PATRICK HANNON OVERCOMING CHALLENGES

Many postgraduate students choose to study part-time while working. LJMU offers plenty of support to ensure students thrive in both areas of their lives. Patrick Hannon is one such student, who returned to LJMU after completing his undergraduate degree a few years ago.

After completing his Law undergraduate degree at LJMU, Patrick had some time after graduating to decide what he wanted to do next. He is now studying his LPC course. “It is the follow-on course from my Law degree,” Patrick explains. “Completing it means I will be qualified to practise as a solicitor – my dream is to work in employment law. I have always wanted to fight for the little guy.”

Patrick didn’t jump straight into further study, and initially he had some reservations about returning to university. “I was worried that after a few years out I wouldn’t be able to cope with studying again,” he admits. “But I can, and I would never have known that if I had not just jumped in and had a go. I enjoyed my undergraduate degree at LJMU, even more so than I originally thought I would, so it was a no brainer that I would do my master’s degree here.”

Studying with a disability can feel overwhelming too, but Patrick has felt really supported by LJMU. “Both the disability team and the law school have been really good in terms of additional support,” he says. “When it comes to exams, you can get extra time and smaller exam rooms where you might not feel as overwhelmed or stressed. The staff really want to help and ensure you unlock your full potential.”

As well as being impressed with the master’s itself, Patrick has also enjoyed having the ability to network with local law firms during his studies. “We had mock interviews too. These were so useful because I believe that, thanks to them, I was able to get my current job within a law firm. The contents of the course really prepares you for the working world.”

Patrick admits that balancing work and study was hard, but he is proud of himself as he overcame his own challenges to get to where he is today. “Studying at master’s level is incredibly challenging, but I am proud of myself that I have been able to get here. I am so grateful to LJMU for everything.”

Changing Direction

Choosing whether to change career path can be incredibly daunting. However, here at LJMU, we support all of our students in finding a career that allows them to work in a field they are passionate about, as well as excel professionally. Here we talk to some of our students who chose to pivot their career with postgraduate study.