Like many students entering Law School for the first time, I was both incredibly nervous and excited to begin this new chapter of my life. I’ve never lived or studied away from my home in Ontario, and I did not know what to expect when moving to a new country for the first time. Despite all of the confusion and nerves I had throughout the application process, I was constantly reassured and encouraged by my advisor from Canada Law From Abroad (CLFA). She was consistently willing to help me with all aspects of my application, and was always available at any time whenever I had a question or concern. There were moments when I was in constant contact with my advisor, more so than that of my immediate family or friends. My advisor’s professionalism, diligence, and knowledge really made the application process tremendously simple, regardless of me consistently asking her odd questions at random times throughout the day. The personal advice and guidance I received was amazing, the assistance with documentation and the personal statement was incredibly helpful, and the visa and pre-departure support was extremely advantageous. The reassurance I received from Canada Law From Abroad made me confident I was making the right decision.
There were many reasons why I decided to attend Law School in the UK. First, it was extremely affordable. I graduated University in Canada with an Honors Specialization in Political Science, and I always wanted to attend Law School because it would create a lot of opportunities for my future. I decided on the Two-Year LLB (JD Pathway) Program which would allow me to graduate much quicker than the standard Three-Year JD Program in Canada. This was one of the best decisions I have ever made as accommodation, tuition, and living expenses were comparable to that of Canada, but I was saving one year’s worth of time and money. I was essentially receiving an Internationally recognized degree for a fraction of the time and money it would have cost in Canada, and I did not even need to submit an LSAT score or take the test.
Secondly, I chose Law School in the UK because of the experiences of living away from home and in a completely different country. I experienced an initial culture-shock when first moving to the UK because everything felt so different and new, but I feel I adapted quickly and it almost immediately started to feel like home. The first few weeks were riddled with homesickness and constant questions of doubt to the point where I felt I had wanted to go back to Canada. I then realized that I had hundreds of Canadians attending the same school, and I had quickly began to become friends with everyone. We were all experiencing this adversity at the same time, and it brought us extremely close together. I met some amazing people and professionals when studying in the UK, so much to the point where I consider these people life-long friends and family to me. Everyone comes from different professional backgrounds from all across Canada, from people with ten years work experience on Parliament Hill in Ottawa to new graduates from high-school in Vancouver. We became the best of friends through frequent grocery trips to the shops, late-night exam study sessions in the accommodation common rooms, and impromptu trips booked abroad over study breaks. Regardless of how diverse our backgrounds were or from which places we lived in Canada our whole lives, studying in the UK brought us extremely close together and formed inseparable bonds.
Lastly, I chose the UK because of the prospects for successful career growth and networking. Many of my professors were Canadian, and had global contacts and experience with other legal professionals all over the world. They consistently brought insightful knowledge to lectures and tutorials, and they consistently prepared us for a successful career in law upon our proposed return back to Canada. There were also so many opportunities for me to get involved and learn first-hand from legal professionals in the field. Whether it was in clubs or extracurricular programs, MOOT Trials, Pro-Bono Law events, legal conferences and meetings with professionals in London and Birmingham, I was gaining first-hand knowledge on what it meant to become a successful lawyer. The amount of opportunities to get involved were actually overwhelming, as I literally did not want to miss out on all of the amazing things on offer. There was always something to do, somewhere to go, some amazing thing to see, and some brilliant people to network with. It got to the point where my fellow students and I decided to start our own society at the University, inaugurating the first ever Business and Corporate Law Society on campus. There is something on offer for anyone considering studying Law in the UK, and this experience will truly change your life.
The accommodation options on offer in the UK are amazing. I chose to stay in University affiliated accommodation, and it was a great decision. Not only did I meet many people from around the world, I got to experience many new things. Coming from a small city in Ontario, I’ve never truly had the opportunity to fully experience the cultures and foods on offer around the world. My flat mates would often cook amazing foods I’ve never tried, and they would teach and show me the practices and traditions that were native to their cultures. I learned so much and met so many amazing people at my accommodation, that we would often spend a lot of time together going to the gym or engaging in extracurricular activities that were offered by the University like galas or networking events. The accommodation I stayed at was incredibly affordable in comparison to that of renting an apartment or staying at residence in Canada, and it provided an insane amount of amenities. We were constantly having events every single day, regardless of what was going on at the time. We would have Mario Kart game nights and video game tournaments in the common rooms, create your own ice-cream sundae or waffle evenings, or we would even have sponsored events at the University for dances or other social gatherings. There were also many mental health support options on campus, and staff were always willing to help if you were having trouble or feeling homesick. The atmosphere was a mix of electric community nights where everyone was out getting involved and having fun, to evenings where it was quiet, relaxed, and calm during exam study periods. I thoroughly loved the mix of having fun and doing well in school, and it consistently excited me to the point where I did not want to return to Canada at all. My flat mates and I had spent so much time together travelling or having long study and DoorDash-filled nights that it felt like I was leaving some of my family behind when I was returning back to Canada for the summer. The accommodation itself was very modern and had everything I needed. I had my own bathroom and shower which was very important to me, and the University was also consistently giving us “Care Packages” with things we would need throughout the school year like agendas, coupons, and even discount codes. I had a massive desk for school work, and I had plenty of shelf and closet space for all of my clothes, shoes, and other necessities. My flat mates and I had a shared kitchen which at first I was hesitant of, but when I met them and we spent more time together it became a sort of meeting room where we would have fun listening to music or playing boardgames. I had everything I needed and more, and it really became home away from home. When the time came for all of us to go our separate ways, it was bittersweet to exchange contact information for the hundredth time and ensure that we would stay in contact over the break. We were all excited and sad to back to our lives back home, but optimistic that we would see each other again next year and do it all again. We even began preparing things we would do when we return back to University 6-10 months in advance. My experience in University Accommodation had been nothing short of fantastic, and I would highly recommend anyone considering studying Law in the UK to experience it for themselves.
I’d like to consider my experience both comprehensive and brief, but it is truly impossible to explain how amazing this decision has been. I had the pleasure of meeting so many amazing people and doing so many great things, that it has been nothing short of life-changing. The atmosphere of studies and fun was important to me, and very easy to balance. This is truly a once in a lifetime experience, and it is a decision that prospective students will never regret. Making lifelong friendships, experiencing new cultures and travelling, and learning from Internationally-recognized professors at world-class Universities is something you will never forget. More importantly, it is something that will change the way you look at the world and the sphere of law, and it will set you up for future success in whichever career field you choose. The options here really are limitless and overwhelming, there is always something to do, and there is always something new to learn and experience. I cannot believe I was nervous about ever leaving home and studying in the UK, as I have looked forward to returning since my departure. I am forever indebted to My advisor and CLFA for guiding me through the application process and helping me get settled in the UK.
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