Katie Newham
"I have learnt that if you take advantage of everything that is offered to you – and Surrey has a lot to offer – you really can achieve things you never believed you were capable of."
Course
Law with Criminology LLB (Hons)Entry year
2016"I received my offer from Surrey a week before I set off on a four-month volunteer trip to East Africa, and I remember feeling relieved and excited that when I returned I would be getting ready to go to the university I believed was right for me – I still feel that way after two years of studying here!
I lived at Stag Hill in my first year, and my favourite thing by far was the social element of it. Being in a house of 20 meant I was never short of company! Being surrounded by others who are going through the same changes that you are is comforting, and transforms the daunting experience of moving away from home into a really fun one!
One of my favourite things about life at Surrey is the Sports Park, which offers top class fitness facilities that have even been used for Olympic training! If you enjoy participating in sports, Team Surrey offers everything from football and running, to even more unique sports such as ultimate frisbee! While there is the opportunity to compete at competitive level, you can also participate just for fun. I feel this is a great way to socialise with those outside your immediate network. However, if sports are not your thing, you can join one of the Students' Union's many societies. With over 160 societies to choose from, there really is something for everyone, and if none of the existing ones take your fancy you can always get a group of friends together and create something new!
While a lot of my free time on campus is spent at the Library, during my study breaks I enjoy relaxing by the lake with a group of friends or a good book. As you can imagine, this is only weather-permitting, but luckily the University offers a number of other places you can go to wind down! These include Starbucks, as well as independent restaurants such as Hillside – which is particularly great during exam season, with bargain dinners and free tea and coffee! The calm and friendly atmosphere in these spots allows you to escape the stresses of university, even if only for an hour or so!
"The endless support that I have received from Surrey’s School of Law has allowed me to secure my training contract already"
One of the main things my time at Surrey has helped me realise is that I find law absolutely fascinating. It is for this reason that I have decided to pursue a career as a solicitor. Once I graduate from Surrey, I will go on to a law school to study the Legal Practice Course, before taking a two-year training period at a law firm before I qualify.
The endless support that I have received from Surrey’s School of Law has allowed me to secure this training contract already, meaning I will be a qualified solicitor by the time I am 25!
I feel that Surrey’s close relationship with law schools, such as the University of Law, enables students to become well-informed early on, and figure out exactly what we need to do to get to where we want to be. I have learnt that if you take advantage of everything that is offered to you – and Surrey has a lot to offer – you really can achieve things you never believed you were capable of."
Discover more about our law courses and our criminology courses, including our LLB Law with Criminology.
