Nathan Brumley
Allan Myers Scholarship
Allan Myers 2020-21 Scholar Nathan Brumley
College: Christ Church
Prior to commencing the BCL, I was practising as a solicitor at a commercial firm in Melbourne. Before that, I completed a Bachelor of Arts and a Juris Doctor at the University of Melbourne.
Could you tell us about your journey to Oxford? Why did you choose to study at the Law Faculty?
I loved completing my first law degree and was very keen to have the opportunity to re-engage with some of the ideas I had found fascinating when I first encountered them. The BCL offers this opportunity, and to do so on a deeper and more critical level. Most importantly, the BCL provides a style of teaching and subject content that is not available elsewhere.
What do you hope to achieve whilst studying law in Oxford?
Hopefully, I will learn a lot. I would like to have my ideas about the law challenged, and in turn for my understanding to become more sophisticated. I expect my critical thinking skills will develop, and I hope that when I am finished my legal reasoning will have evolved and I will think differently about the law.
What have you found most rewarding about your programme so far?
It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to essentially spend nearly a year thinking about and engaging with very interesting legal concepts and issues. Moreover, you get to do so in an environment where you have regular contact with some of the leading authorities in the field, and with a cohort of talented and driven students. The way the degree and Oxford more generally is set up means that you are given the space and resources to more fully develop your legal thinking.
What have you found most challenging about your programme so far?
It almost goes without saying that the workload is intimidating. More importantly, you need to be strategic about the way you spend your time. You need to find time to not only read the material, but also to understand it. This requires reflecting on the material and trying draw out how it fits with other readings and the course themes generally. Unless you approach your study with a plan in in mind, it is going to be really difficult.
Are you involved with or joined any projects or societies?
One great thing about Oxford is the number of discussion groups and public lectures. While these have largely moved online, I’ve enjoyed being able to listen to leading scholars in areas I’m interested in present their ideas in an engaging and collegial format. Moreover, I’ve kept an eye out for talks in fields other than law, which I have a general interest in.
How has the funding has benefitted your studies and professional development?
Coming from Australia, studying at Oxford is a very big commitment and I doubt it would have been feasible without the assistance of the Allan Myers Scholarship. I am sure that my experiences at Oxford will place me in a strong position to continue a rewarding legal career.
Through the generosity of Allan Myers AO QC, the Faculty is pleased to offer two scholarships of up to £20,000 each to BCL applicants who are graduates of Melbourne Law School or who will graduate from Melbourne Law School by the end of the BCL programme.