I decided rather later in life that I want to do a law degree and perhaps also become a lawyer. I have already explored my options and need advice, which school would be the best for me, given what I want: * To maximise my chances that I actually pass the course with good grades as could be expected for DL and law - that is, I want the "easiest" course * To maximise my chances of finding a place for training later, and actually becoming a solicitor shall I choose to Lesser concerns, but also important: * How it will look on my CV/certificate * Costs The five schools that teach DL qualifying law degree are: * University of London : * advantages: good prestige, fair price. I should note that they have a "Law with Management" (and "Law with Accountancy") degrees that are ran by LSE, which is one of the best law schools (and colleges in general) in the UK * disadvantages: assessment is only with final exam, which means that the fate of the module is dependant upon one exam * My question to those who do/considered UoL: what is written on the certificate (does it say LSE if you attend the LSE programme)? how difficult it is to pass the exams in comparison with "regular" law students and law schools in other (less prestigious) universities? How cheap is it really, because although they write the details on their site, I am not so clear as to if you need to make extra payments for postage (EU, not UK), databases, etc. * Open University: o advantages: veteran in distance learning; claiming on their web-page that those who pass in 2:1 will get placement though the Law Society; mixed assessment (the grade of a module is also composed of assignments done throughout the course) o disadvantages: VERY expensive (about 15.000 GBP for an EU student); it will be clear on my CV/certificate that I did open and distance learning [just to clarify: not that I would be "ashamed" and any intelligent person would be able to see that I worked and lived in another country at the same time, but naturally the name of the institution is also important for first impression] * University of East London through ICS: * advantages: they offer several qualifying law degrees, one of which is in law and criminology, which specifically interests me * disadvantages: ICS is about the same price as any British public university, but is a private-for-profit organisation; UEL has very bad name in the UK. * My questions for those who might know: does the term ICS appear on the certificate? What is the title I will be allowed to use? What kind of support do they provide? What is the assessment method? * University of Wolverhampton: o advantages: normal public university offering a flexible learning law course o disadvantages: Wolverhampton is actually listed one before last in the Guardian's law school Tables, with 2/10 chances for a regular student to find a job after graduation. I don't want to think what is with a distance learner * Nottingham Trent: o advantages: normal public university offering a flexible learning law course; mixed assessment o disadvantages: don't know about the level of support, etc. * Huddersfield: They offer a programme with a private college called Holborn college. Don't like the programme (one exam assessment, low ranking of the university), and not even considering it. So, any ideas? In an ideal world, the UoL degree had a mixed assessment and it was clear that there are no extra costs for materials/databases, and when I'll graduate, it would proudly say LSE on my LLB. But this is only fantasy, and now for the real world - should I choose an extremely expensive route that has "low impact name", but has good likeliness of passing? The prestigious LSE one? The criminology one, because that's what I am the most interested in? What is the "easiest" (best chances to pass) route?
If you are seeking an easy law degree, you probably are not suited for a legal career. Check the PDF reference on the University of London web site for information about whom to contact in the jurisdiction in which you intend to practise law. Having a law degree, whether for practising law or for the education itself, on your curriculum vitae will likely enhance your professional qualifications; it certainly will not be seen as a negative by future employers and/or clients. The University of London has an all-inclusive tuition with the exception that you will need access to law books besides those provided and if you want tutoring services, you will have to find a third party which of course is an additional, but optional, expense. If by easy to pass you mean with the most feedback and assessment throughout the courses, the University of London is largely a student-centric learning modality and might not be the best choice for you. The advantage of UoL LLB is the self-determined pace for completion of the degree; you can take as few or as many course each year as you can handle provided you complete the entire degree within the prescribed time frame. For the insights and experiences of other UoL LLB distance students head over to Law Students Forum. The forum is run by a recent graduate of the UoL LLB programme.
