Things Student Lawyers Aspiring For Global Appeal Should Remember

Law students can gain much by having global aspirations early on. They could enjoy a rich range of experiences.

Things may vary by subject as well. For example, those studying law may have to think about how to qualify for a course, contend with different stances on immigration, and consider the resources they can use to help their professional lives post-academia, amongst other things.

Still, the hope is that this process shouldn’t be overwhelming. If you’re studying law with dreams of having global appeal, the guide below should help you feel more prepared.

Research the Faculty

Many people try to situate their studies at highly reputable institutions. However, because law can be a competitive subject to study, these decisions can often be made based on acute details.

One of those nuances should be the suitability of the faculty teaching your prospective course. After all, how a person chooses to teach a class can elevate the content of the course. They may also have things like greater industry connections and a deeper understanding of how practising law works. You can likely expect a good standard of teaching law in most institutions, but if the faculty is more prolific at one university, it’s in your best interests to try and be taught by them.

Try to take these situations seriously. After all, having lazy lecturers can be one of the main complaints in higher education. While law professors are more likely to operate at a higher standard, those extra checks will ensure you work with the best and don’t fall into the clutches of somebody who’s apathetic.

Start by browsing the faculty pages on the institution’s website. You could also investigate lecturer’s social media footprint to see what topics they comment on. If you can find out where they’ve practised law or embarked on any other work experience, following that paper trail may also lead to intriguing revelations.

Build on International Experiences

Some students choose to stay in the places they study, or incorporate their international experiences into their careers. Grappling with language differences should be worthwhile.

Depending on where you study, sometimes beginner language classes can be offered alongside your core curriculum. You could also seek out language courses independently if you need to. Though you might need to put in some extra hours to make things work, it will undoubtedly be worth it.

If you want to stay in a different country after you graduate, or work with international clients, translation services can also help bridge understanding. For example, Rosetta Translation strives for uncompromising accuracy in their work, with law being one area in which they specialise. They set industry-leading standards and operate 24/7 in multiple countries, redefining how law firms communicate with others, and helping them preserve the original meanings of key documents.

While your student status may seem like a problem at first, knowing these services exist (and are used by high-profile clients) can give you greater confidence in setting the foundations of your career. If you ever start your own practice, you could keep these professionals in mind. Communicating with clients well is vital, as could be broadening your global appeal if you wish to work in international law.

Consider Attitudes to Immigration

Immigration can be a controversial topic in some places. While these situations can seem grim, it’s important to address them so that you know who to listen to and who to ignore.

The UK is a good example of how these tensions manifest. More importantly, university leaders are championing the benefits of overseas students in their institutions today. These problems are likely not restricted to the UK. So, while in some places it may seem like you’re not welcome by som, the universities themselves wish to be a part of your learning journey.

Law degrees provide great value not just to the people taking them, but to global society. Though attitudes to immigration could be better in some places, you can be confident that your degree could be used to help others. Who knows, depending on which area of law you specialise in, perhaps you could eventually make a difference where immirgration is concerned too?

Obviously, it’s not nice to be around these types of discussions, and anti-immigration opinions can be off-putting whether you’re the direct target of them or not. Still, it could be all the more reason to prove naysayers wrong and continue studying law in a place you otherwise love. These experiences can be formative to your career and motivate you to establish change wherever you are in the world.

Review Qualification Requirements

The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) has a few unique factors for people to qualify as solicitors in England and Wales. They are:

• Completing two separate assessment stages, namely the SQE1 and the SQE2.
• Partaking in the Solicitor Regulation Authority’s (SRA) character and suitability measures.
• Holding a degree in any subject or possessing equivalent qualifications from any work experience and apprenticeship schemes you’ve been a part of.
• Partaking in two years of qualifying work experience (QWE).

Other countries may have similar but different measures in place, so it’s important to consider how things might vary. You might need to be flexible and comfortable fine-tuning your qualifications if you wish to work abroad. Still, depending on where you want to go, the extra effort should be worth it.

Check Home University Standards

If you’re only studying overseas for one semester or year, then your home university may set certain restrictions for where you’re eligible to study. Keeping that criterion in mind is important.

There can be many reasons for these additional checks being in place. Your institution may have stronger ties with another or know courses that won’t override or undermine what you’re studying at home. Consequently, try not to view these measures as overbearing restrictions but as measures to help nudge your law career in the best direction possible.

Conclusions

There are many things overseas law students should try to remember. A few extra checks may be required, and you may need to adhere to a few different standards you may not have initially anticipated. Still, help is available during and after your degree that can assist you in embracing all the changes and making the most of these opportunities.