3rd yr subject choice help

Rabeile31

Hi there

I am going into my 3rd year law in Sept

I have a choice between 3 different subjects;

(a) Human Rights Law

(b) Intellectual Property

(c) Family Law

I dont know which to pick

Could anyone tell me a bit about these subjects and which one you would think is the best to pick

Thank you

panda142

It depends on where your interests lie to be honest. If you plan to go into the corporate world and attempt to secure a traineeship in the big 5 etc, then intellectual property law might serve you best.

If you would prefer to work in a small firm, GP, perhaps family law might be more useful. (Remember though if you have any trouble learning case names, family law may be hell for you......A v A, OB v B, NAD v TD etc....)

There are some masters courses in Human Rights also and FLAC does work in that area. If you have an interest in this area at all, you will most likely enjoy the subject as I have heard it can be very interesting.

Another perspective would be to what you think you would do the best in. At the end of the day, a good degree is what you want and every little grade counts, particularly in these days with the employment stats surrounding solicitors....

Hope this helps in some way!

legal eagle 1

I agree with all of what the last poster said. Intellectual Property is a very good course and extremely benefical if you want to enter the corporate legal world. That said I studied Family law in my final year and loved every minute of it. Its a very interesting course especially as it effects most if not all of us at some stage. Because of that I found it very easy to study and achieve a high result in. But, just like Panda142 said it all comes down to what area of the law you are interested in i.e Private/Corporate and what area you think you will find easy to get on well in

law86

I'm facing the same choice. I have ruled out IP as I'm not interested in the corporate side of law but I'm undecided between family and human rights. Human rights is where I'd like to end up eventually but family law may be more practical and therefore likely to be employable. I've heard that Human Rights is the harder of the two to achieve high marks in but as some of the previous posters said, the one which interests you the most is the one you are most likely to do well in.

Tom Young

My answer is it depends on whether you plan to practice at the Bar or become a solicitor. There are mandatory subjects which frankly you need to gain access to the examinations with a law degree, I cite Jurisprudence, Evidence and Administrative Law modules as specific requirements/prerequisites for the BL entrance exam (I believe family is too).

Choose wisely and think strategically. Of course, also pick a subject you like!

Tom

Tom Young

Family is nice - Difficult work but not too bad examination wise;

IP Law - Developing area, very interesting and cutting edge in my view; and

Human Rights Law - Again, very interesting but unlikely to be a practice requirement as I mention above.