Adnan Al-Cazimi

Why did you choose to continue your legal training?

After completing my LLB, I understood the legal world better and had a better understanding of what law firms want from their future trainees. Although there were many other options available, I felt that due to the current situation I was in, continuing to the LPC was my best choice. The current situation with COVID-19 did create uncertainty. However, attending LPC open days and speaking to staff, I was assured that City had our interests in mind, which only further helped me in my decision.

Why did you want to pursue this particular legal path?

After spending three years learning the theoretical aspects of law in my undergraduate, I became further interested in how that law applies in practice. Throughout my undergraduate, I researched thoroughly if I wanted to be a solicitor or barrister. I found that I enjoyed the research and analytical aspects of, e.g. mooting, far more than presenting itself. I later realised a solicitor is a better career path for me: being able to interact face-to-face with clients yet still feeling accomplished from finding a solution to an intellectually stimulating task.

How has your previous studies at City prepared you for your professional training?

The LLB and LPC have been organised well, in the sense that the LPC has been building on knowledge that I have learnt in my LLB. Similarly, the LPC teaches me not just standard textbook knowledge, but also how certain scenarios could happen in real life when dealing with a client, and hence will help in my professional training.

Additionally, City provides specialist subjects in undergraduate that are not found in other universities. This is usually knowledge that you learn in your professional training or, if you are lucky, at LPC stage. By learning this early on, I was able to grasp the basic thinking behind some very complicated ideas and build on them early on.

Why did you choose to continue studying with The City Law School?

Continuing to do the LPC at city was not a difficult decision. After completing the LLB at City, and meeting many of the LPC lecturers, I knew the level of teaching would be at a high standard, and that the lectures genuinely try their best to make their lessons as helpful and practical as possible. Additionally, as the first term of LPC is strictly regulated by the Solicitor Regulation Authority, I was ablet o ask student, not just as City, but from other universities how they felt their LPC had progressed. I found that City had a very positive response, and they were ablet o handle the COVID-19 outbreak very well.

Was the City loyalty discount beneficial?

Yes! This was a very important point for me when decision what university to attend. As SFE does not cover the full costs of an LPC (LLM), this discount made it possible for me to attend university in London and continue with City.

Studying and teaching has been different this year, how have you found being taught online?

I was very pleased with online teaching. The LPC directors and staff did their best to ensure that they can provide many elements from in class teaching, to the online teaching. Group work, tutorials and lectures did not suffer as a consequence. Although, socialising with peers was more difficult, however, it was nevertheless not impossible.

Any tips/advice for prospective students?

Not being able to get a training contract in your LLB is not the end of the world! Once you start applying you will see that there are lots of older students who have taken a break after their LLB/LPC to work as a paralegal and then applied for a training contract.