Why I'm Not Pursuing A Career In Law

Aged 17 I wandered into a mock Crown Court trial for the first time not knowing what to expect. Aged 21 I came out of university with a law degree. I had worked hard for 5 years to gain the qualifications I needed. All seems pretty on track right? There's a few things I've wanted to get off of my chest from reasons why it isn't for me, to answering people's questions about what I'm planning to do with my future.

Why did I fall out of love with law?

It happened in the second semester of my degree. I'd already received pretty average results in my first year with some 2:1s and 2:2s. I had just completed an oral exam and received a good 2:1. So why was I not happy? I was not happy with how the course was going. I had to do a mock client interview and I had never been so nervous. I completed it and it went well in my opinion, only to receive some negative points (and feedback that wasn't even allowed i.e. gave my partner a 0 when the scale was 1-5) and it all felt ridiculous. I loved certain modules but there were more I disliked overall.  The rest of the second year felt like a chore and I had to decide what route to take for the remainder of the course. Did I choose the traditional bachelors (LLB) route? Or did I do what I intended to do and continue the masters course (MLaw) with the qualification to be a solicitor (LPC)? Or, do something I never had thought of and train on the bar course to be a barrister? To be a solicitor or barrister you had to complete four years and complete the masters on the course too. Did I want to do that? Nope.

How did the course influence your decisions?

Of course I picked to do the LLB route which meant saying a little goodbye to some of my friends I had made since I wouldn't be seeing them in lectures or seminars anymore. I became close to a fair few people in my second year and whilst I wanted to still see them in uni, it wasn't possible. Before my third year of uni I had never been to a lecture alone and the prospect terrified me. On the first day of my third year I sat down alone not knowing what to think. I did have some relief knowing that I didn't have to sit down with actual real clients for pro bono work or stand up in the mock court we had on the third floor and moot. I was happy that I had 9 months of studying left before I could say goodbye to it. Having to apply for graduate jobs was confusing since I decided to not make any use of my degree and follow what in my heart, I thought was right. I had been blogging since the turning point in my degree the year before and as the year continued I knew blogging and pr/marketing was something I had wanted to pursue a career in.

What's happening now?

I graduated uni and it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. I stayed up in Newcastle for a few months seeing friends and then went on holiday in the August. My boyfriend and I moved into my family home in Liverpool which was odd at first but now seems completely natural. I had a temporary job at Boots which I loved and now I'm on the hunt for that perfect job in the media. I volunteer as a social media assistant for a business owned by two of my aunties and I also work right here on this little blog. People have asked me why I'm not just in a random job to get some money saved up but they don't seem to realise that blogging is actually my part time job. I'm working hard on it right now with some exciting collaborations and if the opportunity arose to go full time with it then I would. The thing that bugs me the most is when people ask but there's so much money to earn if you're a solicitor, why don't you just do it for the money? The answer to that is simply because money is not worth my happiness. And I stand by that. I would much rather be in my family home with Andy and work super hard on my blog and be happy. Yes money comes in handy for holidays and new clothes but it really isn't worth being in a job I hate just to have things that I'll barely even get a chance to wear.
All in all, please never ask me why I'm not pursuing a career in law. I don't sit on a pile of money which can allow me to blog whilst I'm in my pjs but that doesn't mean I don't take blogging seriously. When people say "but can you be my solicitor in the future in case I need you?" - NO. I'm not qualified and I personally don't think having a legal representative who is quite close to you is wise anyway. Who knows where my little life will take me. I don't feel like I've 'wasted' my degree as it has taught me some valuable life skills, such as what to do when I buy a faulty product, what to check when I'm buying my first house and what to include in my will in the future. It is a little bit of a ranty post I'll admit, but it is annoying.

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50 Facts About Me

I've not actually been tagged to do this post, but I thought it would mix it up a little.This is because I've ordered the Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation but it isn't due to arrive until next Wednesday, so I thought it would be fun to do a more personal post until I think of something else to blog about! If you want to do this tag yourself, then I tag YOU!.

