Balancing Life Behind the Wheel and Behind the Books: Why I Study Law While Driving HGVs Full-Time

Balancing Life Behind the Wheel and Behind the Books: Why I Study Law While Driving HGVs Full-Time

 

When people find out that I’m studying a full-time accelerated law course as well as  working full-time as a Class 1 HGV driver, their reaction is usually the same: “How do you do both?”

The honest answer? It’s tough. But it’s also one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.

 

 

Life at 44 Tonnes and 100 Cases

 

My days often start between 1–4 AM, doing my pre-vehicle checks in the freezing cold or the pouring rain, then climbing into the cab of my lorry while most people are still fast asleep. The shift could lead anywhere, I might be heading up the M6, driving through London, or waiting hours at a depot. Then once the shift ends – often 12, sometimes 15 hours later – it’s time to swap the steering wheel for statutes, casebooks, and legal journals.

 

This isn’t a typical student life. There is never a lazy morning or midweek lie-in. Sometimes I study in the cab on breaks. Other times, I read cases on my phone while waiting to be tipped. But I make it work, because I have a goal – and that goal is to build a career in law.

 

 

Why Law? Why Now?

 

I’ve always been drawn to law – not just the rules, but the reasoning behind them. The idea that a good argument can challenge power, protect rights, and even change someone’s life. Coming from a working-class background, I know how distant the legal world can feel to people on the outside. I want to bridge that gap. I want to be someone who understands real life as well as legal theory.

 

Working in transport, you see all sorts – long hours, tough conditions, and real people facing real problems. I bring that experience into my legal studies every day. It keeps me grounded. It gives me perspective. I know what it means to graft, and that work ethic pushes me through the dense textbooks, the assignments, and the sleepless nights.

 

 

Finding Balance (Sort Of)

 

Is it easy? Not even close.

I miss social events. I’m tired more than I’d like to admit. There are nights when the last thing I want to do is open a law book. But here’s the thing: I love both worlds.

 

I love the independence and solitude of the road. The clarity of an open motorway at sunrise gives me peace. I also love the complexity of legal argument, picking apart a judgment, spotting an issue, learning how to think like a lawyer.

 

It’s not about choosing one or the other. It’s about proving I can do both. And that’s something I’m proud of.

 

 

To Anyone Trying to Do the Same

 

If you’re working full-time and studying or even thinking about it: you can do it. You’ll have to get creative with your time. You’ll need to push yourself when you’re already drained. But if it matters to you, you’ll find a way.

 

Whether I’m parked up at a services reviewing tort cases or revising for an TCA after a 13-hour shift, I remind myself why I started: I believe in law. I believe in hard work. And I believe in turning both into something meaningful.

 

Thanks for reading – and if you’re on a similar journey, feel free to reach out or drop a comment. Let’s support each other.

 

– Callum