From the Amal wannabe to the guy who obviously went through clearing
The beginning of term is officially upon us.
Lawyer hopefuls have descended on campuses across the country, creating a veritable melting pot of personalities.
So, as you make those first awkward social interactions over a beer down the SU, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for these seven types of law student.
1. The ‘I have wanted to be lawyer since I was three’ student
This girl was born commercially aware. You’ve only just met but she’s added you on LinkedIn and endorsed you for communication skills. Hellbent on landing a top training contract in the City, she works the room like a pro, quickly assessing who can help her and who will hinder her. Despite being officially at university for a matter of days, she has already entered two mooting competitions, started a new debating society and arranged a meeting with her tutor to discuss vac scheme opportunities.
2. The ‘went through clearing’ student
You can spot him a mile off, mainly because his room is full of cellophane-wrapped medicine textbooks. He doesn’t know if he wants to be solicitor or a barrister yet (he’s just discovered there’s a difference) but is keen find out more about the historic profession and those ‘funny wigs’.
3. The ‘my parents are lawyers’ student
With a QC for a father and a City law firm partner for a mother, networking starts at home for this law student. Her surname carries clout and will open doors (all by the book, of course). Despite having a genuine interest in the law, some of her fresher peers — take ‘lawyer since she was three’ girl for example — remain sceptical about her motivations to enter the profession. Either way, there’s already a pupillage or training contract with her name on it.
4. ‘Dresses like a lawyer’ guy
Looking like he’s just run through a rail at TM Lewin, this dapper dresser takes his appearance as seriously as he does his studies. It might only be a 9am ‘introduction to contract law’ seminar, but he’s got his favourite navy blue three-piece on and polished black brogues. He completes his lawyer look with a fetching leather briefcase — which contains a Sainsbury’s meal deal and a handful of law firm pens.
5. The Amal wannabe
This aspiring young lawyer wants to change the world for the better. Like Amal, she has a passion for human rights and hopes to one day follow in her idol’s footsteps and marry George Clooney become a Doughty Street Chambers barrister. Due to budget constraints, she attempts to replicate Amal’s impeccable (and rather expensive) dress sense using her ASOS student discount, with mixed results.
6. The guy who quits after a week
The life and soul of freshers’ week, this law student is the self-proclaimed Jägerbomb king. He rocks up to the introductory lectures still wearing last night’s sick-stained clothes, clutching a large coffee and nursing a monster hangover. Then, as quickly as he arrived on the scene, he’s gone again. You never find out what happened to him, but rumours circulating the law school suggest he’s now doing a marketing degree at another uni.
7. The mature student
This 40-something wannabe lawyer has already has a degree under his belt (and a whole career, for that matter). However, keen to integrate into the group, he reluctantly joins you and your friends on a night out. At about 10pm, having spent roughly 15 minutes in the nightclub, he quietly slips out and gets an Uber home. The only interactions you have with him after that are awkward “so, how are the kids?” moments when you bump into each other at the law library.