FAQs ☆

I get sent a lot of questions from prospective students so I thought I’d create a list of frequently asked questions with some answers!

Q: What do you study?

A: I’m a Law student at the University of Warwick. I study an LLB which is a Qualifying Law Degree & I chose the 3-year degree (there is also a 4-year option!).

Q: Why law?

A: I chose Law because I wanted to pursue a degree that was academically rigorous but also opened up lots of future career paths. The skills you learn during a law degree are easily transferable so you could go into politics, journalism, business, education, or whatever you fancy really! I also have always been interested in law, politics, the concepts of ethics and morality etc. so I knew law would be good for me and I’ve always loved essay writing which is how 99% of my modules are assessed. I didn’t always know that I wanted to do law, I actually wrote some personal statement drafts for Biochemistry (!) but I am so glad I decided on law!

Q: Are you going to be a lawyer?

A: I hope so! When I started at Warwick Law School, I was adamant I didn’t want to be a solicitor or a barrister. For many people, it seems silly to do a law degree if you don’t want to be a lawyer, but I was convinced I was going to go into something else like human rights or international development. However, as I learnt more about the law and the legal system, as well as developing my confidence, I realised I want to be a barrister.

Q: How do you become a barrister / solicitor?

A: The journey to become a barrister or solicitor can be a bit complicated so you should definitely do your own research. But I’ll try my best to summarise it here –

Barrister – Qualifying Law Degree (or Non-Law Degree + Graduate Law Diploma) + Bar Course (1-2 years of learning the practical skills to become a barrister) + Pupillage (1 year of working as a barrister under supervision)

Solicitor – Qualifying Law Degree (or Non-Law Degree + Graduate Law Diploma) + Legal Practice Course / Solicitors Qualifying Exam (a course or series of exams to qualify as a solicitor) + Training Contract (two years of training in a law firm)

Q: Why Warwick?

A: I’m from the UK but I was studying the International Baccalaureate in Dubai before I came to university & I was surprised to hear lots of international students talking about Warwick alongside Oxford, Cambridge, and some of the London unis. I hadn’t really looked into unis yet but when I started to research, Warwick kept popping up. I liked the academic reputation that Warwick has and the Law In Context approach that the Law School takes. I also looked into some of the optional modules and loved the look of them.

Q: What is the social life like at Warwick?

A: This is a difficult question to answer since the COVID-19 pandemic has taken over much of my experience so far! However, I would say that almost everyone I have met so far has been lovely, there are tons of societies that you can get involved in, and my flatmates in my on-campus accommodation were great! I wasn’t very involved in first year but I’m now on the exec of It Happens Here, I work for the Community Engagement Team, I have been part of a subcommittee with Warwick Law Society & I have had a lovely social experience thus far!

I hope this gives a little bit of insight into me and Warwick! I will always be happy to answer questions here or on my Instagram @allana.mariee