LLB blogger Sandaranu of Sri Lanka
I thought the LLB was going to be easy. I was 25 when I made the decision to start my LLB with the University of London International Programmes in Sri Lanka. By this time I already had my Bachelor of Business and MBA. I was working full time as a teacher, an examiner for a local examination body and an entrepreneur. Surely it had to be easy for me, I thought, with my experience as a teacher and examiner.
I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. Before I knew it was in the deep end of the pool without a life jacket. Not only did I realize that studying law required an entire different mindset to studying management, I also realized it demanded self-discipline, commitment and most of all; time. As a management student and teacher I was used to short notes, video clips, calculations, challenging theory, bypassing text books, and last minute studying. None of those was going to work with a LLB. LLB required sitting down and reading, memorizing, thinking and then some more reading.
I began to doubt my teaching skills. I knew how to guide my students, help them find their learning style but I was just not getting mine. I learned that a good teacher doesn’t always become a good student. In fact I was a horrible student. I over estimated myself and kept things till the last minute. My time management was poor, my notes were incomplete and I was too tired from work to pay attention in class. Most of all I was struggling to find time to study. For the first time in my life I was a part time student and that was tough. I had long working days and I was too tired at the end of the day to study. I began valuing time like I had never done before. I envied full time students who had time to read cases and research. I found myself waking up early to squeeze an hour of studying before work and I read examiner reports on my computer when I took breaks at work.
I thought of quitting so many times. I had a lot on my plate. My exams and the exams of my students fell on the same week. There were only a couple of months left for the exam and I didn’t know much. Taking time off work was not an option because that would be passing my exams at the cost of my students’. I was stressed and panicking. I had begun to love law. Contract law was my favorite. I loved being able to solve problem questions, thinking like a lawyer and advising clients. It didn’t seem fair to not give it all I had, which is exactly what I did.
I stepped up, made study schedules, organized all my study materials, read and re read cases and text books, answered questions and looked for tips on examiner reports. My social life became nonexistent and my work out schedule suffered. In the last couple of months, I went from not knowing much to being confident, knowing my case and legal reasoning. In the end I got through all my first year subjects, not as well as I would have liked but I knew I did the best in the circumstances. Passing this exam meant more to me than all the other exams I’ve passed before because I knew how close to quitting I have come and I knew the personal sacrifices I had to make.
But my struggles are not merely personal. There are many fellow UOL students who have to balance studying with work and personal responsibilities. There are so many of us who have to beat time, make personal sacrifices, come close to quitting and yet manage not to lose sight of our goals. It may not be a smooth ride, but every one of us who haven’t quit yet is a winner.
Sandarenu is studying our Bachelor of Laws (LLB) by distance learning in Sri Lanka.
Reblogged this on Diary of a Law Student.
So inspiring, thank you for sharing!
Training to become a lawyer is not an easy task, students in Nigeria face similar challenges.
I cant agree with you more! I actually have a challenge balancing my time and work in addition, I am in my final year of study!
It puts my life into prespective! thanks
Thank you for sharing!! I swore it was I who wrote this blog … I’m in my 2nd year, lives in Tobago (Trinidad and Tobago), I have two kids, a husband, working and by the end of the day am exhausted the last thing I want to do is pick up a book. It’s now a cpl months before exams and I myself know very little but I am going to try my utmost best to change those circumstances before May hits …. Good luck to you and all Lb students 🙂
Thank you for sharing your experience! I’m also a UoL student (not law but still) I also thought of qutting many times being squeezed up between work and studies. Less than 2 months left to exams and there’s many things I don’t feel confident about but I guess once I got through the first year it will only get better 🙂
Very inspiring. Thanks for sharing. Many of us think about quitting, but the determining factor is ultimately our goal to succeed and finish what we started with such vigor in the first place. I trust that we will all finish our respective courses triumphantly.
Thanks for sharing your personnal experience. To succeed one has to be very focus at your goal, because at the end of the day the benefits you gain will allow you to help other to achieve their goals in life.
You being one of my school friend, I know that your a person who does not give up easily.That counts too!!!
