A magical place...

I always thought a career in law would be perfect for me. I would imagine myself arguing in court, writing witty letters of advice and wearing the most amazing shoes'¦until I actually started my law degree.

I found my first year a bit frustrating as it was completely different from what I anticipated; I started to worry that the legal profession would be boring and, for the first time in my life, I had no idea what kind of job I could ever apply for. But there was a fortunate twist to my story'¦

Like a solicitor's firm

The University of Hertfordshire set up its Law Clinic in 2005 to give students a chance to gain some valuable work experience. It is a service offered to everybody who needs legal advice and cannot afford it. Others come to see what their chances might be if they decide to consult a solicitor and take their matter to court. Although its services are entirely free '“ advice cannot be given face-to-face and no representation in court or tribunals is given '“ the Law Clinic is still run like a solicitor's firm and has to obey the same code of conduct.

Although Law Clinic started out as an extra-curricular activity, it soon turned into a fully credited '“ but totally different '“ module of the degree. Our Law Clinic office is a magical place: law students turn into advisers, lecturers into supervisors and the cases landing on your desk are real, undecided ones.

At the end of my first year we were introduced to our module choices, and the professional work-based learning module stood out for me in many ways. We had to apply for it with a CV and a short covering letter; just as anyone would apply for a job or a vacation scheme.

Panic stations

When I discovered I had won a place on the module, I was surprised'¦ and a bit scared. What if some random stranger had a legal problem and I couldn't help at all? After all, my grades were anything but outstanding'¦ What if the clients were all horrible and impatient and didn't understand that I'm not a qualified solicitor?

There was an induction week before the term started where we were put into our 'firms'. A 'firm' usually consists of six students who are supervised by a lecturer. When somebody phones the office and has a legal problem we can deal with, two advisers from the same firm will be allocated the case. They make an appointment for an interview, try to get as much information as possible and then, after they have researched the issue, write a letter of advice.

It wasn't long before a copyright infringement case was allocated to me. My first reaction was panic: I didn't know anything about copyright law, so asking clever questions about it seemed hard. My partner had already conducted an interview, so she was more laid back, but for me the day of the interview was a nightmare.

Growing confidence

The client was late, and I became more nervous with each minute that passed. We were about call him on the phone, when he knocked on the door. The interview started out a bit rocky due to my nerves '“ I think I even forgot to introduce my partner and me. But with every second I grew more confident, and after about ten minutes I even enjoyed asking questions.

That particular case required a lot of research '“ both legal and factual. It was only when we started our research that I realised that a solicitor does not just sit in his office reading case law; it is much more than that '“ I learned a lot about computers for a start! I also realised that I particularly enjoyed talking to clients and helping them with the knowledge I had gained so far.

To be honest, all the cases I have been allocated so far have been on areas of law I know only very little about at the moment (for example, I didn't study family law in my first year and yet I've found myself advising somebody on how to obtain a divorce). But thanks to the Law Clinic, I am no longer scared about a lack of knowledge when I get started on a case '“ now I see it as a challenge.

Back on track

The best thing is, I have found my way again! Thanks to my experience in the Law Clinic, I have re-discovered my passion for the law and being a solicitor is once again a serious career option for me.

I would advise anyone who has the chance to participate in a project like this to go and do it. Demand for free legal advice is and will always be there. Since the Law Clinic opened for this academic year, we have had over 50 new cases coming in! Our reputation is great as well; we are working together with the St Albans and the Welwyn/Hatfield CABs as well as the Hertfordshire Family Mediation Service.

Taking part in a project like the Law Clinic requires many skills. One of the most important is time management. An upcoming deadline or exams is no excuse to provide a lesser service to clients, and I had to learn to plan my week in advance and be very disciplined in sticking to the plan.

Other important skills are team work, communication and drafting of letters. And those are skills all employers are looking for. Participating in the Law Clinic enriches your confidence as well as your CV, and you never know what contacts you might make'¦

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