A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF AN LLM STUDENT
As an LLM student living in the heart of London in Bloomsbury, during the academic year each week I experience a unique mix of excitement, pressure, stress, challenges, opportunities and a sense of achievement – and no two weeks are ever the same! As the teaching period is only eight months long for the degree in England, it often seems that it is over very soon after the academic year commences, hence careful planning is required to make the maximum use of the time. I would personally summarise my year into periods – the settling in and getting to know your university and courses period, the end of first term submission period, second term and end of term exam period and finally dissertation period. While it is difficult to talk about a typical week during the year as each week and the amount of work varies according to which period of the year it falls into, below I try to provide a glimpse of the highs and lows during a week in my life as an LLM student.
It may seem obvious, but is worth stating that it is crucial to opt for LLM modules you genuinely have a flair for. As a masters student, you are expected to be responsible and in charge of your own work and learning. Each lecture requires vast amounts of pre-reading and having an interest in the subject makes the job much easier. My week involves attending four lectures, one for each module and four tutorials which left me a day in the week free.
While initially I was excited at the thought of having an extra day to myself, I soon realized that I would have to use that time in the library completing my readings and notes for the week. While attendance is never strictly monitored by the university, my passion for the modules I had opted for and the sense of responsibility I have attained as a masters student ensure my presence for each of my classes.
Monday
Throughout the year, I have considered myself quite lucky as my first lecture on Mondays starts at 6 o’clock in the evening, leaving me a bit of time to sleep in! However, this week isn’t a regular week as I am required to present my arguments for a moot arbitration in class as part of the practical section of
one of my modules, international commercial arbitration. As I put on my suit, rehearsing my arguments in my head, I feel like a lawyer eager to make an appearance in front of the judges. I’m nervous, yet excited. I rush to the university to meet my group members with whom I had been working for the moot arbitration. The groups had been selected by the professors, resulting in a great blend of nationalities, my group members are from Germany, Jordan, UAE, Nigeria, United States and Pakistan. Being put into groups has allowed me to make new friends, giving me opportunity to learn something new from them in each of our meetings.
I discuss and rehearse my arguments with my group members and received their valuable feedback.
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