[ash911]

as the title says, I would very much appreciate it if someone gave me an honest answer about King's law school. input from current King's students is most welcome!

I am an international applicant and currently hold an unconditional offer to read law at King's. The dilemma I am now facing is whether or not to make the huge financial sacrifice to study there instead of reading law in my home country. I would like to know if you guys think it's worth it! Is it true that the law school's rep is going down? Do top law firms generally regard King's as a choice university? Much appreciated!

[Mini Pupil]

King's is a Russell Group University, which means it is a top tier uni in England.

I studied there from 2004-7 when it was a top 3 law school (depending on the paper you read, and which way the wind was blowing).

I understand it has dropped a few places since.

However, it is just about to open a new state of the art law school in Somerset House, and has absolutely excellent links into Temple (where all the barristers hang out) and the top solicitors firms in the city due to its location.

It pains me to say it, but UCL and LSE are probably better academically these days, but King's was, and is, an absolutely first rate university, and you can do a hell of a lot worse than becoming an adult in what is in my opinion one of the best cities on earth.

[erklam]

King's Law School just went through a £40 million redevelopment project and just has received a donation of £20million from a rich guy. Hence is reasonable to expect that the quality of teaching and student experience as well as the overall ranking of the Law School should significantly improve in the future.

[ash911]

thank you to both posters for your replies! any more? I think i'm swaying towards King's right now

[erklam]

(Original post by ash911)
thank you to both posters for your replies! any more? I think i'm swaying towards King's right now

Whats your alternative?

[ChampEon]

I don't know much about the Law department at King's except that the Royal Courts of Justice are literally across the road from the Strand campus, about 10 seconds away, which can only be a good thing (some way or another)!

[ash911]

(Original post by erklam)
Whats your alternative?

I'm an international student so the alternative choice is to study locally, in my home country. The standard here is pretty good too so it's a tough choice

[phiddy23]

What's your home country?

[ash911]

(Original post by phiddy23)
What's your home country?

Singapore

[darkccc]

Although I'm not currently studying at King's, I don't think its reputation is dwindling. From what I know from talking to practising lawyers in Australia and in Hong Kong, King's College London still stands as one of the top universities in the world, particularly for law. Though it is not the same level as an oxbridge university, it is just under the two institutions.

[ash911]

(Original post by suffocation1992)
It's definitely good for career prospects and the academics who teach are fantastic. Most of my own friends on the course have secured vacation schemes at top firms, and will probably go on to get training contracts, so it's targeted by the top firms. UCL and LSE are probably academically better, but King's ranks immediately behind.

I personally love that on the law course there are students from across the world, it is so enriching as an experience. There is somebody from everywhere and if you like an international feel to your studies then you'll love it! It was the perfect choice for me (and I'm a Brit!).

hi thanks so much for your reply! I must say it's very encouraging to get a positive first-hand view of things. All things considered I think that I will most likely end up there this September!

also what year are you currently in, if you don't mind me asking? are the prospects for international students (for training contracts, etc.) as good as they are for the locals?

[ash911]

(Original post by suffocation1992)
Well I've finished my exams so all being well I should be in final year now

I have some friends mostly from European countries who got vacation schemes, but I noticed a tendency for Asian students to want to return home and work? Certainly it is easier for a British student to get a training contract because we don't have visa problems but by no means is it generally 'easy' - the competition in the UK for them is intense, more so for vacation schemes. But you know, they are international firms in London, they probably don't care. I don't really know...

But congrats on choosing King's, seems to be an exciting time to study law there.

oh that's great! all the best for your final year then!

yeah actually that's true, i will probably return to my home country to do my training contract for law and will most likely continue to work there too. but I'm hoping that a King's law degree will give me that international edge, so to speak?

thanks for you reply again! I'm really looking forward to my own London 2012 now =)