The Student Room Group

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Reply 1
I've been accepted, in error, to the 3 year program: I applied to the senior status program and somehow my app got messed up. I'm waiting right now to hear back from the school in regard to the switched status.

One of my main reasons for applying to QM is the 2 year option. You have the same mini-buck to convert to the fearsome sterling, so a year less in tuition would really help financially.

Anyway, I've heard some good (and bad) things about QM on this and other sites. It ranks fairly well, although being an out of towner I would like some more assurance about the school's reputation. What are your thoughts about the school in your research so far?

By all means, if anyone reading this has any pertinent information, post a reply!
Reply 2
kathycakes
I've been accepted, in error, to the 3 year program: I applied to the senior status program and somehow my app got messed up. I'm waiting right now to hear back from the school in regard to the switched status.

One of my main reasons for applying to QM is the 2 year option. You have the same mini-buck to convert to the fearsome sterling, so a year less in tuition would really help financially.

Anyway, I've heard some good (and bad) things about QM on this and other sites. It ranks fairly well, although being an out of towner I would like some more assurance about the school's reputation. What are your thoughts about the school in your research so far?

By all means, if anyone reading this has any pertinent information, post a reply!


Hey! Fellow Canadian :smile: Mind if I ask your background (ie what you studied and where, and what your plans with an English law degree are)? Thanks!

EDIT: PS, I'm accepted for the 3 year program but will be attending SOAS over QM
Reply 3
More Canadians abroad - this is becoming a trend I think!

I did my BA at SFU - my major is English, minor is Communications. I was itching to get out of town and I have little to no desire to spend three years in some other province of this country, so the logical step was to go abroad. As you probably know, US unis are so expensive you are left scratching your head in disbelief, and I didn't want to go south anyway. So next came the decision to go to the UK - I have spent summers there in the past and really fell for the place (well, London to be exact) and thought it would be a pretty exciting place to study for the next couple years.

As far as my plans afterward go, I can't say that I have a finite plan at the moment. Who knows, maybe I'll have some revelation about Vancouver and want desperately to return. But right now I don't feel convinced about that - London seems the perfect place to start a career in law: the opportunities, the excitement, the competition, the foreign job placements.

I have the opportunity to claim an ancestry visa (5 years free to live as a UK citizen - minus the social programs) so I will probably claim that after my student visa expires.

What are your plans? Why did you accept SOAS over QM? And when are you planning to go over there? I can't move in to my res until 15 Sept which is really frustrating, is that the same for you?
Reply 4
kathycakes
More Canadians abroad - this is becoming a trend I think!

I did my BA at SFU - my major is English, minor is Communications. I was itching to get out of town and I have little to no desire to spend three years in some other province of this country, so the logical step was to go abroad. As you probably know, US unis are so expensive you are left scratching your head in disbelief, and I didn't want to go south anyway. So next came the decision to go to the UK - I have spent summers there in the past and really fell for the place (well, London to be exact) and thought it would be a pretty exciting place to study for the next couple years.

As far as my plans afterward go, I can't say that I have a finite plan at the moment. Who knows, maybe I'll have some revelation about Vancouver and want desperately to return. But right now I don't feel convinced about that - London seems the perfect place to start a career in law: the opportunities, the excitement, the competition, the foreign job placements.

I have the opportunity to claim an ancestry visa (5 years free to live as a UK citizen - minus the social programs) so I will probably claim that after my student visa expires.

What are your plans? Why did you accept SOAS over QM? And when are you planning to go over there? I can't move in to my res until 15 Sept which is really frustrating, is that the same for you?


fantastic!
Congratulations on your offers - I have two friends studying the 2 year course at Birmingam, and 1 studying the two year course at QM.

I applied to SOAS because of the program it offers - it's really unique if you check out the curriculum - it has more of an international legal touch to it than conventional law programs; hopefully it'll be a good complement to my BA in IR! I'm interested in landing a job with an NGO or the UN in Human Rights law.

Check out the NCA website on accreditation to learn how to come back to Canada and transfer your degree!
Reply 5
kathycakes, it seems as if I have found you again (and on that note have seen why you are going to study in the UK!) I'm not sure I'm convinced on this QM debate, I have heard alot of :s-smilie: things about the uni, and heard that it is in a dodgy place of London (however, this is just what I have heard, can't say I have actually been there!)

I am interested in looking into those LLM programs, I saw one on the Leeds website as well. I am going to try and email them, and use my power of persuasion to see if I can get my offer transferred to that course, lol. What's the worst they can say? No? I suppose its no skin off my back. I was originally planning to work tres hard and a first, then apply for a masters at oxbridge.... hahah appearently my plans include being a student for life :P

Moosaman, what do you friends say about the 2yr program at Birminghman? Do they like it?! Any feedback you could give would be much appreciated!

