[sothisbora]

(Original post by whimisicalJ)
Hi, I just joined this forum as I found myself in the exact same situation as you! (I am very excited to learn that there are others like me) Anyways, it's quite a hard decision.

The threads to this discussion are also very useful, considering factors like environment is a good start. However, I am more concern of the reputation, program objectives/ skills, and what I will be able to gain from the "winning school" in which I won't be getting from the eliminated university in the same amount of time.

Let me know what you came to decide. Are you starting in 2012 October?

Wow, I'm glad to hear that!! Yes, this is a really good forum thanks to Roh and TurboCretin. For now, Bristol looks better for me. But, why the title is not 'senior status LLB'................. What about you??

I'm supposed to start from this year, but I think I will defer one year and study English to make myself much more prepared for law classes because I know it's going to be very tough.

[sothisbora]

(Original post by whimisicalJ)
Hi, I just joined this forum as I found myself in the exact same situation as you! (I am very excited to learn that there are others like me) Anyways, it's quite a hard decision.

The threads to this discussion are also very useful, considering factors like environment is a good start. However, I am more concern of the reputation, program objectives/ skills, and what I will be able to gain from the "winning school" in which I won't be getting from the eliminated university in the same amount of time.

Let me know what you came to decide. Are you starting in 2012 October?

I'm glad to hear that you are in the same situation, too. yes, this is a really useful & helpful forum thanks to Roh and TurboCretin.
For now, Bristol looks better for me considering the reputation, teaching quality, etc.... What about you??
And I'm supposed to start this year but I might defer one year and spend the time studying English and saving money for school.

[whimisicalJ]

I'm supposed to start in October 2012. I'm currently still deciding, at first I was leaning towards Bristol but after I carefully dissected the course content between Bristol and Birmingham, I began to wonder whether I truly want a research-oriented degree or a rather more transferable degree. Personally, I come from a highly-respective institution that offers top research studies etc. and I do like doing research. However, I am just unsure of whether Bristol's law degree will give me that edge to continue in pursuit of a career as a solicitor/ barrister.

Also, the electives offered at Birmingham appeals to me more than the LLM-specialist courses that Bristol has.

Do you know if Bristol's MA Law courses are all seminars? I am sure that Birmingham has lectures and seminars, and for the lectures they're all taught with the undergraduates.

[TurboCretin]

(Original post by whimisicalJ)
I'm supposed to start in October 2012. I'm currently still deciding, at first I was leaning towards Bristol but after I carefully dissected the course content between Bristol and Birmingham, I began to wonder whether I truly want a research-oriented degree or a rather more transferable degree. Personally, I come from a highly-respective institution that offers top research studies etc. and I do like doing research. However, I am just unsure of whether Bristol's law degree will give me that edge to continue in pursuit of a career as a solicitor/ barrister.

Also, the electives offered at Birmingham appeals to me more than the LLM-specialist courses that Bristol has.

Do you know if Bristol's MA Law courses are all seminars? I am sure that Birmingham has lectures and seminars, and for the lectures they're all taught with the undergraduates.

Bristol has a system of postgrad-specific seminars, but lectures with undergrads.

[sothisbora]

So, you meam Bristol doesn't have lectures with undergrads.
I knew that many of the classees of Bristol MA law are seminars, but I didn't know that all of them are seminars..
what are the differences between seminars and lectures. I also like research but prefer practical courses when it comes to career.

[roh]

(Original post by sothisbora)
So, you meam Bristol doesn't have lectures with undergrads.
I knew that many of the classees of Bristol MA law are seminars, but I didn't know that all of them are seminars..
what are the differences between seminars and lectures. I also like research but prefer practical courses when it comes to career.

Lectures will have lots of people in (200+ at both these I'd think) and you sit and take notes whilst the lecturer talks. You can ask questions of them at the end, but generally it's quite passive.

Seminars are defined slightly differently from uni to uni but generally they are more interactive, you'll be expected to do reading for them and then turn up and discuss your ideas with other students and the member of staff will suggest things, keep the discussion on track etc.

[sothisbora]

I see. Then, I have to make myself fully prepared before the seminars(doing a lot of reading and research beforehand) so that I can participate in the discussions. And they will assume that I already understand the background of lessons.

But I guess I'll learn much more in lectures than in seminars even though it's passive because the lectureres literally teach.

Most of our classes are done in lectures in my country(I'm korean) and I'm not familiar with seminars that much. So, if I choose Bristol, I might struggle to get used to them af first. But I can be treated as a postgrad,, that is an advantege for me.

whimisicalJ, Could you tell me once you decide where to go?

