Robert Gordon University? (Instead of the automatic choice of King's)

Dear All,

I start a Construction Law LLM/MSc course in September and the obvious choice is King's. However, in many ways Robert Gordon University offer a superior course with optional modules in oil & gas or international business law. It also gives one the opportunity to be MCIArb after one year instead of two.

However, I wish to become a construction barrister eventually and I realise King's is one of the 'old faithful' in any chambers eyes. Do you think it would be worth doing the course I think best? Or will those considering me for pupillage turn their nose up at a masters from RGU?

Cheers

M

Reply 1

mtbab

17

Mikut

Dear All,

I start a Construction Law LLM/MSc course in September and the obvious choice is King's. However, in many ways Robert Gordon University offer a superior course with optional modules in oil & gas or international business law. It also gives one the opportunity to be MCIArb after one year instead of two.

However, I wish to become a construction barrister eventually and I realise King's is one of the 'old faithful' in any chambers eyes. Do you think it would be worth doing the course I think best? Or will those considering me for pupillage turn their nose up at a masters from RGU?

Cheers

M

would doing your LLM at RGU not be a lot more focused on Scottish Law though?

Reply 2

Mikut

OP

Thanks for the reply.

Being a Scottish based course is does make reference to Scottish Law but does not emphasise it.

Has anybody studied law at RGU or heard of it's reputation?

Reply 3

Scots_Law

2

I'm a law student in Scotland and I don't think its repuation is that great - but like you said, the content of the course might be more what you're looking for. Perhaps you could email RG and ask how previous students have faired in finding jobs in the area of law you are interested in?

Good Luck :smile:

Reply 4

chalks

13

Mikut

Dear All,

I start a Construction Law LLM/MSc course in September and the obvious choice is King's. However, in many ways Robert Gordon University offer a superior course with optional modules in oil & gas or international business law. It also gives one the opportunity to be MCIArb after one year instead of two.

However, I wish to become a construction barrister eventually and I realise King's is one of the 'old faithful' in any chambers eyes. Do you think it would be worth doing the course I think best? Or will those considering me for pupillage turn their nose up at a masters from RGU?

Cheers

M

I'm no expert on the bar, but I would have thought your chances would be improved by going to Kings. Plus, any emphasis on Scottish law would seem to me to be a waste of your time if you intend practising south of the border.

Reply 5

Nana_Julia

9

chalks

I'm no expert on the bar, but I would have thought your chances would be improved by going to Kings. Plus, any emphasis on Scottish law would seem to me to be a waste of your time if you intend practising south of the border.

Yeah, I think I tend to agree with Chalks. Of course it is simply based on assumption because it is really impossible for us to know exactly how chambers will assess the situation...with that disclaimer, I would say chambers are likely to want to see one "prestigious" university on your CV. The fact that you have experience in construction will be well regarded by construction sets but I would think that that experience ticks the "construction" box without you getting the more specialised master's...you also need to tick the "academic" box, and I think King's would do that better.

Reply 6

Mikut

OP

Cheers everyone. I agree King's looks much, much better on the CV, the only hesitation I have is with the RGU course I can sit an APC and become a chartered surveyor aswell, which would be very useful for the technical knowledge needed to 'stand alone' as a barrister.

Reply 7

mtbab

17

Mikut

Cheers everyone. I agree King's looks much, much better on the CV, the only hesitation I have is with the RGU course I can sit an APC and become a chartered surveyor aswell, which would be very useful for the technical knowledge needed to 'stand alone' as a barrister.

A good thing to do , might be to email some construction barristers and get their opinion as people who have gone through the system and maybe followed similar routes to the ones you're looking at

Reply 8

Kerrigan

If you want to be a barrister, go with the most prestigious course. The reason RGU is offering different options and the APC / chartered surveyor stuff is because its course is inferior, and it has to do something to attract people who would otherwise go to King's etc.

Reply 9

Mikut

OP

mtbab

A good thing to do , might be to email some construction barristers and get their opinion as people who have gone through the system and maybe followed similar routes to the ones you're looking at

Cheers, I did think of this but seeing as commercial Barristers are billed at hundreds of pounds per hour I thought better of it. Do you really think they wouldn't mind?

:confused:

Reply 10

AdamTJ

12

Mikut

Cheers, I did think of this but seeing as commercial Barristers are billed at hundreds of pounds per hour I thought better of it. Do you really think they wouldn't mind?

:confused:

Lol- you're not a client. Just ring up/e-mail in and ask and there's a strong possibility you might get the information free of charge :eek:

.

Reply 11

Mikut

OP

AdamTJ

Lol- you're not a client. Just ring up/e-mail in and ask and there's a strong possibility you might get the information free of charge :eek:

.

Heh heh, thing is they are actually OUR clients!! I work in Expert Witness work etc. so they hire us. Thought it might be a bit risky to bother them in case they become annoyed and it gets through to the Partners in my dept. Plus, they probably wouldn't be happy to find out I'm not planning to stay in my current role long term!! :p:

Spoke briefly to a junior at Keatings last month. Perhaps I should ask him. Should I email a clerk instead of him directly?

Reply 12

jackoune

does anybody have some informations about the LLM oil and gas law aberdeen programm?

Robert Gordon University? (Instead of the automatic choice of King's)

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