Progress posting: Well, I have struggled with the books and syllabii (?) for two University of London LL.M. subjects, Juvenile Justice and Sentencing and the Criminal Process, and I now realize that I just don't have enough theoretical background or familiarity with the English legal system to do this alone. I'm mostly floundering, in other words. For example, I was astonished to learn that the UK abolished the Grand Jury in 1915! Bsed upon earlier posts to this forum, I've decided to enrol in Law Tutors On Line; they are offering these two subjects starting January 2005 for examination in August 2005. If the dollar hadn't slid so darn far against the pound, the course fees would have been quite reasonable...
Thanks for the update! Hi Nos! Thanks for the update. What would you say is the most challenging aspect of the material? Is it shear volume or is it just that it is sooooo theoretical? From your posts, I take it that you find it challenging, and a new kind of experience as far as legal education. I've always been fascinated with UOL and their degree programs in law. I'm hoping to get admitted to Loyola's part-time curriculem in the Fall of 2005. When I've earned my JD, I'd really like to pursue a UOL LLM to get myself well-grounded in common law. Thanks again for the update, please keep us all posted on how you find Law Tutors and how your studies progress! Best wishes for your continued success!
Hey Nosborne! I have been in contact with law tutors online. I am interested in the UoL LLM specilization of Maritime Law. They are uncertain if they will be able to offer me tutorial, or just notes. Guess it all depends upon how many students they have for each course, semester by semester. Hope yours have sufficient enrollment. Novemberdude, are you enrolling with LTO? Which courses?
Having studied on the LLB with LTO last year I think you made a good choice. I'll look forward to an update on how it's going. Have you thought about buying a book such as The English Legal System by Slapper and Kelly or Learning Legal Rules by Holland and Webb? Either one will give you a quick intro, I'm not sure how much of the statutory interpretation/judicial precedent stuff will be repetitive for you.
I would have THOUGHT that I would need only minor adjustment to follow the English system. WRONG! It is a radically different world. I will look into the suggested handbooks. The hardest thing right now is figuing out exactly what I am supposed to derive from the mountains of material. That appears to be exactly what LTO is there for. We'll see. I am beginning to think I should have gone for Taft's LL.M. in taxation, instead.
Badpenguin! I just finished up first year with LTO and was very pleased with the support they gave me. It added a lot to the experience. I have decided not to pursue the LLM with UoL. The main reason is that it is very specialized in maritime law. Now, this is funny because maritime law is what I really want to study, but I have decided that I want something a little more general just in case I need to use the degree to help secure employment in a different industry. In short I've decided to go for the LLM (International Commercial Law) at Northumbria University. I looked into it and it has a generally good reputation (althouth not matching that of London) and the program allows a little latitude outside of strictly maritime law. I have also decided to temporarily suspend UoL LLB studies, although I might decide to change that in a year or two. Enrollment is good for 8 years so time is still on my side. In the meantime all I have to do is sit and wait for UoL to release the first year results. Good luck with the UoL program if you decide to go that way. Is the JD finished yet?
Hey N-dude! Good to hear from ya! Yeah, graduated with the JD in early June. Most of my time is now spent preparing for the New York Bar exam, two days during the end of July. Sorry to learn that you will not be in the UoL LLM program, but happy you found another institution that will better meet your needs. I also considered that the Maritime specialization at the UoL might be too restrictive, but I believe they way that the courses are set up, it would be possible to "major" in their "Commercial and Corporate law", with a "minor" (so to speak) in Maritime law. May be taking some "liberties", but I believe the coursework chosen would allow this. Glad to hear of good things about LTO. Best of luck with your UoL LLB grades!
Badpenguin, Congratulations on the JD. If I had a first degree in law the I would have had more flexibility with the UoL LLM program. But coming from a non law background I am advised that I would most probably be admitted (unofficially of course) but limited to taking only maritime law courses. So that wasn't exactly for me. I'm looking foward to Northumbria, but am a bit sad to be discontinuing the LLB as I really enjoyed it.
Nosborne wrote: So you will get your LL.M. first and THEN get the LL.B.?? __________________ Nosborne LLM (London) in progress Hi Nosborne, Is this a problem, and why?
No, no problem at all, especially since the LL.M. does not generally permit the holder to qualify professionally. It's just unusual, that's all.
In a perfect world yes, I would do the LLM then the LLB. In reality the likelihood that I will continue with the LLB after (hopefully) completing the LLM is not that great. The LLM is for professional development, the LLB is for personal interest. The only thing that I must add is that the UoL LLB is a hell of a lot of work for personal interest.
