A forensic scientist is looking forward to putting her new legal skills to use in the courtroom.
Louise Sonstebo graduated with a Bachelor of Law from the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen yesterday – giving her the chance to meet some of her virtual classmates for the first time.
The 40-year-old juggled her role as a forensic scientist with the Scottish Police Authority with the distance learning course, which covered a broad range of topics – including property, contract and family law.
Mrs Sonstebo, who first graduated from Strathclyde University with a degree in forensic analytical chemistry in 1997, said: “The course was very good, RGU is the only place in Scotland that does this distance learning Scot’s law degree.
“I really, really enjoy the job that I do but in 2011 I became quite ill and had to take a year off work. The following year when I returned I was keen to do something to move my job along.
“This course let me do that, while continuing to work full-time.”
Mrs Sonstebo, who is married to Deg (corr) and now lives just outside Glasgow, admitted it had been hard to get motivated after a long shift, but thanks to the ease of linking up with her classmates and tutors – and a genuine interest in the subject – she had managed.
“Some of it tied in with what I do at work, so it was good to expand my knowledge,” she said.
“I’m still working as a forensic scientist and I’m looking forward to bringing some of that knowledge to what I do. I’m very science focused, but there’s a lot of interaction with the court system and hopefully this will allow me to be effective in what I do there.
“Because it’s distance learning you do feel a bit away from others, but there’s always e-mails and the tutorials. When I met up with course mates for the first time at the ceremony, it was like meeting up with friends I’ve known for years because there’s so much interaction throughout.”
