Yes, you're more likely to make mistakes as a student and that's what insurance is for. You might well be using friends and family but believe me, they won't be friends anymore if something goes wrong. There was a recent post about someone ruining their Mum's oak table with acetone, imagine doing that do a client, friend or not, they are not going to be happy and will be expecting some kind of recompense. That's what insurance is for, not only personal injury issues.