The most obvious I suppose, what made you want to study law?
I didn’t at first! I wanted to study Human Geography. All my other uni applications were just for that. I saw the course at Herts and thought it seemed interesting, and I had always said arguing for a living would be my dream, so I thought I would take the risk and it paid off, as I ended up loving law and hating geography.
What are your plans for the coming year as you have finished your LPC?
I am currently doing my TC. I started officially on 22 June and I qualify 22 December 2016. I was fortunate to have secured a TC. I did not obtain it in a traditional way e.g. through an application though. I attended an advocacy court at the University of Hertfordshire and through that I met a barrister. I did a mini-pupillage with him and at the end, I met one of his clerks. I was put in touch with my firm through this clerk and I arranged to do work experience with my firm. I did a week’s work experience, and at the end they offered me a summer placement. I worked for them all summer, starting to complete my police station accreditation and undertaking case work. At the end of the summer, I was offered a TC with them.
You studied a joint honours degree – how did you juggle both law and your other subject effectively?
It was hard as I hated my other subject! I had to be extremely efficient in time management, as unlike LLB students, I had 4 exams every year. I had to remind myself that law made up 75% of my degree, and that was therefore my primary focus. I studied extremely hard for geography, and it eventually paid off.
Any top tips for those thinking of doing the same thing?
Choose two subjects you actually enjoy – if you only like one and you realise that early on, try and swap courses. If you enjoy both subjects, you’ll be motivated to do better and won’t end up completely hating the other subject.
Have effective time management skills. You may have 5 pieces of coursework due in on the same date, with no reading week as both subjects have different weeks off. You have to be able to prioritise your work, even if you don’t enjoy the coursework you are doing, and would rather be doing the other subjects piece.
As much as I didn’t like my other subject, I am glad that I did a joint honours degree. It’s a talking point for law firms, especially the mix I did (Law with Human Geography), and you can explain why you did them, and how they interrelate, because more often than not they do. You should also explain that studying another subject alongside law gave you other skill sets that those studying a full LLB honours might not have.
Did you miss not having the choice to pick modules for law as you can only study the core modules?
I did as I would have liked the choice to study other modules, however for me, whilst it meant I had a lot more exams, I do better in exams than coursework so I wasn’t too bothered. It actually took the stress off being told what you would be studying.
With studying for a Joint Honours degree did you manage to find time to work on your advocacy skills in terms of mooting, mock trials etc.?
I didn’t have much time as I had a part time job as well as studying, however I managed to find the time to do mooting and mock trials and advocacy courses. It meant staying late, having little sleep and being generally quite stressed, however if you want a career in law, whether you go to the bar or study the LPC, you need advocacy skills. I can’t emphasis enough how much more attractive it makes you to firms/chambers, so even if you have no sleep and have 6 pieces of coursework due and 5 exams – make the time as it will pay off. For me, as I love advocacy, it didn’t feel like a chore at all, and it was a welcome relief!
Have you got involved with anything at uni or outside of uni that is law related?
Mini pupillages, marshalling, work experience placements with solicitors.
How did you find studying the LPC?
EVIL! It was so much worse than uni, especially as it was so business focused, which is not the area I was going in to. I was lured in with the promise of open book exams, but open book exams are evil. It’s incredibly hard to revise for them as you don’t need to memorise everything! But as with uni, hard work pays off. I wouldn’t recommend doing the LPC unless you have TC. Firstly, your firm might pay for it as it isn’t cheap (around £15,000 and rising), secondly if you complete the LPC, you may have to wait years to start your TC. You could use your time more efficiently by doing vacation schemes, work experience etc.
What has been your favourite module to study and why?
On the LPC it was Advanced Criminal Practice. This is because this is the area of law I will be specialising in, the area that I have been working in for 2 years, so it was so interesting to see how it is taught, and be able to fine tune my skills to enable myself to become a better solicitor. At Uni, I really enjoyed Land Law! I put a lot of that down to the lecturers, but I found the subject interesting too.
You also undertake police station work and have done for sometime now? How long? How did you get into doing it? And what have you learnt from it? Etc.
I’ve been attending police stations as a client’s legal representative , alone, since October 2013. I was offered the opportunity by my firm after a week’s work experience – I must have done something right! The police station accreditation is something that most people don’t start doing until they begin their TC, so effectively I have a 2 year head start. I absolutely love doing it. It allows me to have client contact from the very beginning of the case. Any criminal law lawyer will tell you that the most important stage of a case is what happens at the police station. The wrong advice can mean a wrongful conviction, and the correct advice can mean a just acquittal. I am much more confident in meeting client’s, as you deal with colourful characters at the police station. I also liaise with police, and I am not afraid to question what they say (anymore), as they are not always right. The hours are long; you can do a full day’s work and then be at a police station until 4am (which is not uncommon).
This is more directed for people who are interested in going into criminal law – Only go into this area if you LOVE it. I can’t emphasise that enough. The money is terrible and the hours are rubbish, but the job is so satisfying and exciting. One day I may be in a Crown Court clerking a case, the other at a police station, another day I could be in prison with a client or watching my supervisor do a hearing at a Magistrates’ Court. No day is the same, it’s not a 9-5 office job and I love it. But due to the recent legal aid cuts, TC in criminal defence firms are incredibly hard to obtain, as there is simply no funding. I was lucky I made an impression on my firm before the cuts came in, or I wouldn’t be where I am today. If you are interested, you may want to pay for your own police station accreditation. Approach a firm and ask if you can train with them (but explain you are paying for it yourself). This makes you attractive to firms as they don’t have to waste time and money paying for you to train. Go into firms, dressed nicely, with a CV. Go to any Magistrates’ Court and hand your CV out! Although criminal defence training contracts are becoming more and more scarce, there are ways to obtain one.
Jemma Michaelson
University of Hertfordshire – Law with Human Geography – First Class Honours (2014)
University of Law – Legal Practice Course – Distinction (2015)