SOAS or NTU?

Good afternoon,

Which university has more 'prestige points' from the perspective of breaking into biglaw - SOAS or Nottingham Trent? I have been offered a place on both, but weighing up my options.

Here is what I do not care about:
A) Student experience/party lifestyle
B) Handholding through the degree

I am solely concerned with what my employment opportunities will be after the degree.

From what I can tell, there are lots of future/existing trainee solicitors at top firms who studied at SOAS, and hardly any from NTU.

Open to hear your thoughts, cheers.

Reply 1

Stiffy Byng

Original post by ma9191x

Good afternoon,
Which university has more 'prestige points' from the perspective of breaking into biglaw - SOAS or Nottingham Trent? I have been offered a place on both, but weighing up my options.
Here is what I do not care about:
A) Student experience/party lifestyle
B) Handholding through the degree
I am solely concerned with what my employment opportunities will be after the degree.
From what I can tell, there are lots of future/existing trainee solicitors at top firms who studied at SOAS, and hardly any from NTU.
Open to hear your thoughts, cheers.

Big Law sometimes recruits university-blind. No university guarantees an easy route in to Big Law. Having said that, SOAS is a better established university, more likely to offer a better educational experience than NTU, and that may make you a more competitive candidate.

I suggest that you apply to study the subject that you most want to study, at a university where you think you will enjoy studying, and have a reasonable chance of obtaining a place. Picking your university purely on the basis of a perception that it might help you obtain job X or job Y may not be the best idea, save perhaps in relation to a few specialist career routes.

Have you familiarised yourself with what being a junior lawyer in a large law firm involves? It has good points, but there is an element of the Faustian bargain.

Reply 2

SOAS Student Rep

Official Rep

Original post by ma9191x

Good afternoon,
Which university has more 'prestige points' from the perspective of breaking into biglaw - SOAS or Nottingham Trent? I have been offered a place on both, but weighing up my options.
Here is what I do not care about:
A) Student experience/party lifestyle
B) Handholding through the degree
I am solely concerned with what my employment opportunities will be after the degree.
From what I can tell, there are lots of future/existing trainee solicitors at top firms who studied at SOAS, and hardly any from NTU.
Open to hear your thoughts, cheers.

Hello, Congrats on getting both offers! As has been advised its important to choose a University course based on the classes available to you and what you're passionate about. The SOAS Law department is a well respected and established department, with incredible academics. At SOAS you not only get a solid basis is standard law such as property and family, you also have the opportunity to study courses that are unique to SOAS such as Islamic Law or Ocean and Outer Space Law that make you a more competitive candidate for recruiters. Also our careers service is great at sourcing and preparing students for internships, many of our Law students complete internships with big law firms during their degree. Have a look at the Law web page here: https://www.soas.ac.uk/study/find-course/ba-law it lists all the courses available and has an employment section listing firms our graduates have gone to work for. Hope this helps!