BCL/MJur Alumni Updates

Nazmus Tareque

I studied for the BCL in 2015/2016 at Oxford after completing my undergraduate law degree. I originally expected to pursue a traditional legal career, but I soon realised that practising law wasn’t for me. What the BCL gave me, however, was confidence, critical thinking, and an ability to anticipate risk – skills that have proved invaluable in business. 

Before Oxford, I’d already helped to build an architectural glass company in Bangladesh. That experience, combined with the analytical rigour of the BCL, gave me the belief that I could do anything. Studying at Oxford was demanding, especially as I later discovered I’m dyslexic, but it showed me I could hold my own with some of the best thinkers. 

Today I’m co-founder of AnthroTek, a Cambridge-based startup that creates human-like synthetic materials for medical device innovation and soft robotics. My co-founder, a materials scientist, had been making prosthetic masks for cinema in his spare time, and together we saw the potential to apply that knowledge to medicine and technology. Within months of founding the company, we secured pre-seed funding and our first international clients. We’ve since grown to a team of nine, won several awards, and recently completed a seed round valuing us at £12 million. 

To current law students uncertain about their path, I’d say: don’t worry. In fact, that’s a beautiful thing. A law degree gives you skills that go far beyond legal practice. It trains you to see all sides of a problem, and to analyse and reason with precision. Those are skills I use every day in running a business and managing a team of people. 

In today’s world, where technology and AI can take over many aspects of work, what remains essential is our human ability to think critically and creatively. That, I think, is what truly sets law graduates apart.

Sam Grimley

When I came to Oxford to study for the BCL in 2021/22, I was at a turning point. My first degree had been in music around 20 years earlier, and in my career as a musician I worked with high-profile artists including Sir Tom Jones, Ed Sheeran and Jessie J. But I needed a new challenge and had just completed a law conversion course. I knew that if I wanted to pursue a career at the Bar, Oxford would be the best possible preparation. Without financial assistance, however, it simply would not have been an option for me. The Dean's Scholarship made the difference: it allowed me to take up my place and to make the most of everything Oxford had to offer. 

The experience was both challenging and deeply rewarding. I was taught by leading thinkers in the field, and had the privilege of contributing to debates on some of the most pressing legal issues. My courses ranged from commercial remedies to copyright law, and even a joint module with the Department of Computer Science where we explored the legal implications of large language models long before the likes of ChatGPT became household names. Just as inspiring was the peer group I studied alongside – some of the most capable and committed law students in the world. 

That year at Oxford has had a transformational impact on my career. Today, I am a tenant barrister at One Essex Court chambers, practising in commercial and intellectual property law, with a particular interest in entertainment and music industry disputes. My work is wonderfully varied: it ranges from court appearances and conferences with clients to legal research, drafting documents, and enjoyable social time spent with colleagues. Oxford was a crucial stepping stone towards this career, and I would not be here without the scholarship that enabled me to take up my place. I remain immensely grateful for that support. 

If you are interested in supporting the activities of the Faculty of Law whether by mentoring a student, giving a careers talk or guest lecture, sharing your experience since leaving Oxford or making a charitable donation now or leave a lasting legacy in your will please contact the Development and Alumni Engagement Team.