MSc Law and Professional Practice - KCL - AVOID THIS COURSE

5

This course is impossibly hard. The PGDL year was completely closed book in-person exams and the average grade was a pass, the MSc year is an LPC + SQE mash basically, but you don’t graduate with an LPC. You can go to ULaw and study both the PGDL and LPC for far cheaper, and get a qualifying vocational qualification out of it, and with a much more accommodating faculty, and higher grades. Avoid this course if you care about your pockets and mental health. The general consensus was enrolling at this course instead of ULaw/City/BPP was a complete mistake. Out of the 50 students in first year, only around 10 remained for the second year.

Reply 1

hsshisjsa

2

This is probably the first review i’ve seen of this course, have you stayed for the second year?

Reply 2

jwiiuee

OP

5

Original post

by hsshisjsa

This is probably the first review i’ve seen of this course, have you stayed for the second year?

I’m shocked that my cohort haven’t publicly expressed their discontent with it yet, I suppose they didn’t find the medium for it. I stayed on for second year briefly, as I already had invested so much money and wanted the MSc exit award. I realised the headache that comes with this department, their poor course structure and horrible pedagogy wouldn’t even be worth gold. I left with a PGDL and am currently doing an LLM SQE prep course elsewhere, and I’m very happy with this decision. I could’ve saved myself so much money doing the PGDL someplace else, and would have ended up with higher marks + better career advice. 2 weeks into the course we were told to not apply to magic and silver circle firms, mind you I graduated from a top uni. Honestly this course felt like a hate campaign against non-law grads lmfao, best and shortest way to put it.

Reply 3

Sofie341

1

Hi I am thinking of transitioning to law after my undergrad. Is the Msc Law in KCL similar to its undergraduate law degree, or would a senior status LLB be better?

Reply 4

jwiiuee

OP

5

Original post

by Sofie341

Hi I am thinking of transitioning to law after my undergrad. Is the Msc Law in KCL similar to its undergraduate law degree, or would a senior status LLB be better?

Not similar at all, though they are both run by the DPSoL they are managed by a completely different department in the uni (professional law institute), and they are horrendous. I recommend you do a pgdl at ULaw or BPP, grades are crazy inflated there and firms endorse them. If you want a senior status LLB for optics then do it at SOAS, heard great things.

Reply 5

xnxmun

1

Original post

by jwiiuee

This course is impossibly hard. The PGDL year was completely closed book in-person exams and the average grade was a pass, the MSc year is an LPC + SQE mash basically, but you don’t graduate with an LPC. You can go to ULaw and study both the PGDL and LPC for far cheaper, and get a qualifying vocational qualification out of it, and with a much more accommodating faculty, and higher grades. Avoid this course if you care about your pockets and mental health. The general consensus was enrolling at this course instead of ULaw/City/BPP was a complete mistake. Out of the 50 students in first year, only around 10 remained for the second year.

I received an offer for this MSc in Law program, just wanted to hear your opinion on my situation. I am a third year LLB student, but outside of the UK, even though I study international law, I do not have much knowledge on the UK legal system. My goal is to work as a solicitor in UK and successfully pass the SQE. I thought that this course would have prepared me for the exam and give me a real life practice, as I have not done any vacation schemes or whatsoever. Do you think it is a good option in my case, or would it be better to go to the univerity of law and take an SQE course preparation, for example?

Reply 6

jwiiuee

OP

5

Original post

by xnxmun

I received an offer for this MSc in Law program, just wanted to hear your opinion on my situation. I am a third year LLB student, but outside of the UK, even though I study international law, I do not have much knowledge on the UK legal system. My goal is to work as a solicitor in UK and successfully pass the SQE. I thought that this course would have prepared me for the exam and give me a real life practice, as I have not done any vacation schemes or whatsoever. Do you think it is a good option in my case, or would it be better to go to the univerity of law and take an SQE course preparation, for example?

I urge you to avoid this course - King’s are new to law conversion courses and are not listed as one of the practical legal education providers by the SRA. Yes, it’s better to go to ULaw or BPP or City university and do a PGDL/GDL there first, they’ve been providing LPCs and SQE practice for decades, you’d be in safe hands. ULaw + BPP + City University mark GENEROUSLY, but it was virtually impossible to score above 66% at King’s. Also, firms regularly seek out law graduates from ULaw, BPP and City all the time and these unis are highly equipped in finding you a job ASAP.

It’s worth noting that as an international - it would be astronomically cheaper. The king’s MSc is around £30k for international students I believe, the PGDL is always under £15k, so you’re saving half the money.

