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BCL - John Gardner
John,
I am very interested in doing the BCL. Presently, I am a second year Law student at Bristol University and expect to obtain a 1st.
I was wondering whether you could tell me specifically what the minimum academic entrance requirements are.
Many thanks.
I am very interested in doing the BCL. Presently, I am a second year Law student at Bristol University and expect to obtain a 1st.
I was wondering whether you could tell me specifically what the minimum academic entrance requirements are.
Many thanks.
Scroll to see replies
All you need to know is at http://denning.law.ox.ac.uk/postgraduate/admitfaqs.shtml
mr. Gardner, I recall some people saying 1sts throughout the whole of the degree are required. I had my first exams which went rather badly...but im only in my first year at a scottish university studying Scots law. if i get my act together , starting next semester and obtain a first, or improve gradually and eventually obtain a 1st, would I have a decent shot At the BCL ?
Yeah I'd ask the same... as I only got a 2.2 in first year lol. Too much messing around.
BCL = The new bandwagon.
I joined here a couple of years back Pretty Boy, I think you will find it is the old one. I had a place at Cambridge and there was a big debate about whether I should do the BCL instead, people suggesting you must to the BCL
LauraWalker
I joined here a couple of years back Pretty Boy, I think you will find it is the old one. I had a place at Cambridge and there was a big debate about whether I should do the BCL instead, people suggesting you must to the BCL
I didn't mean you, anyway.
Hmmm would be tough to choose between them. I can't imagine it really makes a huge difference, I wold choose the one which would allow me to combine the best modules if I had the choice between those two!
There are similarities, but there are also substantial differences between the two courses, particularly in structure. At Cambridge you take 4 courses, which tend to follow a 2 hour lecture/seminar a week structure throughout the year (there are generally no supervisions on the LL.M.). The B.C.L.’s structure depends upon which courses you take, but it can vary. Most subjects have 2 hour seminars (some have lectures in addition to this) each week, or every other week, but in addition to these you also have tutorials- some subjects have 3 or 4 of these, others 8. These are not necessarily throughout the year- some courses are relatively intensive, others more spread out. If you are looking for small group interaction the B.C.L. probably would be a better choice.
In the LL.M everyone (common lawyers or not) takes the same examination, and answers the same number of questions (generally 3). At Oxford non-common lawyers are distinguished, taking the M.Jur which means whilst they take the same exam they write 3 questions, and the B.C.Ls 4, (there are however some exceptions to this). Some of the papers on the LL.M are open book, with the B.C.L they are closed book.
In addition to this each University has its legal specialisms. Oxford has a traditional reputation for private law, Cambridge for public international law, but this does not mean that good scholars in both disciplines aren’t to be found at both. There are however some subjects where one University has an edge over the other though. Take Jurisprudence for instance, Oxford has a higher concentration of such specialists, and has a formidable reputation in this field. Legal History- this is one of Cambridge’s more renowned fields with Baker, Ibbetson, and Milsom (although Milsom holds an emeritus position). International Law, Oxford has some good scholars, but with the concentration at Cambridge and the Lauterpacht Centre this would be in favour of Cambridge. Conflicts, Cambridge’s Fentiman and Rogerson are good, but Briggs at Oxford really needs to be experienced, preferably in a small group setting.
From what I have seen the Bar seems to hold the B.C.L in slightly higher esteem. I hope this is impartial!
In the LL.M everyone (common lawyers or not) takes the same examination, and answers the same number of questions (generally 3). At Oxford non-common lawyers are distinguished, taking the M.Jur which means whilst they take the same exam they write 3 questions, and the B.C.Ls 4, (there are however some exceptions to this). Some of the papers on the LL.M are open book, with the B.C.L they are closed book.
In addition to this each University has its legal specialisms. Oxford has a traditional reputation for private law, Cambridge for public international law, but this does not mean that good scholars in both disciplines aren’t to be found at both. There are however some subjects where one University has an edge over the other though. Take Jurisprudence for instance, Oxford has a higher concentration of such specialists, and has a formidable reputation in this field. Legal History- this is one of Cambridge’s more renowned fields with Baker, Ibbetson, and Milsom (although Milsom holds an emeritus position). International Law, Oxford has some good scholars, but with the concentration at Cambridge and the Lauterpacht Centre this would be in favour of Cambridge. Conflicts, Cambridge’s Fentiman and Rogerson are good, but Briggs at Oxford really needs to be experienced, preferably in a small group setting.
From what I have seen the Bar seems to hold the B.C.L in slightly higher esteem. I hope this is impartial!
I think Oxford has Fidelis Oditah (JG can verify this) dunno about Tab law scholars but this guy, it would appear, is a genius.
LauraWalker
Trust me RR summer is the only rehab you need. I really like Oxford compared to my last University and how it organises things, it is a completely different experience. Whatever result I get, I can honestly say so far that it has been less stressful, there are more ways of upsetting people than giving them lots of work.
That's true I guess. Summer is generally like 4 months long. Now my family are emigrating to Australia next year I could spend my summer after uni on the beach I guess...or alternatively I like the idea of working as a barman and having an easy life on Surfers Paradise...decisions, decisions..
drmoney89
mr. Gardner, I recall some people saying 1sts throughout the whole of the degree are required. I had my first exams which went rather badly...but im only in my first year at a scottish university studying Scots law. if i get my act together , starting next semester and obtain a first, or improve gradually and eventually obtain a 1st, would I have a decent shot At the BCL ?
As the website says, we don't give out advice on what chance you have of getting in. We need to see the whole of your application in order to assess it. All I can say is that virtually all of our applicants have firsts (or equivalent), and in a typical year we make offers to roughly a third of them.
Bald Apple
one a third of them? wow, you must really have limited places! :x
Rightly so.
Those are better odds than for undergraduate applications.
Maybe, but the calibre of applicant is far higher by that stage! No offence like.
Why does everyone want to do the BCL so badly? Do you all want to be barristers or academics?
But why the BCL over an LLM at another top university, for example? I've just heard that it's very good if you want to be a barrister because the profession is Oxbridge dominated, but I wonder why it has so much more prestige than other postgraduate law courses.
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