Postgraduate

I studied the LLB (Hons) Law Degree during 2018-2021 at Bournemouth University and graduated in June 2021. As it can be presumed, I had already undergone a transition from studying on campus to remote studying during the Covid-19 pandemic. Coming to study my postgraduate degree at City, already, I knew that the methods of practice and teaching was something that I would have to adapt to. This was not because of how each lecturer teaches differently, but because, and mainly so, of the higher level of knowledge, understanding, and skills that I was required to progressively obtain. Of course, there was no doubt that transitioning from studying the LLB to the BVS was a big step to take. Though, the main two reasons why I believed that I was able to transition without difficulty to the BVS were thoroughly taking the time to read through the Bar Vocational Studies Course Page on City's website and attending a Postgraduate Open Evening. Thus, this blog will outline an effective method of gaining an understanding of the Bar Vocational Studies Course Page in preparation for the transition to study this course and also the importance of attending a Postgraduate Open Evening....

Pupillage! It’s the next step, after completing the vocational component, in a student’s progressive journey to the Bar. The pupillage application process happens once a year which opens at 11:00am on or around 5thJanuary and closes at 2:00pm on or around 9th February. The majority of the chambers nationwide upload their pupillage information via The Pupillage Gateway in which students would be able to see information about each chamber. The maximum amount of applications that you can make via the gateway amounts to 20 overall. Most applications are made via the gateway but the website also lists down the chambers that do not apply via the gateway and provides the information for their application processes....

The new City Law School building announced in September 2020, has provided another great space for students to study and socialise whilst on campus. On numerous occasions, I have had the privilege of being able to visit this building and enjoy the facilities and resources that it has to offer. In this blog, I am going to highlight three key reasons why I believe the building is a great study place! I will discuss the topic areas of: Library (Open Spaces for Group Work... and );  and .

When I began the Legal Practice Course (LPC) after my Law LLB studies, I felt slightly lost and struggled with the transition from my previous degree. Change is hard - but it is good - with time, I got the hang of the LPC course and started to really enjoy it! I hope my advice can help students who are in the same position I was in when I began my LPC studies.   What were the biggest challenges in going from the LLB to LPC? The biggest challenge going from the LLB to the LPC for me was switching from essay-style exams to practice-based exams. For example, on the LLB course, I was encouraged to write in a more academic and ‘deeper’ style, often using ‘flowery’ language to make the essays and coursework sound more interesting and intellectual. I was used to writing this way during my GCSEs, A-Levels and undergraduate studies and it came naturally to me to be expressive and explore different issues when writing or answering questions in an exam....

As a first-generation graduate who has no family connections to lawyers, qualifying as a solicitor was very confusing. I often found myself lost when it came to applications for work experience and training contracts as I had no prior knowledge or guidance as to how to approach them.   What is a Training Contract?... A training contract is a two-year training period carried out in a law firm or in-house in an organisation by law graduates pursuing a career as a solicitor. Once you complete the two-year training period, you can become a trainee solicitor after a qualifying law degree and the LPC.

Taking your education further after undergraduate studies can be a difficult decision for many, especially with the rising living costs in London. It is often difficult to balance student fees and living costs. However, The City Law School has a range of bursaries and scholarships available to help with funding your courses! Prior to starting the Legal Practice Course (LPC), I was awarded the City Law School Legal Practice Course Scholarship which is a £1,500 scholarship available to outstanding applicants for the LPC, offered by The City Law School.   Eligibility In order to be eligible for this award, you need to have a first-class undergraduate degree or international equivalent. You must also hold an offer of a place on the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC) at The City Law School. The offer can be conditional or unconditional. Finally, you can be of any fee status (Home, EU or International) to be eligible for this scholarship - making the scholarship accessible for many students!...

