We caught up with student ambassador Millie Grundy who shares her experience as an online student undertaking the LPC part-time. Millie delves into her motivations behind choosing an online course and offers her insights to prospective students considering online study.
By Elena Carruthers. Published 14 March 2022. Last updated 11 January 2023.
I chose to study the LPC at The University of Law after researching online and attending open days prior to applying to study here. I really enjoyed the opportunities offered to me, for example, representing the online campus as a Student Class Representative and also the ability to work for ULaw whilst studying and working as a Student Ambassador. The statistics also reflected high employability post-graduation and therefore, ULaw really appealed to me.
I decided to opt for online study because I am a full-time paralegal, so this decision made sense in order for me to gain legal work experience alongside my studies - the online course provides the flexibility necessary for my work/life schedule. There are also deadlines each Friday, so as long as the work is complete, this can be prepared in my own time which is beneficial for me.
Prior to starting the course, I considered the main challenges to be meeting other students and also communicating with tutors if I was unsure on a specific topic of law. However, each query I have had has been dealt with within 24 hours.
I always make a ‘to do’ list each week with the tasks I need to complete by Friday. I find this motivating as I feel a sense of achievement when I tick each task off my list!
I stay engaged by watching academic videos to help consolidate my knowledge and making notes. I always try and find innovative ways to study by making posters, revision cards and colour co-ordinated notes to revise.
Once enrolled onto the course, I connected with other students via group chats and social media. This was very important as studying online can feel isolating and it enables everyone to stay up to date, connected and sociable. In terms of communicating with academic tutors, I regularly email my class tutor to keep updated and ensure I am relaying student feedback back to improve the online campus experience.
I have really made use of the careers department and employment support. In my case, I wanted to study part-time in order to paralegal and gain vital work experience alongside my studies. The Employability team reviewed my CV and gave me advice in how to improve my CV. Academically, I really enjoyed the extracurricular opportunities to enhance my pro-bono experiences which were offered alongside my studies.
The main lessons I have learned since becoming a part of ULaw’s online campus is how to time manage effectively whilst working and studying simultaneously. I have enhanced my independent research skills and communication as a result of studying online during the pandemic. These transferable skills are crucial in the legal sector.
I believe the lessons I learnt during my online studies have equipped me with strong transferable skills that are essential during my professional journey to becoming a future solicitor within the West Midlands.
Take a look at our expansive online offering and learn more about what’s on offer at ULaw’s online campus.
