I studied Law and Accounting in U.L from 2003-2007. Upon completion of my degree I was awarded a scholarship to pursue Postgraduate Studies by Research to obtain a Masters Degree and for a number of reasons, largely because I enjoyed my time as an undergraduate in UL so much, it was an opportunity I relished. I am currently undertaking my research in the area of accounting and auditing. It presents very different demands academically to those experienced as an undergrad but I am thoroughly enjoying the process nonetheless. I also teach tutorials to business studies students, which is a fantastic, yet challenging experience. It has given me a flavour of the lecturing lifestyle and it is definitely a career I would consider working towards in the future. 

People often ask me why I decided to come to UL and I can never give one straight answer. The truth is that there are numerous explanations. First and foremost, the course itself attracted my attention. I thought that the idea of combining two different but related and complimentary disciplines was an excellent one. Accounting was always one of my favourite subjects in school and as a result a possible career in accountancy was something I regularly considered. However I was somewhat reluctant to narrow my options too much by choosing a degree in accounting alone. The Law and Accounting degree seemed preferable because it offered subjects related to law, accounting, taxation, economics, statistics and more. This would open up the possibility of choosing a number of career paths. Some of my classmates have decided to become accountants, others solicitors, other barristers, other tax consultants, others stockbrokers or economists, others teachers or lecturers and some others researchers. Once I finish my Masters thesis, I will begin an accountancy training contract with PricewaterhouseCoopers and I also hope to do my professional tax exams one day. The legal knowledge I have gained during my degree will stand to me in this regard. 

Another reason I came to U.L was because of the outstanding facilities it offers. The U.L Arena boasts a first class gym, a 50 metre swimming pool and a plethora of fitness classes. Even though the arena welcomes innumerable well renowned athletes, whether it be locally, nationally or internationally, on a regular basis, the students are not forgotten and are always looked after with discounts being offered to them for arena membership. There are also a wide range of clubs and societies on campus, both sporting and non-sporting. These provide an excellent outlet to meet new people with similar interests to your own. The college also boasts a selection of restaurants and cafes that are reasonably priced and suit every taste. There is an active students union on campus to represent student needs and they often organise social events such as concerts or comedy shows. There really is something for everyone at U.L. I always describe the campus as being its own community of sorts. In reality everything you need is right at your fingertips. Even though there are over 12,000 students in the college, coming from a wide range of disciplines, there exists a great camaraderie amongst them and this identification is something that continues to exist even after you leave U.L. Graduates are proud to be associated with such a wonderful establishment. 

Furthermore, I made the decision to come to U.L because it was a popular choice among my secondary school peers, most of whom I am still friends with today. However I also befriended so many new people during my time here, especially my classmates. We were always willing to help one another out in times of need and we remain the closest of friends today and will do long into the future. 

A chief reason I chose U.L was because of the opportunity to gain first hand experience in the workforce for 8 months as part of co-operative education. I worked in the audit department of PwC and liked it so much that I am returning there to do my training contract. Not only did co-op give me first hand experience of the environment but it also gave my employer the opportunity to assess my ability. It also gives students an excellent opportunity to make an impression on employers. I, like many of my contemporaries, was offered a job based on my co-op. The experience also gives students the liberty of deciding that perhaps a certain career is not for them, which is often just as important, since they may then decide to pursue another field related to their degree. It is also a paid placement which makes a welcome change for some to the impoverished student lifestyle!

As regards the law and accounting course itself, as could be expected, there was quite a significant workload but definitely nothing too cumbersome. As long as people were willing to put in the effort, which most people were, the rewards would come at the end. The important thing to do, as with all walks of life, was to stay on top of things and to never let the work build up too much. I managed to graduate first place in my class by following the above ethos so it does work!

All in all, I can't speak highly enough of my time in U.L. I had some unforgettable experiences and made some lifelong friends during my four years. As I go forward into the working world I will always be extremely proud to tell people that I studied at U.L because I know that it has an excellent reputation and I will always feel honoured to be associated with it. It has provided me with a rounded experience academically, socially and personally. I can't recommend it highly enough as a place to study and to live.