Cheers for the advice my Fellow Mounties :wink: KPQ....
Reply 6
Yes, we're all romping around checking out the same threads for information!

The thing that I'm concerned about is the reputation of the school. There are numerous childish debates going on on this site (in all sorts of different areas, by no means unique to 'our' threads) and I don't really give two snots what some snobbish kid has to say about programs or schools. What I'd really like is an informed opinion, especially one on the other side, ie the employers/recruiters.

So does anyone know if doing an LLM cancels out the required LPC? I suppose not, but I've read on other forums that people are going straight to LLM from LLB, and I wonder what benefit that has financially etc?

kpq, I doubt I will return to Canada after the degree, I just want to ensure a smooth transition should that happen. I am excited to work in London, I think that city is the best I've ever seen, and the law opps. are innumerable.

What about you two? Plans to return to our great nation or truck along in what could, for me, be deemed the motherland?

Kathryn
Reply 7
No idea where I'm going - I wanna go to SOAS because of the global curriculum it offers... legal systems of Asia, Africa, comparative law, human rights law, ethnic minority law... fantastic! hoping it leads me to somewhere with the UN, reputable NGOs, who knows!
Reply 8
kathycakes, I read somewhere (on a different thread) that the 'employers' kind of subdivide the schools into different groups (in which there where four listed.) It was based on this matrix in which they 'recruited' candidates. I suppose the debate on that was, whether or not someone with a first from the second lot would be choosen before a 2:1 in the first lot, etc... But it gave a rough idea of the top '20 law' schools, accord. to employers. Anyways, Im in the middle of studying for an exam at the moment, but I'll try and find that post after for you to see. My final point (and wait for it.... lol, is that QM was nowhere on this list.)

Anyways.... Sorry if this post is completly illogical, but its 2am in the morning and I have been couped up in the library for the past 8hrs studying for an exam ;P

On a last note, I plan on living in the UK once I'm done, I figure if I do my degree there, it is rather pointless to try and become re-qualified in Canada. I reckon there is more opportunity in London anyways! I am actually leaving for the UK on the 7th of May, going up to work in Manchester for a bit before school beings in Sept.

Moosaman- if you want to get into international law, you should think of doing a masters degree in int'l relations. I did model UN in high school and uni, and see that alot of ppl who go work in the UN or any other NGO, usually has masters degrees in public policy/int'l law/conflict resolution/peacebuilding, etc. I would think that ultimately if you wanted to work in the NGO sector, having a 'specialism' in one area might be more useful then a law degree. I actually thought about this route as well, as I'm quite interested in the state of Africa at the moment. Ultimately however, I discovered that I am too selfish to take that route, which perhaps makes me more suited to law within a corporate envrionment. Don't ask me how I have come to this conclusion, I suspect we all know the difficulties in choosing pathways for the rest of our lives lol. I guess bottom line, I suspected that a career in law would be more stable then NGO/UN work, but I suppose its a personal perspective.

I must stop here, as I now realize that I keep this post keeps going in an effort to procrastinate from continued revision. Will chat soon, ttfn!! xx
Reply 9
Hi Everyone,

I just found this site and was wondering how many people from my area (ie Toronto, Canada) have decided to head to QMUL in September as I have. (I'm not on facebook, nor do I intend to be, so this is my method of finding other people in my situation.)

Joining: LLB Senior Status

Thanks.
LL.:smile:
Reply 10
Hi Ladylaw (and other viewers)

I'll be attending QMUL in the fall. Right now I've been admitted, mistakenly, to the 3 year LLB so I'm waiting to hear back if they'll allow me into the 2 year LLB. Very frustrating as this late in the year I don't know what will happen, but it's their error in the first place so we shall see...enough about that.

I'm not from Toronto, but I am from Canada, way over in Vancouver. Either way, we're both going to have all the same questions and concerns I'd imagine.

What are your plans with the degree? Solicitor, back to Canada, grad degree etc?

Kathryn
Reply 11
hey ladylaw
Welcome to the wonderful world of 'publicly pondering your future' :wink:
I am from Toronto (Representing UTM, holla!) There seems to be quite a few Canadians applying to this course! I know of 2 other people in my program who have applied (and been accepted into the QM and others)

R u from UofT, York ?
Reply 12
Kathryn,

Sorry to hear that your app got all confused (have to you called them directly, I find that talking to them gets you a faster response)...