#1 I am a natural blonde

#2  I am short-average at 5ft 4"

 #3 I am originally from Liverpool

#4 In total I used to have 5 piercings (3 lobes, stomach, cartilage) but I now only have my lobes done

#5 I love baking

#6 I am a dog person, definitely not a cat person

#7 I have a sister and a brother

#8 My favourite drink is milkshake

#9 My favourite colour is blue

#10 I am a law student

#11 I would love for my career to be in fashion/beauty/business/marketing etc, NOT law

#12 I am 20 years old

#13 I've not been abroad in 3 years and it makes me so sad!

#14 I am open to trying new products and going out of my comfort zone

#15 I seem to feel the cold very easily, you'll see me wrapped up a lot

#16 I'm going to Paris for the first time in October for mine/my boyfriends 21st birthday and I am beyond excited!

#17 When I'm bored, I go on Topshop and add everything I love to the basket, then close the tab. It just passes time when I'm procrastinating :')

#18 My favourite author is Richard Montanari. If you love crime/thriller books then check his Byrne/Bolzano character series out. I'm hooked.

#19 I hiccup EVERY day. People pick up on it and laugh but I guess it's just a unique quirk.

#20 I previously had a part time job in a Bowling Alley, but now I'm looking for a job over summer or an internship... help me?

#21 I've never climbed a tree before. Seriously feel like I'm missing out

#22 My hair is naturally curly, so when I first had a significant amount of hair it looked cute.

#23 As I have blonde eyebrows, I have to fill mine in to avoid pictures taken with flash making me look like an alien. Drives me mad.

#24 I live, for the time being, in Newcastle Upon Tyne, and I love the city.

#25 My nan really helped bring me up and she was basically like a mother to me. I love her so much. 

#26 I don't like having my feet out or looking at other people's feet. It's weird.

#27 Cider and Sourz make me feel really ill and vomit, they don't seem to have any effect on making me feel drunk whatsoever

#28 If I'm not going out that day, I'll shower and put fresh pjs on and wear them all day. I'm such a comfy person

#29 I've dyed my hair so many weird colours and got judged for it. Today I'm growing my light blonde dye out and trying to help my hair by not dying it for a good while. I am starting to question why I first dyed my hair in the first place!

#30 Toffee things are my fave. Aside banoffee pie, that's gross.

#31 During the night I am spooked quite easily. I'm scared of the possibility of ghosts or anything happening in the dark. Yes I'm 20 and I still hate the dark.

#32 My boyfriend is exactly 1ft taller than me. I look so teeny next to him!

#33 I love sausages

#34 I have an allergy/intolerance to bananas. Don't know which but they make me burn up and feel dizzy even if I don't know someone is eating them.

#35 I adore Pandas. I went to Edinburgh to see the two they have there and I could have cried. They were so adorable.

#36 My little sister can't pronounce my name properly yet (being 2) and calls me 'Lawa'

#37 I've been bullied multiple times in the past and it has made me a stronger person. Yes people's opinions get to me quite easily but I try to move on from it and grow as a person.

#38 My fave tv shows are Lie to Me, Dexter, The Walking Dead, Pretty Little Liars, Waterloo Road, and Don't Tell the Bride.

#39 I get to upgrade my phone contract in 1 month (to the day) and I am counting down the days. Hello new phone!

#40 I am having a minor operation next month, that I've already had before 3 times. Hopefully this is the last one. 

#41 I tend to have to hold back from correcting people's grammar, as I know I'm just being picky.

#42 I have never been happier than I am with my boyfriend. He picked me up when I was truly lost and I owe him everything I have for that.

#43 I find it really difficult to accept a compliment 

#44 My chest is not in proportion to my body, so wearing jumpers makes me look 1-2 sizes bigger and it annoys me so much!

#45 I love a good cup of tea. With two sugars. Always two sugars.

#46 I have no time for attention seekers unless they are in need of help. Honesty is key in life and if you fake it you'll never be happy.

#47 I want to name my future children (out of the selection of) Amelia Grace, Poppy Taylor, Annabelle, Isabella, Benjamin, Isaac, Noah, Oscar..

#48 I don't care for coffee. It is too bitter for my taste as I have a major sweet tooth.

#49 My favourite fabrics are velvet (obviously) and lace.

#50 I never knew what the Channel Tunnel's purpose was. I got laughed at. A lot.

I tag anyone to do this, it took some time but it was fun! Mix it up a little :)

xxx

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