UCL law

Is there anything that particularly offers a distinct advantage for studying law at UCL as opposed to Kings or Durham? From what I know of employers preference they are all rates similarly so was just curious.

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Reply 1

lawgrad

Dizzyarab

I just know I am going to generate debate with this comment. But it is nonetheless given in good faith. :smile:

So here we go.

UCL vs Durham -
1. UCL is in London (which is generally convenient for the courts, interviews, etc.).
2. As a university, UCL is more well-known and highly-regarded internationally.

UCL vs King's College London -
1. As a university, UCL is more highly-regarded generally, both in the UK and internationally.
2. I MAY BE BIASED, but my personal view is that the UCL LLB course is slightly more rigorous than the KCL LLB. My view is based on my experience studying and tutoring at UCL, and comparing with the studies of law students at KCL. I also informally tutored a group of my friends who did law at KCL, so I am reasonably familiar with some of their subjects. In terms of results, about 70% of UCL students get 1st/2.1; the number at King's is 90%.

CAVEAT: If all you are concerned about is having a good time, enjoying university and getting a job at a top City law firm in London, then ignore the above comments. In the eyes of City law firms, the LLB from all three are more or less the same. Go where you like! :smile:

Reply 2

Nysh

Dizzyarab

From what I've heard, UCL law is actually considered to be more internationally based than any other university. I think that is definitely something to its credit.

Reply 3

Justice (OCD85)

lawgrad

I just know I am going to generate debate with this comment. But it is nonetheless given in good faith. :smile:

So here we go.

UCL vs Durham -
1. UCL is in London (which is generally convenient for the courts, interviews, etc.).
2. As a university, UCL is more well-known and highly-regarded internationally.

UCL vs King's College London -
1. As a university, UCL is more highly-regarded generally, both in the UK and internationally.
2. I MAY BE BIASED, but my personal view is that the UCL LLB course is slightly more rigorous than the KCL LLB.

You sure about that LawGrad, so why is it that the Kings Law 1st year students have 1 tutorial for every subject (Contract, Public etc) in week whilst the UCL Law 1st year students have 1 tutorial for every subject in every 2 weeks.

Also King's students have 2 essays per term whilst Law students have 1 essay per term. Surely that means that (at leastfor the first year I don't know about the second or third years) King's LLB is more rigorous. I find my girlfriend (King's law student) working harder than me a lot of the time. Unless of course your referring to the content of the UCL LLB (Property is quite demanding and WLO seems like a purely academic subject) then perhaps I see what you mean. Just curious about what you meant here (Im a UCL Law student so I'm not being biased towards Kings...UCL Law rules!!!! )

Reply 4

tomcoolinguk

I'd choose UCL over the three, for several reasons, but first to address Justice's points. The reason we only have one essay per term this year is because of our mid-sessionals, otherwise we would have another assigned essay (as is the case with Property I). Having weekly tutorials could be beneficial in one sense, but I think it would lead to too much spoon feeding- it can sometimes be bad enough now (When people haven't done any work). It could be worth pointing out that there are at least 3 people studying Law at UCL who started at Durham and disliked it so much they dropped out and reapplied.

Having been at UCL for almost a term now, I would recommend you visit all three universities and consider your options carefully. In terms of careers, none of these unis will disadvantage your prospects unless you pick a uni which is not the best for you. UCL and KCL are never going to provide you with the atmosphere of Durham. But then, nor is Durham going to provide you with the array of opportunities London presents. But you could be satisfied with the nightlife in Newcastle. The general perception amongst Durham students does seem to be that it is a university in decline.

Reply 5

Phonicsdude

Durham is in the Arctic circle. Dont go there.

Otherwise I chose UCL over KCL because I prefer the letter U to the letter K.

And it comes higher in league tables and had a friendlier atmosphere when I went on an open day.
In terms of how it is viewed by employers, there is no difference ( I phoned up several barristers and solicitors to check).
UCL is also a more prestigious university as a whole (KCL has some departments that let it down, although the Law fac at Kings is as good as at UCL).

Also the law fac's founder at UCL probably invented jogging.

Reply 6

MissBrightside

[QUOTE="(OCD85)" Justice="Justice"]

lawgrad

I just know I am going to generate debate with this comment. But it is nonetheless given in good faith. :smile:

So here we go.

UCL vs Durham -
1. UCL is in London (which is generally convenient for the courts, interviews, etc.).
2. As a university, UCL is more well-known and highly-regarded internationally.