After looking at all my options, I think it will be a matter of time before I decide what I intend to do with that degree. I want to practice, but in terms of where, that's all in the air right now. If I like London as much I think I will, then I will stay and practice as a solicitor, I will be visiting a firm in June for just that purpose and hopefully my experience with them is good. Otherwise, if I decide to come back, I will have to go through the accreditation process and such, but I hope that that doesn't make things difficult. I will be speaking to few freinds here that I hope will give me advise on how to get a summer position in Canada between first and second year otherwise, I am considering taking on one of those vacation schemes offered in the UK. But again, still have a lot of digging around to do before I decide. For now I'm just really happy to be able to study law (in England of all places!). I'm really excited about it.

KPQ,

I went to York, and then to Seneca and have been working at a firm for three years (assist first, then clerk), so at least I know what I am getting into. If I had thought about studying abroad sooner I would have. But I'm glad to hear that I am not the only Canadian heading over.
Reply 13
Hey Guys!
Wow, it is so nice to find other Canadians here! I just finished a BAH at Queen's and am planning to attend QM for my LLB in Sept. I also want a change of scene and don't really want to stay in Canada. I have been to London numerous times on vacation and thought it would be a great opportunity to study law there. I was seriously considering applying for the Senior Status program but in the end, I decided to apply for the 3 year because I heard from a number of people that it is much easier to return to Canada having completed the 3 year vs. the 2. Have any of you heard anything about this? I'm not sure if I will end up returning to Canada, I guess I will see what happens. I just figured that if I did decide to return to Canada after I finished, I would rather write less exams from the NCA and I really don't want to satisfy any requirements at a Canadian law school.
Reply 14
I emailed the NCA a while ago and was told the 3 year will satisfy more of the requirements. I've also pulled the list of offered courses and found the list of subjects required by the NCA to be almost fully met with the 3 year, while with the 2 year a significant number of courses were left out.

I agree with you, I'd rather get it all out of the way to keep my options open as far as coming back here is conerned. Conversely, with this God forsaked LPC course we have to take to become solicitors, I don't really feel too excited about the prospect of FOUR years without earning power. That's a damn long haul, and I can't really handle the thought of it at this point.

Are you definitely attending QM this fall?
Reply 15
Thanks for the info. Kathycakes. Yes, I'll be at QM in the fall. What is an LPC course if I may ask? I was under the impression that if you wanted to return to Canada after completing your law degree in England, the NCA would assess your degree and then determine how many exams you have to write.
Reply 16
The LPC is part of the qualification you need to practice as a solicitor in England. The Legal Practice Course (one year) you take before you complete your training contract (two years), but after you have completed either a degree or the GDL (one year legal studies for non law grads).

As for the time for accreditation in Canada, I believe there might be a few developments coming this October particularly in Ontario after the proclamation of Bill 124, which is supposed to make it easier for people with foreign degrees to get accredited in Canada. For the law degree holders, it might mean less exams regardless of which program you choose.
Reply 17
Hulawula
Hey Guys!
Wow, it is so nice to find other Canadians here! I just finished a BAH at Queen's and am planning to attend QM for my LLB in Sept. I also want a change of scene and don't really want to stay in Canada. I have been to London numerous times on vacation and thought it would be a great opportunity to study law there. I was seriously considering applying for the Senior Status program but in the end, I decided to apply for the 3 year because I heard from a number of people that it is much easier to return to Canada having completed the 3 year vs. the 2. Have any of you heard anything about this? I'm not sure if I will end up returning to Canada, I guess I will see what happens. I just figured that if I did decide to return to Canada after I finished, I would rather write less exams from the NCA and I really don't want to satisfy any requirements at a Canadian law school.

Hello!

I live in Toronto, Ontario and I just received an offer of admission to the 2-yr LLB Program to QMUL. Although the program looks excellent, I have a Masters degree and I am concerned about the age-range of other students beginning the program in the Fall.

I am trying to learn as much as I can about this university and it seems plausible that graduates can come back to Canada and practice. Is this your intention?

Where did you go to university in Canada?

I look forward to hearing from you! I wonder how many Canadians were accepted to Queen Mary.
Laura
Reply 18
Canada Soc now being created :eek:
Hi,

I think this post may be dead but I don't know how to start my own thread...

I'm applying to law school in Canada and in the UK. I'm applying to QMUL, Birmingham, Kent (for 2 year Senior Status) and LSE, UCL and KCL. I know I have to write the LNAT for UCL and KCL.. just haven't done it yet.

Furthermore, I'm a 4th year student at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. I'm finishing up my last year of Business Administration. In addition, since it is a co-op program, I have one year's worth of work experience at : Research In Motion, Omnicom and Bell Canada.

Out of these programs what would you suggest.. and why?

Also, I have my British passport, so if I wanted to stay and work in the UK upon graduation, I could easily.

Thanks,
Amina