A Gap year before going to university

So you’ve decided to study law at university, but you’re unsure about taking a gap year, and what impact it will have on your life and career prospects. This article will consider the pros and cons, and help you make that important decision.

For most students at the end of their A-levels or Further Education, a gap year represents an opportunity to break free from the studying shackles and experience the world through travelling, or by gaining work experience. It is important to note that a gap year is not an excuse to sleep-in, play for hours on your Playstation, or continually update your Facebook profile! It is therefore essential to make the most of your break from education. Employers and universities will be as eager to discuss what you have achieved during your gap year, as much as during your studies.

The options for your gap year are endless. Travelling is a popular choice that will introduce you to new people, cultures and languages. Whether you are trekking through a rainforest, sightseeing around landmarks, or ordering local cuisine, you will learn a lot about yourself and your limits. These experiences are not only great talking points amongst friends, but also employers. Significantly, many law firms (particularly those within an international dimension) are keen to recruit individuals who are familiar with the countries or continents in which they operate. As travelling can be expensive you may decide to find a temporary job, especially if you can exploit a talent or passion for an activity such as windsailing, skiing or scuba diving. As a law student, it is highly advisable to undertake volunteer work. Many organisations look for smart and trustworthy individuals (such a prospective law students) to teach English, help with humanitarian programmes or work on wildlife reserves. These experiences are character building, and offer huge advantages when you begin your job search. In addition, learning another language during your gap year will be a selling point that recruiters will recognise. It is without question that travelling requires willingness, commitment and maturity – key characteristics for successful law students.

If however, you decide to work during your gap year, it is very useful to gain experience within the legal profession. Should you seek a career as a solicitor or barrister, it is essential to have an awareness of how legal practitioners carry out their duties. Working as a paralegal or legal assistant will not only give you exposure to law-in-practice, by may also enable you to establish valuable contacts for the future. Enhancing your practical understanding of the law during your gap year will also give you an advantage over students who go straight to university.

Nevertheless, like many law students, you may have an interest in a particular industry or sector (e.g. construction, healthcare, or media), which you would like to work with in the future. Gaining first hand experience will be advantageous, and will certainly help you if you decide to work in a legal capacity within that area.

In addition, given the increasing cost of university education, working during a gap year will provide you with additional funds. Dedicating your gap year to working will encourage you to adopt a routine, so you can hit the ground running with your law degree - as opposed to lying in bed and skipping lectures with a hangover!

Although taking a gap year has become more and more common, there are a number of drawbacks. If you travel during a gap year, you may find it difficult to adjust to the heavy demands of a law degree. Reminiscing about your adventures may be a huge distraction when you are stuck in a library surrounded by textbooks, and having to work to deadlines. Similarly, you may become so used to earning money that the thought of being strapped for cash during university may be too much to bear. One solution is to work part-time. Yet, this can be tough given the amount of reading a law degree requires, not to mention when you have coursework to write or exams to prepare for.

You may even reconsider studying law altogether because of the onerous length of time it takes to become qualified. For instance, if your ambition is to qualify as a solicitor, you will study and train for a minimum of 6 years. A gap year may turn out to be an interruption to your career path. There is also a fear that by taking a gap year, you will be lumbered with ever increasing university costs. Given the recent ‘top-up fees’, it is important to keep abreast of political developments and university tariffs, as you do not want to be hit with further expenses as a result of your gap year.

Another disadvantage is that you may feel left behind, as many of your friends have decided to go straight to university. Studying at university will change your life, and introduce you to new people. Therefore, you may be annoyed that your old friends may have seemingly forgotten you as they establish a new life and friendships. As many of your friends will graduate from university and go straight into work, you will have your law degree to finish. In addition, those budding solicitors or barristers would still have to undertake the Legal Practice Course or the Bar Vocational Course (and potentially the GDL).

Unlike many other professions, a career in law is extremely competitive. There is no guarantee that a gap year will increase your chances of securing a training contract or pupillage. In fact, taking a gap year may hinder your prospects if you do not use your time wisely.

One alternative to taking a gap year is to choose a university degree that enables you to study abroad or undertake a work placement (known as a sandwich year). This is a healthy compromise that enables you to live and study in another country, or gain work experience tailored to your degree.

Good luck in making that important decision.