Puteri Nur Myra Zulaikha is an LLM Bar Vocational Studies student.
What motivated you to pursue postgraduate study?
Primarily, pursuing this postgraduate route was not a surprise as it is essential for me to pass the Bar exams before I can progress in my career in my home country, Malaysia. Despite this, I felt that I was and still am not 100% sure if I will be continuing my career at the Bar in the near future.
However, the beauty of the LLM in the Bar Vocational Studies (BVS) course is that it gives me a very practical insight into a few areas of law, and has thus allowed me to identify my strengths, weaknesses and preferences to direct me to what my future career path may be.
What were you doing before applying for a postgraduate degree?
Before applying for the postgraduate course, I was an undergraduate student studying Law at the University of Nottingham. I applied for this postgraduate course during my final year as I knew that I was more inclined to complete my Bar exams, rather than going into work immediately after graduating.
Were there any challenges affecting your decision to study a postgraduate degree? If so, how did you overcome them?
The main challenge for me in terms of my decision to pursue this postgraduate course at City was the aspect of the course being held in London.
As the Bar course is offered in many parts around the UK, it was an important decision for me when considering a provider, as moving from outside of London meant that the costs and ways of life would be significantly different. I had thought about it thoroughly, especially as the financial element of it all was a big factor in the decision.
Whilst I still had doubts before starting the course, I had been fortunate to have had the reassurance and support from my family and friends.
Moving to London was a daunting experience, and whilst I could have chosen a provider in a different location, the decision to pursue the course at City would be an investment.
Not only would its ideal location present useful and convenient benefits as a Bar candidate, but the LLM option providing an opportunity to pursue the Clinical Legal Education project is one of the most valuable experiences I have gone through in my legal journey.
Speaking to those who had done their Bar at City and alongside applying through an education agent also helped me realise that a lot of my concerns were mostly fear driven as it was a new chapter in my life.
Why did you choose City?
I chose City as it was highly recommended by many friends and other Malaysians who had also done the Bar exams. City has been known for their refined Bar course as an established provider, and it was evidential that many students felt that the resources given to them at City were very helpful for the Bar exams.
One thing that also stood out for me is the fact that City is of course a whole university, in comparison to other providers who tend to have less facilities in this aspect. Having access to more libraries, lots of student resources, support and events - I felt that this was very beneficial as I knew that this would greatly help me in settling in and succeeding as a student on a tough course like the BVS.
Additionally, I was also very fond of the Clinical Legal Education part of the LLM, as I felt that it was a unique and different option provided. Having not done a dissertation for my undergraduate degree, this option was very appealing to me.
How are you finding studying in the UK?
Being an international student in London can be quite different than being an international student elsewhere in the UK. London offers so much for any type of individual, and it can be relatively promising that you will enjoy most aspects of it.
It is an exciting experience as there is so much to do, so much to see, so many people to meet and so many foods to try! My favourite aspect of being in London is having such opportunities, as I feel that there isn’t as many places that can offer this much.
Where else can you see so much of the world within one city itself? This city is a huge international hub and those who are fortunate to visit or live here should definitely take advantage of it.
However, I think it is safe to say that most international students, whilst living and settling into the UK during university, can only make it so much as their home. Coming from Malaysia, London is much more different than my home country, and whilst I feel that I have settled in, there will always be countless of things that I find a lot more difficult.
I believe the financial differences between the two places play a huge factor in my experience with London, as I’m sure it has with many others too.
The city is very enjoyable as a student for the reasons I stated before, but of course it has been much more difficult with the rising cost of living and currency exchange rates.
What does a typical week at university look like for you?
To be completely honest, I feel that my weeks can vary quite a lot! During the BVS, we usually had around four to five classes per week, in which was around eight to ten hours of class time. Whilst this is less than undergraduate times, the prep required for BVS classes have been immensely heavier. Therefore, I would try to allocate as much time as possible for myself throughout the week to prepare for these classes, so as to not have too much to handle closer to the class times.
With the demanding nature of the Bar exams, I often made a lot of time for myself as well - to ensure that I was recharging myself through rest, exercise and breaks. I usually would go out with friends at least once a week, and would also try to do something new to explore the city.
On the other hand, during the specialism period of the LLM, we only have two classes per week. Whilst this is a lot less than before, I am also juggling my Clinical Legal Education project alongside the report.
What has been your favourite module or aspect of your course so far?
My favourite module of the course so far has been volunteering at the partner organisation under my Clinical Education Project! As someone who had not taken any pro bono work beforehand, jumping into the organisation was something that quickly taught me a lot about not only the clients but also myself.
One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that learning the law, its procedures and applications still does not prepare you for when it comes to actually meeting with the client and dealing with real life issues. No module or class in my undergraduate or postgraduate degrees can properly teach or prepare me for when it comes to actually going out of the classroom.
Client handling has been a major skill that I have been working on and I am very grateful that the organisation has provided me with this opportunity. It is very clear that this aspect is very important for legal advocates - how will we be able to speak for them if we are not able to properly understand and speak with them?
What knowledge and skills has your course helped you develop?
Fundamentally, the course has taught me a lot about legal procedures and the legal system. Coming straight from completing my Law LLB degree, the course quickly strengthened numerous skills for me in order to prepare for a career at the Bar.
One of the significant skills that the course has focused on is drafting, as this is a skill that does not get looked into during our undergraduate degree.
We were taught in detail of how to draft documents that we would usually not be very familiar with before coming into the course.
Another skill that we are often reminded to improve is our analysis and evaluation skills - as students on the course, we will receive countless of case bundles and scenarios. With this, we have been taught to always use the details, even those that are more implicit, of each scenario to further build up our case to help our client.
What opportunities and experiences has City offered you so far?
City has offered many opportunities for me throughout the course, and even beyond. We are routinely updated and offered to many opportunities of varying types that are related to our field. For example, I was able to attend an event that hosted alumni who were in the same position as me - an international student who is looking for legal routes after the Bar exam other than pupillage. The Law School always informs us of talks, visits, internships and work opportunities that spread across different legal sectors.
Other than this, City also hosts a lot of events around the school for students to enjoy - such as the student party that included a mini petting zoo at the Law School building.
What are your career plans and how has City prepared you for them?
As of now, my career plans are not particularly clear, whether it be that I will be pursuing a career at the Bar or in other legal roles. However, I have definitely learnt from my time at City that I would like to give back more and perhaps work closer to clients in order to help them directly.
My time at Support Through Court, and alongside the people I have met at City have reminded me of why I chose to pursue law in the first place. With more knowledge and experience with clients, I am hoping to head towards a career that will allow for me to help those who are most in need.
What advice would you give to someone considering a postgraduate degree?
My best advice for those who are considering pursuing a postgraduate degree is to ensure that you know what your strengths and interests are. It is important to recognise this and to play them well to fully explore your potential in whichever career you may pursue.
No matter how general your knowledge of this may be, working out what suits you best will ensure the most effective and progressive results for your own self-growth, whether it be in your personal or career life.