It’s an exciting time to be studying law. The opportunities are vast – you could travel the world in a global firm, or represent people in your local area. And whether you decide to enter the law profession or not, the skills a law degree teaches you – analysing, writing, researching, public speaking – are valued by employers in most sectors. And more and more firms are recognising the importance of diversity – not just of background, but of thought.
These days, law is more accessible than ever: for example, it’s now possible to gain your solicitor’s qualification via an apprenticeship. However, for most, a qualifying law degree is still the most straightforward route to a career as a barrister or a solicitor, giving you the opportunity to explore and experience different areas of law.
Ciara-Marie Griffin had already started investigating her potential career path before she enrolled at London South Bank University (LSBU) to study law. Griffin had completed a diploma in law and taxation in Ireland, which gave her a foundation-level understanding of business and ultimately prepared her for her degree. “LSBU’s law course was the main draw for me, but another was the fact I am from London and was able to live at home while studying,” she says. “I also like the inclusivity of the student population, and the mix of local and international students.”
She enjoyed the practical, hands-on nature of the course. “I like the way we were taught not just the ABC of law but the way that law operates in practice. In the first year, our head of department talked to us about legal technology and I was immediately curious – I couldn’t wait to do that module in year three.”
It wasn’t just about UK law, either. Griffin chose to study comparative law as an elective and took part in an LSBU-organised trip to Hong Kong to study Chinese law as a comparative to the legal system of England and Wales. “It was an incredible experience,” she says. “Law isn’t a straight line. Each culture does things differently, and it’s important to understand and respect that.”
LSBU has been teaching law for more than 30 years, so there’s a wealth of experience in the department. It offers four pathways: law, business law, criminal law, and law with criminology. The university has strong links with the local legal profession and its graduates who work in London and beyond.
Thanks to these links, there are many opportunities to network. Naz Baig, a lawyer who is an LSBU graduate and mentor, believes graduates such as her can help students access information and find out more about what their course offers. “Mentoring gives them the opportunity to ask me questions – some may never have met a practising lawyer before,” she says.
Baig is also hopeful that her visibility will make a difference. “Sometimes you don’t know who is looking at your journey. I had a message from someone who said that seeing an Asian woman from east London who had made it, had made them feel they could achieve it too, and that’s very humbling.”
Volunteering is another key way to experience how law works in practice. Griffin volunteered at the university’s Legal Advice Clinic, advising local people from Southwark and Lambeth. Many of them may not have been able to access legal advice had it not been for the help Griffin and the advice centre offered, for reasons from affordability to not knowing how to access a solicitor. “Volunteering there was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had,” she says.
The wide-ranging nature of law means that it sits perfectly alongside several other subjects, too. Orsolya Itoya was originally planning to study sociology with criminology, as she was concerned that law would be too difficult. At the last minute, she changed her mind and is now studying law with criminology. “It was a good decision for me,” she says. “I’m so grateful LSBU allowed me to change, and supplied the information that gave me the confidence to change.”
Itoya is passionate about learning about the world, and the way people behave. “That’s why I originally chose sociology, and it’s what drew me to criminology too. I always enjoyed crime documentaries, and criminology seemed a broad subject. I’ve learned that not everything is black and white, good and bad, and that people are affected by their background and can change.”
She is considering working in politics, or for a charity such as the Innocence Project, which helps prisoners who may have had an unfair trial. But doing a law degree has given her the flexibility and space to take her time in making a decision. “I want to try a few things before I settle,” she says. “I used to think you had to do one thing and stick to it. Now I have a greater sense of wanting to try things and see what works. Not everyone leaves school knowing what they want to do. Thanks to my university, which allowed me to change subjects, and then gave me broad-ranging studies, my options are wider.”
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