Hi there
I am a final year law student, so far I am really enjoying the degree.
Although I am undecided on what area I want to go into, hopefully I can give some insights.
I agree and would echo the advice above.
From attending insight events, I have also heard that the larger more popular firms will often involve over-time work. Though there will be some firms that pay more attention to work-life balance. It would really depend on which firm you go into, so research is always recommended.
Corporate and commercial law will definitely be some of the busier fields in the practice of law. My company law lecturers have often mentioned having to work longer hours as commercial lawyers.
I think studying and practicing law can be quite different, until you go into practice, you will not usually be able to get hands on experience. In terms of research, I would really recommend listening to insights from paralegals, or lawyers at firms. You should be able to find few of these events online: LegalCheek for example have quite a few events that are really useful.
I hope this helps.
Chloe
University of Kent Student Rep