80 Year Old Law Student Graduates

Dec 04, 2014

Written By Billy Sexton, Editor, AllAboutLaw.co.uk

Eric Jones, an 80 year old law student, proved it’s never too late having recently graduated with a Master’s in Law from the University of Liverpool.

Jones was previously a police detective superintendent and started university at the age of 78, deciding that he was ready for a new challenge after retiring.

Jones never expected his application to be approved, and he struggled in the first few weeks of university, which “were full of despondency, it wasn’t going right. I had to learn how to use a computer, at the same time as getting to grips with the academic side. I’d never been to University before and I was with a group of girls, three of whom had first class honours, and I was trying to keep up. I was advised to stick with it until Christmas and I’m glad that I did.”

Jones completed a 5,000 word dissertation on the Justice and Security Bill making its way through the House of Commons at the time. So, what next? Vacation scheme and training contract applications?

Not quite. Rather, Jones is “thrilled by the possibility of pursuing a PhD, but I’ve said I would like to start it when I’m 85 years old. So I would be all done by the time I’m 90; and then it’s on to job hunting I suppose!”

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