LLB Law with Study Abroad graduate, Molly Richardson was recently awarded the prize for Best Final Year Research Project. In our Q&A she shared how her ambition to pursue a career at the bar led her to Bristol, the ways in which her professors inspired her, and her advice for anyone thinking about embarking on their path into law studies.
Why did you decide to study Law at Bristol?
I knew I wanted to pursue the Bar by the time I was deciding, and so sought a university with a reputation for its alumni going on to become barristers at prominent chambers: something Bristol has.
What then set Bristol apart from other universities also fulfilling this criteria – and made Bristol where I most wanted to study – was the university’s atmosphere and the city’s unrivalled vibrancy.
What has most inspired you about your time at the Law School?
My professors have been the greatest inspiration: whether that be those acting as counsel in the Supreme Court and bettering society through re-shaping the law in this way, or those much earlier in their careers whose passion for their respective fields is no less palpable nor infectious.
It has also been inspiring and motivating to feel they are truly invested and believe in me; Lecturer in Law, Mollie Cornell, and the Law School’s Head of School Professor Catherine Kelly, especially, not only having gone out of their ways to support me in application processes but having been as ecstatic as me when I was able to share good news with them.
Congratulations on being one of this year’s final-year student prize winners! How does it feel to have been awarded the prize for Best Final Year Research Project?
Thank you, the award comes as a very pleasant surprise, I was already thrilled just to have had the opportunity to research and write on an area I find interesting and care about so deeply!
The project was inspired by my work with NGOs whilst I was on my year abroad. Therefore it is particularly meaningful to receive the award as – I hope – it signifies strength in the novel arguments I developed which, in turn, could further assist these important organisations and the vulnerable communities they serve.
What do you plan to do now you have graduated? What are your plans for the future?
Having secured a major scholarship from one of the Inns of Court, I am grateful to be able to start a Barrister Training Course with LLM in London from September, continuing my pursuit of qualifying as a barrister.
What advice would you give to students currently considering starting out on their path into Law?
Do it! Law is increasingly becoming a field for anybody – regardless of social background – who is willing to work hard.
To reiterate advice given to me before: Law is hard, any difficulty in studying it is not indicative of unintelligence… it is merely the nature of Law. I really believe that rings true, and whilst the path into law can sometimes seem almost impossible from its very outset (at least it did to me when starting my LLB), its difficulty is ultimately what makes it so rewarding when your hard work pays off… and what makes expertise in it so valuable!
Whilst your studies will be an important aspect of beginning upon that path, you also need to be conscious of the importance of practical experience in preparing yourself for after university.
Mini-pupillages and vacation schemes are undeniably valuable, but are not necessarily the only options. Volunteering for law clinics is seriously worth considering. Moreover, accessing the University of Bristol Law Clinic automatically upon selecting the ‘Clinical Legal Studies’ module is a good way to overcome the ‘not being able to get experience without having prior experience’ paradox.
Equally, I have found non-legal work like waitressing or bartending invaluable in effectively demonstrating some of the classic characteristics chambers/firms/scholarship panels will all be looking for.
Importantly, be kind to yourself and ensure you are taking some time to de-stress away from anything law-related.