After moving to the UK almost five years ago, Sara Fernandez is now studying her undergraduate law degree at our London Bloomsbury campus. We spoke to Sara to learn more about her experiences as a student, her role in the Students’ Union (SU) and her ambitions for the future.
By April Baniqued. Published 16 December 2025.
There were a few things that helped me decide I wanted to be a lawyer. Being told repeatedly that I was good at engaging in conversations and convincing people of various things, and the show Suits. It was recommended to me and after watching all nine seasons, with admiration, I decided that I wanted to be a lawyer. I read cases and watched documentaries on law which elevated my passion for it. Further, I’ve always been ambitious about justice - being a lawyer can help me bring justice to those around me. After completing my law degree, I plan to do my postgraduate studies.
I chose The University of Law because I realised that I would get a good balance of study and leisure here. After attending classes and realising that my lecturers were lawyers who knew how to teach and explain the law well, I knew that this University was the best choice. I also liked the course modules available on the LLB Law degree.
Outside of studying, I am the Students’ Union Programme Representative (Rep) for undergraduate law. Programme Reps are responsible for taking a cross-university look at the course they’re responsible for. I support our Class Reps to identify themes in student feedback and help improve the academic student experience across the University for the LLB Law programmes. I enjoy improving and providing for our community, so I applied for the position in hope of achieving this aim. I also want to thank my friend Kareena, who encouraged me and helped me make posters for the election.
I’ve held leadership roles since Primary school. Being the Programme Rep will truly help me to improve on myself as a leader and to recognise how I can support the students on campus. To add to this, this role encourages me to be more immersed within my course and the University, so I can make the best of my time during my studies.
As part of this role, I host activities and events that students can get involved with. Things like coffee mornings and employability events to help those struggling to find work experience or internships. I’m also available to offer advice on topics students want to explore, that the University might not be able to offer. Looking further ahead into the academic year, I want to work with our SU Vice President for the Bloomsbury campus to hold student events around study support or leisure.
I’m hoping this opportunity will further improve my communication skills. Interacting with my peers and stepping out my comfort zone will truly shape my skills to be a lawyer. I also want to achieve a sense of fulfilment and success in this role as I aim to do my best to make the course more enjoyable and stress-free for our students.
A recent accomplishment I’m proud of is gaining work experience at an immigration and family law firm. This was a big achievement to me because I had zero contacts within the legal world and I’d struggled to find something suited to me. Being able to finally get this experience gave me an insight into the practices of law.
My biggest takeaway from this experience is to keep trying and never give up on yourself; there will always be an opportunity for you. I made connections and met loads of lawyers through this work experience, so this accomplishment was very meaningful to me.
For students looking to join the University, here is my advice to you: everybody worries, as did I. Worried about making friends, worried about managing the course, worried about fitting in. Despite this, you must put yourself out there. Make use of every opportunity given to you. Don’t compare yourself to your peers because you are not them and everyone moves at a different pace.
Allow yourself time to settle in, explore campus events and facilities, and if you are unsure of anything, no matter how small, ask questions. For me, I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to manage my time properly. After a month of disorganised sleep schedules and chaos, I found my pace and implemented methods that work for me to sustain a good balance between study and leisure.
Finally, don’t be afraid to approach your peers. Most of the time, they are in the same situation as you.