[TurboCretin]

(Original post by sothisbora)
So, you meam Bristol doesn't have lectures with undergrads.
I knew that many of the classees of Bristol MA law are seminars, but I didn't know that all of them are seminars..
what are the differences between seminars and lectures. I also like research but prefer practical courses when it comes to career.

You misunderstand me. As a postgrad studying the Bristol MA, you attend lectures and seminars. The lectures you attend will also be attended by undergraduates, but your seminars will not. You are introduced to the material in lectures, read more about it in textbooks, cases and journal articles, and then discuss your readings in seminars.

[whimisicalJ]

(Original post by TurboCretin)
You misunderstand me. As a postgrad studying the Bristol MA, you attend lectures and seminars. The lectures you attend will also be attended by undergraduates, but your seminars will not. You are introduced to the material in lectures, read more about it in textbooks, cases and journal articles, and then discuss your readings in seminars.

Well, that's a relief. I though it would be all seminars like Postgraduate studies here in North America.

@TurboCretin, I'm still not quite assured on how the MA Law is perceived by employers. Do you know if the awarding degree will state "MA Law" or just "MA"?
Also, would it be difficult to attain an internship placement etc. as employers may not be familiar with this qualifying law degree?

[whimisicalJ]

(Original post by sothisbora)

whimisicalJ, Could you tell me once you decide where to go?

I'm planning to come up with a firm decision by the end of this month so I could also quickly apply for accommodations. Since we're in the same situation, and it'll be nice to know someone in the same program I'll update you as time comes.

More or less I am leaning towards Bristol for the city and its program. The only hesitation that I have is the degree title. I don't wish to have a BA, MA after my name without the clarification that my MA is a qualifying law degree.

In regards to seminars, you don't need to worry too much. Law is going to be a tough program regardless, so preparations before classes are given.

[nulli tertius]

(Original post by whimisicalJ)

More or less I am leaning towards Bristol for the city and its program. The only hesitation that I have is the degree title. I don't wish to have a BA, MA after my name without the clarification that my MA is a qualifying law degree.

Believe me, no-one cares.

There are plenty of people practising law, and not just from Oxford and Cambridge, with BAs in law. Indeed it is still possible to do a BSc, albeit not single honours, which is a QLD.

All you need to do is make it clear somewhere on your application form that your degree is a QLD.

[TurboCretin]

(Original post by whimisicalJ)
Well, that's a relief. I though it would be all seminars like Postgraduate studies here in North America.

@TurboCretin, I'm still not quite assured on how the MA Law is perceived by employers. Do you know if the awarding degree will state "MA Law" or just "MA"?
Also, would it be difficult to attain an internship placement etc. as employers may not be familiar with this qualifying law degree?

Annoyingly enough, my first reply doesn't seem to have posted.

I'm unsure what you mean by your first question. The type of degree is 'MA'; the full title of the degree is 'MA in Law'. On applications to law firms, you will put your degree type ('MA'), its title ('Law') and any further details about the degree you'd like the firm to know. In this case, you might put 'postgraduate QLD'. As nulli tertius has said (and is better qualified than me to say), once HR know that your degree is a QLD from Bristol, the enquiry as to the fit of the degree will end. The only other relevant academic factor will be how well you performed on the course.

[whimisicalJ]

Oh, I get what you're saying now! I'm not familiar with the law firm applications in the UK, so I was confused of how much information you could fill in on the application.

In anyhow, thank you for your insights. After having read a few more testimonies, I believe I am almost certain of coming to Bristol. Since I come from a large city and a large university, it might be a nice change to have a more tight-knitted university.

[roh]

(Original post by whimisicalJ)
Oh, I get what you're saying now! I'm not familiar with the law firm applications in the UK, so I was confused of how much information you could fill in on the application.

In anyhow, thank you for your insights. After having read a few more testimonies, I believe I am almost certain of coming to Bristol. Since I come from a large city and a large university, it might be a nice change to have a more tight-knitted university.

The application forms are far more detailed than you want them to be! It's a good 2-3 day job to fill one in properly.

[sothisbora]

(Original post by nulli tertius)
Believe me, no-one cares.

There are plenty of people practising law, and not just from Oxford and Cambridge, with BAs in law. Indeed it is still possible to do a BSc, albeit not single honours, which is a QLD.

All you need to do is make it clear somewhere on your application form that your degree is a QLD.

That's a good point! Now I can relieve my worries on the MA degree thanks to you.