Thanks. Maybe I wasn't clear enough: - "Easy" - I know it is difficult to study law; I know it is difficult to take a distance learning mode. I want to be sure that I will get - from the university - the maximal conditions within this "predicament" to pass with flying colours. I think that I am mostly afraid by the assessment method at the UoL: one exam, which is 100% of the grade, in each module. This is scary: I come from a very different academic tradition, where the final grade is based on several assignments, some are actually research assignments and not exams. In fact, if I try to imagine how a solicitor's work looks like, I would imagine this is much more similar to a research-based approach, as they sit and try to analyse a legal problem of their client to their satisfaction. - Jurisdiction and work later - I intend to move to the UK (or better said: England or Wales) once I graduate. I am an EU citizen currently living outside the UK. If I'll move there, I will be able to work there (almost) automatically. The degrees are expensive and time consuming. This is not meant to sound as a complaint: I am aware, for example, of the prices of tuition in American Law Schools and of the fact that "regular" law students work very hard, and distance learners even harder. I am saying this because I want to be sure, before I start, that there is a chance that I will be able to get a degree later, and not that I am investing lots of time and money in a black hole. Thanks again
The University of London says the materials provided are sufficient to successfully pass the examinations. However, there are third-party tutoring services available for those who want or need additional assessments of their progress throughout the course(s). These assessments do not count towards the degree but can be helpful in determining how well you are understanding the material and concepts. That said, many students successfully pass their examinations without any outside support. I have the same academic background with respect to there being multiple assessments throughout the course which factor into the final grade. Examinations of the type used by the University of London, and many other European universities, are not traditionally used in North America, for example. Exactly. Yet, most schools still insist upon closed book examinations that require the student to have memorized certain parts of the material as well as developing an understanding of the concepts. It would be rather difficult to determine which law or statute has been violated if the student does not know the essence of each of the laws or statutes. The University of London does provide a sample examination on the main page of the LLB degree/diploma section. Be sure to read the specific course requirements for a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) in England and Wales. The cost, in monetary terms, of a law degree from University of London is certainly much less expensive than law schools in either Canada or the United States of America. In fact, the total fees, in Canadian dollars, are about the same as one year of law school tuition at the University of Toronto (Toronto, Ontario), or about two years of law school tuition at Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia). Other students from many countries have successfully earned an LLB from the University of London. The most worthwhile endeavours are rarely easy. International Center for Legal Studies London Law Tutors
Add Northumbria University to your list. www.unn.ac.uk It is very well regarded locally and ranked about the middle of the league tables for law. I'm a Northumbria student and am pleased with the experience. I completed the first year of the Uni of London LLB. It was a lot of work, but I can't say Northumbria has been easy either. I would be happy to help with any questions you may have concerning Northumbria or London.
I understand that there are two main types of "lawyes" in the UK; solicitersr and barristers. Apart from earning a degree or equiv qualification, one has to pass association exams and undergo a 1-2 year "apprenticeship" involving law.
To expand on your point. England and Wales has a divided legal profession, which as you say it's barristers and solicitors. The basics are: Solicitors: Qualifying law degree (or equivalent) plus Legal Practice Course (LPC) which is 1 year plus a 2 year training contract. Barrister: Qualifying law degree (or equivalent) plus Bar Vocational Course (BVC), also 1 year, plus 1 year working in chambers (same thing as a training contract). Barrister positiions are highly, highly coveted. Under 1000 per year across England and Wales. While is is not technically impossible to secure a position with a distance learning law degree it is highly unlikely. I've seen one profile where a Uni of London External grad did it, but then it appeared more based on extensive experience pre legal education.
hi there, i have completed my year 1 and year 2 with the uni of london. Now i want to transfer to the uni of northumbria. I want to know if i will obtain a qualifying law degree and be able to obtain a seat for the BVC?
In general a Northumbria LLB is a qualifying law degree. I don't think there is any restriction on transfer students (assuming that is your concern). I knew of a couple people who transferred in and completed their degrees at Northumbria. I completed year one at London External and years 2 and 3 at Northumbria, and my degree is a qualifying law degree. If you have concerns in this area the school should be able to guide you. There are technical requirements concerning passing courses and amount of time to completion that you should be aware of. I know of one Northumbria open learning LLB grad who secured a place on the BVC. He did not pursue it because I think he realized that his chances of becoming a barrister were remote.
1. While I don't blame you for wanting to know what the "easiest" programme is, I'd say that there's no way for any of us to rightly answer as your skills and capabilities are what makes any course of study easy to you, not ours. Any advice you'd gain from this forum in that regard would be misleading at best. 2. Your certificate will have the lead school printed on it. That being said, LSE is one of the schools in the UoL umbrella that distributes its own diploma as LSE to any student who matriculates through it normally. Therefore if you're a UoL student there's no way you're going to be mistaken for a LSE student by anyone who went to LSE proper or UoL proper. 3. Cheap is relative. If you fail an exam, it's no longer cheap and is quite honestly frustrating. If you're serious about learning then it will be cheaper for you in relative terms than for someone who isn't. This said, learning via distance is not easy compared to going somewhere and sitting your rear in a seat so if the coursework is easy for you while learning from distance, it would be easier in person and if it's tough for you in a seat, it will be harder via distance. Expect "extra" costs to be something you need to account for when reviewing fees.
Aberdeen Business School-Robert Gordon University is offering an online LL.B at £9,600 /$15K (current exchange rate) with standard and accelerated options or a full-time beginning 2012-2013. The LL.B is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland and is not entirely examination assessed. This LL.B is Scots law (but is a Pluralistic law system) based (e.g., differences /similarities between Scots Law and English Common law). I’m wondering if this LL.B would qualify one to ultimately have the opportunity to take the Bar exam and practice law in some U.S. state jurisdictions (?). RGU: LLB Law: Bachelor of Laws Degree Course (Online): Overview of Course
