2006 2nd prize

Imagining law?

Mairead Moore (University of Wales Swansea)

Mairead won the £75 second prize in the 2006 competition.

To me, a lawyer is basically the person that knows the rules of the country. We’re all throwing the dice, playing the game, moving our pieces around the board, but if there is a problem the lawyer is the only person who has read the inside of the top of the box.

(Jerry Seinfeld)

The reason I decided to study Law was Ally McBeal. It’s all her fault. Like me, she was (just a little) scatter- brained and ever so slightly eccentric – yet she could effortlessly win any case with a dramatic, heartfelt performance in court. Oh and of course, there was her endless collection of killer heels and designer suits with her signature short skirts. This was what I wanted more than anything – to dress up like her and give heroic, ‘Save the World’ performances in court.

Although the glamour of the law was a definite draw, there were also more serious underlying reasons for my intention to study law. As a citizen of Derry City, I had grown up with all the history of ‘Bloody Sunday’ and had marched in the civil marches for justice. I was aware of the sheer desperation of my people who wanted justice in court more than anything. I wanted to do something to stop injustices like this and ensure equality and the only way I could see how was through learning the law so that I could use my knowledge to help others.

I knew it would not be easy. I imagined reading late into the night for many years at law school, arming myself with valuable knowledge before I would get my time in court. I imagined endless debates with my fellow students about the great issues of the day. I also imagined that it would be an exhilarating and wonderful experience which would enrich my mind to the workings of the world. As Swansea University is literally seconds from the beach, I imagined many long days spent pondering the various intricacies of the law whilst topping up my tan.

The first thing I realised I had misjudged when I started my degree was that there would not be many philosophical moments spent on the beach – as I quickly learned that Swansea had the dubious title of the “wettest university in the UK”!

It also became obvious that I would need to learn a new language which is not immediately obvious to the outside world- ‘Ally McBeal speak’ was not actually how it operated in the real legal profession. This new language was fairly intimidating and difficult to begin with, but I, like everyone else soon adjusted.

I also discovered that studying law is about more than learning legislation, which I mistakenly thought studying law involved. In my ignorance, I suspected studying law meant learning off by heart long pieces of legislation which I thought judges based their decisions on. The reality was, I had to learn very little legislation as I could take my trusty statute books into the exams! I found the law was based on a system of precedence which I was previously ignorant to. I found most of my time involved reading long lists of thick cases upon which the law has evolved. This is actually one of the most enjoyable parts of studying law – reading people’s stories – as this is basically what it is. I enjoy this because unlike a textbook written to spell out the principles, I can read a case and get a sense of a person’s background and their underlying ethics and morals as to why they have brought their case to court. I can also see how Judges can adapt and flex the law to account for these individuals personal situations which often have a very real impact on their day to day lives and well being.

In many respects, my expectations of studying the law have been correct – as there IS a lot of reading and it mostly involves independent study. I have spent many a Friday and Saturday evening alone in the dark and sometimes eerie law library and I have even had to opt out of the occasional night out (particularly this year as it is my final year!) because of the sheer volume of work. Occasionally, I have become so frustrated that I even wanted to give up because of my inability to make sense of various rules and principles

However, it is not without its rewards. It constantly challenges me and is probably the most difficult thing I have ever done before. I love the exhilaration I get (from all those hours of study) by contributing to class debates in seminars. This is where things finally start to make sense by listening to my peers differing opinions and how they have understood it differently to myself.

I took a year out of my studies last year to take stock of my life and think about where I was going because I was not sure what I wanted to do at this point – although by this stage I enjoyed the academic study of the law, I was not sure if it was right for me. I spent a few months working in a law firm where I thought I could put my legal knowledge into practice. However, it was not exactly as I imagined it to be – I found the work to be routine, monotonous and more administrative instead of intellectually stimulating as I had expected.

I am now in the final year of my degree and I am ecstatic to be back after my somewhat hapless gap year. I feel a renewed enthusiasm for the law and a determination to enjoy the rest of my degree. As for what I want to do after university? My brief but valuable experience in a law firm gave me a taster of what it is really like to be a lawyer and I realised that it was just not for me. I realised the key to changing policies and making a difference is through academic pursuit by undertaking research which can help to change opinions and perceptions. I realise I will never change the world but when I graduate I want to enter the field of academic research and I want to slowly challenge opinions and thinking. My law degree has benefited me greatly – emotionally and intellectually and I have been very lucky in my choice of law school as it has combined an excellent legal education with inspiring me to want to keep learning.

Last Modified: 29 June 2010