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Law itself is a broad and extensive subject, which it can be hard to fit even into a three-year degree at university. However, coming towards the end of my first term of third year, I’ve set out the three modules I’ve completed that have personally taught me the most about law. This’ll be based mostly on what I’ve learned about the law itself, as opposed to what it’s taught me about studying or about university, for example. 

Module one – contract law 

Contract law is something that almost everyone knows exists, but they might not necessarily understand the full extent of it. This module really taught me how vast the law is and how many people it comes into contact with every day, even when they don’t realise it. You interact with contract law when you buy your bus ticket, purchase your 35p energy drink at the corner shop and many more ‘every day’ tasks.

This is certainly something I’ve seen as a pattern within all areas of law; that law is truly an innate number of building blocks. In every element of the law, it always goes; ‘this is the law.... BUT....’ followed by many number of ways that that law can be breached, remedied and swerved, all within the space of seconds through everyday business.  

Practically every person reading this will have entered into a contract today, and that’s something I find so fascinating. It’s also something terrifying about this area of law.

Module two – tort law 

I thought tort law would be quite a straightforward module. In my mind, tort claims were fairly simple matters where you can look at the facts and make an obvious decision on who’s in the right and who’s in the wrong. However, as I found myself analysing graphs on hearing damage caused by industrial speakers in one of the earlier weeks of my seminars, I realised that’s definitely not the case.  

This module taught me that the application of the law itself can be very tough and is incredibly scrupulous. There’s an outsider’s idea that the law is there to put those in the wrong down and help those in the right. However, this module taught me that the law is extremely attentive and that any hint of an objection will be taken. Although this sounds like a bad thing, this was definitely an important point to drill home throughout this module. If, in practice, you have an aspect of your case that goes against your client, you can’t simply ignore it because it may be ‘lesser’ or ‘not of huge importance’. The law simply won’t allow for any facts to be bypassed.  

In essence, this module taught me that the law can be cruel, but it has to be in the object of fairness.  

Module three – law clinic

I speak about my experience with my university’s law clinic and clinical legal education often in my blogs, but truly it’s been the most eye-opening and educational experience I’ve had at university so far. I’m someone who hasn’t had much experience in a practical legal environment before this year and so this module helped me massively. 

In short, the law clinic provides a free legal service to those who can’t afford legal costs, provided by students and overseen by qualified lecturers. It’s the first experience I’ve had with interviewing clients, completing real research, writing real file notes and so many more essential skills. Quite simply, this has been an invaluable experience and honestly one I don’t think I would feel prepared for practice without.  

In terms of what it’s taught me about the law, the main takeaway is, of course, all of the legal drafting skills, client interviewing, etc. However, it’s also taught me the importance of pro bono work within the law. It’s so important to help those in less fortunate positions who find themselves with a problem they don’t know how to solve. This has become a passion of mine. I’m keen to continue pro bono work in practice and I encourage others to get involved too.