lawyer

#Planning to study law at university? Read this first

Sponsored by:

Starting university is a milestone that marks the beginning of an important rite of passage into independent adulthood.

Having the freedom to eat baked beans on toast for breakfast, lunch and dinner means there is plenty to get excited about, but the transition from A-levels to doing a degree can be daunting.

Law is often seen as a difficult course, so for school leavers beginning legal studies, that small step can sometimes feel more like a giant leap.

For Eleanor Sheerin, studying law at university felt like a massive step up. The University of Warwick undergraduate, now in her penultimate year, says: A lot of people, including myself, felt quite spoonfed at school. You could previously get away with a lot of waffling and bluffing, but at university you can't do that.

A lot of areas of law, such as property and criminal, are very precise.

University of Liverpool law student, Richard Smith, also found the transition from classroom to lecture theatre a challenge and admits he initially struggled to work without the close supervision of a school teacher.

But sixth-formers shouldn't be put off by the subject's scary reputation. Despite the expectation for students to be more independent in their learning, there is still support for those who need it. Liz Duff, head of University of Westminster Law School, says more and more universities and law schools are aware of students' anxieties.

Students shouldn't underestimate the amount of effort which goes into making sure that when students come to university it isn't an enormous shock, Duff says.

Students will all be given a personal tutor who is there to guide them through that first term or semester and address any (often completely unfounded) concerns about their ability to do the course.

Students shouldn't think that if they don't understand something it is their fault, Duff adds. While freshers need to be prepared for a different learning environment and change of relationship with their tutors, they shouldn't be overly concerned about workload.

They should take the guidance that's given by their tutors very seriously, Duff advises. Any reading they have been given is not optional, it's an expectation. Everything is aligned with a learning outcome and you're never asked to do something for the sake of it.

Having a clear vision of why you are studying law, whether it's to pursue a career as a barrister or because you look sharp in a suit, will give you the motivation to succeed if you are struggling to get to grips with the subject.

Imogen Burton, a director of business development at The University of Law, says doing informal work experience in your spare time will give you a direct insight into the topics you will be exploring at university and help you focus on those all important study and career goals.

That could mean spending a couple of hours at the weekend at the crown or county court or helping out at your high street solicitors. Even a Saturday job in your local corner shop can help you develop an understanding of business vital to working in a law firm.

Emily Morris, a first year studying law at the University of York, was attracted to the subject because of its relevance to everyday life. Even a bus ticket, she enthuses, is a form of legal contract. But she was surprised by how competitive other students on her course could be.

New students, she explains, should also expect an emphasis on careers very early on, with jobs advertised in the first year. Students are quizzed by tutors about current news stories, so Morris advises sixth formers to get into the habit of staying on top of current affairs.

The thing I would like students to have more than anything is a sense of inquisitiveness - why are things as they are? reveals Professor Duncan French, head of Lincoln Law School at the University of Lincoln. Students need to know how the law works and by keeping up to date with the news, they acquire a general sense of how it fits into society.

It makes the subject much more alive if you can see the relevance of it within a social, political and economic context.

You can start honing those research skills while in sixth form, but rather than reading volumes of books on the subject, Burton recommends going online. Blogs are a great place to start for general information and you can even take your investigation to social media.

Most of the well known firms will have Twitter accounts and developing an awareness of some of the big commercial names will give an edge before you join university. Nothing beats old fashioned networking though, so try to attend careers events and talk to the professionals who can answer your questions in person.

The important thing is not to stress too much, just because it's law. Student Sheerin adds: Your first year is for having fun and there is always a way to balance that with the academic pressures. Making sure you have friends on your course will mean you have a strong support network for when things do get tough.