University of London LLB

Is there anyone here who has any experiences with the University of London (specifically the LLB program)? Thanks in advance.

 

Go check out www.malet.com. That is the premier web site for Americans interested in the U of London LLB.

Do NOT consider the London degree if your goal is to pratice in the U.S. unless you are masochistic.

Nosborne, JD
(Who, on further thought, thinks masochism might be a good quality in a lawyer...)

 

Nosborne, JD
(Who, on further thought, thinks masochism might be a good quality in a lawyer...)


Nosborne, that would mean that you had feelings - is this possible for an attorney?????

 

He replied he thought it might be a good quality. One the other possible take on this statement, masochists usually enjoy sensation as opposed to feeling .
So in conclusion, nope, lawyers don't have feelings.

Tony

 

Well, I don't usually consider myself masochistic, however, I am looking to use it to practice law here in the US.

But, back to the subject at hand. I've done quite a bit of searching on it (already checking out http://www.malet.com) throughout the internet and consistantly receiving positive feedback about it. I'm about to enroll in the program and just looking for some last minute comments before I take the plunge.

I live in Alaska (not interested in leaving in the near future, ESPECIALLY for an outrageously priced ABA JD program), and we don't have any ABA law schools here (or even any non-ABA law schools for that matter). So, I'm hoping that I can use the UOL LLB to be able to practice law here. After speaking to the Alaska Bar Association, I was informed that foreign law graduates from English speaking common law countries are eligible for the State Bar Exam after completing one year at an ABA school. I was even informed that an LLM would meet this requirement, so it is possible that this could be done externally from a school like St. Thomas, or any other ABA distance LLM program that might pop up during the next 3 years.

So, everything seems to work out in theory all right. I was hoping to come across other people with experiences similar to this, or even anybody who has any further insight on the University of London. It's hard to think I could really go wrong with this path though, considering that the entire LLB program will only cost around $3000 (MUCH cheaper than any ABA JD). Oh well... If anyone has any comments or suggestions for me I would appreciate hearing them. Thanks in advance!

 

Well, you've done your homework and that's the most important thing.

I thought the University of Alaska had a law school? If so, it would be ABA accredited for sure.

My advice concerning the London program is not because I think there's anything WRONG with it; certainly not! However, an English law degree does not prepare the student for practice. It isn't meant to, even in England. An American JD is intended to do so (though whether it succeeds is a matter of debate).

American bar examiners understand a JD on the American model, whether it is accredited or not. They might not understand an English D/L LLB followed by an LLM or something.

Also beware of the possibility that the state bar might require two to four years of pre law college work.

Anyway, the masochism is found in the business of navigating American bar requirements with an English degree and then taking a tough exam on American law with an English background. We are, as Churchill said, "Two peoples divided by a common language." You can substitute the word "law" for "language" and get my point.

Last analysis: For an American law student, an American law degree will probably have more utility in the long run than even a high quality foreign degree like the U of L LLB, even where the JD is unaccredited.

Nosborne, JD
(Who STILL hasn't written the check to the U of L!)
(It's a LOT of money.)

 

I thought the University of Alaska had a law school?

You'd think so, but nope! Even more amazing is that the Alaska Law Review is written by law students at Duke.

 

There might be another snag in the "parley" strategy. If the foreign graduate is not a member of the bar in his home jurisdiction, he must complete one year in an ABA school including some special classes AND show that the foreign common law program substantially complies with the ABA accreditation requirements. D/L degrees most definately do NOT meet this standard even where the same degree from a residential course might.
New York already arrived at this conclusion.

Nosborne, JD

 

I don't see how you can go wrong for $3k either. On the other hand, that STU LL.M. is going to cost you a bundle ($25k, at a minimum). For purposes of comparison, J.D. tuition at UFL (Levin) is a whopping $183 per credit hour for residents.

Also, I would suggest that you check with the bar again because I read something to the effect that, in addition to a foreign LLB and a domestic LL.M., two courses, U.S. Con Law and Civ Pro, are also required.

 

There ya go! Perhaps Dude should consider relocating to Gainesville (or Tallahassee) for a few years.....reasonable tuition, good weather, and, generally, low COL. He may never return to the tundra!

 

Ya, I already asked about how the bar compares foreign law degrees with ABA programs, and I was told that no standard exists. They will pretty much accept anything. I'm sure that this isn't something that happens everyday here, but the example I was givin was a person who graduated from the University of Edinburgh simply used a letter from the dean of her school saying it was equivalent to an ABA education and the Bar accepted it without question.

I've also heard of UOL graduates being accepted into JD programs with "advanced standing." Does anyone know of any circumstances of this happening? This would probably solve any and all problems about practicing law in this country.

Well, looking at the bright side, I figure that this UOL LLB has to AT LEAST be a lot better than even the best (probably NW California) California correspondence law school and for around half the cost as well. (Just to put things in perspective )

I appreciate hearing from everyone, and if anyone has any other thoughs or comments keep them up! Thanks!

 

I also figure that's got to be a heck of a story: Alaskan Law Student Complete's Education Without Ever Leaving the State! Somebody's got to appreciate that, right? (since we don't have any law schools)

 

I know of a lawyer here in New Mexico who had his LLB degree from a Canadian university. Our glorious Supreme Court said, "No dice. ABA means ABA." So he got advanced standing at the U of New Mexico and earned a JD on top of his Canadian LLB.

Maybe not quite the same, though. A Canadian LLB looks a lot more like a US JD than it does an English LLB. For one thing, it's usually a post graduate degree.

Nosborne, JD

 

Hey Dude, how about this:

"Alaskan Law Student Completes Legal Education Without Leaving State; Opens First Law School In Alaska"

 

Hey Dude...

I recently registered as a 1st year external LLB student at the University of London.

I also retained the services of "Law Tutors Online" (a private UK-based company) to facilitate the distance-learning process.

I would be pleased to answer any questions you might have.

 

Nosborne

Are you enrolled in U of L's LLM external degree programme yet?

If so, how's it going? Are you enjoying it? What is your specialization/focus?

 

No, I STILL haven't enrolled. Their Offer of Registration is a little over a year old, so I'm still eligible.

I keep coming up with financial crises involving the kids or the house or whatever and I just can't write the check that month.

Guess than means I'm still afraid of the commitment.

The program comes without "tuition", that's what scares me.

My wife, also a lawyer, is pushing me to do it.

I can't decide whether to do maritime law, 'cause it sounds interesting (but is probably dull as dust) or criminal law and criminology, where I've spent most of my professional life and which could prove useful.

Speaking of criminal law, I've gotta go do an arraignment and probation violation hearing...

Nosborne, JD

 

I believe the UOL LLB does have some utility for the state of California, (check with the California State Bar) but I think most other states will probably require either the "advanced standing" J.D. route, an ABA-approved LLM program (I think only about a dozen states for that route), or neither of the above. I think the only way to find out is to ascertain which state you want to practice in and then look up their rules. Also, some states let you apply for a license if you are licensed properly in another U.S. state for a set number of years, usually 5ish. For some people, I imagine a UOL LLB and ABA LLM could actually be considerably cheaper than an ABA JD program, particularly if the JD is at a private school.

 

Diamond_Head,

What are your LLM subjects and have you taken any exams yet?

Nosborne, JD

 

None yet, I am registering right now actually before the November 30th deadline for this period. I put it off for a year because of life demands, but I think I am going to take the jump this time around. It's so much cheaper to get this LLM than going to a school here in the States for 5 (or more) times the cost. I am going to take the 3 Crim Law modules and something just for fun on the last module. I'll probably do the 2-2 exam format, but I don't know about substituting a paper for one of the second exams.