LCN Blogs

We've got a crack team of bloggers reporting back from the front line of legal study and work. You'll hear straight from the horses' mouths how they juggle their studies, job search, work, finances and social life. You can save blogs to your MyLCN account by clicking the 'Bookmark' button on the blogs page.

Sian

Hi, I’m Sian; a second year Law student at UCL. With one year of my degree completed I am finally starting to find my feet within the field of Law and I’m excited to use this blog to share my highs, lows and everything in between as I continue my degree and get to grips with the hectic legal world.

Latest post:

Efficient networking

Networking opportunities with law firms are readily available at university, and taking advantage of them is highly recommended in order to get a feel for each firm and boost your applications. This post outlines how to prepare for and approach networking situations in order to make them as productive and useful as possible.

Matthew Dow

Hello! I am Matt, I completed my undergraduate in History and Politics at Oxford in 2014. I have pivoted to law after spending the last few years working in mobile marketing for King, the makers of Candy Crush. I have just finished the GDL and LLB extension at the University of Law, Bloomsbury. Finding a legal role is a meandering experience. I am keen to pass on any lessons learned.

Latest post:

Basic legal sector admin tasks – what do they involve and why are they important?

Admin tasks are admittedly not the most exciting projects for solicitors. Nonetheless, tasks such as redacting, bundling and proofreading do make a difference. Therefore, it pays to know what these projects may entail and how the work affects the client.

Kat C-W

Hello! I’m currently studying at University of Sheffield, although I have also studied law with the Open University so I will be imparting some distance learning insight too. I’m figuring out university as a mature student and will be sharing some of my experiences juggling life, work and education.

Latest post:

Interview fashion

It’s universal knowledge that most law firms have relatively conservative dress codes. The majority of firms state ‘business smart’ on their invites to assessment days, open days and interviews. But what exactly is business smart? If you are fashion savvy, is there a place for your style at a law firm? Here are my suggestions for interview wear, most of which are tailored to females, but I have included a few tips for males too.

Juliet

Hi! I’m Juliet, and I will be entering my second year studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the University of Oxford in October 2019. I’ll be blogging about my experiences finding out about the legal profession, and also about how politics, economics and current events relate to the law.

Latest post:

Are US law firms really so different from UK ones?

Is it possible to generalise about the differences between working in the UK office of a US firm and working in the UK office of a domestic firm? This article discusses three commonly cited differences and tries to separate the facts from the fiction.

Joe Defries

I’m a first-year LLB student at the University of Bristol interested in commercial law and how technology is disrupting the legal profession. I maintain commercial awareness through reading the FT, listening to podcasts and running my own small business. In this blog, I’ll be discussing all aspects of my degree from the very start, with the occasional post relating to a current debate.

Latest post:

What to expect in your first week as a law student

Being a first-year law student can be a daunting experience. If you are about to start university, here is a guide on what to expect from the first few weeks.

Christianah B

Hello! I’m Chrissy. I am an undergraduate student studying my LLB at a London university. I will be publishing blogs and vlogs with a personal and academic account of what it means to study law, while sharing tips on how to make the most of your experience at university.

Latest post:

Lawfully ever after: the law and fairy tales

The idea that the fairy tale is worthy of study by legal scholars may seem uncomfortable to many, with many wondering how the childish world of fantasy stories has anything to do with the sophisticated study of law. However, without the belief in a just world and the fair English legal system, there would be anarchy and no structure to society; thus, the promise of a just world is what allows us as a society to overcome violence. In short, fairy tales and the law are similar because they teach the same simple lesson: misbehave and you will be sorry because justice always prevails.

Violet

Hi I’m Violet, and I will be a final-year English & French student from September. Although I’m a non-law student, I am looking to pursue a career in law after graduating. I love writing – so blogging is the ideal way for me to get across my experience of the legal world from a non-law perspective, as well as other general musings that I have about the law!

Latest post:

Businesses and GDPR compliance: importance for lawyers

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) aims to regulate how businesses gather, store and secure the personal data of EU citizens. However, GDPR compliance has raised a number of interesting issues that current and aspiring lawyers should stay mindful of, not least the fact that non-compliant companies could face significant legal challenges in the coming years.

