Ryan Zwetschnikow trained as gas engineer after leaving school but was inspired to change careers and study law.
“I came across a criminal law textbook, I began reading it and thought to myself, I want to be a lawyer,” explained the 25-year-old.
“At this point, I had been out of mainstream education for around five years, so the idea of me becoming a lawyer wasn’t one that I could easily sell to people around me.
“Not everyone agreed that I was making the correct choice going to university, and I must admit I was anxious as to whether I had made the right decision. But now, the prospect of me becoming a lawyer in the near future is considerably greater.”
After completing a foundation year at Staffordshire University, Ryan studied LLB (Hons) Law and praised the support of his lecturers on the course.
He said: “Overall, it's been fantastic and I’ve met some great people. I had a great relationship with all my lecturers.
“If you ever need anything or to ask questions it doesn't matter what time of the day is, you can always send them an email and they'll get back to you straightaway. I have always had a great relationship with them and that's probably why I've done so well.”
During his studies Ryan applied for the Lincoln’s Inn Neuberger Prize with help from his lecturers and the careers team.
The annual prize is awarded to outstanding students from non-Russell Group universities about to begin their last year of a qualifying law degree – and Ryan was one of just eight students across the UK to be chosen.
As part of the prize, Ryan was given free membership of Lincoln’s Inn, a mentor during his final year of university and a monetary prize of £250. Another benefit was a sought after mini-pupillage, which provided work experience shadowing a barrister.
“It's launched me into the legal world. The opportunities that I got after winning the Neuberger Prize just opened doorways,” he commented.
Ryan has now graduated with first class honours and will begin the bar practice course in September to train as a barrister.
“It doesn't matter what decisions you make straight away from school, you can always change. I was in the mindset when I was 22 that ‘I’m stuck, I'm a qualified gas engineer and I've got to do this. I can’t start again.’ But that isn't true.”
Ryan added: “You can do what you want at the end of the day and make that leap of faith. If I hadn't, my life would be completely different now.”
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