Georgia Hughes

LLB, 2024, St Hild & St Bede

One of the most significant advantages that Durham Law gave me was being surrounded by like-minded, intelligent, and ambitious people. Fellow students, whether in the same cohort or not, encouraged and supported one another in their applications for vacation schemes and training contracts.

From an academic perspective, the content and skills I gained from the Law Degree not only stood me in fantastic stead when studying for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination and in a professional capacity, but also developed me immensely as a person. The multidisciplinary aspect of the degree means that I have something meaningful and interesting to contribute to nearly any conversation and feel confident in voicing my thoughts and opinions. It is in part this confidence, instilled in me through my own hard work but also, most importantly, through the support of my tutors, that served me in my applications.

For me, the most helpful career support was not necessarily the events or talks put on by the Law School or Careers Service, albeit these were fantastic resources, especially in First Year. What pushed me to progress was my admiration for my tutors – most of whom had worked for several years as barristers or solicitors in London and abroad prior to teaching. Their dedication to the subject and great intellect meant they served as inspirational role models that I could look up to, as well as sources of knowledge and wisdom.

I am now a trainee solicitor at global law firm, DLA Piper.

Before I joined Durham Law School, I had never put a foot in the city, never mind visited the University before (due to Covid)! I had ultimate trust in the generations of lawyers that had come before me and not only achieved success professionally but also had a fantastic time along the way! My experience was just the same and I encourage anybody considering Law at Durham to seize the opportunity.