Tomas Jackson

LLB (Honours) Law

'I chose to study law at Sheffield Hallam University because of its connections with other higher education institutions around the world. I was very interested in completing a year abroad and I was able to do this at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane, Australia in 2010/11.

'I was also impressed with the practical/clinical modules on offer such as the law clinic and mooting, and the University's connections to legal firms in and around Sheffield.

'The highlight of my course was the opportunity to study abroad. My year in Australia was both enjoyable and informative. I was able to live in a new culture and during this year, I felt I matured as a person. I was also able to take modules such as environmental law and sustainability that I wouldn’t have been able to study otherwise.

'I applied for an Amicus internship after completing a year of study in Australia and noticing differences between the UK and Australian legal systems. I was keen to learn about the American legal system and how it differed from, not only the UK system, but also another federal system such as Australia.

'Amicus are a UK based non-profit organisation, founded in 1992, in memory of Andrew Lee Jones who was executed in Louisiana in 1991. They aim to assist those facing capital trial and punishment around the world, particularly in the USA. Amicus seek to provide those individuals with proper legal representation and advocating their basic human rights.

'I have an interest in human rights law and after researching internship opportunities, Amicus really stood out as an opportunity I was interested in as it offers the chance to work alongside attorneys in the USA who also have a strong interest in human rights law.

'At the Amicus training we learnt about capital trial and how it differs from a standard murder trial. We were given an introduction into US constitutional law and how it operates within international law. In the second weekend, in the form of workshops, we were taught how to interview witnesses in the trial and how to approach them in regards to what were usually very sensitive topics.

'I found the support from tutors in my final year to be extremely helpful, all were very encouraging and determined for all students to succeed.

'The best advice I could give to any prospective students would be to take any opportunity that is offered and to actively engage in as many extra curricular activities as possible, not just to boost your CVs but also to make new contacts and to grow as a person. I started university as a very quiet shy individual but after taking opportunities such as the study abroad year and a debating competition in Cambodia, I feel I am leaving university as a more rounded, confident individual.'

Jason Roscoe

LLB (Hons) Law, final year student

When I was asked what I’ve done whilst being at Hallam, my immediate answer was reading. It’s true on University Challenge when they say they are reading a degree. But my university experience at Hallam has been far from just work. There are numerous events happening all the time, ranging from skill workshops and careers events through to the annual Varsity.

I’ve also made use of the volunteering service offered by Hallam; taking up a position at the Citizens Advice Bureau so that I could make use of the skills and knowledge I’ve been developing whilst on the course.

What I’ve particularly enjoyed about the degree at Hallam is the challenge it presents. A great deal of work is required to succeed but it is an incredible feeling when you receive a result which you know is the best you had to offer. Additionally, I’ve enjoyed the characters that you meet along the way. Whether they are friends, tutors or otherwise.

Looking forward into the coming academic year, I will be in full time employment as a paralegal in a law firm (Kennedy’s) in which I completed the law in practice module at Hallam. In the years following that, I intend to complete the Legal Practice Course with the aim to becoming a fully qualified solicitor.

Hayley Merritt

LLB (Hons) Law, Final year student

I chose to do my Law degree at Sheffield Hallam University because of the types of modules it had to offer and the opportunities it provided.

The first day at Sheffield Hallam is incredibly daunting and intimidating however the three years I have been there are the fastest and best three years I have experienced so far!

Second year was more challenging; I concentrated a lot more on my studies and realised how much work was expected. I put in the work and this enabled me to come out with a 2:1.

My third year was the most interesting for me. I was on the Innocence Project, which is one of several clinical modules offered. It was more practical than other modules and  I gained experience in dealing with professional people, as well as being extremely interesting. I also did Spanish in my final year, so I did five Law modules then Spanish which, for me, was a nice mixture to do and made the final year seem less intense.

Law is a challenging and demanding degree but if you put in the work you will get the grades you aim for.

Gaining work experience is key; I managed to work with a solicitor in the 2012 summer which helped me greatly.

Sheffield Hallam has helped me a lot with my future. It has a great careers service and I found the tutors are extremely helpful when it comes to questions about your future and offer beneficial advice.

I managed to secure a job after my last exam and I plan to do the LPC course after a year of working.

Michelle Snedden, graduated in 2000

LLB (Honours) Law

Hometown: Manchester, England

'Before I applied to university, I had heard lots of great things about Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam, so I always planned to attend Hallam. It was my number one choice when I received offers from other universities.

'I’ll never forget the day I left Manchester and moved into Halls of Residence in Gleadless (in Sheffield). Those first 24 hours were like a whirlwind – a group of us got the bus into town and that night I met people who have become some of my best friends. One of whom was on the same course as me, lived two doors down from me and was a bridesmaid at my wedding two years ago.

'I look back with very fond memories of Sheffield. It was an interesting adventure and turned out to be three of the best years of my life. The main thing I remember in relation to the law school was that the lecturers were very approachable and seemed to really care about whether you succeeded.

'After the first couple of days, the fears that I had about going to University and facing the “real world” were put to ease by the general atmosphere and character of the University. I knew I was going to like it!

'I was a member of the law clinic and this turned out to be invaluable on my CV. [The Law Clinic is a module for law students. It provides a free legal service to staff and students of Sheffield Hallam University, who are in need of legal advice or assistance.]

'I took part in a couple of voluntary placements at law firms in Sheffield and generally tried to build my experiences.

'The day I left Sheffield was very sad. So many memories and so many friends, it was very hard to leave behind and will always be one of my favorite places.

'After graduating from Hallam, I moved to Chester to attend the College of Law and obtained my Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice with Commendation. The year in Chester didn’t go without several trips back to Sheffield with friends; we just couldn’t leave it behind!

