Studying law as a mature student
Lyn Ajanaku is a mature student in the third year of an LLB Law with English Law at the University of Aberdeen. Lyn would like to specialise in tax law or intellectual property or international law after graduation.
Now that I’ve started my third year and am over halfway through my degree, it feels like a good time to reflect and provide others with some insight into what life as a mature law student is like.
In short, if you’re considering going to university to study law or any degree, don't be afraid. It’s never too late and you will thank yourself at the end of it.
Why study law?
First of all, it’s a great degree to have and very adaptable to any career path you may choose to take, even if at the end of it all you find out that you don't want to go on become a solicitor.
What makes you a mature student?
There are different types of mature student and I am not the only one in my year. Anyone who comes back to university and is above the age of 21 is classed as a mature student.
In my case, I am a mature student under the age of 30 with a family of two kids under the age of 10. This is my first degree and I am also a self-funding student.
What is life like as a mature student?
Some mature students choose to do the full-time degree, while others doing a career change may opt for part-time study so that they can continue in their current job to support their study.
First year: I had mixed feelings in my first year. I had moved over to law from a science background, which was a huge change. I had to learn how to study a more essay-based degree, which also had a different way of doing exams.
If you go to lectures and use the support and resources available to you, you will be fine. Remember, most people come into a law degree knowing very little about law. First year is all about learning the basics.
Second year: With a year’s essay writing experience under my belt, my skills had improved and I got to try a greater variety of subjects than in first year. My second semester was a bit crazy as I had six exams in the space of nine days, but don’t let that scare you. Because I also do English law as part of my degree, unfortunately the exams fell very close to each other.
Third year (so far): This year has been interesting. My timetable has been less hectic, with the move to honours meaning seminars instead of tutorials and no lectures. But there is more reading to do for the honour courses.
Overall I do feel like I have to work harder than my younger counterparts. This isn’t just in terms of exams and essays, but also the extra curricular actives I do to help stand out with employers. But I’m enjoying what I’m learning.
What are the difficulties experienced by mature students?
As someone who has children, has been out of education and is undergoing a career change, there have been challenges.
Children being sick: There’s not much that can be done when this happens and it will be the same in the world of work too. Unfortunately, if your other half cannot look after the children, you will have to miss your class.
Many universities give students support with childcare, which is worth applying for.
Finance: You are allowed to work part-time but for limited hours. If you are struggling, universities have financial help you can apply for, and it’s worth looking at what scholarships are available.
I am so grateful to have secured a scholarship with the Robert Nicol Trust for second and third year. It makes a huge difference when a certain percentage of your tuition fee has been taken care of.
Social life as a mature student?
Mature students may feel excluded when it comes to some social outings, because while some of the younger student may love to get drunk, you have moved passed that stage and have responsibilities and demands on your time that mean late outings aren’t suitable.
But it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have fun. There will be plenty of other students who prefer going out for meals to a night of drinking. And there will be other mature with the same circumstance as you.
Get involved with clubs and societies too as these are good ways of being included in social activities.
Advice for those considering becoming a mature student
Please do not feel that you cannot stand out to an employer because of your age. You already have gained many skills from working, and during your degree you will learn how those skills are relevant to a career in law.
If your university has personal tutors available, do make use of their knowledge and support. Personal tutors and the rest of the law department are there to help you. They have experience dealing with different types of mature students and many of your lecturers may have also been a mature students themselves. Make use of their support, they do not bite, I promise!
Make use of the career service at your university, attend as many networking events as you can and use the other resources like the Law Society of Scotland too. They are all here to help you succeed.
To be honest I think everyone should experience the world before going to university because you are more mature mentally and know what you want, including why you are doing the degree you have chosen to do.
So what are you waiting for? Submit that UCAS application :-)