18. Volunteering, paid work and other extra-curricular opportunities

Abstract

Studying law — attending classes, reading, writing essays — is obviously an essential factor in becoming a successful law student. However, ‘just’ studying law, in the sense of completing the strict requirements of the law programme, is rarely enough for success in the longer term. The extra factor, and what makes the experience as a law student so much more valuable, is extra-curricular activity — the things the student can do even though there is no obligation to do them for the purposes of the course. This chapter considers extra-curricular opportunities, ranging from very law-focused activity such as working at a law clinic, to things not obviously connected with the law such as volunteering in the local community, paid work in the student union or bar, or involvement in sports or music.