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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Expiry and Experience

Today marks the first day in a long time where I stop being a student. I say this because my University ID expired yesterday. This means no more student bus tickets, no more student discounts and no more fancy sounding beep as I go pass the barriers within the University. I was however glad to get one last student-discounted cinema ticket yesterday. We went to watch Hercules! It was a nice outing before I move out of my flat in Luton. But that's tomorrow; as for today; my girlfriend and I have to pack up everything in the flat; ready to go for tomorrow.

I really loved it here in Luton, and now I'm moving back home for abit. But with any luck; I'll be back living here soon enough. Once my pay checks start coming in; hopefully I can find another place here in Luton. A nice affordable place. Writing about it now makes me look forward to it more. I really like it here; a university town seems more alive than most other towns; and I want to be a part of it again.

Plus as an added benefit; Luton is just a bus ride away from my new place of work. I'm excited to start working there too. I'm almost there!

Speaking of impending events; my blogging will stop soon. My blogging service to the University was only short term, and the contract is about to end. this is why I've recently been squeezing in as much blogs as I can; to give my readers a proper send off. Come the 4th of April, my contract will officially end with an exit interview in the University. So too must this blog. I'll try to squeeze in one more blog before then. But no promises (but in all honesty I will try my very best).

Paul G,
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Knowledge Transfer Associate

Today; I received further information on what my job will be in Sharman Law. As it turn out, I am supposed to work on reducing the carbon output of the firm through the use of technology. This means managing all the data in a more efficient manner, teaching the other staff to cope with the new databases that house the information and (as an extra task); fix up the social media aspect of the Law firm. I start all this at the first of September. 

For this; I will be paid just under £21,000 pro rata. Not bad for straight out of University. I'm really lucky to have stumbled onto this opportunity. All this was made possible by the University's HireMe scheme. A service which I recently found out is still available to Bedfordshire Alumni despite having graduated and no longer studying at the University. The level of support they give us for maximum exit velocity is staggeringly good. It seems like the University of Bedfordshire really wants to help all it's students as much as they can.

As it currently stands; I will receive some kind of pay check every month on the 21st from now on. Despite the fact that Sharman Law is likely to pay one month in arrears; the back pay I will be receiving from the Quality Assistant job will sustain till my Sharman Law pay-checks come in.

The only thing I'm worried about is the tax. I've braced myself for the 22% emergency tax. Accounting for the worst case scenario makes me feel more prepared. So I do all my financial calculations with that in mind. Regardless, I'm sure it will work out.

Paul G,

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Achievement Unlocked: Graduation

So today was my graduation. It was a momentous occasion and lots of picture taken was involved. It was great seeing some of my friends again after weeks of none-contact. It's probably best if I get in contact with them more from now on. Anyway, graduation was really fun. It was held in Putteridge Bury which is a fantastic looking venue. It featured a nice manor-house, some topiaries and a fountain pond kind of thing (but that wasn't on whilst it was there). It was a great day.

Speaking to one of my lecturers; I was told that it was actually a University of Bedfordshire campus and that post graduate lectures/seminars were held there. I was a tad envious; I wanted to have classes there too. He continued to explain that due to the fact that the venue was somewhat detached from the town centre; the post graduate centre was built to cater to the wishes of students previously studying in the Putteridge Bury campus.


I normally wear a suit anyway as my daily attire; so for graduation, I had to do something else extra. The only thing I could think of was a new knot for my tie. I went with my good-luck trinity knot. I dubbed it so due to the fact that I used the same know for my tie for an job interview yesterday. I am pleased to say that I got the job. I will now become a knowledge transfer associate for Sharman Law Solicitors' Firm. I am very excited to start work there and to open a new chapter of my life.

Paul G,
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ID

So today I received my staff ID for my work as quality assistant. It may not seem like much; but this brings
about certain privileges. I CAN NOW USE THE PRINTER! Haha, well what I was really looking forward to regarding this whole ID thing is to be able to wear one of those ID holders that say staff on it. But they didnt have any available at the time :(

But I havent given up just yet, I now set off on a quest for the staff ID holder. I plan to get one tomorrow. Or maybe the day after that. Or the day after that. But eventually I'll get one. Its understandable though. Currently, the University ID people (I dont know what they're called) are tending to the freshers. There was lots of people today in queue to get themselves enrolled. That was me 3 years ago. And now next week I'm graduating. How the time flies. The freshers angels were giving tours to the new arrivals, some people were strolling their luggage behind them towards the student accommodation and the cafeteria was peppered with students and their parents eating (probably for them to see their kid's new place). It's been a good day; a walk down memory lane.

Part of me wants to do it all over again; just for fun. I actually enjoyed Uni. It was an amazing experience. But I tend not to dwell in the past. This nostalgic feeling; I felt the same with my awesome secondary school. But when I rolled in to University; it was also just as awesome. So I'm confident that whatever happens next; whatever the next chapter of my life will be; it'll be awesome too.

A Quality Job

This week, I began working as a quality assistant for the University of Bedfordshire. It features pretty decent pay and the work load is perfect. Though its mostly dealing with paper work; overall, I am pretty pleased with my current employment. Its also nice to see a few friendly faces there. Two of my colleagues from my LLB also work there. A standard day consists of checking if documents are correct and there are no discrepancies between  the forms and the information contained in the databases.

However, where the job really shines is with it's curious effect on the status quo. For three long years, I spent hours on work that is to be checked by my Law lecturers. But now the tables have turned. As part of the University's quality department; I am charged checking the written work of my lecturers. Muhahaha!

However, unfortunately for me, the Law lecturers seem to be on point with their documents. Little to no errors arise which means that if I was grading their work; they would be getting firsts. Still; its pretty fun marking their work. I quite enjoy my new job; and the extra money is a fine bonus!

The office is really nice and the building itself looks to be newly refurbished (either that, or the tenants just keep it in good condition). We can eat and listen to music whilst we work so it is actually a pretty comfortable workplace. With its flexible hours and charismatic workers; I am very happy with how this all turned out.


Paul G,
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