Starting an LLM from a BA background!

I have received a 2:1 (65% overall) for my bachelor of arts in geography.
My BA was honestly 3 years of holidays, I never did more than a few hours of work per week (except exam times)

Based on my grade, I now have been accepted onto an LLM (master of environmental law) at the same university.

Will I not be at a significant disadvantage compared to other LLB students?
I am expecting it to be extremely difficult, and already foresee myself studying 5 or 6 hours per day.
Is there anyone that has done a specialized master in law that can give me some insight/help as to what the course is like? Is it going to be as painstakingly hard as I'm preparing myself to?

Reply 1

Duncan2012

19

Original post by elsa-s

I have received a 2:1 (65% overall) for my bachelor of arts in geography.
My BA was honestly 3 years of holidays, I never did more than a few hours of work per week (except exam times)

Based on my grade, I now have been accepted onto an LLM (master of environmental law) at the same university.

Will I not be at a significant disadvantage compared to other LLB students?
I am expecting it to be extremely difficult, and already foresee myself studying 5 or 6 hours per day.
Is there anyone that has done a specialized master in law that can give me some insight/help as to what the course is like? Is it going to be as painstakingly hard as I'm preparing myself to?

Did you not factor all this in when you applied for the course?

For a fulltime masters course I'd be preparing for a lot more than '5-6 hours per day'.

Reply 2

Notoriety

22

No, a lot of the topics you get in a specialist master's are completely new and you won't have come across them in undergrad law. And a lot of people taking specialisms like yours come from a geo background.

I imagine you are more familiar with the conventions in environmental law than the LLB student, also, hence your being able to get on the course. The learning curve will not be so steep.

I would prepare to study 8+ hours for a master's. There will be a lot of content you will cover.

Reply 3

elsa-s

OP

3

Original post by Duncan2012

Did you not factor all this in when you applied for the course?

For a fulltime masters course I'd be preparing for a lot more than '5-6 hours per day'.

This wasn't my first choice for a master but due to a set of circumstances out of my that have emerged this is the option that I had to resort to.

Original post by Notoriety

No, a lot of the topics you get in a specialist master's are completely new and you won't have come across them in undergrad law. And a lot of people taking specialisms like yours come from a geo background. I imagine you are more familiar with the conventions in environmental law than the LLB student, also, hence your being able to get on the course. The learning curve will not be so steep. I would prepare to study 8+ hours for a master's. There will be a lot of content you will cover.

I touched upon environmental regulations in my BA indeed, but a lot more related to the socio-economic aspects of issues.

I am assuming you mean 8+ hours per day? Oh boy that was the amount I was doing per week in my undergrad!

Reply 4

Duncan2012

19

Original post by elsa-s

This wasn't my first choice for a master but due to a set of circumstances out of my that have emerged this is the option that I had to resort to.

You should do a masters because you want to or you need to. Does it help your future plans?

Reply 5

elsa-s

OP

3

Original post by Duncan2012

You should do a masters because you want to or you need to. Does it help your future plans?

The emerging set of circumstance results in a desire, yes. I am hoping to work for 'big' international organizations regarding environmental legal matters, or work as an environmental consultant

Reply 6

Reality Check

22

Original post by elsa-s

I have received a 2:1 (65% overall) for my bachelor of arts in geography.
My BA was honestly 3 years of holidays, I never did more than a few hours of work per week (except exam times)

Based on my grade, I now have been accepted onto an LLM (master of environmental law) at the same university.

Will I not be at a significant disadvantage compared to other LLB students?
I am expecting it to be extremely difficult, and already foresee myself studying 5 or 6 hours per day.
Is there anyone that has done a specialized master in law that can give me some insight/help as to what the course is like? Is it going to be as painstakingly hard as I'm preparing myself to?

Your main problem will be moving from a mindset of '3 years of holidays' from one where regular academic work spread evenly throughout the year is the norm. You're rather breezily saying that you foresee yourself 'studying for 5 or 6 hours per day' but is that really realistic, given what has gone before?

Reply 7

username2393237

21

You could just have asked about the difficulty without mentioning the holiday bit...that makes you sound like an ass to be honest .

Reply 8

elsa-s

OP

3

It wasn't meant as a critic in any way, I am sorry you interpreted it that way (and there sure wasn't a need to insult either).
It was rather used as a metaphor to highlight my apprehension regarding the jump up.

So about 8 hours per day would be the norm, from what I have been able to undererstand?

Reply 9

236975879

8

If the university accept non-law grads then there's no reason you should be at a significant disadvantage. However, it might be a good idea to have a look at some introductory texts on the UK and EU legal systems just to get a sense of how the court systems work and familiarise yourself with the vocabulary.

As to how many hours you need to put in that really depends on how difficult you find the material, how effectively you revise etc. I had friends on the LLM who lived in the library and just about scraped a merit, and then there were those who did 2-3 hours a day and got distinctions. There's no hard and fast rule. Good luck!

Starting an LLM from a BA background!

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