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Natalie Peters: Law Student

Natalie Peters

Natalie Peters: Double Degree Law Student and member of the Golden Key International Honors Society (only the top 5% of all New Zealand students are ever invited to belong to this Society).

What did you do when you left school?
I spent three years travelling, mainly in England and Europe using up my work visa! So, I had to come back to New Zealand and ended up doing a bum job for a year and I hated it … but it did make me realise that I needed to get a real job, one that I actually wanted to do. I’ve always been interested in law, so I decided to try for a degree.
Any regrets about taking those ‘gap’ years?
"You can't fail if you put the time in."
No, none at all. I kind of knew I wanted to make a career in law but I simply wasn’t ready when I left school. Taking a break from study was the best thing I could have done and overall Uni has gone really well up to now. There’s nothing I’d change about what I’ve done.
How long does it take to get a law degree?
Straight law takes four years but I’m going for a double degree and that takes five.
Is it hard?
Very! Law’s reputed to be the hardest and takes more time. Also, you have to be very self-directed and motivated as you do spend a lot of the time studying, researching and learning by yourself. The lecturers wouldn’t even realise if you weren’t there, so basically it all comes down to your own attitude as to how well you’re going to do.
It’s quite solitary then?
Well, no, not really. There are lots of study groups and buddy nights so that you can support and help each other out. The Maori Law Students Association and Pacifika Island Group, plus other international groups, are really strong at Canterbury.
What happens in the first year’s study?
Basically, it’s like a foundation course where you study the legal system in general and present one paper about it - it’s worth 12 points and then you have 2 exams at the end of the year as well. We have three 1 hour lectures each week and an hour’s tutorial every week as well. You have to get a minimum of B+ grades to get into the second year. It’s very competitive - there were around 600 students in the first year - but quite a few decided not to carry on. I think we’re down to around 200 for this year and it will probably be even less for the final years.
What happens after the first year?
You have to take 6 compulsory law papers in the second year and it’s only in the last year that you get to choose what you want to specialise in e.g. employment, commercial, family, criminal, land, media. There are also a couple of exchange programmes available for the last year. I know there’s one with Sheffield in England but with only 1 or two places available.
What’s been the hardest thing for you so far?
Coming to terms with the high standard that’s expected … and the fact that it’s very necessary if you want to get a law degree! No-one’s going to encourage or push you. After school it’s very very easy to be a little too relaxed in that first year and it’s crucial that you’re not. You can’t afford to be.
Anything else?
Sometimes it’s pretty difficult to figure out who to ask for help. The lecturer does offer but sometimes it’s pretty off-putting especially if you think your question isn’t that important or else you’ve asked a question before and they’ve looked at you as if you’re a total dumbass for asking such a thing! That’s where the student groups can help you out instead.
Have you ever thought about changing what you major in?
No, but a lot do and it’s very easy to cross-credit doing a double degree in law.
Did you have to take out a student loan?
Yes, it was the only option for me.
How do you feel about it?
Philosophical, I guess! It’s a lot of money to borrow but that’s life and I feel okay about it because I knew that I really wanted to study. There’s a lot more savvy out there now about student loans - they really push info onto you, both at High School and Uni, about how to repay your loan in the best way and what it all means. And there’s that book they recommend - Get Rid Of Your Student Loan Now .
What do you hope is at the end of it all for you?
I’m really optimistic about being able to work in New Zealand. There are a lot of law graduates coming through but there are also a lot of big law firms out there, so if you get the good grades there shouldn’t be a problem. Law School also set you up with positions as summer clerks which means you get some experience … plus a foot in the door! But my ultimate dream would be setting up a community law centre here in New Zealand.
Any advice that might help students just starting out?
  • Turn up on time to lectures
  • Don’t get sick
  • Don’t get sucked into the hype of being relaxed about the whole thing
Best piece of advice given to you?
To treat Uni as 9-5 and put the same amount of effort into it as you would a job
Any final words?
Yep. You can’t fail if you put the time in!