An inspired journey towards common law

Her story recalls how Diana was inspired to register for the LLB after reading about Nelson Mandela’s quest to study Law with the University of London, during his 27 years of imprisonment in South Africa.

I am Diana, from Yerevan, Armenia - a small country nestled between Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Iran. My journey to the world of education with the University of London distance learning programme started in 2015, when I first decided to get an LLB in common law, with plans to become a solicitor in the UK. Things changed, and so did my plans.

Later on, I had a chance to read Nelson Mandela’s secretly written autobiography “Long Walk to Freedom”. This amazing book, where he described his life-long fight for the ideals he believed in and how he was studying for the LLB with the University of London during the Rivonia Trial, put an end to any doubts I had about whether or not I could get my LLB degree from one of the most reputable universities in the UK. So I decided to try.

As a lawyer from a completely different jurisdiction based on civil law, the world of common law has always attracted me. Working at different international companies, where the most valuable trait was multi-cultural and multi-lingual experience and development, gave me confidence to apply to the University. At that time I already had my LLB from Moscow Academy, my LLM from an Armenian institution, and worked as a lawyer at one of the best employers in Armenia. Currently I work at a well-known international consulting company where I can successfully apply my knowledge to the fullest.

I am on my third year and I expect to graduate in 2020. The years of study at the University  have made me more self-organized, able to conduct academic research, understand and compare huge volumes of different judgements, and meet extremely tough deadlines. All this helps me in my career and self-development. Once I get my diploma, I will say that “Being the University of London graduate is an honour, but at the same time it is an obligation”.

The degree will make my educational background stronger and wider, enable me to be more confident when dealing with contracts and partners from common law jurisdictions, be more flexible due to my “dual degree”, and make me more internationally focused when providing services to clients from foreign jurisdictions. Since learning and the University itself is a part of my life, maybe someday I will continue my education with one of the post-graduate degrees at the University.

I would express my highest gratitude and appreciation to the University of London for making it possible for people like me to have an opportunity to be a part of its worldwide community and to one day become a proud alumnus of this amazing institution.