Andy Goves (LLB 1999)

I chose a law degree through my previous involvement in the fire service teaching all manner of legislation. The whole aspect of undertaking a demanding four-year course as a mature student has stretched my intellectual abilities and widened my personal horizons. I have found a huge level of personal satisfaction in achieving a difficult qualification. I started my course in 1994 as a Divisional Officer, my intention was to simply achieve a pass to help me with my career in the fire service.

I achieved a 2:1 (Hons) at the end of the course, have been promoted to Assistant Chief Fire Officer and passed the Home Office interviews for the Brigade Command Course – when completed this will entitle me to graduate with an MA. I am probably the only Assistant Chief Fire Officer with a law degree in the UK fire service and this rare qualification will be in demand as the service faces an increasingly litigious future. The camaraderie from the small group of students with whom I studied has provided much needed mutual support and generated a network of friends in a range of different professions.