A STUDENT from Taunton has wowed her former teachers after achieving a first class honours degree.

Abbie Colwell, who attended Bishop Fox’s School and Richard Huish College, has just graduated with a law degree from the London School of Economics.

She says her ambition to become a solicitor was sparked at the college in 2012 when she started her A Levels in law, psychology, English language and an extended project qualification The fresh graduate visited the heads of her former school and college to discuss her recent success in achieving her first-class degree at the London university.

“I knew I wanted to study A Levels, and I chose Huish due to its excellent reputation in the South West,” she said.

“I attended open days and did a number of taster sessions, which allowed me to get a feel for the college and experience the subjects I studied.”

After leaving Huish in 2014, Abbie went on to study law at the LSE where she completed work experience at law firms, sat with a judge and shadowed a barrister at the Old Bailey.

She says that she has wanted to pursue a career in law since she first visited a court at 11-years-old.

She added: “I’ve known since a Magistrates’ Court visit when I was about 11 that I wanted to pursue a career in law, so a law degree felt like the natural next step for me.

“I researched universities and worked with my tutor at Huish to narrow down my options and prepare applications.

“With her encouragement and support, I applied to the LSE and was ecstatic to receive an offer.”

Abbie’s long term plan for the future is to become a solicitor, hopefully specialising in criminal law and human rights.

She says London would be a good place to work in the future but would also want to work in the South West.

She said: “I knew I was interested in criminal law in particular after my introduction to this area during A Level law - I was lucky enough to be a part of Roger Stidwill’s lively and interesting classes, and he really sparked my passion for the subject.

“My interest in criminal law then grew during my degree as I studied modules on sentencing of offenders, and evidence law.

“I hope to return to London as a solicitor eventually, although in the immediate future I would like to work in the South West.”