Ture !!! I am also going through a tuff time managment with my newly married lifestlye and my LLB finals this year. It had been so hard to get to this stage but like you said , I too had a point where I wanted to give up but some how I noticed that it is easy to give up but hard to win case.
I am still on the run to my goal cause I know the feeling at the end of LLB is going to be inxplicable.
Thank you everyone for your encouraging comments and thoughts. I’m glad you could relate to my post, find inspiration and at the very least be reassured we are not the only ones struggling.
Asante – your struggles must be much tougher than mine, all the very best for the exams!
Asli – congratulations on not quitting and yes it will get better once you get through the first year 🙂
Jack and Philo – thanks for reminding all of us to keep our eyes focused on our goals.
Sara – it’s special to have a comment from you. You are so close to the finish line. All the best to you for your finals.
All the best everyone, let’s use the remaining months wise.
I’ve got all this to come! I’ve just got to hold onto my passion for law and let that carry me through the challenging times on my journey to becoming a lawyer. It’s good to hear about your experiences and I will learn from them.
http://intheeyesofthelaw.wordpress.com/
Keep up the hard work, it will be worth it
Inspiring stuff. I just recently concluded a Bsc with the UOL and can relatedly perfectly with this. I ‘m also considering the LLB as well. but I need to count the cost before embarking on another journey. Thanks Sandarenua
Thank! Truly inspiring and motivating! I think many of us UOL students can relate to your experiences. You are right positivism and taking action is the key to doing well in the LLB. Thank you again for this wonderful post! All best in your studies and may you succeed in all your endeavors!
Thank you so much for your inspiring article. I’m like many of you out there, working mum with 3very young children and married. This year I just had no idea how to make things work with a full time job and many sleepless nights. I thought of quitting, I’ve taken a break this year but you have inspired me not to quit and to get back in the books. I too love the study and love law, thank you!
very inspiring, at times quitting do seems like the best thing to do. but that feeling should be motivation to press on.
Hi I want to study LLB but after reading your blog and seeing how hard it is I am not confident enough 🙁
Hello, I am truly inspired by this message from Sandarenua. I am very interested in considering the UOL. Is there anyone out there with information on how to contact the UOL to make inquiry on questions about their program. Thank you. Jesse
Hi Jesse,
You can submit questions at enquiries.londoninternational.ac.uk. You may also be able to find the information you need on our LLB webpage: http://www.londoninternational.ac.uk/llb
UoL Team
Thank you everyone for all that positivism that you keep sending in. Jesse and Nathaniel, all the best!!! Urvashee, go for it, I’m sure you’ll do great 🙂
Hi Sandarenu,
I am thinking of doing LLB with University of London external. I am a Sri Lankan based in London and working in London. I am hoping to study for graduate entry route A programme within 2 years. During the first year I will be studying four compulsory modules and during the second year I will be studying 5 modules which 2 of them can be chosen from a list of 18 modules. After LLB, I am hoping to do Sri Law College final exams. I wonder if you had time to look at LLB final exam papers at Sri Law College? What do you think what other modules I should study during second year optional modules, which would be useful for Sri Law College finals. All the best with your studies
awesome post..encouraging post..motivation for me..i am doing L.L.B under UOL too but in Malaysia.. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your experience and for making me feel better :)Thanks Renu
Thanks for sharing such a inspiring post..I am currently L.L.B student under UOL..external student from Malaysia.This post really motivated me..Thanks Sandarenua
Great entry! Best of luck – it is a tremendous program but students really need to be at the right place professionally – also have reasonable expectations for when you graduate
Vidhya, Flex – Thank u and all the best!!!
Lakmal – Great choice, all the best. You can contact me on [email protected] and I will try to help you with the information needed.
Thanks for such an inspiring write up 🙂 I am from Bangladesh. I am doing my BBA from, IBA, Dhaka University simultaneously with LLB honors University of London, so i could relate with many of the things you said. This give me a well needed to kick to stay on course and just hold on as sometimes things really get a bit tough. Best of wishes 😀
Nabil – respect! I can imagine how it might be tough but be at it and you would be proud of yourself! Good Luck!
Sandra,May I know how early you started? I have 7 weeks, are they sufficient?
Currently, I am in intermediate, year 1. Taking all 4 subjects. Also a part timer.Need you advice.