Connor O'Brien

Coming from a low economic background it would have been a struggle to afford the enormous and somewhat exclusionary cost of tuition to study the LLM Legal Practice Course without the support of the James Pantyfedwen Foundation. With the Foundation’s support I was able to study the LLM Legal Practice Course and I am now a step closer to realising my goal of becoming a qualified solicitor.

The course was arguably my most challenging experience. It required me to work long hours throughout the week and on weekends. I read and annotated thousands of pages and sat 26 exams in the January and February alone. Due to the Foundation’s support I was able to focus solely on my course until the summer, allowing me to achieve the best possible grade.

The course pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to develop academically, professionally, and personally. The skills I developed and the knowledge I obtained not only helped me to achieve better grades, but increased my employability and likelihood of success. I had the opportunity to learn from experienced practitioners who helped to diversify and adapt my skillset to thrive in competitive working environments. Due to this, I was able to achieve a paralegal role at the largest law firm in Wales, Hugh James.

Without the support of the James Pantyfedwen Foundation I would not be where I am today. Their support has provided me with opportunities to gain valuable knowledge and experience that will further my career in law. I look forward to the future where I am able to achieve a training contract and qualify as a solicitor, a dream that would not be possible without the Foundation.