BA Law or LLB

Yorkie1

Bryando wrote: »

Thanks for the replys. The main reason of doing a degree is to get away from national miniuim wage jobs. Law is something I have been interested in and read a lot of it and keep updated on things such as the cadder case.

Whilst you won't know what the market will be like when you graduate, you should be aware that there are likely to be many graduates who are indeed on the NMW, given the current employment statistics. It won't necessarily guarantee that you avoid the NMW.

gleek1

That's really interesting thanks for the clarification. Although I am sure that it can be done by going through senate, it does sound though that allowing it to be done in 2 years is a special circumstance and that one would not be able to apply through UCAS for the 2 year course in the first instance. Given that on the aberdeen website the 2 year degree is a postgrad degree and it says that the ordinary degree takes 3 years to complete. Even if this was allowed it would seem like quite a tough and pressurised couple of years though - needlessly stressful perhaps.

I still would stick to the regular degree though, even if I had had the 2 year option - especially if you don't want to practice law. My honours subjects and gave me skills in research and a more philosophical slant on the law - even EU tax law!!

Though the DLP places are limited, I still don't think it a reason for not starting the LLB or for not trying for it if that is what you want. Some of those 2/3 also don't pursue the DLP because they don't want to - not because they can't - I turned down my place b/c I didn't want to. When I started uni we were told to look at the person to your left and to your right and more than likely two of the three of us would not become a law professional...... that was 13 years ago - so the stats seem to be the same as they were back then!!

I still think that doing an honours degree shows a level of ability and given that honours degrees are so common these days, NOT having one will be a disadvantage.

gleek1

Although some may say that arts degrees are 'easier' they will involve significantly less contact time than a law degree. The OP has expressed interest in the law. If you are interested in something then you will work hard and you will be motivated therefore will do better.

If you have health issues and you make the effort to forge a good relationship with your Director of Studies or Personal Tutor and you take advantage of support services such as counseling or students association, then there will be plenty of support.

We know very little about the OP but he clearly has an interest in the subject and that will make a huge difference to being motivated when studying. All disciplines will have books in short supply. Granted, law books are expensive, but many of the textbooks can be bought second hand - though statutes will have to be bought year on year. Lots of case law and journals are online these days - I would split photocopying with my friends - each of you copy a bit off the reading list then the others can copy the copies - it worked really well for my and my friends.

I don't know where the OP was so hung up on speed - he said he wanted to start the degree sooner or later. I felt he was just asking for advice on his options generally.

Law is not a subject to go into lightly, but you know, if you hate it after a year you can transfer to another degree. It is MUCH more difficult, if not impossible to transfer your first year credits to a law degree from another degree as you will have missed out on the compulsory core subjects.

quinechinoise

gleek1 wrote: »

I don't know where the OP was so hung up on speed - he said he wanted to start the degree sooner or later. I felt he was just asking for advice on his options generally.

Law is not a subject to go into lightly, but you know, if you hate it after a year you can transfer to another degree. It is MUCH more difficult, if not impossible to transfer your first year credits to a law degree from another degree as you will have missed out on the compulsory core subjects.

I got the "speed" bit from the OP debating the 3 year ordinary degree versus the 4 year honours degree. I may have been barking up the wrong tree though!

I agree it is relatively easy to transfer from law to another degree (excluding medicine). AU actually offer a combined studies honours degree for those folks who didn't manage to make up their minds for 4 years! (Well, I assume it's still on offer.)

gleek1

quinechinoise wrote: »

AU actually offer a combined studies honours degree for those folks who didn't manage to make up their minds for 4 years! (Well, I assume it's still on offer.)

That is MENTAL!!! So as long as you have the credits they all count for the degree..? Slightly O/T but does there have to be any consistency in terms of subjects at the honours level? Good that prior work wont go to waste, but might be difficult to market yourself after...? Do you know if the uptake was high?

Sorry for the hijack OP!!

quinechinoise

gleek1 wrote: »

That is MENTAL!!! So as long as you have the credits they all count for the degree..? Slightly O/T but does there have to be any consistency in terms of subjects at the honours level? Good that prior work wont go to waste, but might be difficult to market yourself after...? Do you know if the uptake was high?

Sorry for the hijack OP!!

It's some time since I was last at AU, so I can't say if it's still an option. However, it used to be the case that you could graduate with a MA Combined Studies. I believe it must be a rare degree (I don't know anyone who did it) but it was available because one of the big things about AU is: you don't hardcore "specialise" until 3rd year/junior honours. A 1st year student who says they are majoring in French or History will actually spend a large proportion of their time studying other subjects - this gives you a broad based education (or whatever the edu-babble term is). I don't know the historical reasons; it's just an AU tradition. Personally, I wouldn't want to exercise the option but I think it's pretty cool!

I've briefly trawled the AU website. It's not overtly mentioned but I think it may still be available...

Degree types: "If you decide against an Honours degree, a three-year degree is available. The designated MA is available in most subjects. It allows some subject specialisation, but is not classified. In addition there is a more general degree of MA which focuses on subject breadth rather than discipline specialisation."

Supplementary degree regs: "Candidates who have complied with the provisions of Regulations 3 to 6, and with the General Degree Regulations, shall be entitled to apply for award of the Degree of Master of Arts." Further regs are applicable to the "Designated Degree of MA" i.e. an actual major.

I may be totally misremembering the honours option but it suggests to me that the combined studies MA is still on the go! Whether it's 3 or 4 years... that's still a long time to remain undecided.

gleek1

Yeah, the whole deciding your major in 3rd year is the same in most Scottish universities I think certainly in the humanities - unless you are doing something like law or primary teaching where there is a professional set path.

It is pretty cool - at least it gives the student the option of graduating with a 'mixed bag' without forcing them to repeat a year to do a single major. But I am with you - don't think I would choose to go down this route!!

Owain_Moneysaver

quinechinoise wrote: »

It's some time since I was last at AU, so I can't say if it's still an option. However, it used to be the case that you could graduate with a MA Combined Studies.

The Open University do something similar; you can graduate with a BA or BSc Open rather than a subject degree. There are still pre-requisites for individual courses though, and requirements that some units are taken at the higher course levels. I expect that Aberdeen and other universities are similar.

Many law graduates work in the law but not as lawyers (ie solicitors or advocates/barristers) in-house in local government, large businessses etc. Law + modern languages can be a very marketable degree. However for most graduate recruitment Honours are essential and if the extra year's study is the obstacle then considering an English university with a 3-year Honours degree might be sensible.

Some universities (I think Stirling does/did) offer additional course units during the summer vacation turning a two-semester into a three-semester year (or three-term into four-term).

poppy_f1

i have a BA hons in law and wished i had done the LLB - had no interest in being a solicitor but thinking back the LLB would have given me a lot more options when i graduated

hawk30

Poppy, I'm intreged as to what other options the LLB would have given you. I have BA hons law and have never felt that it restricted me (it's still a qualifying law degree).