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What were your favourite parts of the LLB programme at UCL Laws?
I joined UCL Laws in 2011, graduating in 2014 with an LLB in Law. I greatly enjoyed my time here - the lectures and tutorials are particularly memorable for me because they were so lively and engaging. My favourite areas were Tort and Public International Law, areas where I achieved my highest marks. The flexibility in the latter part of my jurisprudence module allowed me to choose my own topic for the dissertation, where I wrote about Judicial Review and Waldron from a Pakistani angle.
What advice would you give to prospective students?
To anyone thinking of studying at UCL, what I’d say is: UCL is the place to go! Apart from rigorous academics, there is a lot of opportunity for direct engagement with law firms from the start. Get fully involved with everything the university has to offer. Societies are extremely welcoming and actively encourage you to take part, which made me want to take advantage of everything UCL had to offer – especially as one of the highest ranked and most diverse universities. For example, I loved debating, and was elected onto the committee of the UCLU Debating Society as Inter-Varsity Tournament Convener 2013-2014. I wanted to learn Italian, and took Italian courses at UCL in the evenings.
Can you tell us about any extra-curricular activities you took part in during your time at UCL Laws?
UCL Laws also has a range of extra-curricular activities which really helped build my skills and confidence beyond the classroom. Since I intended to become a lawyer, I decided to take part in moot competitions. I won the Hogan Lovells Moot Cup in my first year along with my team-member, against King’s College London (which was a memorable win considering the historic rivalry with King's!); and judged in the Herbert Smith Moot Cup the next year. I also wrote for the Laws student magazine, Silk v Brief.
How did studying at UCL Laws help you in your career path?
While in my second year, I undertook a vacation scheme and was offered a training contract with DLA Piper in London, where I trained and qualified in Litigation & Regulatory. I then moved home to Pakistan where I qualified and worked for a year, before moving to the disputes team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in Dubai. I sit on the Steering Committee of Pakistan’s only arbitration organisation, CIICA, and have also since been called to the Bar (England & Wales) by Lincoln’s Inn.
What memories from UCL Laws have stayed with you?
UCL never quite leaves you, especially being a beautiful campus in the centre of London, and as an alumnus I used the library throughout my LPC, and frequently come back to the Main Quad for peace and quiet.
