Unit Choices

As the year draws closer to an end, we get the exciting job of being able to pick our optional units for year two. So far we have only had compulsory units, and now we really get to personalise our course and tailor it to our future.

The University of Bedfordshire provides fantastic optional units which cater for everyone. There is also a unique opportunity the University offers, whereby you can gain an extra qualification on graduation for a one off fee payable by the student. The Higher Diploma in Paralegal Practice is integrated into the LLB undergraduate course and this is a bespoke arrangement that the National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP) have decided with the University of Bedfordshire.

The NALP option is not compulsory but offers extra chances of employment and it is an offer that I decided to choose. Opportunities like these are just a small part of how the Faculty of Law help their students gain employment after graduation. So my options for next year will coincide with the NALP programme and this is something I am really looking forward to. 

Another anticipated event coming up that I am very much excited for is for Annual Law Association Ball this Saturday.  We have some fantastic guests coming along, including the Deputy Mayor of Luton and legal professionals from around the UK. 

I cannot wait to blog next week to tell you what a great night it had been! 

Balancing home and studies!

I am very excited to get back to University this week, we have had three weeks off to recoup and to start preparing for end of year exams. I really cannot wait to catch up with my friends and see how their Easter break was.
I had a lovely family Easter and put on a little egg hunt for my two young kids and little brother, the weather held up too and it has been a lovely week to spend with family.

I feel its really important to find a good balance between academic work and family life. By taking the Easter weekend off I got to spend some valuable time with my family and now I feel happy and confident to take on the rest of the year at University. I am not going to say it is easy trying to balance home life with University, because at times it can be very challenging, however it is do-able and I would not change the way my life is. The University of Bedfordshire acknowledges that every student is unique and that each person has different lifestyles. The University has been nothing but supportive throughout my first year, and without the support I probably would have felt like I couldn't make it through. The staff are always on hand to make appointments with, so you can talk to them about your workload and they always offer great advice on time management and organisation.

This week I have been getting all my revision material together ready for the revision classes, and these will really test me on how much I have managed to learn this year.
Unfortunately, this week has been slightly uneventful, but I know when I start back up at University there will be plenty more activities and experiences to share with you all.
I hope everybody had a lovely Easter break and did not eat too many chocolate eggs! Although I believe you can never have too much chocolate!

Self Motivation Tips

Sometimes I feel really lazy and unmotivated. At the beginning of the week this is exactly where I was. My mind was stuck in the 'let's do it tomorrow' phase. 
So I have thought of a few tips on how to self-motivate myself and I thought I would share them with you. 

• Firstly I like to start slow. Instead of jumping into something at full speed, start slow. Getting started, even if it’s at a slow pace, is a whole lot better than not getting started at all.
• Secondly, sometimes I act like it. If you don’t feel motivated or enthusiastic then act like it. The strange thing is that within a few minutes you actually start to feel motivated or enthusiastic for real.
• Thirdly, I try and do something small to create a flow. Just clean your desk. Or pay your bills. When you have finished that small task you’ll feel more alert and ready to go do the next thing. 
• Lastly, I write down my goals and reasons for working towards them. Tape them on your wall, computer or bathroom mirror. Then you’ll be reminded throughout the day and it becomes easier to stay on track and stay focused.

There are so many other little things I can do to keep me self motivated, taking out distractions would be good one. For example whatever you do, do not turn on the television. Daytime television will slowly be the death of me, getting entwined with the dramas of Jeremy Kyle is never a good start to the day. It becomes addictive so best not to turn the television on at all. 

As it is Easter weekend, I will spending my bank holiday with family in London, organising a Easter egg hunt and tucking into a lovely roast dinner made by my dad. 

Whatever plans you guys have for the Easter bank holiday try to stay motivated and positive.

New Developments

It is now officially Easter break, but unfortunately it still means work. Although I have taken this week pretty slow, I have been preparing my notes and started to make some exam revision material for May examinations.

I know the main areas I need to revise for each unit, so for each one I have constructed some mind maps in a book. I am hoping the colour co-ordination and little doodles will help me get all this information stuck in my mind.

The 24/7 library at the Luton campus is a major contributing factor to my revision. I am hoping that it will be quiet next week so I can go in with my headphones on and find a nice spot to revise, next year will be even more stimulating as the new library development is due to open in early 2016. 

An Artist Impression of the new Learning Resource Centre.

The new library building will be spread over seven floors, connecting to the rest of the University’s Luton campus via bridge link. The new library marks the latest stage in the development of the university. There will be a ground floor cafe, study spaces and a 30 per cent increase in book stocks.

The most common misconception of libraries are that they are old dusty and boring, the library at the Luton campus is far from that. It is a comfortable learning environment and dare I say it, a place we all meet up with friends and get some work done. The new library development will definitely be a popular building on campus and I cannot wait to see it when it is completed.  

