MICHELLE Clarke loves her job. Every day is different and she gets to see all walks of life. She is never stuck behind a desk and she receives excellent training.

She used to run a pub. But somehow she didn't find pulling pints behind a bar quite as rewarding as what she does now: helping the police put people behind bars.

From speeding drivers to serious murder trials, Michelle is now employed by West Mercia Police to work in court and review cases.

She got there following a route which many people don't realise exists - despite it existing for nearly 30 years. Like an increasing number of people from all walks of life and of all ages, she got a degree from Worcester Law School, which is part of Worcester College of Technology.

The 23-year-old is one of a number of success stories from the law school. From Worcester's Elgar High, she followed a business studies course at the college before pursuing a law degree, known as an LLB, over three years at the law school which, appropriately enough, is in the city's former police station in Deansway.

She moved from the old police station to the modern constabulary offices of the present day where her job title is `decision maker'.

"I review cases, liaise with the Crown Prosecution Service and am an expert witness in road traffic law," she says. "In cases like speeding, dangerous driving and cases where there's a question about the identity of the driver.

"The court work is most exciting. You see a whole mix of people and the atmosphere during a big case is amazing.

"It's like a real-life drama. Sometimes the law gets things wrong and there are plenty of appeals so it's really interesting.

"People used to see law as an enemy but nowadays people are realising that the law is there to help them."

Michelle graduated six weeks ago and has just applied to join the police force as an officer. She knows her legal background will be invaluable. Before that, she will gain some experience in more serious cases at Crown Court.

Worcester Law School has been in the city since 1979 and has about 300 students because it is the only place between Birmingham and Bristol where law degrees are on offer.

One of the biggest attractions is that you can study for an honours law degree but, because it is not a university (although the degree is awarded by Staffordshire University), you do not have to pay tuition fees. So, instead of three years of £3,000 each, it is four years of £900. And because it is only a part-time course - typically six hours of tuition a week - you can have a job at the same time.

As well as the degree course, the school offers a graduate diploma and HND in law, a legal executive course and a diploma in criminology one evening a week.

John Duddington, the head of the school, says they pride themselves in offering something for everybody interested in law - whether they have just finished their A-levels or are older career changers and whether they want to get into the legal profession full-time or just have a passing interest.

"We have a lot of mature students who have had other careers, or women returning after having a family and it's tremendous to have so many success stories from people in their 30s, 40s and 50s.

"We've had people who don't already have a degree or people who have music degrees, science degrees, doctors, clergymen, vets."

Law has had a huge surge in popularity in recent years and gone are the days when a degree from Oxbridge was the only way in.

"It's much easier to get into the profession now," says John. "There's a different culture now and any legal course can lead on to a good job. There's more interest too. People see crime series on TV and it does excite them. There's no harm in that."

Like Michelle, Sally Carter is another Worcestershire woman who decided to follow her dreams. After leaving Dyson Perrins High School in Malvern, she became an estate agent but, after two years, she thought it was time for a change.

"I wanted a change in direction so joined solicitors Parkinson Wright as a junior and was allowed time off, one day a week, to do the legal executive course at Worcester Law School," she says.

Now 25, she is a coveyancing solicitor, still using her old background as an estate agent to advise on legal matters related to property, such as tenancy agreements.

l Tomorrow, between 10am and 8pm, Worcester Law School in the old police station, Deansway, is holding an open day for anyone interested in a law course.