Jess's Five Reasons to Study Law at Chester

You don’t need to study Law at A Level

There are many reasons I chose to study Law at the University of Chester, and although I’ve only just completed my first year of study, I’ve already had such a positive experience and love the course. I feel well supported and reassured by my lecturers, and I know them all on a personal basis due to smaller class sizes, as opposed to simply being another number in such a huge institution. Although to be completely honest, I did have my doubts about whether this course and University were for me, as I had no subject experience from A Level (for context, the closest subjects in relation to Law that I studied were Criminology and Religious Studies - you would be surprised at the relationship between case studies and ethical dilemmas). My lecturers made me feel super comfortable and welcome and made the course modules accessible to everyone. Despite some of my new friends having more knowledge on certain topics, I didn’t feel set behind whatsoever, which again I can only hold to the teaching staff and the way the course is laid out so as to not be too overbearing, especially as this was all totally new; this was notably reinforced by the English Legal System and Method module at the start of the year to provide everyone with a base level of understanding to build upon moving forwards.  

Different options

Another reason I chose to study at the University of Chester is due to the wide variety of courses available so you can find what works best for you! Some of the larger lectures for my module have consisted of people studying LLB Law (like me), as well as those studying LLB Law with Criminology, and LLB Law with Business, so there really is something for everyone to cater to what suits you. I feel like the versatility of courses in one subject area alone also contributes to the sense of comfort and the ability to settle in, as it really is tailored to you, as well as resulting in smaller class sizes which also makes starting a new course in a new place a lot less intimidating!

Community ethos

Something that I find special here is that the University holds a real sense of community, which is really helped by reduced class sizes and thus knowing all of the subject lecturers on a personal basis. This also means that it’s so easy to reach out for support if needed. Since we use Microsoft Teams, it’s really easy to access course information and updates, as well as being able to contact whoever the relevant member of staff would be for your needs. Furthermore, between the Students' Union and the Law Society (as well as a range of other clubs and societies), you’ll often find yourself bumping into the same people over and over, and everyone seems to be really approachable and friendly. That being said, it is also really easy to meet new people too! I’d say this is most likely to happen once you start to choose your modules in the second and third year, however, as there’s a higher chance of being in a different class to your peers. Through my time here, I’ve found that the prospect of meeting new people here isn’t the daunting idea you would think it to be!  

Law school location

Another unique point about studying Law at the University of Chester specifically, is the highly reputable Law School, which has employment and placement links with a wide variety of law firms in the area. This is also further supported by the main Law School site being located right next to Chester Crown Court, in which students actually have access to explore the setting (presuming it is not in use at the time). These connections are further strengthened by the lecturers’ links to other legal professionals, which opens up plenty of opportunities for students. An example of this is the regular Mooting competition, ran by one of the senior lecturers, in which the Crown Court Judge was responsible for judging the final this year, and providing immeasurably beneficial advice to the next generation of legal professionals, as well as other opportunities for networking with those working in the field at events such as the annual law school gala dinner, which, again, is open to all students.

Law projects

The final point I want to talk about here is actually the main thing that convinced me to choose Chester, and that is the Chester Community Law Projects. These are a series of Pro Bono schemes that are open to all students from Level 4, in which students get the opportunity to work alongside those in the industry and gain a wealth of experience across their time here. Some of the more notable projects include the ‘Reach Out’ programmes and the Law Clinic, which has actually won and been highly commended to numerous awards since it launched. Personally, I was on two of these schemes this year, and intend to continue into next year but potentially in a different area of work in order to gain a broader breadth of knowledge and insight into the legal working world before I actually reach the point of joining it after completing my degree. Another factor to consider for those people who are thinking really far ahead is that this scheme actually counts as qualifying experience to go towards the two years needed for your SQE should you want to go down the route of studying to become a Solicitor - it’s definitely beneficial to consider!

Personally, I’ve absolutely loved my time here and can’t imagine going anywhere else. Of course, this is all subjective and depends on the individual, but with everyone I know in my classes, I genuinely haven’t encountered anyone who doesn’t feel the same way as me. I’m really enjoying my time here, and hopefully, you will too if you decide to study here!

Find out more about studying Law at Chester.