LSE or UCL dilemma.

Hi this is Dani (not the game.)

I'm facing a fortunate dilemma, between choosing LSE and UCL as my firm. Both require AAA grades. I have been to both unis and have liked both so I haven't got a clue which one to choose. I'm tending towards a solicitor rather than barrister but not sure yet.

Which has the better reputation amongst the law firms? Can you please give ur unbiased opinion and not just the uni your going to.

Thanks.

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Reply 1

tiantang

thegame

Needless to say you got urself two great uni’s there and in some ways you can't make a wrong decision. :smile:

Teaching wise, they’re pretty much identical but reputation wise I honestly believe LSE edges it (even more so internationally) because of its greater overall reputation as shown by the world rankings which is largely based on peer reviews.

Nb. This is my honest, subjective view and would be the same regardless of UCL offer/rejection.

Reply 2

goneaway56

Both LSE and UCL ....

*jealousy overload*

Reply 3

mobb_theprequel

LSE!

Unless, that is, you've got a place for M102 at UCL (Law + a year in Oz).

Reply 4

Lawz-

I would say that its touch and go. Probably LSE - however, I think LSE have made a mistake by breaking away from the inter-collegiate system. They also seem obsessed with making money and running the university only as a business... But then Im not very fond of LSE to begin with ...

Reply 5

UCL_Law

Can you apply through UCAS for the year in Australia? I wasn't aware of that. Both fab Uni's but I'd obv say UCL. The best multi faculty institution and you'll meet people who actually don't spend all of their life with their nose in a book!

Reply 6

kingslaw

Lawzzzzzz

I'm with Lawzzzz. I don't think there's much denying that LSE does have a greater domestic and international rep. However, the whole charging extortionate fee's for international students makes it feel like more of a business and less of a university. But that's just me.

Reply 7

Lawz-

kingslaw

I think for law, it is questionable though. In a domestic sense. There are polls which (though I dont put much stock in them as oracles of the truth, do render it questionable that there is no doubt LSE is better) - where UCL and KCL are above LSE... internationally though I think I would have to agree... though thats mainly the case in the far east.

Reply 8

mobb_theprequel

UCL_Law

Can you apply through UCAS for the year in Australia? I wasn't aware of that.

That's what I applied [and got rejected] for.

Reply 9

UCL_Law

Did they then consider you for the straight M100?

Reply 10

kingslaw

mobb_theprequel

That's what I applied [and got rejected] for.

Which university in Australia is it?

Reply 11

mobb_theprequel

UCL_Law

Did they then consider you for the straight M100?

Tom Cooling a.k.a. tomcoolinguk also applied for M102; he told me that UCL consider all M102 applicants for M100, prior to making a decision on M102.

As far as I know, Tom is still waiting for a decision on M102.

Reply 12

mobb_theprequel

kingslaw

Which university in Australia is it?

University of New South Wales. http://www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/prospective/undergraduate/index.shtml?llb_aust

Reply 13

Onearmedbandit

I would go to UCL :smile:

I chose it over LSE in the first place, because I didn't like LSE's very limited range of subjects. UCL has better sport & music facilities (although that may not be important to you).
For law, UCL probably edges LSE (in the undergraduate promgramme, at least). The reason LSE has a bigger international reputation is because 65% of its students rae from overseas, which I didn't really find appealing (not that I have anything against foreign students).

Reply 14

Cellardore

I would say UCL for law as LSE specialise more in business.

Reply 15

mobb_theprequel

The gap in the poll is closing!

Reply 16

Cellardore

if you look on the guardian league table for law:

job prospects:
UCL 8/10
LSE 5/10

Reply 17

kingslaw

Onearmedbandit

I would go to UCL :smile:

In terms of reputation, I think to say UCL edges LSE would be a bit fancifull. I'm not saying that there's a lot in it, in fact for Law I think the gap between LSE and the other 'second tier' (UCL, Durham, Manchester, King's, Bristol, etc) universities is smaller than often thought - if, in real terms, it exists at all.

However, saying that, if I had to choose between UCL and LSE, although at the time I would have chosen LSE because its percieved as being more reputable, since coming to London I would now go for UCL - simply because it seems more like a 'real' university compared to LSE.

**this is all based on prejudiced and I've actually had very little experience of LSE (apart from the library)**

Edit: The above was written concerning domestic, rather than international reputation. LSE wins by a country mile on international rep I think.

Reply 18

Ericz

Congratulations to you for getting offers from both LSE & UCL.

I am an International Student and I reckon that my knowledge of the prestige of universities is rather limited.

However, I am able to confidently and comfortably say that, in terms of International recognition for law, Oxbridge and LSE are indeed very famous.

KCL is pretty famous too, where law is concerned, but it is definitely below that of Oxbridge and LSE.

As for UCL, I do not think that it is any better than KCL.

Hence, I'd pick LSE over UCL.

A word of caution: I am an International Student. I will be looking at the International Recognition factor, but if you are a local student, you might want to consider about the job prospects and degree of recognition in UK instead, especially so if you are not thinking of venturing overseas.

Reply 19

mobb_theprequel

Cellardore

if you look on the guardian league table for law:

job prospects:
UCL 8/10
LSE 5/10

But perhaps that's because UCL, KCL and <insert 'second tier' law school here> students adopt a more formulaic approach to employment?

75% of Manchester graduates have the intention to become solicitors; and a similar proportion go on to do the LPC [Source - http://www.man.ac.uk/study/prospectus/prospectus_frames_under/frameset.php?Course_Link=http://www.man.ac.uk/study/ugrad/new/law.html], whereas ~30% of LSE Law graduates progress to the LPC or BVC within six months of qualification [Source - http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/graduateDestinations/law/typicalJobs.htm].

The Guardian employment stats do not satisfactorily account for the repatriation of Law graduates, brought about as a result of corporate/ governmental sponsorship (which a good deal of the LSE's 60% non-EU community are reliant upon).

Middlesex, Sunderland, Keele, Southampton Institute and... TVU, each have employment scores of 9/10, according to the Guardian table (which incidentally, is better than Oxbridge). I think that this confirms just how baseless the assessment is.