Postgrad Law Degrees??

hada

I'm currently doing the BCL and am putting serious thought to doing a postgrad degree to "round off" my college degree before I go and tackle the Blackhalls. I am wondering, is this the "done thing"? I mean, what are the advantages? Are there disadvantages? From what I'm led to believe (and I haven't researched indepth at all) but the only two uni's that run n general LLM are TCD and UCC (either one year taught or 2 year research)*. I was pretty set on applying to both (but have a preference for TCD) but I was recently talking to a postgrad who said that trinity's LLM isn't that good at all, in fact the faculty see it as more of a side project than an actual full postgrad degree and hence don't give it much attention...

Basically I'm looking for any info/advice if you've done any postgrad ( llm human rights, public law, crim, etc..).


*I'm still not fully sure if I will do just a general LLM, as I am wary of pigeon holeing myself in a specific sector by doing, say a LLM in Human rights.. any advice re this would be much appreciated!

Charlie

Pretty much in the exact same place as yourself. However, you say that you are doing a BCL, does that mean you are in UCD? If so, you know they run LLM programmes. In fact I started a thread a while back looking for info on the Commercial Law LLM. The subjects on offer seem really interesting and are generally the area's in which I have enjoyed and done well in during my degree. I am also looking at doing the LLM with a view that it increases my chances in getting an apprenticeship with one of the Big 4 firms.

Anyway,here is the link to that thread; http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055020434

Rebeller

hada wrote:

I'm currently doing the BCL and am putting serious thought to doing a postgrad degree to "round off" my college degree before I go and tackle the Blackhalls. I am wondering, is this the "done thing"? I mean, what are the advantages? Are there disadvantages?

There is no advantage in doing an LLm or obtaining any other postgrad qualification for the purposes of the FE-1 (Blackhall) exams.

Many of those doing Blackhall are from a non legal background but having a Law degree under your belt will certainly make it easier on yourself.

The only advantage I could see in doing a postgrad course (if you're intending on going down the Blackhall route) anyway would be greater maturity and rounded understanding by the time you sit the exams.

The Blackhall exams are more practical in nature in that you are expected to have a general understanding of the various subjects and be able to apply your knowledge to practical problem based scenarios.

Uni exams tend to be more theory and "vomit out everything you know on the subject" based.

hada

charlie mchugh wrote:

Pretty much in the exact same place as yourself. However, you say that you are doing a BCL, does that mean you are in UCD? If so, you know they run LLM programmes. In fact I started a thread a while back looking for info on the Commercial Law LLM. The subjects on offer seem really interesting and are generally the area's in which I have enjoyed and done well in during my degree. I am also looking at doing the LLM with a view that it increases my chances in getting an apprenticeship with one of the Big 4 firms.

Anyway,here is the link to that thread; http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055020434

Actually in NUIG. See I'm rather afraid (as I noted above) that I would end up pigeon holeing myself into an area of law due to the type of LLM I would do (in your case, Commerical law, or whatever it may be).. But from what I've read TCD and UCC offer a general LLM in a range of subjects, thereby increasing your knowledge in a range of subjects and not just with respect to Commercial law, Criminal law, whatever..

Now maybe I'm quite misguided as to the whole affair, but I was hoping this thread might provide some advice!

dK1NG

UL + UCC both have general LLMs as well

hada

dK1NG wrote:

UL + UCC both have general LLMs as well

I know about UCC, but is the UL LLM taught or research?

dK1NG

hada wrote:

I know about UCC, but is the UL LLM taught or research?

both taught and research are on offer:
http://www.law.ul.ie/programmes/postgraduate/