7 mins read
Meet Abdullahi Yussuf, a PGDL student at our London Bloomsbury campus. Read on to find out about his ambitions to become a barrister, how he balances his studies with his other commitments and how he uses his experiences to guide his journey into law.
By Abbie Wilson. Published 09 November 2026.
What inspired you to study a postgraduate law degree?
For a long time, I thought a degree like law or medicine was for other people.
I was fascinated by the power of the law to shape lives, protect rights and create change, but I spent years convincing myself that I wasn't smart enough to pursue a legal education. Fear and self-doubt often spoke louder than my ambitions.
My undergraduate degree in Social Anthropology at SOAS and my MSc in Human Rights at the LSE gave me the confidence to challenge those beliefs. They helped me develop a deeper understanding of people, justice and the systems that affect our lives. Those experiences shaped who I am today and showed me that I was capable of more than I had allowed myself to believe.
How have your ambitions changed since you started University?
My ambitions have grown from wanting to make a difference to understanding how I can make a difference.
When I first entered higher education, my focus was on learning and finding my place. Through my studies, volunteering, legal experience and engagement with different communities, I have developed a clearer vision of the impact I want to have.
Today, my ambition is to be a lawyer who combines excellence, empathy and service. I hope to contribute to a legal profession that is more accessible, inclusive and reflective of the communities it serves.
Why study at The University of Law?
Choosing The University of Law and the PGDL felt like choosing courage over fear. I wanted to finally take a chance on a dream I had pushed far away for years and ULaw offered the opportunity to make that dream a reality in an environment focused on preparing students for practice and impact.
What are some of your recent accomplishments and what do they mean to you?
2026 has been filled with milestones that I will never take for granted.
I was honoured to receive the Inner Temple GDL Exhibition Scholarship, achieved strong academic results on the PGDL, secured a summer internship with the Bar Council through the 10,000 Black Interns programme, and completed legal work experience that developed my interest in advocacy.
Being shortlisted for two Students' Union Excellence Awards at The University of Law and subsequently receiving the Significant Achievement Award and the Volunteering Award was meaningful because those awards recognised not only achievement but also service and perseverance.
What makes these achievements particularly meaningful is being able to share them with the people who have supported me throughout my journey. Seeing my mother (who the Significant Achievement is dedicated to) in the audience at the awards ceremony was a reminder that while achievements may have an individual's name attached to them, they are often the product of collective encouragement and belief.
Together, these experiences have reinforced my commitment to pursuing a career as a lawyer.
Who has had the biggest impact on your experience at The University of Law?
Without question, the people.
My lecturers, classmates, mentors and support staff have all played an important role in my journey. But if I had to identify one person who has had the greatest impact, it would be my mother. She has always believed in me, often at times when I struggled to believe in myself. Throughout my studies, she reminded me of what was possible when I focused on my goals rather than my fears. Her encouragement has been one of the constants that helped me keep moving forward.
Alongside the incredible support I received from the University community, her belief in me gave me the confidence to keep pursuing my ambitions.
How has The University of Law helped you pursue your ambitions?
The University of Law provided more than an education; it provided a community.
Having access to supportive staff, understanding tutors, opportunities for engagement and a network of fellow students created an environment where I could continue progressing without feeling like I had to do everything alone.
That sense of support made a significant difference and helped me continue pursuing my goals during a demanding year.
Despite balancing study, caring responsibilities, disability and volunteering, I stayed motivated on the difficult days by reminding myself why I started. I thought about the people I wanted to support, the communities that had invested in me and the opportunities I had worked hard to reach. I also reminded myself that huge achievements do not always measure that progress; sometimes it is measured by showing up and taking the next step.
That perspective helped me remain focused even on the most challenging days.
How has helping others transformed your own journey and what have these experiences taught you about the kind of barrister you hope to become?
Leadership, to me, is about service. It is not about being the loudest voice in the room. It is about creating opportunities for others, listening carefully and helping people feel seen, valued and supported. As well as building resilience, these experiences have taught me that some of the most impactful leadership happens quietly and consistently. As a future barrister, I hope to bring that same approach to my work by combining professional excellence with compassion and integrity.
Many of the people I have supported were looking for guidance, reassurance or someone who understood their situation. Through those experiences, I realised that our stories can be powerful tools for encouragement and change.
Helping others has helped me understand the power of connection. Seeing the positive impact that support can have on someone's confidence, opportunities or wellbeing has reassured my commitment to service and shaped the kind of legal professional I hope to become.
How have you overcome self-doubt or setbacks?
One of the biggest challenges I faced was believing that I belonged in the legal profession at all or in certain spaces in general.
As I previously said, for years I questioned whether I could study law and succeed in such a demanding field. What helped me overcome that self-doubt was focusing less on whether I was "good enough" and more on why I wanted to pursue law in the first place. The encouragement of people around me, especially my family, helped me overturn beliefs I had carried for years about what I could achieve.
I learned that confidence often comes after taking the leap of faith, not before it. Every opportunity I embraced, every challenge I navigated and every small success helped replace self-doubt with self-belief.
What skills have you developed through your volunteering and studies this year that will help you as a barrister?
My law conversion course allowed me to develop my ability to communicate effectively, think critically, solve problems and advocate for others.
Volunteering taught me the importance of empathy, active listening, and building trust. My legal studies strengthened my analytical reasoning, research and written advocacy skills.
Together, these experiences have reinforced something fundamental: good advocacy is not only about presenting arguments; it is also about understanding people.
What one piece of advice would you want someone reading your story to take away?
Do not allow fear to make decisions on your behalf. Do more, fearlessly.
Some of the opportunities that have shaped my life began with uncertainty and self-doubt. If I had waited until I felt completely ready, I would still be waiting and probably would have never done the PGDL.
Growth often begins the moment we decide to take a chance on ourselves. No matter where you are starting from, your circumstances do not have to define the limits of your potential.
When you picture your future, what do you see?
I will be progressing towards the Bar, continuing to gain legal experience and building on everything I have learned during my time at The University of Law.
In the future, I hope to practise as a barrister while continuing to contribute to the communities and causes that have shaped me. I want to use both my professional skills and lived experience to help people navigate challenges, access justice, and feel empowered within the legal system.
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