Nathan Lynas
Law - LLB (Hons)
It was never easy for Nathan to settle on his favourite subject or future career, but once he discovered his passion for law, everything fell into place. Nathan is already giving back to his community and excelling in his subject.
鈥淚鈥檝e always flip-flopped between subjects and careers, never quite committing to one fully. I鈥檝e considered being a pilot, a computer scientist, and a musician but none of them stuck. At school, we visited a local college to attend some taster sessions. The Law session fascinated me. Some of the cases we discussed were so bizarre and captivating, I couldn鈥檛 stop thinking about them and I knew I had to study law at A-level.
During my A-levels, my fascination only grew. We watched a documentary called 鈥楾he Barristers鈥�, about a barrister prosecuting a case arising out of the 2011 riots in 探花直播. The documentary cemented my decision to apply to study law at university and one day become a criminal barrister.
I chose BCU as the Law course is varied and offers the opportunity to study so many different areas of law and explore the areas that interest you most. The extra-curricular activities and work experience that are on offer at BCU make it stand apart from other universities.聽探花直播 is probably my favourite city in the world, and I wanted to give back to my community. BCU is definitely the university for 探花直播 and the work the university and its students take on make 探花直播 a better place.
I鈥檝e been volunteering with Citizens Advice since July 2022, talking to people in 探花直播 and helping them with their issues. It鈥檚 such a rewarding experience. I gained the position through BCU鈥檚 Law Clinic, which allows law students to work with Citizens Advice and work on real-life cases.
A big part of my degree has also involved taking part in mini-pupillages. I was able to work on the UK Covid Inquiry. It was amazing to be mini-pupil to lead counsel and witness people like Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, Deputy PM Oliver Dowden, CMO Chris Whitty, and former CSO Patrick Vallance being questioned.
The best part about taking part in a mini-pupillage is learning from qualified barristers. I did a nine-week-long trial in 探花直播. I got to know the barristers and they were really helpful and very, very kind; I learnt a lot from them that I will carry into my career and use to hopefully work alongside them after I graduate.
I鈥檓 also President of the BCU Law and Mooting Society. Becoming president marks a huge milestone in my personal development. When I started university, I would have never imagined that my law knowledge and experience would be good enough to run the society or participate in any of these volunteering and extra-curricular opportunities.
Balancing part-time work, volunteering, mooting, and mini pupillages hasn鈥檛 been easy, but it鈥檚 been worth it. I was chosen to go to the 探花直播 Legal Awards as one of two 鈥極utstanding Students鈥� and I鈥檝e been nominated for the Neuberger Prize, an award for exceptional law students.
I really feel that I will be a well-rounded graduate by the time I leave BCU. I鈥檝e gained work experience, friendships, confidence and most importantly, happiness.
To me, 鈥業 am BCU鈥� means being surrounded by kind, genuine people within the university and wider community.鈥