Final year LLB Law student William Clark is due to graduate from Leeds Beckett University in the summer of 2023. William had originally applied to read English Literature, but had a last minute change of heart to study law. “It was just a gut instinct.”

In this blog, William shares five highlights of his time on the law degree.

1. First in family to go to university

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go to uni, but after lockdowns and Covid, I decided to go for it. I was determined to go to Leeds Beckett after visiting an open day, and originally applied to study English Literature here. But after looking into the law degree one day, my gut instinct told me to switch to law instead. Law seemed broad enough that even if I didn’t want to practise law at the end, it would still be incredibly useful.

I was lucky enough to get a place on the course and became part of the first generation in my family to go to university. That was a proud moment for me and my family.

2. Hugely varied course

The law degree is a really interesting course and I enjoy it more and more as each year passes. It has resonated with me in a way academia has never resonated with me before.

I’ve particularly enjoyed the Tort Law and Property Law modules, and the Client Care Skills module this year has stood out for many reasons. It’s a practical module, based upon what life is like working as a solicitor, and has helped me to apply what I’ve learnt so far into real life working situations and made it easier to visualise myself working in law. From sending mock memos to colleagues in law firms, to writing professional client letters and delivering succinct client presentations, I’ve learnt so many vital skills that I’ll use throughout my career.

3. Immersive learning

I believe Leeds Law School is one of the few universities in the country to offer this bespoke immersive learning experience, where you work in groups to solve a live legal challenge. Think of it as the law version of an escape room!

It’s part of the Client Care module and was definitely a highlight of my time at Leeds Law School so far. I was put in the situation room, on campus, for three hours with a small group of students from my class. All that was in the room was a TV and a desktop computer, which was continually updated with new information about the developing legal situation; we were sent videos, telephone messages and emails from our client, a Premier League football club. We had to make decisions and work as a team to decide what was best for our client.

We had to work together in a live scenario, think critically, review all materials as they came in, and prioritise what to action. There was a sense of urgency and excitement in the room, knowing that the tutors were watching us from a nearby control room. 

Afterwards, each group got together for a debrief so we could all learn from each other. It was a really excellent experience and one that I am sure I will draw upon in any future job interview.

4. The lecturers 

The lecturers at Leeds Law School are genuinely what make the student experience so good here. They always make themselves available, they’re easy to keep in touch with, they give constructive feedback and their method of delivery is excellent. I love that all the lectures are recorded so you can revisit to suit your learning rhythms and preferences.

It feels like we’ve got a lot of input into what the Law School does. We’re often asked for our feedback; you’re not just a number at Leeds Law School.

5. The Support Through Court placement

I am currently on placement with the legal charity Support Through Court, who have an exclusive partnership with Leeds Beckett University. We offer legal support to litigants in person, who are representing themselves. 

It’s been a steep learning curve as it’s the first placement I’ve done, but it’s been so informative and challenging. I’ve been training in the office on Headingley campus and helping with legal admin tasks. I’ve been able to join online hearings on Zoom and visit combined court to help clients with issues in family and child law and civil litigation. 

I’m now making the most of my final months at Leeds Beckett and I’m determined to get the best degree I can. I’m so pleased I had the instinct to switch over to studying law at Leeds Law School, it’s the best decision I’ve made.