Nathan Lynas

Law - LLB (Hons)

It was never easy for Nathan to settle on his favourite subject or future career, but once he discovered his passion for law, everything fell into place. Nathan is already giving back to his community and excelling in his subject.

“I’ve always flip-flopped between subjects and careers, never quite committing to one fully. I’ve considered being a pilot, a computer scientist, and a musician but none of them stuck. At school, we visited a local college to attend some taster sessions. The Law session fascinated me. Some of the cases we discussed were so bizarre and captivating, I couldn’t stop thinking about them and I knew I had to study law at A-level.

During my A-levels, my fascination only grew. We watched a documentary called ‘The Barristers’, about a barrister prosecuting a case arising out of the 2011 riots in Birmingham. The documentary cemented my decision to apply to study law at university and one day become a criminal barrister.

I chose BCU as the Law course is varied and offers the opportunity to study so many different areas of law and explore the areas that interest you most. The extra-curricular activities and work experience that are on offer at BCU make it stand apart from other universities. Birmingham is probably my favourite city in the world, and I wanted to give back to my community. BCU is definitely the university for Birmingham and the work the university and its students take on make Birmingham a better place.

I’ve been volunteering with Citizens Advice since July 2022, talking to people in Birmingham and helping them with their issues. It’s such a rewarding experience. I gained the position through BCU’s Law Clinic, which allows law students to work with Citizens Advice and work on real-life cases.

A big part of my degree has also involved taking part in mini-pupillages. I was able to work on the UK Covid Inquiry. It was amazing to be mini-pupil to lead counsel and witness people like Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, Deputy PM Oliver Dowden, CMO Chris Whitty, and former CSO Patrick Vallance being questioned.

The best part about taking part in a mini-pupillage is learning from qualified barristers. I did a nine-week-long trial in Birmingham. I got to know the barristers and they were really helpful and very, very kind; I learnt a lot from them that I will carry into my career and use to hopefully work alongside them after I graduate.

I’m also President of the BCU Law and Mooting Society. Becoming president marks a huge milestone in my personal development. When I started university, I would have never imagined that my law knowledge and experience would be good enough to run the society or participate in any of these volunteering and extra-curricular opportunities.

Balancing part-time work, volunteering, mooting, and mini pupillages hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth it. I was chosen to go to the Birmingham Legal Awards as one of two ‘Outstanding Students’ and I’ve been nominated for the Neuberger Prize, an award for exceptional law students.

I really feel that I will be a well-rounded graduate by the time I leave BCU. I’ve gained work experience, friendships, confidence and most importantly, happiness.

To me, ‘I am BCU’ means being surrounded by kind, genuine people within the university and wider community.”