Law or law with degree?

Whatever1478

I have decided to study law but I'm undecided as to whether i should go with pure law, law with economics or law with politics. I'm looking for opinions on which would the best option. Is it better to just stick with pure law or would a law with degree make me stand out a bit more from pure law students?

hullaballoo

Do you think it is better to have a broader or narrower academic outlook on completion of college?

Whatever1478

I'm not sure, that's why I'm asking the question. I would assume that if the law with degrees are always the better option there wouldn't be such a large amount of students in pure law. An arts degree for example would be the broadest option but I don't think that would be of as much use to me when going the solicitor route as a law/law with degree. I'm also not sure if the law with degrees are viewed as a full bcl and if I would be in the same position if I wanted to become a barrister as I would be if I had done a pure law degree. I'm fairly certain I want to go down the solicitor route though so I'm mainly asking which would offer the better prospects in relation to that. I'm also undecided as to whether i should go with economics or politics.

234

If you want to be a solicitor then it doesn't really matter.

Once you cover enough material to help prepare you for the FE1s then law firms won't really care whether it's a pure law degree or a "law with" degree. It would be far more helpful to focus on getting good results or considering which would give you more time to engage in the extra-curricular activities that would make you stand out in training contract applications.

Whatever1478

Thanks for the reply. I wouldn't have been that interested in politics or economics but was considering it based on that.

234

Do what you are interested in, it will make it easier to get better grades.

Also, going to one of the better universities (TCD, UCC, UCD) has an unspoken but substantial effect on applications for traineeship with large corporate firms.

NoQuarter

234 wrote: »

If you want to be a solicitor then it doesn't really matter.

Once you cover enough material to help prepare you for the FE1s then law firms won't really care whether it's a pure law degree or a "law with" degree. It would be far more helpful to focus on getting good results or considering which would give you more time to engage in the extra-curricular activities that would make you stand out in training contract applications.

I have to say, I completely disagree with this. If I was going the Barrister route I would do pure law. But if I was going the solicitor route (top 5 is everyone's initial aim I assume) then business and law is the way to go. I've said it time and time again.

Bepolite

NoQuarter wrote: »

I have to say, I completely disagree with this. If I was going the Barrister route I would do pure law. But if I was going the solicitor route (top 5 is everyone's initial aim I assume) then business and law is the way to go. I've said it time and time again.

If I got to wear the cape I'd be looking for a small country practice somewhere, but alas the pull of no money and the robed ones is too strong.

Business and Law is the way to go OP but frankly you need to ask yourself why Law? If you think there is money in it there isn't. You need to do it for the love so pick what you love and do that. If you haven't a clue what you want to do, do pure law and do a masters when you're all growed up. If you're like me you'll never be growed up and not have a clue what you want to do until you're mid-thirties.

If you want to become a Barrister get a third class/bear pass from DBS and spend the rest of the time building your contacts.

234

NoQuarter wrote: »

I have to say, I completely disagree with this. If I was going the Barrister route I would do pure law. But if I was going the solicitor route (top 5 is everyone's initial aim I assume) then business and law is the way to go. I've said it time and time again.

Those who recruit in those firms have told me that they don't really care what kind of degree you do at all. It's not even particularly advantageous to have done law. It's all about motivation and how you would work in that environment.

LegallyAbroad

234 wrote: »

Those who recruit in those firms have told me that they don't really care what kind of degree you do at all. It's not even particularly advantageous to have done law. It's all about motivation and how you would work in that environment.

I would broadly agree with this, but I would say its an advantage to have done law, although not an insurmountable one. The common denominators are achievements and personality type

NoQuarter

I just see people who do the B&L in UCD doing well in relation to getting apprenticeships. If I was looking at the top 10, and had to pick one degree, I would definitely pick that one. Assuming you do well of course. The business acumen/knowledge does help.

hullaballoo

In addition to the above, if you are thinking of becoming a barrister, you will be looking at establishing your own business.

From that point of view, B&L gives a useful grounding in terms of some of the details of proper business management. Some of it is common sense but some aspects of the B&L course are useful for the day-to-day running of a professional practice.

In terms of the professional aspect, having a broad-scope knowledge of business, economics and finance is useful in relation to a lot of work that a barrister will do. Commercial practitioners in particular use a lot of this knowledge, although I presume that many have picked it up through their practice at the bar.

Similarly, a background in other fields is useful - science, medicine and some of the other arts - in order to have a background to establish a niche, if that is what you want. (Most people fall into niche areas almost by accident but there are those who have their niche areas by design.)