A whimsical Wednesday: life as a law student

In a world filled with essays and exams, we all share a day that is somewhat considered less of a hump day. Personally, to me, that day is a Wednesday, no pun intended. In fact, each Wednesday that comes by has ironically grown to become more of a whimsical reset. Why? It may be a secret now, but if you read on, it will become your secret too.

Hi! My name is Jada, and I’m a current law student.

Welcome to a whimsical Wednesday in my life…

At 7:30 am, I decide it’s time to silence the alarm on my phone and start the day. Once I’m up, I make a quick cuppa, shower, get dressed and pray, just in time to leave the house at quarter past nine. Like many London commuters, travel can be unpredictable with unexpected signal failures and fights for a seat you later regret sitting on.

Amongst staying in the exquisitely silent law library during term times, one of the most valuable opportunities available to law students at Middlesex University is the opportunity to develop a range of interpersonal skills and legal experience. You can apply to become a legal assistant! Busy? Yes. Rewarding? Very! Thanks to their partnership with Middlesex University, I have been dedicating my Wednesdays to the Pro Bono Legal Clinic (also known as the Legal Advice Centre) for almost a year now. I’ve had the chance to develop new legal skills, provide legal administration and shadow solicitors on individual client matters, which I absolutely love.

I usually arrive on campus around 10:30 am. It gives me at least an hour of headspace before I open the clinic to either catch up on a few responsible tasks or meet up with a friend/colleague for a chit-chat and quick, sweet bite at a study café. More often than not, however, I enjoy a quiet moment to myself with a croissant and my laptop. After eating, I often become quickly occupied with seminar work.

Working at the Pro Bono Legal Clinic

At 11:30 am, I head over to the legal clinic. In my current position as the Pro Bono Clinic organiser, I help manage a team of legal assistants across both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Once I take the register, I carefully allocate everyone to a specific role within the clinic throughout the day. This can either be within triage by onboarding new clients, shadowing a lovely advisor by taking notes or doing administrative roles in the reception and student hub. I also keep close contact with the legal advisors, ensuring everyone is well-prepared and up to date.

Meeting clients is certainly the highlight of my week. Just before the clinic opens, there is a brief calm before the day begins, followed by a steady flow of familiar faces. Once sessions are underway, my main priority for the day is to oversee time management and respond to any personal or conflicting enquiries, ensuring everyone feels seen, satisfied and heard.  

At 3 pm, after a swift tidy and pack up, the clinic officially closes. After leaving the clinic, I head out to eat with a few friends or colleagues and catch up. Somehow, the food always tastes better after a long day!

My journey home around 5-6 pm is usually accompanied by the Law Show podcast, followed by music from Sade. Her vocals keep my ears captivatingly entertained, and the Law Show holds my interest as it explores different concepts of law.

Looking back, I would never have imagined having this pro bono legal lead role while still studying. Middlesex has given me the opportunity to actively develop my legal skills alongside my degree, and I’m passionate about continuing this journey into my future legal career.

About the author

Jada Howard is a LLM Law student at Middlesex University. She studied Politics, Criminology, and History at A-level, which inspired her to pursue a career in law. She aspires to become a qualified lawyer in England and Wales. Outside of her studies, Jada enjoys trying a new hobby each month. She finds art the most tranquil and loves how it feeds her creativity.

Would you like to get law experience while still studying?

Check out opportunities at our Legal Advice Clinic.