Aleksandra
Szostak

Why did you choose NTU and Nottingham Law School?

In choosing a university for the LLB Law, Nottingham Law School stood out to me with the variety of practical experiences that it offered, alongside legal teaching. Among these were NLS Legal, Support Through Court, the NLS Mooter’s Guild, and the vast number of societies. Additionally, many of the tutors at Nottingham Law School are or have been established practitioners and textbook authors which evidenced the exceptional level of knowledge and high-quality teaching at Nottingham Law School, which I was able to benefit from. After visiting the campus, I was very pleased with the facilities, and the security and well-being services on offer, which were important to me when moving out of home for the first time. Nottingham is also a vibrant city with many opportunities to meet new people and make friends.

Why did you choose postgraduate study at NTU?

Throughout my undergraduate degree, I was able to take part in the various opportunities and practical experiences mentioned previously. In the second year of my undergraduate degree, I volunteered for the Outreach Project at NLS Legal, and Support Through Court. In the third year of my undergraduate degree, I was selected to lead the Outreach Project at NLS Legal and was named ‘NLS Legal Lead Volunteer’. I was also a social secretary for the Mooter’s Guild, during which I partook in and won the Internal Competition against over 70 competitors, and became a semi-finalist in the Midlands Mooting League. It was important to me to continue taking part in such enriching experiences and I was selected to be the President of the Mooter’s Guild during the BTC LLM. I also contacted and had meetings with a BTC LLM tutor regarding the course and was supported before I even began the course, which instilled a comfort in me that I was making the right decision. The teaching and support at NLS are something I cannot praise enough; I have been supported through every step of my undergraduate and postgraduate journey and have gained invaluable knowledge.

What inspired you to study law?

A combination of personal experiences and research inspired me to study law. My parents had noticed an ability in me to pick out and analyse details in various aspects of my life, and a tendency to ask many questions to derive information and to get a point across. I then began to watch various documentaries and reading articles which increasingly grew my interesting in studying law. My secondary school teachers also encouraged me to study law. Once I arrived at Nottingham Law School and began the LLB Law, I knew I had made the right decision and that is also evidenced by my achievements to date.

What do you enjoy about your course?

The Barristers Training Course, by its very nature, is heavily focused on training advocacy, drafting statements of case and opinions, and legal research. I enjoyed standing up every week and acting as counsel in both criminal and civil cases; learning new skills and gaining new feedback each time. This allowed me to improve week-after-week in preparation for exams and future practice. I gained a real insight into the styles of advocacy undertaken by counsel in the courts, depending on the circumstances of the case, and how to prepare effectively. I also learned how to draft statements of case, which is a routine part of a barristers’ practice to aid the efficient management of a case. The tutors are always on hand to provide feedback and support regarding improvement and well-being during what is a very intensive course. Awaiting the BTC results, I am now undertaking the LLM part of the postgraduate degree.

What marks out of 10 would you give for course facilities and why?

9/10. There is plenty of workspace around campus for law students; the Chaucer Building, Boots Library, the Student Union, the Newton Building, the Postgraduate Building and more. These are clean, well-lit and mostly quiet spaces to allow for focus. There are also cafeterias in many of the buildings which provide delicious hot food, snacks, drinks and more, including a Starbucks in the Boots Library. The only slight downside is the loud volume in Boots Library sometimes, especially during exam season when it gets busy. However, there are plenty of other quiet spaces around campus. There is a dedicated 24/7 security space on the campus, in Boots Library. The campus is also a 5-minute walk from the City Centre.

How would you promote NTU to potential students in 10 words or fewer?

NLS provides in-depth legal knowledge, and valuable practical experience.

What three words would you use to describe Nottingham?

Vibrant. Promising. Characterful.

Where would you recommend visiting in Nottingham?

Nottingham Castle is a staple and provides an interesting insight into the historic nature of Nottingham. Close to Nottingham Castle is Fothergills, a restaurant that offers a delicious roast dinner. Hockley has a mixture of bars, restaurants and cafes catered to different tastes. If you are looking for a night out, Coco Tang on a Tuesday night is the place to be – fun cocktails, house music and a live saxophone!

If you have a (non-academic) problem. Who would you talk to? What would you do?

In terms of non-academic problems, my parents, brother and boyfriend are my first port of call. They have been endlessly supportive throughout my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

What do you think Nottingham Law School has given you above and beyond a qualification?

Practical experience. NLS is the only Law School in the country with a fully SRA regulated law firm integrated into the university. I have been able to work on real cases with real issues by meeting with clients, drafting attendance notes, conducting in-depth legal research and drafting letters of advice that are later sent to clients. These are skills that are paramount to a lawyer’s profession. Volunteering at Support Through Court has also developed my communication skills, and my ability to adapt to each client’s needs. Taking part in mooting competitions through the NLS Mooter’s Guild has been key to developing my advocacy and critical analysis skills, and the ability to effectively deal with judicial intervention, which will aid me in my practice as a future barrister. This has allowed me to build an impressive CV and gain experiences through mini-pupillages and more. As well as this, I have had the amazing opportunity of taking part in exciting marketing projects. Ultimately, I have grown significantly as an individual, in my knowledge, as well as my confidence, due to my exposure to these fantastic opportunities.

Finally, is there anything else you’d like to share?

A piece of advice I would give is to not be afraid to get involved and take part. Many people struggle with imposter syndrome when they arrive at university, and this may limit one from taking part in opportunities, but from my personal experience, I would be half the individual I am today without them. Take every opportunity under your wing, learn, keep trying and see every experience as an opportunity to grow personally and professionally.