Studying a law degree at City is challenging but an incredibly rewarding journey. It will provide you with crucial skills and give you an infinite array of opportunities for your future career. However, there are unfortunately still many misconceptions surrounding law degrees that could put off prospective students: as a ‘seasoned’ law student, I can confirm that these are very much not true. So, let’s debunk some of them!   1. There is too much to read The typical picture of a law student that usually pops into mind is a student almost drowning in textbooks and papers –but I can assure you this is not the case! Studying law does still involve a lot of reading, however, this is a trait common to all degrees. You will be expected to read cases, statutes, and articles, but you will rarely come across a physical copy of a 500-page article. Nowadays, reading materials are easily accessible online and case digests on legal software like Westlaw and LexisNexis can aid you by cutting your reading time in half. The key to this is being organised; as long as you prioritise your assigned reading, highlight the most important parts, summarise the core arguments and use case digests to help you, you will be able to ace your studies! Law is also much more than just reading: there is a lot of practice and critical thinking. The core ability typical of a law degree is to find the issues relating to your reading and be able to criticise them....

When the new City Law School building opened, I was looking forward to having a place dedicated to Law students to study, relax with friends and access the library. The City Law School is located in a new and modern building just 30 seconds away from the main university buildings at City in Northampton Square. I believe it is a fantastic place to study and, although I have not had any lectures taking place here, you can always find me here studying, relaxing or having lunch after my lectures. Here’s five reasons why I think it’s an amazing place for Law students:   Great silent study space The City Law School building holds a lot of amazing study places located on two different floors. Here you can find yourself a place to focus on your studies and your exams, away from all distractions. The second floor is also where lots of academics and lecturers have their offices; thus, it is easy for you to arrange a meeting with them if you are struggling with any content, and continue with your studies afterwards....

Study abroad is an experience – one that is equally rewarding and terrifying. You’ve taken a leap of faith to study abroad and as exciting and courageous as that sounds, when the reality of moving to a new place sets it, it is not uncommon to feel overwhelmed. What are the people like? How will I get around? Will I make any friends? These are all questions that I have asked myself. Fret not! I was in the same position as you. If you are an international student studying in London, I’ve noted five important things that you should try to get done within your first week of arriving. Hopefully, this will make sure your transition goes smoothly....

Although I have studied Law LLB, I was unsure whether a legal career was for me. As most students can probably relate, at some point, I wanted to continue with a master's degree and legal practice - but I was very much scared of the unknown. For this reason, I started doing my research about the best law school experiences, and it seemed that The City Law School had the best opinions.   I think that its excellent reputation made me doubt whether I would get in - even though I met the criteria. I remember how happy I was when I received the email of acceptance to the Legal Practice Course (LPC). I know how famous The City Law School in London is, so I remember emailing the administration to make sure that I got in for sure! Honestly, since the beginning of my education, I have often felt anxious in the first few weeks in new environments. However, with The City Law School, things were not the same. I remember my first day on the LPC course like it was yesterday. Although all students were told that this would be a demanding course, somehow, I felt like we were all in this together. And in fact, we are very much in this together. Despite that, there are moments when I feel exhausted; my coursemates are always there to support me....

If you want to truly enjoy your student experience whilst at university, one of the best ways is to participate in extracurricular activities! At City, there are many extracurricular activities available and there is something for everyone to enjoy. As an LPC LLM student at the City Law School, I have been participating in a range of these activities.   LPC Mentoring Scheme I am currently participating in the Mentoring Scheme available to LPC students. This was advertised via email and also on Moodle - so I decided to read more about what the scheme involved. I applied immediately as unfortunately, law was not available as an A-Level subject at my Sixth Form, so I lacked career-related information. Plus, in order to achieve my dream of becoming a solicitor, I know I need to have a network of legal professionals and also the knowledge regarding pathways to qualifying, etc....

So, future plans! It can be a stressful thing to think about and try to plan, either on a short-term or long-term basis. However, with careful and effective preparation, the process can go smoothly. In this blog, I will share my experiences and advice about how I have been and currently am preparing for my future plans. These will be categorised into three sections: Course Preparation; University Support; and Career Options.   Course preparation I am an aspiring Barrister currently on the LLM Bar Vocational Studies (with Advanced Civil Practice) at The City Law School. At the beginning of the year, as with every course, I was given a course handbook that details everything I need to know for my degree. I would advise you to read every page of your handbook thoroughly, take notes if needed, and always refer back to it if you have any questions that need to be answered....

