"UCL LAW STUDENTS - How has your academic year been?"

I can't imagine Charlie would stare at you like that :| What reason would he have? Maybe there was a pretty girl next to you he was staring at.

I can't imagine Charlie would stare at you like that :| What reason would he have? Maybe there was a pretty girl next to you he was staring at.

Merde! I knew I should've applied for BSc Finance Director instead.

Actually my enjoyment of economists might have something to do with the creepier theory that girls are essentially looking for someone like their father (my dad is a finance director). In which case, you're alright jb- my dad studied maths too. Or... maybe it's the power thing.

Edit: I can't explain the lawyers.

Those departments being dominated by women, many worth a second look (or more), has nothing to do with it then

Really? That is very Interesting... :-)


And I'm hot... obviously I'm not just an economist, I'm a banker in the making and president. Feel the power

Its nearly the end of my first academic year at UCL, and so far it been a reasonably good year. Made a surprisingly big number of friends, enjoying student life in London, and I have been making steady progress with my studies.

How has the first year studying at the UCL law faculty been for you guys?

I know a few people who have not been enjoying their first year as a Benthamite compared to others. The common complaint is that they find UCL law students "arrogant" and "unfriendly"

And to be honest I could see where they are coming from as some of our fellow freshers do seem to fit this description,

what do the other UCL law students think? Are these steoreotypes true? And if so, to what extent are they true?

By the way, to those who know who I really am, I am not in any way "arrogant" and "unfriendly" despite what some people seem to think. If you don't believe me ask my friends or the people who have actually talked to me properly in the past...

I found it particularly odd how people wanted to seem rich and spoilt; that a private school education confers some higher status. This pissed me off because regardless of route, our destination has been the same.

It has certainly been an eventful year!

Student halls at UCL are almost completely devoid of character, and more akin to hostels.

You should meet one of my flatmates, not only does she drink a lot but she smokes a lot too (despite the flat being a non-smoking area) plus she could be one the rudest people you would ever meet (Word of Warning to UCL students South Londoner = Potentially Rude, with me as an exception of course )

The result of this has been, as you say, to almost lead to cliqueness within the year group. This has generally arisen because it is difficult to balance being an active member of the law faculty, an active member of halls socialising, extracurriculars and of course, your degree! Thus, many of the people who lead the socialising in our year have palpably poor relations with hall mates.

I don't even have lunch or dinner with my flatmates so that should say something...

The attitude of many law students in the first couple of months was one marked by confusion. Many were bewildered by both the colossal scale of many people's academic and personal achievements. I found it particularly odd how people wanted to seem rich and spoilt; that a private school education confers some higher status. This pissed me off because regardless of route, our destination has been the same.

That deserves a nomination for most the reflective and thought provoking quote of the academic year...

The course is not as tough as I thought it would be, and the faculty does seem keen to help.

Wait for the second year....

It takes a while to adjust- I found the first three weeks mind-numbingly boring, then I had my first tutorials and began to really enjoy the issues raised. The reverse is true of Contract which I found incredibly interesting upto the end of Promissory Estoppel, and it has now plateaued.

Rightly said, and tom, remember the guy who yawned aloud in one of Fiona's contract lectures....THAT WAS ME!!

Apparently, Jeffrey Jowell is retiring at the end of the year- thus we may actually be the last year to have been lectured by him!

No bleeding way, I should get him to sign my Changing Constitution Book ASAP then....

Above all, my realisations this year are that happiness can not be defined in terms of paper and that there are many definitions of success.

Once again, well said Tom, you should write a whole book about this or something

I spent the first three months of 2005 waiting desperately for an offer from UCL, and when I got it, I don't think I've ever been so happy (well, maybe when I got back down to 30" waist). Yet, my first few weeks here were amongst the worst of my life. I found it hard to label someone a friend, and felt I was using people until 'my friends' would magically appear. I had to finally get so desperate for friends that I took an active role, rather than a retiring role! As my friendships have grown stronger, and my happiness here has increased, I feel more confident and upbeat.

The definitions of success on the law course tend to be quite limited; popularity and intelligence and sporting prowess. I think coming to UCL in general shows you that success is not confined to academia or wealth, but to the person you are, and who you want to be.

Seriously mate, write a book, you will earn loads of cash I promise

Overall, a good year- and I'm hoping to have an even better second year! Remember: Tom for Publications (Silk v Brief) officer!

