Electives

EdgarAllenPoo

Going into 2nd year and I've to choose between Employment law and Administrative law and Criminology or Evidence.

I've no plans to go to the Kings Inns so I'm going to take Employment law but I'm not sure whether to pick Criminology or Evidence.

I really just prefer to do both employment and admin law but that's not an option so out of Evidence or Criminiology which would be the better subject to take?

Maximilian

Anyone I know who did Criminology in college said it was very interesting. If you have no plans to do King's Inns then I imagine Evidence will be of little benefit to you long term. If you ever decided to the solicitor route, well Evidence is something they teach you as part of the PPC courses in the Law Society, albeit in less detail no doubt.

Worldismyidea

Go with what you are interested in. Your options do not have any real bearing on your job prospects at this stage. But you will probably perform better in a subject that engages you and that is always a plus.

johnnyskeleton

Admin law and evidence.

If you want to be a lawyer you have to know at least a little about these two subjects. Here is all you need to know about employment law:

1) it's largely set out in statute;
2) if it's not in the statutes check the contract;
3) if there is no way around the contract; there isn't really a lot that can be done;
4) however, the employee nearly always wins before the various employment disputes bodies.

There ya go, "skeleton on workers rights" gives the busy practitioner the legal foundations from which any case can be won. Now go learn about how judges put the rest of the state in their place.

NoQuarter

any more views on this as its nearly that time!!??

johnnyskeleton

king-stew wrote: »

any more views on this as its nearly that time!!??

I think it's all been said already:
1) go with what you are interested in;
2) Admin and evidence are good practical subjects, but are only relevant if you are interested in the litigation end of things;
3) criminology is probably the most interesting of the subjects, but is highly academic and of no real value career wise;
4) employment law is really straightforward.

dats_right

Maximilian wrote: »

If you ever decided to the solicitor route, well Evidence is something they teach you as part of the PPC courses in the Law Society, albeit in less detail no doubt.

Evidence in Blackhall is pathetic. You would genuinely learn more by watching Rumpole or Judge John Deed or somesuch.

Not often that we see eye to eye, but have to agree with JohnnyS on this one re subject choices.

dK1NG

What do you plan on doing after your degree?

Mr. Skeleton speaks a lot of sense from a practical point of view!

NoQuarter

Well i have one eye on the kings inn's at the moment but nothing is set in stone!

criminology sounds a lot more interesting and id like to do it but if i end up going to kings inns will doing evidence have made any difference to me??

thanks.

johnnyskeleton

dats_right wrote: »

Not often that we see eye to eye, but have to agree with JohnnyS on this one re subject choices.

I think we agree on most things it's just that you are apprehensive about the recession whereas I say bring it on - it's a glorious era for litigation (although one that could end at any minute).

king-stew wrote: »

Well i have one eye on the kings inn's at the moment but nothing is set in stone!

criminology sounds a lot more interesting and id like to do it but if i end up going to kings inns will doing evidence have made any difference to me??

I take it you mean KI Degree? If so then it's absolutely vital as there is an entrance exam in it, and since most barrister's careers are built on 1) an exacting understanding of the rules of evidence 2) a good working knowledge of procedure and 3) textbooks for any tedious points of law that might crop up from time to time, I would say evidence is the way to go. It's an interesting subject too, and it's amazing how few people (including lawyers and some judges) don't fully understand the hearsay rule.

Criminology is very interesting, but the big problem is that there is no real answer. So while at the end of it you will know all these facinating theories on why crime occurs, you'll be none the wiser as to why people smoke crack and steal bob marley bobble head dolls from hmv.

NoQuarter

Thanks for that Johhny.

Yep i meant the KI degree, looking like its gonna be admin and evidence so!