'Everybody I knew who had already been to University went to work on a summer camp in America every summer…so I decided that I should too! I started working as a camp counsellor at a camp called Kenwood - Evergreen in New Hampshire in the summer of 1999. I loved it so much that I went back every summer until 2002.

'I would spend nine months in Sheffield (with a few trips home to Manchester), then leave for the USA for three months. Working at camp changed my life. I made so many great, life-long friends all over the world, and from my first summer I knew that I wanted to move to the USA.

'During the summer of 2002 I met another counselor from Dallas, Texas. Whom, I am pleased to say, became my husband in 2009. We dated long-distance for almost three years while I completed my legal training contract at Turner Parkinson Solicitors in Manchester. I qualified in 2004 and worked as an assistant lawyer at Turner Parkinson for a year before we decided that the 12 hour flight between Dallas and Manchester couldn’t last forever!

'I started applying for jobs as a paralegal in Dallas knowing that my qualifications in England did not automatically transfer to Texas. In May 2005, I set up five interviews during a week-long visit to Dallas. I met with several people and was offered a job in the law firm where I still work today – Shackelford, Melton & McKinley, LLP in Dallas, Texas. I went back to Manchester and started my visa application and finally moved over to Dallas in September 2005.

'After failing to find a loop-hole, I quickly figured out that if I was going to become an attorney in Texas I had to go back to law school all over again! I finally plucked up the courage to do it and started at Texas Wesleyan Law School, Fort Worth, in September 2007. I continued to work full-time at Shackelford, Melton & McKinley and would go to class Monday through Thursday in the evening for three years. As I sat in class, I wondered if others looked at me as the “mature student” in the same way I used to look at others 10 years ago at Sheffield Hallam. Was I one of those “older” students who sat at the front, actually listened in class, actually contributed to class discussions…actually wanted to be there!? I was!!

'One of my first classes at law school in Texas was torts. As soon as the professor said “Duty, Breach, Causation and Harm equals negligence” I thought “what am I doing here…am I really doing this to myself AGAIN!” Surprisingly, aside from the fact that I had no social life for three years, I actually enjoyed my time at Texas Wesleyan. It is a great school with great professors. Although there were a lot of subjects that were completely new to me (for example oil and gas), it became clear pretty quickly that although I had spent way to many nights at the Nursery Tavern, the Pomona, Pulse and Vogue in Sheffield…not only did I learn a lot at Hallam, I had actually retained a lot of it…even if it took me a little while to access it ten years later, it was definitely there and I could apply it to my classes in Texas!

'After graduating from Texas Wesleyan (magna cum laude) in May 2010, I started studying for the Texas Bar Exam that I had to take in July 2010. I can honestly say that until you’ve studied for that exam…you’ve not really studied! It’s a three day exam (aka your worst nightmare) that tests everything you studied during your law degree, plus all the subjects you didn’t opt to study!

'The month before the exam, I studied 10-12 hours every day. My husband and friends didn’t hear from me for weeks…I was determined to pass this first time around, I couldn’t go through this again! I am very pleased to say that I did in fact pass and in November 2010 I was promoted from paralegal to an associate at Shackelford, Melton & McKinley.

'My practice areas include representing clients in various business-related transactions, including real estate owners, developers and lenders in affordable housing/low-income housing tax credit projects, automobile dealers and handling general corporate matters. All this in addition to assisting clients in obtaining various types of permits in compliance with state and local alcoholic beverage regulations.

'My next goal – to open a traditional fish and chip shop in Dallas called “The Manchester”…stay tuned!'

Charlotte Dowson

LLB (Hons) Law, 2010 graduate

'When I came to an open event at Sheffield Hallam I was really impressed by the campus and teaching staff. I was especially interested by the practical module options I could choose such as mooting, law clinic and law in practice. It showed me that would I be learning through hands on experience. These kinds of options weren't available at the other universities I had applied to.

'So far the highlight of my time at university has been winning the OUP/BPP National Mooting Competition 2008/09. This was a massive achievement for me and involved a lot of hard work and dedication. I beat off competition from 64 universities from across the country to win.

'There have been times when I have struggled with the course. Mostly because I am juggling my degree with a part time job, caring for a horse and taking on extra responsibilities such as mooting and my position of deputy mistress of moots on the student law society. Although this has been tough at times I have still managed perform well in my degree. I believe this will be invaluable experience for later life when I will have to continue to balance my job with a home and family life.

'Mooting has been a massive part of my time at Sheffield Hallam and has helped me immeasurably by developing my advocacy skills, which will be vital for my career as a barrister. It also develops confidence in public speaking generally and teaches analytical skills as you must apply the law to a factual case. Although it is not real life, it is as close as possible to a real courtroom situation.'

Ben Waller

LLB (Hons) Law, 2009 graduate

'I chose Sheffield Hallam not only because the facilities and buildings are impressive, but because the staff I saw during the open days seemed to be knowledgeable, switched on and enthusiastic. I was also excited about the prospect of studying in such a vibrant and student friendly city.

'The variety of modules was an appealing factor. In my first year I chose psychology alongside my compulsory modules, a subject which intrigued me greatly.

'The Amsterdam Erasmus exchange was a perfect opportunity for me to expand my horizons, meet foreign people and live in an unfamiliar place for a year. I was able to widen my knowledge of both European and international law, as well as visit the European Parliament in Brussels. It also offered me the perfect opportunity to improve my language skills.

'It was a great honour to represent my country and the University as an ambassador abroad. I also found it interesting to discover how people's attitudes to life differed depending on their nationality. I learned a great deal about people's stereotypes of English people, and I hope I managed to shape some of those stereotypes more favourably. Mixing with people from such different backgrounds was something I will never forget.'