Donna Nicholls

Law student testimonial

A first class (hons) LLB with the OU is just the beginning of a career for Donna Nicholls and she says it's the perfect platform to start from...

How did you find out about the OU?

I was aware of the OU and how they provided home study as my Mum had taken courses with the OU whilst I was still at school.

I had my children quite early and never finished my ‘A’ level courses. As my children got older I realised that once they grew up and left home I would still have a long working life ahead of me; I wanted to ensure that I would be in a position to work in a career I enjoyed and that could provide me with a challenge and job satisfaction. Studying Law at University had always been an ambition from around the age of 14.

Why did you choose to study Law with the OU over other institutions?

I really liked the fact that I could study part -ime, in my own home, this allowed me to timetable my study around work and family commitments. The monthly payment options were attractive as well; you pay for each module as you are studying it. This eased a lot of the financial worry of going back to University. It also means that you finish your degree with no debt as each module is paid for as you finish it.

I completed a short Openings course to gain an insight into studying with the OU, I loved it and it gave me the confidence to do more. Having been out of study for so long I don’t think I would have had the confidence to sign up to a traditional university, it is far easier to send in your assignments by e-mail and read the feedback in the privacy of your own home. It is also comforting to know that the majority of people on the course feel the same, and this makes attending tutorials far less intimidating.

When I read the prospectus and saw that the course was provided in conjunction with the College of Law I knew that it would be an excellent course and would be well-respected in the profession. Although I signed up with a view to career progression, initially I just wanted to see how far I could go on each course and gain the personal satisfaction of earning a degree.

I knew that the OU did not discriminate or make any requirements of its students to sign up to a course, and this was not as daunting as applying to a Law course at a traditional university.

Are you currently employed and did you work alongside studying for your degree?

I am currently employed as a General Advisor within the Co-operative Banking Group. I worked part-time throughout my degree. For the first four years I worked at a local newspaper as a receptionist and sales administrator. I only ever wanted to work part-time as it allowed me the time to concentrate fully on my studies; and still have time for my family.

I found working beneficial as it prevents you becoming too isolated as studying at home can become a little lonely and it makes you take a break and reflect on what you have learnt. I also realised how much the law affects people’s everyday lives, and how legal solutions are applied in reality. I quite often found it helped in an assignment to try and apply the scenarios to situations I could relate to.

I also think that when I was made redundant, my studies with the OU helped me to find employment with the Co-op and meant that I was not out of work for long. Through my OU study I was able to illustrate my good time-management and organisational skills, as well as my academic abilities.

Working within the Bank has given me an insight into working in a professional environment, and how regulatory and legal requirements are implemented in the workplace; this was a definite advantage when I went on to do the Legal Practice Course (LPC).

What was your greatest challenge/greatest success during your studies?

Although I could not say that I didn’t find all the modules challenging, I loved every minute of my OU studies and so never found motivation a problem, and my family could not have been more supportive. I think the biggest hurdle I faced was when both my husband and I were made redundant within six months of each other and taking my first Level Three exam wondering if we would have the resources for me to continue to the end of the degree.

My greatest success was walking into my graduation at the Barbican and going to collect my gown, it was a moment that I had dreamed of for six years and I couldn’t quite believe I had done it. The pride in my husband and children’s faces that day will stay with me forever.

What are the next steps towards getting a training contract for you?

Having completed the LPC, my next steps are to continue to apply for training contracts and paralegal opportunities. I do not have a lot of legal work experience as having to study part-time and work made seeking summer vacation work difficult. I used to use most of my holiday entitlement in October so that I had enough time to revise thoroughly for the end of module exams and so had very little spare time to engage in work experience with firms.

At present I am sending out speculative applications to firms, but there is not too much available in the way of advertised vacancies. The introduction of ABS seems to be impacting on firms’ willingness to commit to the expense of a two year training contract.

To gain a little more experience I have applied to some voluntary schemes such as the Restorative Justice Panel; and will consider asking as local firm if they would support me in gaining Police Station Accreditation.

I am hoping that my life experience and work experience within the banking industry will illustrate that I am a good candidate; it is slightly frustrating that a lot of firms bemoan a lack of legal work experience, but then require candidates for paralegal roles to have gained the LPC. I am also concerned about the removal of the minimum salary for trainees from 2014.

What area of Law interests you most? And what role are you aiming for?

I have an interest in Family Law, and in the more specialised area of Public Child Law. I also studied Advanced Criminal Practice on the LPC, and have an interest in Youth Justice especially. I am also interested in the private client element of work. I would say this places me firmly in the traditional high street bracket, however finding training contracts in this area is especially tough as Legal Aid is being cut and firms are unsure of their futures.

Having said that I also enjoy employment law and as I work in a corporate environment at present would not rule out working in these fields if the opportunity arose.

Where do you hope to be in 5 years’ time?

In five years I hope to be a fully qualified solicitor. I would also like to gain Higher Rights of audience to become a solicitor - advocate. I have ambitions to go as far as I can within the profession, perhaps become and associate or partner; or possibly the judiciary. I know I have a lot of hard work ahead of me before I will be in such a position, but I will take each stage as it comes as I have done throughout the academic stage of my legal career.

Would it have been beneficial to you if you had been employed by a law firm whilst doing your degree and they supported your study with a job at the end?

It would have been so beneficial to have been employed by a Law firm whilst doing my degree, even if they could not guarantee a training contract at the end of it.

I have found whilst completing my LPC that most firms ask what legal experience you have gained during your studies; and a negative answer seems to imply to them that you are not committed to a legal career; or that you just woke up one day and decided you quite fancied being a solicitor!! (Despite the commitment of six years hard study!) Whilst at school and college I completed work placements with two solicitors firms which included shadowing in county and crown courts; and visiting clients, my mum was a magistrate and so I often sat in the public gallery watching proceedings, so I had a fair idea what the profession entailed when deciding that I wanted to study Law.

I think being employed within a law firm would provide invaluable experience, and provide all important contacts within the profession that make finding an opportunity easier. I have found that it is still a profession that who you know can be more important than what you know.

Whilst both my employers were extremely supportive of my studies, working within a legal environment would have been extremely useful.

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