My name is Joe Shiells, I am currently in my final year of a law degree at the University of Leicester. its almost impossible to define myself within a few short sentences, but if I had to pick one defining feature I would use to describe myself it would be variety. I love to surround myself with variety, be that meeting new people, travelling to new places, or finding new challenges. I am an avid hockey player, play multiple musical instruments and in my 22 years have travelled to over 40 countries. My chosen career should reflect my interests as much as possible and I believe the law provides a unique challenge that suits both my interests and my abilities.
What makes the law so challenging is that there is rarely a case that doesn't have its unique elements. Furthermore the adversarial system that has arisen in England is testament to the inherent ambivalence that one would face with every case. This variety is what interests me, putting time and effort into a role that interests me comes easily. Additionally the law does not exist in a vacuum, it is both theoretically and practically deeply connected with the people it aims to represent. As a result the law provides a unique environment whereby one has to follow the technical rules of law while continuing to support the people whose lives are being effected. While it is not the job of a lawyer to be a therapist or a friend, the way one conducts oneself can inspire confidence or anxiety, it can inspire a client to help themselves. Every person is different and this variety represents an exciting feature of the legal system and one I am personally very interested in. I have studied dispute resolution and the tactics it employs in a specific module over in Australia and been able to use these skills to my benefit in negotiation competitions and client interviews. I believe that by establishing a good working relationship with both the clients and member of one's own team, one can often obtain a more useful resolution for everyone involved.
I have not always wanted to be a lawyer, and have spent many hours agonising over whether this is the right career path for me. I have come to the conclusion that there is no doubt that the law is something I want to be involved with. It has the potential to change lives in a way that very few other occupations have, and the variety that i have already mentioned is something I really value. A career is often something one stays in for the rest of one's life, and I believe it is not something one should decide on lightly. My original reservations have helped me to realise exactly what I want in a career, and how my skills and abilities are suited to the law.
