university I have attended, including representing both Warwick and Oxford. I am consistently commended on the strength of my oral advocacy, the clarity of my legal argument and have been described as a “powerful advocate” and a “future attorney general”! I reached the semi-finals of the 7KBW Moot in 2018 and the semi-finals of the OUP-ICCA National Mooting competition in 2019 and have frequently received top marks in individual rounds, including in every round of the OUP-ICCA Moot.

Model United Nations ("MUN") Experience (March 2009 – June 2012)

I participated in numerous MUN conferences, representing my school both nationally and internationally. I received the best delegate award at the majority of conferences I participated in, including in UNESCO headquarters in Paris at Paris MUN. I was President of the General Assembly at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School (HABS) MUN in 2012 and the student-in-charge of MUN at HABS 2011-2012, responsible for organising our participation in external competitions.

Debating Experience (September 2003 - August 2020)

I have enjoyed debating since primary school, and it encouraged me to pursue further experiences in public speaking. I represented my school on numerous occasions, including at Cambridge Schools’ Final Day in 2011, and continued debating throughout university. I reached the final of the Lincoln’s Inn Debating Shield 2020.

Awards, Scholarships and Publications

St Hilda’s Law Network Prize (For outstanding performance) | St Hilda’s College (August 2019).
Kennedy Scholarship | Lincoln’s Inn (April 2019).
Advocacy Excellence Scholarship | BPP University (April 2019).
Levy, R [2019] “The protection afforded under Article Three of the European Convention on Human Rights.” Public Law Vol 2, 251-259.
Lord Brougham Scholarship | Lincoln’s Inn (July 2017).
Levy, R [2017] “Is Locke’s account of personal identity threatened by Kant’s argument in the third paralogism?” Laterális. Vol 3. Presented at the University of Reading, February 2017.
Hardwicke Entrance Award | Lincoln’s Inn (February 2016).

Other Skills and Interests

I speak fluent Hebrew and have achieved French level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference.
I attended weekly salsa classes at Warwick, advancing from the beginner to the intermediate class in under a year.
I enjoy travelling and writing my travel blog: The Croissant Chronicles.
I blog about current affairs, mental health and philosophy at The Cous Cous Diaries.
I enjoy solving and setting cryptic crosswords.
I am a Manchester United season ticket holder and follow them home and away.
I volunteer for the Social Mobility Foundation, checking personal statements for prospective university applicants.
I was a keen rugby player, representing my school and Queens’ College, Cambridge.