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Three years seems like a long time. But when looking back, many students find that they could have done more. Here are seven ways to get the most out of your LLB.
Law books are expensive but vital to success in law exams and essays. Most universities have a separate law library in addition to the main library. It has a collection of textbooks, law reports, journals, and much more. But you will only have time-limited access to these print resources while you are a registered student.
In the law library, you will find copies of the most recent edition of textbooks and legislation. This is great when you need a copy of the legislation book in the exam hall. The only downside is that you can’t write or highlight on these books, and you may be asked to return them upon another student’s request.
Nevertheless, it is helpful when you need to borrow a copy of the legislation book temporarily to save money. But make sure you borrow early because the number of copies available reduces near exam time.
Apart from books, the law library comes with a silent study area, great for those finding it hard to concentrate at home or in your student accommodation room.
Want some essay writing tips? Read our blog on how to write a first-class law essay.
Improve Your Writing SkillsAs a university law student, you have the benefit of accessing Westlaw UK and Lexis Library (LexisNexis) online. These are leading legal services used by lawyers to access UK case law, legislation, as well as EU and international legal materials.
What’s especially handy is that these tools are designed for efficiency and accuracy in your legal research. For instance, Westlaw UK provides each case with a ‘status icon’ that tells you whether a case has received positive judicial consideration or reversed on appeal.
You can also benefit from the Case Digest that contains a Summary, an Abstract and the court decision of a particular case, alongside quick links to Law Reports, Primary References and relevant journal articles.
Most universities have a student representative trained to provide students with additional support. If you’re interested in a one-to-one training session to enhance your legal research skills, be sure to look out for them at Freshers’ Fair or contact them via their Facebook Page:
Search ‘TR #futurelegallegends at (your university)’ for your Westlaw representative; ‘LexisNexis for (your university)’ for your LexisNexis representative.
Mooting competitions and essay writing competitions are as significant as legal work experience. You will benefit from these extracurricular activities with the skills you gain and the confidence you build while on the job. It is a perfect practice opportunity to polish your advocacy skills for your future career, and demonstrate your competencies on job applications.
you can only enter prestigious external competitions through your university team and not as an individual. For this reason, your time studying the LLB is the best time to take part in competitions.
The Careers and Employability Service is great for career advice. The best thing to do is to send advisors your CV and tell them your professional goal. A meeting with the career advisor will provide you with a detailed plan of exactly what you need to do to achieve your ambition.
They are great for spotting out technical errors in your CV while mapping out your career path. If you don’t have an idea yet, you can explore suitable career opportunities through their support.
The Law Society at university is great for law students. With an annual membership, it provides you with social and networking events throughout the year. You can also run for election within the society. There are many roles up for grabs that are fun and will look great on your CV.
Take a study break with our fun quiz to see which LLB module you are!
Which LLB Module Are You?There is a lot to learn in class. As well as the legal theories you learn by reading, lecturers often drop a few hints and tips on how to excel in your exams. After all, they are the people who set out your exam questions and grade them.
What’s more, many lecturers have practised law before going into teaching. Often, you will hear about their work experience that can help you to decide your own career specialism.
Note-taking is also important, not only for law exams but for your future practice. Since common law is developed through centuries of case law and judicial precedents, mastering the legal foundation is the key to success.
On days where you feel that you are not fresh enough to learn anything in lectures, show up with a voice recorder. That way you can playback the lecture in your own time.
If you truly want to succeed in your law degree, the university’s automated lecture recording system and friends might not be the best sources to rely on.
Studying law can be quite intense and overwhelming. When you are busy studying, it is easy to neglect your health and well-being. Try to find an hour a week at least for exercise. Physical activities will help you with your mental health and give you motivation to keep going.
Because remember, the key to success is consistency. If you want to graduate with first-class honours, you must perform equally well in all your law modules. Doing sports will keep you determined on the prize.
Alternatively, you can also find inspiration in your favourite hobby, or take the opportunity to do some legal volunteering to release your stress level and get some work experience on your CV.
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