About Me

Hi! M I’m studying here at Leeds Beckett University in the LLB program from Ontario, Canada and I thought I'd share a little about my experience; everything from making the decision to study in the UK, to moving to a whole new country by myself and everything thereafter.
 

Should I Stay or Should I Go

From the beginning of high school I had planned to study law so after I finished my undergrad at the University of Ottawa, I set my sights on studying for the Law School Admission Test. Only this was during the pandemic, when the world was a little upside down and we all had to live life a little differently. The LSAT was being offered online, no large gatherings and all, and I absolutely did not want to take a test that was going to determine if I needed to choose a different career path. It just seemed so daunting and not something I wanted to do. I turned to a family friend who was a lawyer to ask for some guidance on how to navigate the whole thing and that’s when she told me she had gotten her degree in the UK, no LSAT required. I was immediately intrigued and began researching about how one even goes about studying in another country. Thanks to this lovely organization they helped me with everything from filling out applications, writing my personal statement and applying for my visa. Shoutout to my advisor for being the most patient and helpful while I made the biggest decision of my life. After hearing back from all the schools I had applied to, I finally got an acceptance to my number one choice, Leeds Beckett, and thus began my journey to Leeds and LBU.
 

The Journey

Once I finished running through the house screaming that I got in, it was time to lock in and start preparing for the move. I needed to find accommodation, apply for a student visa, get my student loans in order, the tasks were endless. I did things in order from least to most stressful, just to spice things up a little.  I settled my accommodation agreement at Marsden House; Canadian student loans secured, now it was time to apply for my Visa. Full disclosure, the visa process nearly made me quit entirely, so many papers to sign and pictures to take I think I breathed two full breaths during the entire process. With the help of the aforementioned Hilary my advisor and my parents, we finally got approved and it was time to make the big move.

The Destination

Touching down in the UK was the best and scariest moment of my life. It was hard saying goodbye to all my friends and family, their support and confidence in me encouraged me and made me so much stronger during this time in my life. I am also so grateful that my mom made the initial trip over with me as well to help me get settled. She was able to explore Leeds with me, meet my roommates who are now lifelong friends, and see me off. The excitement I had to start the semester and begin my law school journey was palpable. Leeds is a city so full of life and energy, the transition from good ole Hamilton didn’t seem so bad. I quickly discovered that Leeds is a great place for doing things out on the town with friends. If you want to get jiggy with it or get a couple pints with the boys Leeds has a plethora of pubs and clubs to visit with your group of friends after a long week of classes (Spoons and Slug & Lettuce are my personal faves). Hungry? Visit The Light and their many restaurants and then maybe even catch a movie or discover how fast your friends can escape a locked room at Escape Hunt. There’s so many things to discover in Leeds, every day a new adventure, so I make the most of it when I can.

Hitting the Books

Welcome Week was a great opportunity to meet my peers and lecturers, basically get a feel of what the year will look like. The amount of guidance, encouragement and overall support from the faculty and the university was overwhelming in the best way. They want nothing from you but your absolute well being and I really appreciate that, being someone who struggles with anxiety, this helped quell any fears I had about the program and any difficulties I might face. Among the subjects I learned in first year Criminal and (unpopular opinion) Public law were my favourites. Sure, constitutional law doesn’t sound too interesting at first but once you get into the nitty gritty and you’re taught by amazing lecturers like Agatha Fijalkowlski, you’ll be a constitution connoisseur by the end of your first year. Aside from actual law you learn essential skills like creating a CV and how to prepare for an interview, all things that will certainly be useful for you after completing your degree, Leeds Beckett doesn’t miss a thing when it comes to preparation.

Started From the Bottom Now We Here

As I head into level 5, I’m starting to think about what kind of law I want to go into, if I want to be a barrister or solicitor (there is no distinction in Canada however, all lawyers do both jobs), and as a girl who struggles to make decisions this is taking a lot out of me. At the moment my interests lie in criminal family and human rights law (niche, I know). I might even take a shot at working with the Innocence Project and fight to get the wrongfully convicted the justice they deserve. As I continue my LLB journey I know that with all the wonderful people at the Faculty of Law and my personal support system I will be able to find and do something that I am passionate about after graduating. If you’re looking for a school where you can feel at home while studying what you love and gaining so much valuable knowledge, about life and school and everything in between, I cannot speak enough about how Leeds Beckett is the place for you.