Olubusola Olajide is a Bar Vocational Studies (BVS) student.
What motivated you to pursue postgraduate study?
I am an aspiring Barrister - so after I had graduated from my undergraduate Law degree - I knew that the next step required of me in the process of becoming a Barrister was to complete the Bar Course.
I was motivated to complete a master's at the same time whilst studying for the Bar course not only because it would provide me with more legal qualifications to achieve, but also broaden my legal skills and experience in the profession. For example, I am working with a Law Clinic as part of the LLM route of my studies.
What were you doing before applying for a postgraduate degree?
I had just graduated from my LLB (Hons) Law Degree from Bournemouth University. Also, during the summer holidays before I started the postgraduate degree, I was volunteering and training to become an Advisor with the Citizens Advice Bureau Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Centre.
Why did you choose City?
The City Law School has an excellent record of establishing and kickstarting many successful careers. It is important to be within that type of community that can drive an individual to work and exceed the best of their ability to produce great results.
When I attended a postgraduate open evening, the event provided me with the clarity and confidence in knowing that attending The City Law School would prepare me not only for my future career but would help me to acquire specialist skills and knowledge of legal procedures - with evidence of handling different legal concepts in different areas of law. This will further develop my capability and legal knowledge for my career.
As an individual who seeks opportunities to constantly grow in her personal, legal academic, and professional ethics for career development, I knew that City would be the best place for me. I knew it would help me to become more established in my legal knowledge and skills due to the high quality of education that is offered.
Lastly, I chose City because of the opportunities and experiences an individual can get involved in to broaden the amount of experience they can gain within the legal profession during their studies.
What has been your favourite module or aspect of your course so far?
My favourite aspect of my course so far has been completing the advocacy tasks within three of my modules. Public speaking and advocacy were skills that I knew, once I had started my course, would be something I would immensely improve in.
It had been a long desire of mine to develop my skills within these areas more professionally, especially in a legal context, so being able to have three modules helping me to grow in my public speaking and advocacy skills on a weekly basis, was very useful.
What knowledge and skills has your course helped you develop?
Public speaking, legal research, case analysis, advocacy, opinion writing, drafting legal documents, understanding case reviews and the ability to read legislation and case reports at an advanced level.
What opportunities and experiences has City offered you so far?
Clinical skills. As I am studying on the LLM Bar Vocational Studies course, for my LLM component I am working in a Law Clinic called AMICUS. Having this opportunity has enabled me to gain knowledge and understanding about the US Death Penalty and Life Without Parole criminal procedures at a greater level.
Additionally, communication and representative skills. I am a Student Ambassador at City in various roles and having this experience to help out at City, for example as an EDI Representative, is placing me in a position where I can use my voice for the greater good. For example, in ensuring that City remains a university that enforces the importance of being equal, diverse and inclusive within its community.
What are your career plans and how has City prepared you for them?
I am aspiring to become a Barrister, so I have applied for pupillage in this year's round. City has offered a lot of support when it came to developing my understanding of pupillage. In particular, I went to a Pupillage Workshop that focused on improving our understanding of how to answer a question about a case within our pupillage application.
This proved to be very useful as almost half of the pupillages that I had applied for had a case question; I was able to use the knowledge gained from that workshop and apply it in how I had answered those pupillage application questions.
What advice would you give to someone considering a postgraduate degree?
I would say you need to maintain your drive throughout the whole duration of your course. I was at first going to offer this advice about remaining focused, but I know that it is inevitable to go through a short time of having lost focus.
However, the one thing that can get you back to regaining your focus is your drive. Your drive being the very reason for why you decided to pursue, achieve and complete your postgraduate degree in the first place. Never lose sight of your drive and your vision.