I also cannot believe we are nearly at the end of out first year at ucl! woah! It's gone way toooo quickly. It's been eventful to say the least..ups and downs...but mostly ups if im honest. I never really got the 'arrogance' vibe from many lawyers to begin with, and if anything I felt that the the ucl lawyers were some of the most friendly people id met for a long time not to mention the most fun. I came back from the France trip more or less confident that i had come to the right place. Although a lot of the people i hung out with loads at freshers, i dont necessarily talk to much anymore, I still had two of the most fun weeks ive had for a long time and i felt that as a group everyone connected really well. Admittedly, the downside was that i had to try really hard to get to know my hallmates after two weeks of not really talking to them...but now its is all good and im really close to a couple of them as well as having a wicked group of mates on law who im also very close to. I can understand why some people might feel intimidated by the 'clique culture' amongst the lawyers, because admittedly groups were formed VERY VERY quickly. However, most people are always willing to talk to new people and make new friends, it just takes one person to have the guts to make the first move! Overall, im quite happy with this year..in some ways its not how i expected..but nevertheless compared to a lot of others who i have spoken to...i dont think i can complain!

It has certainly been an eventful year! I found settling in really tough, and still regret how I handled failing to click with people etc. I felt that the major problem in the first few weeks was the realisation that UCL halls are basically rubbish.This led people to try and cling on to something tangible; and the law faculty became that. Student halls at UCL are almost completely devoid of character, and more akin to hostels. This made people feel less secure of their relationship to the university, against compounded by the quick sand foundation upon which UCLU operates.

The law society by comparison is headed by a dynamic committee, who all work well together and are clearly good friends. They reflected something positive, indeed to some people they were the image of an enjoyable time at university. This led people to want to form cliques, to resemble this close knit group. The result of this has been, as you say, to almost lead to cliqueness within the year group. This has generally arisen because it is difficult to balance being an active member of the law faculty, an active member of halls socialising, extracurriculars and of course, your degree! Thus, many of the people who lead the socialising in our year have palpably poor relations with hall mates.

The attitude of many law students in the first couple of months was one marked by confusion. Many were bewildered by both the colossal scale of many people's academic and personal achievements. I found it particularly odd how people wanted to seem rich and spoilt; that a private school education confers some higher status. This pissed me off because regardless of route, our destination has been the same.

Though I hate to say it, I knew things would settle once we had the first set of essays back. A new heirarchy was formed with something tangible; lies and wild boasting have generally declined. Perhaps this was just a product of my wild insecurities. However, I do feel a general shift away from people playing themselves up.

Most people I know are having a very good time, but I definitely feel some people are not. I think a real strength of having such a cohesive faculty is the extent to which home students are integrated into faculty life. Three of my very best friends on the course still live at home and are involved just as much with our socialising. I do wonder if you studied a more disparse course how such people would integrate themselves.

The course is not as tough as I thought it would be, and the faculty does seem keen to help. It takes a while to adjust- I found the first three weeks mind-numbingly boring, then I had my first tutorials and began to really enjoy the issues raised. The reverse is true of Contract which I found incredibly interesting upto the end of Promissory Estoppel, and it has now plateaued.

The quality and quantity of experts within the faculty is incredible. UCL law students do not always realise how privileged we are to be tutored by professors such as Dawn Oliver; in many universities (including Oxford) professors do not tutor undergraduate students. Apparently, Jeffrey Jowell is retiring at the end of the year- thus we may actually be the last year to have been lectured by him! Once you actually dig beneath the shell of the law, and look to the underlying principles, you will never look at anything again in quite the same way.

Above all, my realisations this year are that happiness can not be defined in terms of paper and that there are many definitions of success.

I spent the first three months of 2005 waiting desperately for an offer from UCL, and when I got it, I don't think I've ever been so happy (well, maybe when I got back down to 30" waist). Yet, my first few weeks here were amongst the worst of my life. I found it hard to label someone a friend, and felt I was using people until 'my friends' would magically appear. I had to finally get so desperate for friends that I took an active role, rather than a retiring role! As my friendships have grown stronger, and my happiness here has increased, I feel more confident and upbeat.

The definitions of success on the law course tend to be quite limited; popularity and intelligence and sporting prowess. In this respect the year group can sometimes feel like school, but I kind of like this because I'd rather be talking to people more concerned with last nights Desperate Housewives than a discussion of post-modern art! I think coming to UCL in general shows you that success is not confined to academia or wealth, but to the person you are, and who you want to be.

Law at UCL is not nearly as pretentious as people claim it to be. Most people on the course are clever. All however lacked a real passion for any of their A Level courses. This generally prevents an atmosphere of 'IheartLaw' presenting itself. The arrogance of certain students is regrettable, but certainly no worse than that shown by UCL students in general.

Vikki Fabian said on my first night in London that, though it is a cliche, 'what you put in, you get out', and it is so true. If you invest time and energy into UCL Law, you will reap the rewards personally and academically. It is a richly satisfying experience in terms of the people you meet, and many lessons you learn.

Overall, a good year- and I'm hoping to have an even better second year! Remember: Tom for Publications (Silk v Brief) officer!