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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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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