I started my Law Degree with excitement and anticipation. I was full of ambition and hope. My family were proud and also excited that their little girl was firstly going to university (the first in my family) and secondly to study Law!

Being a bit of a home bird I chose a university close to my home. I got very good grades in my A-Levels as I worked my pants off! and so could have choosen a number of universities to attend. The university I chose was one that was friendly and small enough that I wouldn't get lost. The lecturers and professors were fantastic. They would always be there to help, giving out their personal e-mail addresses and mobile phone numbers. For all those students who wanted the extra help, time and support it was there by the bucket load. These people really cared about their jobs and their students.

After passing my first year with good grades, I was on track for a good degree. However in that first year I had learnt that the law was not always what I believed to be morally right. Often it seemed that what was right and what was the law were poles apart.

The cost of the law degree was also spiralling. Fees, travel and books all mount up. My family helped as much as they could, I even took on a part time job to help fund this but the debt kept increasing. The part time job took it's toll on the time I could use for study and so my assignments started to become of lower quality. I couldn't get anymore funding as the loans were means tested and although my parents income seemed high they had prior commitments that just couldn't see them offer me any more money.

At the end of my second year, my grades I felt were disappointing. My first year had been so full of hope and promise compared to the grades of my second year. When my parents finally announced that they were separating it became all too much and I decided to put my degree on hold for a year. I spoke to the university and they were most helpful, they helped me arrange for my study to recommence the following year on a part time basis as a mature student.

The following year came and I started back, part time. The course was ran for two evenings a week, however no student loans/funding were available for this choice as you are expected to be working also. I was working full time as well as try to complete my last year of the law degree. Sadly it was all too much for me. I spoke to the university who were sad to hear that I was unable to continue and instead awarded me with a law diploma as the modules I had passed were all of high enough standard to achieve this.

I would advise anyone who wishes to study Law to try and see beyond the glamour of it all. It is still very much a male lead profession and is tough for a woman to break into. It is very very expensive, you have the cost of your books each year, which have to be new as the law changes so quickly, (therefore they are difficult to resell on, although the university advises to do that) your fees, your living costs and of course you have to have some sort of a social life too. Living at home during my study meant I didn't go out as much as some and I didn't have rent to pay for but still it was expensive.

There is also the time factor. You have to spend as much time as you do in your lectures in the library, if not more. A law degree isn't something to take light hearted, some weeks I would put in 60 hours plus. I got the results but ultimately it was all too much for me.