SAQ and Law

I really dont know what to put for the answer to this question:

What aspects of the course at Cambridge attracted you to apply here?

Because I know nothing specific about the course, I dont even know about the tutorial system that they have :redface:

I have looked on the law department website but it tells me nothing about the course other than the modules they do

Reply 1

pyrolol

Look at the module list then; and compare it to what other universities offer.

Don't mention other places, but say stuff like "it includes an emphasis on blah which interests me...", or maybe "there's alot of flexibility in the course, ...", opportunities to specialise etc. If you can find any information about how it's delivered that might be good.

Basically do some research! You're supposed to be interested in the course (I'm sure you've been told a hundred times to apply for a course, not a university), so you should know why you applied there (yeah, fine, maybe it wasn't, but you really should check it is a course you want to do. It might turn out to be 3 years of work on something you really don't want to have to do.

Obviously be careful you're not lying and are going to get screwed in interview because of it.

To summarize, just proove that you do really know what you're thinking of letting yourself in for.

Reply 2

Come on, do a little research and check out why the law course is special. Something will explain how the supervision (not tutorial, that's Oxford) system works on the website somewhere.

Why did you actually apply to Cambridge if you know nothing about the course? Was it simply because it's 'Cambridge'?

Reply 3

Josiette

Pretty much, I am interested in the course but theres no reason why I applied specifically to Cambridge for the course. Its not that I know nothing about the course, I do its just the same as any other law course. I did look at the course details and the optional modules are the same as I would take at any other university.

Reply 4

Death

Well you can talk about at least three things that make the Cam course unique:
1) the Freshfields course
2) Roman law compulsory in the first year
3) wide range of choices in Part IB and Part II (all unis have a wide range of choice but you could emphasise that the range in cambridge is even wider)

You could also talk about supervisions I guess, but you're not really given much space so if you had to choose I think it's best you either drop this one or the Roman law one. Showing that you've done your research will always win you points.

Reply 5

Rudrax

i'm glad this thread already exists coz i had the same problem - i know about the course but across all the uni's i've applied (cambridge/ucl/lse/kings) they're all rpetty similar

i'll research a bit of roman law so i can say exactly what i like about it cheers.

Another question i have - can anyone think of any topical legal issues that i could list to discuss in my interview. Its not that i can;t think of any, its just that the ones i do think of immediately stray into politics and if they want something specifically legal then i wouldn;t have a clue? Whata re other people writing? (i won't copy - i'm tyrin to look for stuff i;d be interested in myself) and what have other people put down in the pasT?

Reply 6

Desmond Hume

If you are going to mention Roman Law, you most certainly do need to have good reasons why you think you like it. You have to assume it will come up at interview.

When comparing the Oxbridge law courses to other law courses at other universities, its easy just to think that Roman Law is specific to the Oxbridge universities. It therefore sounds like the perfect think to talk about on your PS because it shows you have researched it. Well, if you going to talk about it, be genuinely interested in it. The minimum you should do is find out what Roman Law is all about and why, to you, it seems better than studying modules like: English Legal System, Intro to Law etc.

If I were in your position, I'd steer clear. The last thing I would want to talk about at the interview is Roman Law. Personally, I would use the space to further expand upon my reasons for wanting to study Law and why specifically at Cambridge. Talk about the tutorial system, talk about the sorts of things that you think a good law student requires; for example, the range of analytical methods. Sound interested in the course generally not just one subject which you probaly won't even enjoy.

Reply 7

Llamaaa

It's the best place in the world to study international law apparently.
Also many of the important textbooks are written by Cambridge lecturers

For the supervision system, you have one supervision per subject per fortnight, which are normally in groups of 2 or 3. You also have to submit two essays per subject per term.

As for what to mention that's been in the news lately, I think the most topical thing is Europe. You could talk about the EU's influence on british law, and the human rights act as well. You don't want to go too deep, because if you haven't been taught the stuff, your opinion will be knocked out instantly. One thing that is easier to talk about is terrorism, since it's such a hot topic these days, and how it can be prevented, such as the idea of 90 day detention without trial and so forth.

I can't remember what I said in my interview to be perfectly honest! I know I was given a few situations and was told to talk the interviewer through them, like how I think the case should go. Not sure if it's that way for all colleges though.

Reply 8

Rudrax

cheers for that - Europe and Human Rights are really good ideas. I think terrorism might just be too big a can of worms to open and political correctness and the fact that everyone sees it everyday are some reasons why i probably wouldn;t mention it

i went to a free Human rights lecture at UCL on wednesday so i could include it in ym SAQ heh and in a deviation during the questions at the end quite an interesting idea of the 'unencumbered man' came up which i might include.