UCL vs King's College London -
1. As a university, UCL is more highly-regarded generally, both in the UK and internationally.
2. I MAY BE BIASED, but my personal view is that the UCL LLB course is slightly more rigorous than the KCL LLB.

You sure about that LawGrad, so why is it that the Kings Law 1st year students have 1 tutorial for every subject (Contract, Public etc) in week whilst the UCL Law 1st year students have 1 tutorial for every subject in every 2 weeks.

Also King's students have 2 essays per term whilst Law students have 1 essay per term. Surely that means that (at leastfor the first year I don't know about the second or third years) King's LLB is more rigorous. I find my girlfriend (King's law student) working harder than me a lot of the time. Unless of course your referring to the content of the UCL LLB (Property is quite demanding and WLO seems like a purely academic subject) then perhaps I see what you mean. Just curious about what you meant here (Im a UCL Law student so I'm not being biased towards Kings...UCL Law rules!!!! )

In the third year at UCL, we've already been set four essays this term. Bring on the Christmas hols...pleeeease.

Reply 7

Phonicsdude

He meant 1 essay per module per term...which makes 4 a term...!

Reply 8

lawgrad

Justice (OCD85)

Just curious about what you meant here (Im a UCL Law student so I'm not being biased towards Kings...UCL Law rules!!!! )

I meant it from the perspective of course content (find me another Property course which does common law native title!) and marking standards in the examination. I do believe they are more lenient when marking examination papers at KCL - not for giving out 'firsts', but definitely with the 2.1s.

In my year, nearly EVERYONE got a 2.1 at KCL (there were a few Firsts and a few 2.2s). At UCL, there were at least 20% with 2.2s. Do you honestly believe that UCL students are that much weaker than KCL students? I might also add that the percentage at LSE is also more or less the same with UCL. I distinctly remember that in my year, there were more 2.2s in law at Oxford than at KCL!

Of course, I stress that this does not in any way mean that the KCL law school is bad. It is an excellent law school, but I think UCL's LLB is slightly more rigorous. :smile:

Reply 9

Onearmedbandit

Let us not forget that UCL is also located closest to the only Icco in the world!

Reply 10

Phonicsdude

Onearmedbandit

Let us not forget that UCL is also located closest to the only Icco in the world!

Yeh! that, combined with the law fac's founder inventing jogging is well worthy of an international superstar status comparable with Jesus and Mohammed.
It'd be on a par with God if:
a) I went there.
b) Coldplay had studied there.

:cool:

Reply 11

MissBrightside

Phonicsdude

He meant 1 essay per module per term...which makes 4 a term...!

Ohhhhhhhh.lol.I've had about 3 hours sleep...hence the misunderstanding! Apologies :smile:

Reply 12

President_Ben

Onearmedbandit

Let us not forget that UCL is also located closest to the only Icco in the world!

That's a very very important point.

Reply 13

Baadshah

Those greasy pizzas are vile! It's the cheese....yeargh!!!!

Reply 14

Onearmedbandit

I think I'm probably the only person who feels this way, but I'd quite like it if we had another round of essays to do before xmas...

Reply 15

lawgrad

Onearmedbandit

I think I'm probably the only person who feels this way, but I'd quite like it if we had another round of essays to do before xmas...

I felt like that at times, but people like us tend to be overruled by the vast majority (who would object strongly to more essays!). What you can do is do them yourself - tutors are usually quite happy to mark an extra essay or two from a diligent student! :smile:

In your final year especially, tutors actively encourage that (at least mine did!). E.g. for Commercial Law, the tutor set three pieces of written work, but encouraged a few of us to do one or two more. By the end of the year, I had written six. :smile:

I also did six for EU, I think.

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Onearmedbandit

Let us not forget that UCL is also located closest to the only Icco in the world!

At the risk of me sounding absolutely idiotic, what IS the 'Icco'? :frown:

(feeling very lost)

Reply 16

Onearmedbandit

Hm. I may consider that lawgrad!

Icco is a very cheap (considering its location - Goodge Street) fast pizza restaurant. Next time you're around UCL you must go! (if you like pizza)

Reply 17

lawgrad

Onearmedbandit

Icco is a very cheap (considering its location - Goodge Street) fast pizza restaurant. Next time you're around UCL you must go! (if you like pizza)

Ah ok - lol. Good old London - how I miss it already. As I sit on my desk here, I face the window and can see the blizzard outside. Gosh, I have never seen anything like this in London! The whole of Harvard University is covered with a thick layer of snow! A beautiful sight, but inconvenient for moving around.