Chantal Elian

I’m Chantal and I am currently an undergraduate at the University of Leicester studying English and History, entering the final year of my degree! I am beginning my applications to undertake the GDL after graduating and working towards gaining a training contract in the near future. I am keen to help other non-law students and hope that I can achieve this by sharing my experience whilst navigating the legal world without a law degree!

Latest post:

The benefits of sharing your experiences with others

Sometimes it can be easy to forget that you are not the first person to face a particular obstacle, and you will not be the last! Here are a few of the benefits of sharing your experiences by talking about what you have faced – and how – with the people around you.

Irina M

After two years of studying law at university, while gaining legal work experience in London, working in legal tech and volunteering, I am ready to embark on my final year and capture the ups and downs here on my blog!

Latest post:

Resources to help you get a head start on your law degree

If you are starting your law degree this autumn, you may want to prepare ahead. However, it can be difficult to ascertain what books will be useful before you start university and learn what the expectations are. This blog looks at a number of resources which may be useful for prospective law students.

Blessing Mukosha Park

Blessing is a BPTC graduate from The City Law School and former Director of the School Exclusion Project. She is author of BLESSING AT THE BAR, the blog for aspiring barristers, and is also a vlogger for LCN. She has published work on youth violence, County Lines and racial discrimination in policing and the criminal justice system and plans to practice public and property law at the Bar.

Latest post:

BPTC wardrobe and accessory essentials

Blessing Mukosha Park

To ensure that you've got everything you need for the BPTC here is a list of essentials that you need to have sorted. Be ready for anything being a BPTC student throws at you by reading this post and preparing accordingly.

Ibrahim Ilyas

Hello! I'm Ibrahim, aspiring barrister and I've just completed the LLB at Birmingham City University. I'll be studying the Bar Professional Training Course LLM at the University of Law (Birmingham) in September 2019. After undertaking a range of both legal and non-legal experiences, I am keen to share with you my journey to a career at the Bar and all that it entails. I invite you to join me as we navigate through all the conundrums that is part of pursuing a career as a barrister, and more. Watch this space!

Latest post:

BPTC scholarship advice

Candidates applying for the Inns of Court BPTC scholarships can take a number of steps to prepare for the application and interview process. This guide provides personal insight on approaching the deadline for the scholarship application form.

Charlotte Hughes

I graduated from the University of Reading in 2015 and studied the BPTC at the University of Law graduating in 2017 with a Very Competent. I am currently undertaking my pupillage at East Anglian Chambers primarily in criminal law.

Latest post:

Things to do between the BPTC and gaining pupillage

Charlotte Hughes

As the pupillage gateway closes for another year, those who were unsuccessful face a long wait before the application window opens again.

Hayley Kwan

I studied Computing in Imperial College London and I will be starting the GDL at BPP in October 2017. Watch this space as I will be sharing my take on legal tech and tips on juggling part-time jobs, vacation scheme applications and studying full-time.

Latest post:

Global Legal Hackathon 2019

I recently took part in the Global Legal Hackathon – the world’s largest hackathon dedicated to legal technology and innovation. This year’s theme was increasing access to justice, so participants were expected to brainstorm and create prototypes of tools that would help the public better understand legal jargon and receive legal advice.

Paris Bradley

I am a mature student, undertaking an undergraduate law degree at a small university in the south. I am also a single mother to two fabulous children. I have just completed my first year and am eagerly awaiting the start of second year. This time I will be armed with a better idea of how to tackle common law student issues; something I will be sharing on here.

Latest post:

The time has come for me to leave LCN blogging. It has been an absolutely fantastic experience and a career-building opportunity. Here are my final thoughts for all potential and current law students.

Solinda Tracy

Hi, my name is Solinda. I graduated from the University West of England in 2017 and I am currently studying the LPC part-time at the University of Law. I am also full time Private Client Paralegal at an award-Winning national consumer law firm.

Latest post:

Identifying your side hustle

Even though working in the legal sector offers you the chance to have a great salary, it is important to spend time on other interests besides the law. Whether it’s selling specific items, doing odd jobs or expanding your social media presence, a side hustle can be a great way to generate multiple streams of income.