Personal Statement - Land Economy 2

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Having been raised on a diet of ‘whodunnits’ I always wanted to know what happened to the person ‘whodunnit’ and what mechanism was in place to deal with their crime. As I got older, I moved from avidly reading crime novels to being fascinated by the law as a whole. My interests within the law range from the moral aspects of the law to its impact on economic development. Reading books such as ‘On Liberty’ by John Stuart Mill, and ‘Law and Morals’ by Simon Lee made me realise the complexity of the law, and that just because something is legally right does not necessarily mean that it is ethical. Having observed a case being prepared for the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal where the applicants were both tenants and shareholders in the landlord company I was exposed to the complexity of a person holding two differing positions under the law. I also have a long-standing interest in the development of third world countries, especially in South Asia. I have been actively involved in a number of case studies on the struggles of women in Bangladesh in the face of poverty, environmental dangers and lack of human rights. Reading ‘Freedom from Want’ by Ian Smillie, about an NGO in Bangladesh, showed me that the law can be used to bring about positive change. I think it would be incredible to study a subject with such variety, and with such significance on our everyday lives.

The attraction of reading an undergraduate degree with a legal content is to gain an in depth understanding of what the law is and is not, and why it is as it is. While the option of undertaking postgraduate legal qualifications would supply the skills necessary for a career in law, it is the variety of a law based degree which would provide both academic stimulation and a more thorough understanding of the subject.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

My interest in law involves not only reading about it, but seeing how it is applied. I have visited the Old Bailey, the Royal Courts of Justice, Reading Crown Court and the LVT, and watched cases ranging from breach of contract to property disputes to attempted murder. Last summer I had the opportunity to complete work experience in Old Square Chambers, and in 2008 I was selected by my school to go to the Dicey Conference at Trinity College, Oxford, where the subject was 'Knife and gun crime; who's to blame, the parents or the state?' I found both of these excellent experiences; the Dicey Conference in particular showed me how easily people can fall into a criminal lifestyle, and made me wonder whether changing the law was the solution to this very relevant issue, or if the existing law was sufficient but not being properly implemented.

Another reason why I am drawn to the study of this subject is because it contains both objective and subjective elements. I found that studying Mathematics and Chemistry at A-Level helped me judge situations more logically and analytically, while English enabled me to form a more articulate argument. At school, I was an active member of the Senior Debating society, have taken part in inter-house public speaking competitions, and have twice represented the school in Rotary Public Speaking Competitions. Debating and public speaking challenged me to form reasoned objective arguments, even when the content of my speech conflicted with my own views.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

Over my forthcoming gap year I have been accepted as a volunteer for St John's Ambulance and have enrolled for a course in the History of Economic Thought. I have also joined the Back Choir. In January I depart to France for a three month intensive language course followed by a month long placement in a French law firm. In June I am going to Nepal to assist in field investigations with NGOs implementing poverty reduction programmes through micro-finance, access to natural resources and legal rights. This will give me an insight into the application of economic theory, and how legal action is an intrinsic part of the process of poverty reduction.

Universities applied to:

• Cambridge University (Land Economy)
• Durham University (Law)
• Nottingham University (Law)
• University College London (Law)
• London School of Economics (Law)

Grades achieved:

• History A2 - A*
• Chemistry A2 - A*
• Mathematics A2 - A
• English Literature AS - A

How personal statements have changed?

The current personal statement format, with three 'scaffolding' questions, was introduced by Ucas in September 2025. This personal statement was submitted before then, using the old essay-style format. It has been carefully edited into the three-question format, with all of the original wording kept.

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