My First Year in Law: What I’ve Learned (So Far)

My First Year in Law: What I’ve Learned (So Far)

 

As I wrap up the first year of my Accelerated LLB, I thought I’d take a moment to look back at the core subjects I’ve studied so far. Balancing the course with full-time HGV work hasn’t been easy, but getting stuck into the substance of law has made the long nights and motorway services study sessions worth it.

 

Here’s a quick breakdown of what I’ve covered – and what I’ve taken from each module.

 

 

📚 Academic and Professional Legal Skills

 

This was all about the foundations: how to read cases properly, how to use legal databases, how to build an argument, and how to reference sources without losing your mind. It might not sound exciting, but this module gave me the tools to survive everything else.

 

What stood out most was how legal writing is an art in itself – clear, precise, and structured. As someone who hadn’t written essays in years, this helped me sharpen up and start thinking like a law student.

 

 

⚖️ Criminal Law

 

This was the one I’d been looking forward to the most — and it didn’t disappoint.

 

We covered everything from non-fatal offences and murder to defences like insanity and self-defence. What really got me was how much hinges on fine details — intention, foresight, causation — all crucial in deciding guilt or innocence.

 

Studying criminal law reminded me why I’m drawn to prosecution: the power of evidence, the importance of fair trial rights, and the real-world impact of legal decisions.

 

 

🏛️ Law and the State

 

This subject connected law to the bigger picture: Parliament, the Constitution, the rule of law, and how power is exercised (and restrained) in the UK.

 

It helped me understand the machinery behind everything else. We explored topics like judicial review, human rights, and the separation of powers — and it made me realise how fragile, but essential, legal safeguards are in any democracy.

 

 

🧭 Legal Systems and Methods

 

Think of this as the map to the legal landscape — showing you where you are, how you got there, and what tools you need to navigate it.

 

We looked at precedent, statutory interpretation, common law development, and legal reasoning. This was where I started to “get” how judges think and why decisions are made the way they are — not just what the law is, but why.

 

 

📝 Law of Contract

 

Surprisingly, I found contract law really interesting. It’s logical, structured, and full of real-world relevance.

 

Whether you’re buying a car, starting a business, or signing up for gym membership, contract law is involved. Learning about offer, acceptance, consideration, and terms made me look at everyday interactions in a new light — and made me read the fine print a lot more carefully.

 

 

💥 Law of Tort

 

Tort law was probably the most “human” of all the subjects — it’s about harm, responsibility, and fairness.

 

Negligence, occupiers’ liability, psychiatric harm — these are areas where the law tries to balance blame and compensation. Coming from a practical background, I really connected with tort. It feels like the place where legal theory meets everyday life.

 

 

Final Thoughts

 

It’s been a steep learning curve, but I’ve genuinely loved it. Each subject has added a new layer to how I see the world — and how I want to contribute to it.

 

From the cab of a lorry to the corners of a courtroom, I’m slowly building the knowledge I need to move forward. And I’m only just getting started.

 

Thanks for reading — more to come soon.

 

– Callum