Kyra Bradley
LLB Law and Criminology (2017)
Winner of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Merit Undergraduate Scholarships 2014
I’m originally from Calgary, Alberta, where I went to Western Canada High School for the International Baccalaureate Bilingual Diploma Programme in addition to the Alberta High School Diploma.
Because I was in French Immersion (where all subjects are studied in French by generally non-native speakers), I studied four subjects at Higher Level (French B, English A, Chemistry, and History), and two at Standard Level (Spanish ab initio and Maths).
Although my school didn’t offer an equivalent to A-Level Law, this language and social science-oriented education gave me a strong foundation for my university course and for adapting to post-secondary academic expectations.
Why I chose Law and Criminology at Sheffield
I chose the University of Sheffield to study Law and Criminology because it looked like the full package: a reputable department and course that would prepare me well for a career in law, an award-winning students’ union, too many extracurricular opportunities to count, and a friendly and close-knit city.
The most obvious benefit of an education from the University of Sheffield is a world-class degree that I could enjoy working towards while improving my job prospects in the long run.
Kyra Bradley
LLB Law and Criminology student
I liked how my course has set modules in the beginning but allows for more timetabling choices in the second and third year once I explore the basics and discover what areas of the law I’m more interested in.
I’ve always been a more independent learner, so the shorter contact hours worked well for me; I can go to a lecture and seminar for an hour or two a day, then schedule my studying and assignments around the rest of my commitments.
The most obvious benefit of an education from the University of Sheffield is a world-class degree that I could enjoy working towards while improving my job prospects in the long run.
However, as an international student, my experience studying here also gave me invaluable life skills in adapting to life in a different country, making new personal and professional connections, and exploring cultures and ways of life I wouldn’t have had the chance to at home.
Winning a scholarship
I was thrilled to wake up one morning in the spring of 2014 (the seven-hour time difference was quite convenient this way) to an email from the University announcing that I was one of the IB scholarship winners, as there were only ten given out to students globally and I doubted I would be chosen considering the thousands of other students applying for a place at the University of Sheffield.
I felt honoured and privileged to have been a recipient, and incredibly grateful as well as it was one of the final factors in deciding which university I could best afford to attend.
Getting involved in extracurricular activities
I liked all the opportunities from the departmental societies (Ed Bram, BarSoc, and CrimSoc) that were relevant to my course and added to my learning outside the classroom. They offer talks with local and city firms, socials and quiz nights, as well as mooting and bail application competitions.
I participated in the Ed Bram moot and although I only made it to the second round, it still helped me a great deal with how to write skeleton arguments and respond to problem questions. Some of the cases I researched for the competition I was only just learning about in lectures, months later, so it helped me get a head start on my course.
The learning environment
I enjoyed the mix of lectures, seminars, colloquia, and workshops for different modules. It helped to have experienced lawyers and academics teach lectures, and then clarify and elaborate on what we've learned with postgraduate research students in seminars and the less formal colloquia run by undergraduate students some weeks.
Our lecturers and tutors use a variety of media, including powerpoints, voice recordings, online videos, and links to studies and articles to give us as many perspectives and resources to get our best understanding possible.
Enjoying student life at Sheffield
My favourite part of student life at the University of Sheffield was the variety of activities offered through the Students’ Union and Sport Sheffield. The union nights are especially fun, particularly Roar and Pop-Tarts, and I also tried a few Give it a Go session, which gave me insight into new sports and activities, and introduced me to some of my best friends.
I also joined the new Hornets Baseball Club, and in my third year, I was elected President and was awarded the Black and Gold Award. I also liked getting the opportunity to travel to Loughborough and Nottingham every few weeks for inter-university games.
My advice to new students
For new students coming to Sheffield, I’d recommend looking up what the costs of some essentials are here compared to your home country before arriving and stocking up. For example, I was very glad I brought a ton of pens and collected as many as possible at Freshers’ Fair since they are quite expensive compared to North America.
However, I regret using half a suitcase for binders and notebooks, as notebooks are inexpensive at the Union shop and British A4 sheets of paper don’t fit in my 8” by 11” binders.
Also, when you arrive, don’t be shy to sign up for several clubs and societies. It’s helpful to get out and try multiple activities to make friends and get a feel for Sheffield, before deciding which ones you want to get involved with on a deeper level for the rest of your time at university.
As for Canadian applicants, I know it can seem daunting to hear about equivalency exams and job searches when starting university, but if you do your research early and know what to expect you can really make the most of your time at Sheffield to prepare for a career in Canada’s legal system if that’s what you aspire to.
Look up the NCA guidance to find out which exams you will have to write (almost certainly the 4 mandatory Canadian modules), and consider picking modules at Sheffield which correspond with the other core NCA subjects. For example, I studied family law and private company law as part of my LLB here.
Aim to do vacation schemes, mooting, and job shadowing in the UK to boost your resume and experience, and look at spending the summer in a Canadian firm for networking and Canadian experience.
Also, take advantage of the support offered by the university, such as interviewing and networking how-to sessions, the Careers Service, and advice from your personal tutor and other staff in the School of Law. Everyone wants to see you do your best and is happy to help!
What's next
I am starting an LLM in Criminal Justice, Family and Social Welfare in the UK in September 2017 for a year, then plan on returning to Canada to do the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) equivalency exams and find an articling position (like a training contract).