Kings Inn Diploma 2012

kkumk

I know there's tonnes of other threads on this and I've gone through a lot of them but none seem to answer my questions completely so hopefully someone could give me some new insights.

I've just finished an Arts degree and have been thinking about doing Law for a while now. I originally considered doing the FE1's but I have absolutely no knowledge of law and so would have to teach myself entirely. Also, I've heard about how LLB grads are finding it impossible to get traineeships so there's probably no hope of me getting one even if I managed to pass the FE1s.

Instead I've been looking at the barrister route but I've also been wondering how the KI Dip in Legal Studies would fair as a stand alone degree? If I decided to change direction after the two years, like maybe by doing the FE1's then, or by applying for paralegal jobs or other jobs which require a legal background, to what extent would those employers recognise the KI Diploma? I'm an American citizen, so I would also be interested in hearing from people who have gone on to do the NY Bar or California Bar exams.

I'm aware there's other courses that offer a similar legal education, but I'm not really interested in the DIT postgrad and the UCD MCL is way too expensive, the KI one seems like the best value for money and is close to home and has great facilities should I choose to continue on and be a barrister.

To sum up, I suppose I'm asking if anyone has done the Kings Inn Diploma but not the BL degree, and to what extent has the diploma stood to them in furthering their legal career?

kkumk

Bump?

Tom Young

You must have missed the answer in the threads you fastidiously read.

Procrastastudy

I think it's probably quite an odd way round to do things... hence the lack of responses. I could be wrong. Well that and its answered elsewhere - all be it not completely in one thread.

My 2 cents...

You have an interest in law - few better places to do it that the KI really. If you don't do the BL then you could consider your options but it seems a bit redundant if you then go an do a post grad law degree either here or in the states.

I believe - but am open to correction - that the BL qualifies you to sit all states Bar exams except for Louisiana (them and their crazy hybrid legal system :P) so may be that's an option.

Another option (I don't work for them I promise) is to do an Open University Law degree 'for the craic'. It would be useless professionally though as it isn't accredited by the KI. If you want to use it in the UK be aware of the time limits.

I'd personally do KI or GCD night time as you strike me as someone who'd enjoy the extracurricular stuff.

kkumk

Tom Young wrote: »

You must have missed the answer in the threads you fastidiously read.

I've read every single thread that mentioned Kings Inns in the Legal Discussion and Postgraduate forum and no I couldn't find an answer, which is why I bothered starting this thread and then bumping it when I still couldn't find the information I was looking for. I know you generally give the best answers on this forum and are a very competent barrister so I'm sure these threads appearing all the time annoy you but I had genuinely done the research and many of the other threads are a couple of years old at this stage and perhaps I was looking for more up to date opinions, given the current economic climate.

GCDLawstudent wrote: »

I think it's probably quite an odd way round to do things... hence the lack of responses. I could be wrong. Well that and its answered elsewhere - all be it not completely in one thread.

My 2 cents...

You have an interest in law - few better places to do it that the KI really. If you don't do the BL then you could consider your options but it seems a bit redundant if you then go an do a post grad law degree either here or in the states.

I believe - but am open to correction - that the BL qualifies you to sit all states Bar exams except for Louisiana (them and their crazy hybrid legal system :P) so may be that's an option.

Another option (I don't work for them I promise) is to do an Open University Law degree 'for the craic'. It would be useless professionally though as it isn't accredited by the KI. If you want to use it in the UK be aware of the time limits.

I'd personally do KI or GCD night time as you strike me as someone who'd enjoy the extracurricular stuff.

Thanks that's really helpful, I hadn't actually looked at the Open University so I'll check it out! And I couldn't sit the US Bar exams with just the Diploma then no? Hmmm ok another thing to think about... I'm not sure what I said that gives you the impression that I'd enjoy the extra currics lol but yea I'd love to try debating!

Procrastastudy

No offense but you don't seem that focused... no biggie neither am I - enjoying myself though! I kinda need the mooting, debating and even this to keep me focused though. It's amazing what the guys here can throw in to a legal discussion at the drop of a hat.

I get the impression like the FE1s almost anyone can pitch up and sit the NY or Cali Bar - almost every private college in Ireland claims their degree lets you sit the NY bar. I simply don't know about the KI dip sorry...

I'm 99% sure that has been answered in another thread though!

As I say OU would only be if you wanted to do it for the craic or for job progression outside of professional law.

Tom Young

kkumk wrote: »

I've read every single thread that mentioned Kings Inns in the Legal Discussion and Postgraduate forum and no I couldn't find an answer, which is why I bothered starting this thread and then bumping it when I still couldn't find the information I was looking for. I know you generally give the best answers on this forum and are a very competent barrister so I'm sure these threads appearing all the time annoy you but I had genuinely done the research and many of the other threads are a couple of years old at this stage and perhaps I was looking for more up to date opinions, given the current economic climate.



Thanks that's really helpful, I hadn't actually looked at the Open University so I'll check it out! And I couldn't sit the US Bar exams with just the Diploma then no? Hmmm ok another thing to think about... I'm not sure what I said that gives you the impression that I'd enjoy the extra currics lol but yea I'd love to try debating!

Thanks! I wasn't annoyed. Sarcasm being the lowest form of wit and all that

Diploma in KI = BL degree entry point. It's useful, high quality, but as for recognition, I think that will likely by adjudicated on a case-by-case basis.

The US Bar exams require slightly more than the KI Dip to the best of my knowledge.

That's my opinion.

Tom

lawfilly

For the record, you need a degree in law to sit the US bar, the KI dip is not adequate!

Hippo

lawfilly wrote: »

For the record, you need a degree in law to sit the US bar, the KI dip is not adequate!

It's quite a frustrating point, the KI dip is genuinely a degree in all but name. Unfortunately the BL has to be the 'degree', even though it's not really one.