If you follow any of those law school meme pages on Instagram, you’re probably thinking ‘WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO!’ Trust me, I have had the exact same thoughts more times than I can remember. Here’s the deal, law students do have a life - it just requires striking the right balance between that extensive reading list and self-care. So, without further ado, this is what a typical week looks like for me in April as a Graduate Entry LLB student at The City Law School....

Master of Laws LLM International Energy Law (Part-time)   Why did you choose to study the Master of Laws? I work for an international energy company. I was increasingly asked to support commercial negotiations and needed a much better understanding of the legal framework.   Which modules/specialism did you choose to study and why? International Investment Law, International Energy Disputes, International Law of The Sea, Low Carbon Energy, Oil and Gas Law. They are all highly relevant to the questions I deal with at work....

Master of Laws LLM   " The Masters of Law course has been an absolutely amazing journey! The experience has definitely been one to remember as I have met people from different backgrounds, countries and disciplines. But the best thing has been the opportunity to learn the law with leading legal professionals. Ofcourse, the teaching at City has always been amazing, and after experiencing my undergraduate degree here, City University soon felt like home, so continuing my postgraduate study here was an easy decision for me! I arrived on the course as a basic law student with some understanding of the law but too scared to take on any independent work. But I am proud to say I will leave as a confident individual, equipped with extensive legal research skills, the ability to learn independently and to apply my knowledge in practice too. I am so glad I decided to take this course at City and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for further study in the legal field....

Legal Practice Course PGDip   Why did you choose to study the LPC with City?  I first started at City through the INTO City graduate diploma program in Law, I then went on to a LLM in Banking & Finance at the Law School before heading to a private university that focuses on specialist legal training, where I completed my GDL. Although that institution had its advantages, their unique approach to training quickly made me realise that I preferred the sense of community and teaching style at City. So, when it came time to apply for the LPC I thought it best to return.   How did you hear about the LPC Mentor Scheme? You couldn’t really miss it : ) it was on the central page of my Moodle account and I remember getting a few emails from the Law School and Sona (Mehta, Senior Lecturer) about the scheme.  What did you have to do to apply? The application process was pretty straight forward. I had to fill in a table with five (5) pre-set questions on my desired legal employment sector, my preference of the firm’s size (if I intended to work in the private sector), my legal interests, special requirements. The last was the core of the application and it focused on why I felt I should have a mentor. Why did you want to be mentored? What are the benefits to you? At the time, I wanted to be mentored because I felt that I did not have access to lawyers who specialised in international financial services and offshore tax law. I wanted the opportunity to speak with lawyers in the field to better understand if practice matched my studies on the LLM as well as my own perception of what it could be like....

Check out our FAQs for any details you might be unsure about as regards the SQE.     What is the SQE? ...

I volunteered at the Civil Legal Advice Clinic as a student advisor. The responsibilities of a student advisor were varied, from interviewing clients on their matters, writing chronologies to send to the solicitor advisor, organising Zoom meetings between the client and solicitor, writing attendance notes after the solicitor meeting, and writing letters of advice or supportive letters for clients under supervision. The range of activities meant that I was developing organisational, writing, and research skills, and gaining confidence in interviewing clients. Doing the pro bono scheme at the time tied in great to what I was learning on the LPC. For example, I already had lessons in interviewing and advising....

Sarwan Singh, Director of Pro bono discusses the opportunities available to you whilst studying at City, and why Pro bono is a good chance to develop your CV before you graduate. https://youtu.be/82YjzpftrnA

What is Pro Bono? Pro bono work is legal advice that is provided free of charge by legal professions. This support tends to be given to charities, individuals or groups who cannot afford the cost to seek legal advice. Law students should utilise some of their free times to support vulnerable people. This is a great way to give back to society but is also a way for you to broaden your communication and interpersonal skills and expand your network....

Written by: Anisa Khatun, 2nd year LLB student                                                                                                                    What is networking?...

Name: Paula Poniatowska Course: GE LLB Year: 2017-2019...

Director of Mooting, Emily Allbon shares an insight into what Mooting is, the competitions that take place throughout your time at City, and how you can get involved. Mooting Intro 2020-21 from Emily on Vimeo.

Senior Lecturer Sona Mehta chats to LPC alumni Daniel Lo about creating your personal brand to help make you stand out from the crowd when applying for jobs. https://youtu.be/K9mvhDBH3mg