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The decision to choose Essex was an easy one
The beginning of an adventure
In September 2021 I left Vancouver for the UK to pursue my law degree at the University of Essex. The decision to choose Essex was an easy one given its international reputation in the human rights field which is the area of law I am currently pursuing. Having never been to the UK I had no idea what to expect. Living here has truly been one of the most remarkable experiences of my life. My previous experience at university did not compare to my time at Essex as I was given so many opportunities to get involved in numerous student clubs as well as develop my legal knowledge by volunteering and gaining hands-on experience.
My program
I completed the two-year LLB (senior status) at the University of Essex and I enjoyed (almost) every moment of it! The lecturers were brilliant and all of my TA’s were always willing to help whenever I needed it. The semesters here are much different than what I was used to. Class would start in early October and then finish after 11 weeks of lectures. Classes would then resume in late January and conclude in March. After that, exams would begin and end in May. While the semesters were short, the workload was challenging but manageable as long as you stay on top of your course work each week.
Essex Law Clinic
When people ask me the best thing about my program my answer is always the same- volunteering at Essex Law Clinic. The Clinic is located on the university campus and works to provide legal advice to those who are unable to afford it. I first applied during the fall of my first year and I went through an interview process before I was accepted as a Bronze member. At this stage you are allowed to choose one of several projects which include Family law, Business start-ups, LGBTQ rights, and many others. During my first year I chose to get involved in the Domestic and Sexual Abuse project where I and my fellow group members put together a presentation on occupation orders for a local NGO which provides support to survivors of domestic violence. This experience was so informative, and I gained so much knowledge working under supervisors who are experts in this area of law. At the end of my first year I applied and interviewed for numerous student office-holder positions and was appointed Communications Officer. This involved networking with other students and compiling articles for the Clinic’s monthly journal. After receiving submissions from students, I would edit their pieces and then format the journal before sending it for approval by my supervisor. This role vastly increased my knowledge of different legal issues in the UK and was an excellent opportunity to meet and talk to other law students in the university. After completing my first year as a Bronze member, I applied for Silver membership and was officially trained before the start of this past school year. As a Silver member I was able to take on cases under the guidance of Clinic supervisors and I conducted numerous interviews, wrote case notes, and formatted letters of advice. I felt so privileged to get the opportunity to work with clients, hear their issues and then research the answers to their legal questions all under the guidance of amazing supervisors. In addition to case work, I also took part in numerous projects including the Family project, the Housing & Homelessness project and the Ukraine Twinning programme. By far my favourite was the H & H project as I got to volunteer in a local homeless shelter a few times each semester and sit in on client interviews where my supervisor would provide housing advice to vulnerable individuals. The work was so rewarding, and it was a great opportunity to learn about housing law in the UK. Eventually I applied and received Gold membership during the Spring of my final year. Although I have left the clinic I still keep in touch with fellow members as well as my supervisors- we truly became one big family!
Colchester
Colchester is the second biggest town in Essex and is brimming with charming little shops all through the city centre. Walking into town centre is about a half an hour walk from the university but there are also numerous buses you can take to get there. Instead of having an indoor mall all of their shops are outside and scattered throughout the main walk through the town. Among them are Primark, H & M, sports direct and many others. Many weekends I would come into town and shop around as the prices for clothing are much cheaper than in Canada. At night the town comes alive as people flock to the local pubs and nightclubs. The options for food were astounding when I first arrived. They have every type of restaurant you can think of- I recommend trying a proper British Kebab! On some nights I would travel with friends into London to go to restaurants and clubs there. The train system here is very easy to navigate once you get out of London and you can get to Liverpool Street in under an hour from Colchester.
My flat
I found my accommodation through SU Homes which is run by the student union of the university. Through them I was able to find a very comfortable one-bedroom apartment that even had a river view! My accommodation was right on the edge of campus which was very convenient as I was able to get to class within 20 minutes of leaving my flat. As an avid runner I was very happy that I was located just metres away from the beginning of the Wivenhoe trail. For those of you choosing Essex, visiting Wivenhoe is an absolute must as it has many cute pubs along the river as well as stunning views of local sailboats.
Castle Park
Right in the middle of Colchester there is a large castle that was originally built by the Romans over 2000 years ago. Now the castle is used as a museum, and it is definitely worth a visit to hear all about the history of Colchester (which is considered Britain’s first town). One of my favourite things to do on a nice day was sit in the park and watch the swans on the small lake there. The park has a lot of wildlife- squirrels and birds are regularly fed by the locals and are extremely friendly. There is a small café in the park which sells the best frozen yogurt I have ever had (they call it Mr. Whippy). One of the highlights of my time in Essex was coming into town and having picnics in the park with my classmates!
An Evening with UK Law Schools
Entry is free and welcome to anyone interested studying in the UK, whether you have already applied or are just interested in more information! Registration can be found at the bottom of the page.
