Alumni profile
Birju Kotecha
Birju Kotecha graduated from Newcastle Law School in 2006. He went on to commence a career in teaching before becoming an academic. He is currently a Barrister at Trinity Chambers and an Assistant Professor in Law at the University of Northumbria.
“I had heard good things about Newcastle and first came to the city on a University open day. Whether it was the warmth of the locals, the green spaces or the friendly accent, it was a city that immediately felt like home. I thoroughly loved my three years as an LLB student which involved the usual milestones; living independently, making life-long friends, and late nights —whether chasing an essay deadline or, perhaps more often, enjoying a night out. So much did I enjoy my time as a student that I returned in 2013 and have lived here since.
What I enjoyed most about my LLB was being part of a small community in the Law School. Your fellow coursemates were not only your friends, but they also kept you going; you could turn to anyone if you were struggling with something, or you just wanted to vent and needed someone to listen. It was easy to be on first name terms with everyone; from the team in reception, the library staff and even your tutors.
I really appreciated the enthusiasm of the lecturers who brought law alive in both the lecture theatre and the seminar room. I regularly felt challenged in seminars (it is not meant to be easy!) but there was also support in equal measure. I enjoyed the fact that I was never just drily learning the legal rulebook; the tutors were keen on teaching what the law was about, what it was for and its transformative impact on society. Richard Mullender, Elena Katselli and the now Head of School Samantha Ryan were once my lecturers too and I am glad to see that they continue to inspire law students today.
Be fearless and take a few risks by getting out your comfort zone. Looking back, the new and what felt like daunting experiences are the ones you gain from the most.
My LLB really helped provoke a lot of thinking and it was during this time when I began to develop my views on the world. I chose fascinating options in Public International Law, Human Rights and Law and Social Change. These were all themes I would revisit when I completed a PhD several years later.
Outside of studying, I was involved a variety of activities; from mooting, to writing for the student newspaper, to fundraising and then volunteering in South Africa in the summer of my second year. As a student you can have a lot of ‘free time’ and keeping yourself immersed in new activities and joining societies is something I would very much encourage.
When I left University, I followed the footsteps of my parents and began a career in teaching and also completed an MA at the University of Manchester whilst doing so. Later, when the opportunity came to teach and undertake a doctorate in law, I jumped at the chance and moved back to the Northeast. This year I began practising as a barrister and my career is probably a good example that no journey is the same and, for many like me, it is not necessarily a linear path.
What I took from my time as a student was intellectual curiosity, fun times and, most importantly, self-belief. My advice to students is to be fearless and take a few risks by getting out of your comfort zone. Looking back, the new and what felt like daunting experiences are the ones you gain from the most. Don’t forget to have fun along the way.