Let Diversity In!

At the beginning of the week I attended the ‘Aspiring Solicitors’ event at the Law School. ‘Aspiring Solicitors’ offers FREE career and academic advice for us future solicitors! This amazing initiative helps hundreds of unrepresented law students and graduates to secure placements, training contracts and vacation schemes across the UK.

‘Aspiring Solicitors’ is the creation of former Norton Rose Fulbright corporate associate Chris White, who was our speaker for the afternoon and I cannot express how invaluable Chris’ advice was. You could tell from the atmosphere in the room, that every person in there was hanging on his every word. Chris not only gave advice on how to further our careers but opened a new window on diversity in the legal profession.

It can sometimes be difficult for students from non-russell group universities to excel in the legal profession. However, Chris’ presentation enhanced how important diversity is and how diversity should be a positive element in the recruitment of trainee solicitors. He emphasised that no one should be judged by any other factors, than their knowledge and their personality.  His organisation gives opportunities to unrepresented groups and for that I cannot be more thankful. Chris' presentation gave me hope and motivation. It made me realise that nothing is out of my reach if I work hard for it. I now feel more confident in getting a job in the legal profession after graduation and I know that the University of Bedfordshire is the perfect starting block for the rest of my career journey. 

Dr Andreas Yiannaros, from the School of Law, who hosted the event said:

“Chris and Aspiring Solicitors are committed to increasing diversity throughout the legal profession; this is in line with our own philosophy as an institution and enhances our strong commitment to equality and diversity here at the University of Bedfordshire. What Chris has achieved in such a short time is astonishing; I urge our students to become actively involved in this wonderful initiative”.

I could not agree more, with Dr Yiannaros. The University of Bedfordshire is all about diversity and accepting diversity into our life. I have made friends from all over the world, of different ages, cultures and sexual orientation in my classes. Each one of them have their own stories to tell and share experiences I would never have known about before.  

So Let Diversity In!

For more information on ‘Aspiring Solicitors’ you can visit their website or catch them on all the social media platforms. 

Why I chose law at Bedfordshire?

So this is my first blog, and I want to tell you guys about my University and what I am studying! 

I am studying the LLB Law degree at the University of Bedfordshire. I am studying full-time, which at the moment, means I am on campus three times a week, but the other two days are spent studying and preparing for seminars and lectures. I chose the University of Bedfordshire because it fits nicely with my home life, I live local and have two young children so the University of Bedfordshire was an ideal choice however I didn't pick Bedfordshire just for its location.

I attended one of the Open Days the university puts on throughout the year, and I was pleasantly surprised with what I saw. The facilities were more than what I expected and the students and staff were friendly and informative. I was particularly blown away by the business school and the new moot court that the University had recently built. (A moot court is a mock court used for making court simulations)

I have been at the university for five months now and I still enjoy every day like it was my first. What I like the most about the university is my course and the subject I am studying. Everything is new to me so I am never bored and get great satisfaction knowing that I am constantly learning. 

The next few weeks are all about preparing for the summer exams, we are coming up to the last couple of weeks of teaching and then the revision begins. 

We also have some great extra- curricular activities coming up like the invitational moot competition, where we have invited different universities from across the UK to Bedfordshire to compete to win a mini-pupillage in London. Another anticipated event coming up is the Annual Law Ball in April which is put on by the Bedfordshire Law Association.

So spring looks like it is

going to hold some exciting times ahead and some daunting exams too but I can’t wait to share it all with you in the coming weeks and months! 

Rewind

So it turns out that I'm staying in Luton after all. 3 days after moving out of the flat in Luton; my parents offered me enough money to keep it until my first full-month's paycheck rolls through. With this in mind, I swiftly called up the landlord. the place was still to let. this means I was able to re acquire the same flat. Of course, that means moving all my stuff back in to the flat. But the way I see it; it was just a really thorough (and really late) spring clean. In moving back in; I made sure to not bring back any clutter. Now that I'm no longer studying; my Law books can stay in storage. The same can be said about the countless number of pieces of papers and documents I've accumulated during my studies.

With my new (and also old) set-up; I am 10 minutes walk away from my current work place, 5 minutes away from a bus stop where a bus can take me to another stop thats just 5 minutes away from my up coming workplace at Sharman Law in Bedford. Everything is falling into place. Things are looking up for me. And i firmly believe that I owe a lot to my student experience in the University of Bedfordshire.

During my interview for the new job; I think my experiences of project management frm participating in Enactus Bedfordshire really carried me. This; coupled with the skills I developed in my current workplace within the University boosted my prospects during my interview for the law firm. It really helped me stand out among the others. Now; who knows where my road will take me.

But I cant wait to find out.



Paul G,
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