Maria Sturzu is a third-year Law LLB student
What motivated you to study at university?
I believed that studying at university would allow me to access better opportunities in the future, since having a degree is taken seriously by many employers.
Around end of year 13, I became interested in the legal and economic world, so I thought that studying Law at university would expand my knowledge of this further and allow me to put it in to practice through various work opportunities offered by the university.
Also, I wanted to be able to meet new people from all over the world and experience the 'campus life' as well as learn about different career paths one can take and how to build my future.
Why did you choose City for your LLB (Hons)?
One of the reasons why I have chosen City for my LLB is because it is located in the heart of London. Due to this, City is able to collaborate with many institutions, firms and other entities established in the centre of London, allowing for us students at City to be able to access numerous events such as open days, insight schemes, competition, visits, law fairs and other interesting events with some of the top firms in London and the world.
This has greatly helped in expanding my knowledge of City firms and how they operate, which helps me to easily decide what specific career path I want to take and at what institution.
What advice would you give to someone considering an undergraduate law degree?
The advice I would give is to be prepared for any challenges you will likely face during the course of your degree. Studying at university can be quite heavy and demanding, so there might be times where you might fall behind with work or may not be able to engage in all your favourite extra-curricular activities due to having to focus on your studies.
It is not as easy as in previous education and many may feel overwhelmed and disoriented because of the amount of work and effort that needs to be put in.
However, to avoid this, using a planner to organise the tasks of each week and ensuring you take breaks for your physical and mental health at the right times can make this process easier and less stressful as well as helping you achieve great results in a short time.
How are you funding your studies? Did you secure any financial support?
Mostly, I am able to fund my studies with a student loan. A student loan covers the fees for the year and any other expenses incurred during the year. Therefore, the amount included in the student loan was able to cover all of these expenses for me. Sometimes, during term time, I like to take on part time gigs to make some extra money on the side, usually for my own personal expenses that I have at that particular time. These part-time gigs can include anything of interest to me and I take them up either during term breaks, when I have more free time, or on days off during the week, when I have no lessons.
What opportunities and experiences has The City Law School offered you so far?
One significant experience has been the Micro-Placement. As a student, especially post-pandemic, it is hard to gain experience working in an actual business or institution and this can have an impact on future applications to different firms.
However, the Micro-Placement has been an insightful scheme, as it has allowed me to take part in a work business-like environment, where I was able to put into practice various skills such as communication, organisation and time management.
Furthermore, my placement was in a sector completely different to mine, in particular the sales sector, which has helped me to be introduced to a new path available to me once I graduate, as well as acquiring new qualities such as people skills.
What knowledge and skills has your course helped you develop so far?
The knowledge I have developed during my course is about the world. One important attribute of a lawyer is commercial awareness and this is built by constantly researching and reading about worldwide affairs that can impact the legal field. By trying to build my commercial awareness, I have expanded my knowledge on various things happening around the world, such as crises, economic changes, social aspects, and environmental issues of any country.
An important skill I have developed from my course is communication, both written and spoken. Through group discussion about various cases and essay writing such as case comments and analytical pieces, I have been able to improve my ability to communicate well and oconcise.