[sothisbora]

So, I will get to attend both in lectures and seminars If I go to Bristol. Good!! I don't need to worry that all the classes are seminars.

@WhimisicalJ, It's really really good to know you. You asked good questions which I also wanted to ask(including the title of the MA degree), so I got the answers for them here. Thank you all !! I really appreciate your help.

At first, I was worried about the title, but now Iguess that the MA degree won't be a big problem if I can make it clear that the degree is qualifying. I'm also quite leaning towards Bristol.

[TurboCretin]

(Original post by whimisicalJ)
Oh, I get what you're saying now! I'm not familiar with the law firm applications in the UK, so I was confused of how much information you could fill in on the application.

In anyhow, thank you for your insights. After having read a few more testimonies, I believe I am almost certain of coming to Bristol. Since I come from a large city and a large university, it might be a nice change to have a more tight-knitted university.

I hear you. I previously spent three years at university in London. I was no stranger to London before that, but I just got sick of it. Bristol has a very laid-back, collegiate atmosphere by comparison.

[whimisicalJ]

(Original post by TurboCretin)
Bristol has a very laid-back, collegiate atmosphere by comparison.

I don't know if I am wrong, but I assume you also studied law at Bristol since you were able to answer so many questions. I would like to move to a different topic, such as, textbooks. Where are the best deals for students to buy textbooks? Are law books generally costly? Should student get second-hand if the version is different?

Please tell me more about law school at Bristol if you can.

Thanks (and much appreciated)!

[TurboCretin]

(Original post by whimisicalJ)
I don't know if I am wrong, but I assume you also studied law at Bristol since you were able to answer so many questions. I would like to move to a different topic, such as, textbooks. Where are the best deals for students to buy textbooks? Are law books generally costly? Should student get second-hand if the version is different?

Please tell me more about law school at Bristol if you can.

Thanks (and much appreciated)!

Yes I do, I'm on the MA programme. Textbook buying can be a bit of a gamble, because it's imperative to have the most up-to-date law to work from. I'll answer the easier questions first.

Before I start, I should clarify that there are broadly three types of law book: textbooks, casebooks and statute books. The first tells you about the law, the latter two tell you the law.

There is a book shop directly opposite the law building called Blackstone's. They stock all the recommended texts for law at Bristol. They also often do bundle deals. For example, I bought all my contract books in a single bundle, saving about £20 or so. It's also worth checking on Amazon.

Now to second-hand books. Law school staff will warn you to buy the latest edition of textbooks on pain of death. Of course, some of them have vested interests in doing this as they actually write them. One of the tutors here even edits the statute book for contract, tort and restitution. Anyway, if there has been no new edition since the previous year, that is a golden opportunity to go to Amazon and find a second hand copy for peanuts. Alternatively, the notice board at the beginning of the year is awash with flyers advertising textbook sales by law students from the previous year.

Buying out of date books is risky business. The responsible advice would be to always buy the latest edition. You could look at the actual changes that have been made and decide whether the differences are significant, but I would not recommend this for anything other than statute books. The actual statutes which you're likely to rely on are fairly well-established and unlikely to have been amended/repealed between 2012 and 2013. You will use your casebooks and textbooks much more extensively and holistically. But buy old books at your own risk. For this reason, I would not even think about buying books until you start the course. If you buy a textbook during the summer which is then superceded in August, you have wasted money.

Books may involve a fair outlay - some are moderately expensive, but it's more the sheer quantity of them. For contract alone I have two textbooks, a statute book and a casebook. Tort is the only module out of the four this year which I only have one book for, and that's only because the tort statutes are contained in the same statute book as the contract ones. I think I spent something like £240 on books, and that was with the deals.

However, I would advise against being stingy or precious with your books if it impedes your learning. Considering that you're paying £7k (at least) per annum to be here, it is stupid to um and ah about a couple of hundred quid for the things which will give you the actual knowledge.

I may think of other random bits of advice later on, but I have a deadline at 3 so I'll get back to you if I do. In the mean time, fire away with any further questions.

[whimisicalJ]

(Original post by TurboCretin)
Yes I do, I'm on the MA programme.

In the mean time, fire away with any further questions.

Thanks so much, I'll keep that in mind about the differences in the types of books and where to shop for them. In the mean time, I'm actually more concerned of accommodations. In your first year, did you stay among one of the University residences? If so, which one would you recommend?

I did a Google street view of Chantry Court, I wouldn't consider it as a nice neighborhood in comparison to Woodlands Court. However, I'm not sure if that is as bad as it seems. The rent is relatively cheaper and I would rather save money on living and spend it on elsewhere.