It is a truth universally acknowledged that a law student, in possession of a few spare hours, must be thrilled to answer everyone's specific legal queries at any social event.
Little known to you, on first entering university, someone has stuck a note on your back that says "free expert legal adviser". This happens a lot. At best, you blurt out an answer that's only half as long as the disclaimer you recite after it.
Added to the surprising sense of dread you acquire when disclosing your degree to strangers, are the joys of extensive case readings, Latin maxims and expensive reading lists. And that's before you take into account the deadlines, assessment days and pupillage and vacation scheme applications.
If you deny that you've found yourself stuck in a library at midnight, staring blankly at an EU law statute book, and contemplating running off to join the circus, you're a liar.
Nevertheless, studying law has some advantages that almost make up for it all. Here, for instance, are five:
1) The international appeal of an English law degree
One of the best things about your course is that you will be studying alongside students from around the world. At my law school, there are tens of different nationalities in my year alone – a third of the students are Canadian and there are also a mixture of nationalities from across the Commonwealth and Europe.
The English common law system is influential across the world and studying it gives you real perspective on the value of your chosen subject, as well as a fabulous insight into other legal systems.
2) The law society will be the most active, and best organised, on campus
Your calendar will be filled with networking events, law balls, moots and debates. This is reflective of law students generally: we ensure we're present at pretty much all the events on campus.
This happens despite the extra workload it puts on us – or maybe because it gives us welcome distractions from the solemnity of contract law judgments. A cynic might suggest it's because we're over-zealous careerists. If only they knew the half of it.
3) You can play the villain
You're allowed to indulge your inner performer and give a breath-taking display of villainy. These opportunities arise every time someone asks: "But how can you defend someone that you know is guilty?"
You have been asked this question from your very first day; it's practically your initiation into law school. A naïve fresher will give an earnest response about "fair trials" and "equal justice".
But the experienced law student knows better. This is your chance to play up to a marvellous stereotype, and work on your Disney villain impression. Begin gleefully: "Oh but surely you know? The guilty ones are those who'll pay more!" Follow this up with a laugh that would put Cruella Deville to shame.
It will amount to a disarming, if entirely false, confession. Plus, you'll never get to do it when you're a real lawyer. This brings me to the next point.
4) You aren't fooled by the media myths about the legal profession
Despite our Bafta-deserving performances, we don't think most lawyers are "fat-cats". And we know legal aid cuts will mainly harm small high street firms and, more importantly, the most vulnerable in society. A depressing thought, and if you haven't signed the petition yet, here it is.
After you've signed, feel free to wander around with a smug sense of superiority. Reading about your future career being destroyed by government schemes isn't particularly confidence-boosting, I grant you, but thinking about how brave you are for sticking with the profession in hard times has got to be. It's all about perspective.
5) You get an insight into a whole range of disciplines.
Law manages to affect everything, and studying it gives you the freedom to develop your interest in almost anything. From geo-politics in international law, to medicine in tort law. From sociology in family law, to economics in European Union and contract law. Is it any wonder that so many world leaders and policy makers have a background in law?
That alone is worth having to dodge the hoovers and hitting the dustpans on your way out of the library.
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