Reply 7

lukenpf

1

Would you be able to message me about this please? I'm considering this course for this year

Reply 8

Karol-origin

3

Original post

by lukenpf

Would you be able to message me about this please? I'm considering this course for this year

Did you get an offer?

Reply 9

Sbouz

1

I've just finished my first year on this course (will be staying on for year 2). You're right that it's hard - there are easier and cheaper options. That said, it is absolutely possible to get higher than a 66 - I got a distinction in semester 1 (S2 grades haven't come out yet). I don't know what the same course is like elsewhere, but I've had great networking opportunities through the PLI (Professional Law Institute - the dept at KCL who run the course) and have had two training contract offers. The PLI staff have been really supportive, in my experience.

Reply 10

LostNortherner98

1

I'm currently finishing my first year on the course and am hoping to go onto the second year (results permitting). Whilst the course is challenging, it is also highly rewarding and intellectually stimulating as the challenge is offset by the community spirit within classes and the help of the Professional Law Institute (PLI). As they are not solely academics they have a more diverse and pragmatic knowledge of the law, free from the vacuum of pure academia and are understanding of the struggles facing graduates who want to get into the legal sector. The teachers on the course help to make the subjects interesting through their own anecdotes and experience which allows for more engagement in classes by demystifying some of the austerity of the law.
Whilst this has only been my experience, the PLI team have really focused on listening to student feedback to improve the course and understand the wants and needs of the cohort and have fostered a two-sided relationship to the students' benefit.

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 11

John.gren

7

Original post

by Sbouz

I've just finished my first year on this course (will be staying on for year 2). You're right that it's hard - there are easier and cheaper options. That said, it is absolutely possible to get higher than a 66 - I got a distinction in semester 1 (S2 grades haven't come out yet). I don't know what the same course is like elsewhere, but I've had great networking opportunities through the PLI (Professional Law Institute - the dept at KCL who run the course) and have had two training contract offers. The PLI staff have been really supportive, in my experience.

His what grades did you have when you applied for this course at university I would love to do this course also when in the university year did you apply?

Reply 12

Stiffy Byng

19

Here's a thing: practising law isn't easy. The fact that the course at KCL is difficult sounds to me like a positive recommendation. Welcome to the real World!

Reply 13

Stiffy Byng

19

Original post

by jwiiuee

Not similar at all, though they are both run by the DPSoL they are managed by a completely different department in the uni (professional law institute), and they are horrendous. I recommend you do a pgdl at ULaw or BPP, grades are crazy inflated there and firms endorse them. If you want a senior status LLB for optics then do it at SOAS, heard great things.

Another thing: lawyers know that UoL grades are meaningless. If I have a choice between a candidate with a postgraduate qualification from KCL and a candidate who bought a Mickey Mouse degree from UoL, guess which one I'll choose. Even if I recruit university-blind, I'll spot that one of those candidates has a clue and the other hasn't.

Reply 14

chikki2002

Original post

by jwiiuee

This course is impossibly hard. The PGDL year was completely closed book in-person exams and the average grade was a pass, the MSc year is an LPC + SQE mash basically, but you don’t graduate with an LPC. You can go to ULaw and study both the PGDL and LPC for far cheaper, and get a qualifying vocational qualification out of it, and with a much more accommodating faculty, and higher grades. Avoid this course if you care about your pockets and mental health. The general consensus was enrolling at this course instead of ULaw/City/BPP was a complete mistake. Out of the 50 students in first year, only around 10 remained for the second year.

wow thank you so much for this, I was seriously considering this course. not anymore, thanks

Reply 15

Stiffy Byng

19

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVBQIY-luVM

Reply 16

Italian Singer

3

Hello guys! I am currently in my second year of BA European Politics at King's and I wanna go into the UK, so a conversion course with a master's seems like a pretty good deal at a first glance. I did some law modules in my first and second year, and found them quite interesting.

Any tips ? Did you know anyone who studied this course who had an international background?

Did your cohort have any international students? How did they do?

Reply 17

Kikiisstudying

1

Original post

by lukenpf

Would you be able to message me about this please? I'm considering this course for this year

Hello, Luke can you tell us about your expereince studying at KCL if you had the chance?

Reply 18

Kikiisstudying

1

Original post

by Stiffy Byng

Another thing: lawyers know that UoL grades are meaningless. If I have a choice between a candidate with a postgraduate qualification from KCL and a candidate who bought a Mickey Mouse degree from UoL, guess which one I'll choose. Even if I recruit university-blind, I'll spot that one of those candidates has a clue and the other hasn't.

Do you know anyone who is studying/studied the PGDL with KCL? The important question is: which school guarantees international students a sponsored job offer at a good law firm?
You know it is complicated to obtain sponsorship in the UK.