Life at City of Oxford College
Emily Prachar studied A Levels in Sociology, Psychology and Law at City of Oxford College. She has since graduated from the University of Southampton with a Law degree and is now a training solicitor working in clinical negligence.
“I transferred over from my secondary school where I had started my A Levels but wasn’t really enjoying it. I’m so glad I came to college, as I had a really positive experience there,” Emily said.
“One thing that made my time at college so great was my brilliant law teacher, Saima Hussain. She really helped me throughout my course, and we’re still in touch today. I dedicated my university dissertation to her for all her incredible support and for sparking my interest in law!”
The support Emily received at college helped her secure a place at university, and a scholarship for her A Level grade in Law.
“My teachers supported me a lot with my university application. There was also a time during university when I went back to them for help and they were happy to support me, even after I’d left,” she added.
Most memorable moment
Emily’s most memorable college experience was when she got the opportunity to witness a real case and gain valuable industry experience with other students from her A Level Law class.
“At college, my class had the chance to go to the Old Bailey, the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, in London to see a court case about an MP that was murdered,” she said.
“It was a fascinating experience. It was our first glimpse of a real-life court case and what our future careers could be. It solidified my interest in pursuing a career in the legal profession.”
Life since college
Since completing her Law degree at the University of Southampton, Emily has been doing her LPC, Legal Practice Course, to become a Solicitor.
“I started working at Freeths almost two years ago now. I started on the Legal Assistant Programme. The idea is that you have regular reviews and after nine months, there is an opportunity to secure a training contract to become a solicitor,” Emily said.
“I joined as a legal assistant and then I was offered a training contract which I started in September. We do four seats in total and I’m on my first seat, so I will hopefully qualify a year in September.
“I started working in the Trusts, Estates and Tax team and now I’m working in our Clinical Negligence team. So, I’m getting a broad range of experience which I’m really enjoying.”
“The support I have had at Freeths has been really great, particularly around my studies. I started during Covid which was such a turbulent time for most, but I settled into working life seamlessly. It has been amazing to see all the things I learnt at College and University in working practice.
“There are plenty of school leaver and graduate opportunities at Freeths, which I would really recommend looking into if you’re wanting to start a career in Law.”
Proudest achievement to date
“I’m coming to the end of my LPC now, so I think doing the LPC alongside full-time work is my biggest achievement,” shared Emily.
“It’s quite a difficult course, and to do that alongside working quite a demanding job, is something I’m really proud of. I’ve got my last exam in March and then I’ll graduate.
“For most law students, the training contract is the end goal after studying. So, feeling like I’ve made it there is quite nice.”
Advice for someone leaving college
Emily has a few words of wisdom to share with students who are leaving college soon and embarking on their next steps.
“Cherish your time, whether that be with education, your career, or spending time with friends and family,” she said.
“Time goes by so quickly that it’s important to enjoy where you are now as it can be easy to get absorbed in what’s next and forget to cherish the experiences and opportunities that you have today.”