UK LAW SCHOOL FAIR
During the event, you will have the opportunity to meet a number of representatives (including Law academics) from UK Law Schools that have made the trip to Canada in order to speak to students in person. You will also be able to talk to our student advisors (who have studied in the UK themselves) about anything you have questions about. You can book a meeting with an advisor and you can go around to speak to the universities that are at the fair throughout the evening. When you arrive, you will have to "check in" at the information desk. After you have done that, you can walk around the room as you like and talk to universities, advisors and gather information.
ALUMNI MIXER
We will also be having a social meet and greet after the fair. This will be an opportunity to network casually with representatives from the law school, other students, and most importantly Canadian alumni who have completed their law studies in the UK already. It will be a great chance to hear a bit more about their experience during their time in the UK and while transferring back to Canada and seeking employment.
The Alumni Mixer will take place right after the fair so you don't even need to travel in between. Most students will stay for both the fair and alumni mixer but if you're only able to attend one, that's fine! Just let us know with your registration which activities you plan to attend.
1-2-1 ADVISING SESSION WITH AN ADVISOR
During the evening, you will have the opportunity to chat with one of our advisors. If you want an advising session (15 minutes where you can sit and talk one-on-one with an advisor about your application or questions), this must be booked in advance. When you register for the event, you will receive more information on how to book this.
Advising sessions are very popular and fill up very quickly, so sign up early! If you are unable to book an appointment with an advisor, let us know at events@canadalawfromabroad.com, we can put you on a waitlist or try to find an alternative option for you.
UNIVERSITIES IN ATTENDANCE
All of our university partners will be present at the fair! You can see a complete list on the right of this page. To speak with a university, just go to their booth and feel free to ask them any questions you may have. Don’t be nervous about approaching them – they are very friendly and eager to get to know you! You may even end up having one of the representatives as a professor during your law degree!
TOP TIP: Think about any key questions or concerns you have before the event and write them down. You can bring your list with you to reference when you speak to each university and even take notes to reflect on when the fair is over!
If you don’t have any specific questions that come to mind, just ask them to tell you about their programme, what extracurricular activities are available, such as mooting or law societies, or what sets their university apart from other law schools. If you are trying to narrow down your choices between a few law schools, this is the perfect chance for you to speak with them each and to ask them about the most important factors for you in choosing your law school.
This is a unique opportunity to talk to the universities at your leisure! It doesn’t have to be only about the law school in particular. Maybe you aren’t sure about living in university accommodation and want to hear about private options near campus. Maybe you love sports or the arts and want to ensure you’ll have the best chance of continuing with your activities during your studies. Maybe you want to really embrace being in the UK and are looking for a smaller town/university with a “quintessentially British” feel. Or maybe you are really looking forward to the city life and travelling during your studies and want to make sure you’ll have great access to travel links. The representatives from each university will be perfect to provide you with insight into all these things.
REGISTRATION
To come to the event(s), please use the form below to register your interest. This will notify us that you plan on coming and means we will be able to inform you of any updates to the program and to send you a reminder closer to the fair. If you aren’t sure whether you’ll be able to attend, that’s okay you can register now and then notify your advisor later on if you won’t be able to make it. You’ll still be able to benefit from our free, specialised help and advice.
If you would like to schedule a session with an advisor during the fair, we recommend that you sign up early because these advising sessions fill up quickly! If you haven’t signed up and decide to attend at the last minute, or maybe one of your friends is interested in studying law as well and decides to join you, there will still be an opportunity to register at the door. If you have signed up in advance however, it will be faster for you to access and we’ll be able to help you immediately.
You will be able to come and go as much as you like during the evening after you register. You can of course bring parents, siblings, friends or even your teacher along with you. Everyone who is interested and could benefit from studying in the UK is most welcome to make the trip even if you are just starting to consider studying in the UK in the future. This is not just an event for those who have applied or decided to apply, but for everyone who wants to learn more about study opportunities in the UK.
My CLFA Experience
My name is Robin and I am a Law Student (senior status program) in my first year at the University of Essex. I became aware of Canada Law From Abroad through a friend who was already a student and who had used their services. The moment I was introduced to them, they started to treat me like a member of an academic family and took over every concern that I had concerning my admission and post-admisison procedures. They did not only guide me throughout my admission process, they also assisted me with any other steps along the way until I finally arrived at the University of Essex in late September.
CLFA is a resource assistance that is inclusive, dedicated and honest in their service to potential students.
Make your journey easier with Canada Law from Abroad!
This non-profit organization connected me to an agent/representative which acted as more of a mentor towards my post-graduate studies than an agent. Canada Law from Abroad helped me every step of the way along my journey from graduating by BA degree towards beginning my LLB in the UK.
My mentor met with me face-face, spoke with me on the phone, guiding me with every bit of information I could need and more. I would not know what I would have done without this program, the process would surely have been much more difficult. I highly recommend connecting with a representative to enrich and guide your journey towards studying in the UK.
Authentic information
I am very grateful of Canada law from abroad by creating a very authentic web office for those who are willing to pursue their dream through using the top advisor's help.
I want to pay my best regards to ma'am Vivian, who was always ready to put me on the right path. I wish her good health, and prosper year of her life. Thanks!
