Part-time is perfect for legal eagle Matthew

When Matthew Smith received his law degree he also received the Thompson’s Prize for Outstanding Achievement.

The degree has inspired Matthew to pursue a legal career, as he is now enrolled on a part-time legal practice course in York, which will eventually qualify him as a Solicitor.

Matthew, 30, from Ingleby Barwick, Stockton-on-Tees ran his own business promotions company, where he first gained an interest in intellectual property law.

This led Matthew to apply for Teesside’s LLB (Hons) Senior Status degree, which gives graduates of any discipline the opportunity to enter the legal profession with a qualifying law degree.

Matthew sold his share of the company and during the course worked for Redcar and Cleveland Council’s events team, as an events assistant.

Tutors were absolutely brilliant Matthew said: 'The tutors were absolutely brilliant in accommodating part-time students. They genuinely understood the hurdles you sometimes have to jump over by combining work and study and made the subject an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Intellectual property law is definitely an area I’d like to specialise in when I qualify. The prize is the icing on the cake, I’m completely surprised to receive it and it’s a validation of my work.'

During the course Matthew particularly enjoyed taking part in mock trials in the role of a defence barrister, known as mooting. Matthew joined the University’s law and mooting society, who held their ‘trials’ in the University’s mock Court Room. Matthew said: 'It was fantastic taking part in these, I loved being with other students and talking about their career plans. At the end I had an unbeaten defence record.'

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