Katie is a third year BSc Psychology and Criminology student who has spent two years volunteering with the Royal Holloway Legal Advice Centre (LAC).
During her time with the LAC, she has contributed to a wide range of cases including Family Law, Wills and Probate, Housing and Tenancy disputes, Personal Injury matters, and Contract and Commercial queries. Her experience demonstrates how students from any discipline can thrive in a legal environment and make a meaningful difference to real clients.
What have you learned from working in the Legal Advice Centre?
“Working at the LAC revealed that law extends far beyond textbook knowledge, it sits at the intersection between research and genuine human emotions. These are real people turning to you in their most vulnerable moments, and that level of responsibility cannot be shaped through mock clients.
As a non-law student, I was worried by knowledge gaps would hold me back. Instead, I discovered my background in Psychology and Criminology became an asset, helping me to understand clients’ situations and tailor my approach to their individual needs. Law firms value multidisciplinary perspectives, and determination matters just as much.
I built strong independent research skills, learning to navigate complex legal databases to create clear, actionable advice. The most enduring lesson was collaboration with law students and solicitors, highlighting legal work is a team effort, demanding both the soft skills to build trust with distressed clients and analytical skills to construct a case.”
Why would you recommend studying at Royal Holloway and working in the Legal Advice Centre to applicants?
“Royal Holloway offers a unique environment where students are encouraged to gain elite, real-world experience beyond their primary degree. Working at the LAC while studying Criminology and Psychology allowed me to apply my studies practically, proving you don’t have to be a "typical" law student to excel in the legal sector.
From day one, I was treated as a professional colleague, mastering skills like GDPR compliance and client interviewing. Contributing to high-impact projects, such as the Science for Ukraine initiative, demonstrated how law acts as a powerful tool for social change.
Under the mentorship of Thanh, our supervising solicitor, I transformed from a shy student into a confident professional. The LAC is the perfect bridge between academic theory and a career; it provided the clarity to pursue my future in law. It’s the best decision I made and I’m beyond grateful for the two years I’ve spent working here."
