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Does it matter if I get a law degree from Northumbria or Cardiff

Northumbria and Cardiff have both given me an offer to study law.

Does it matter which law degree I get because I live close to Northumbria so I wont spend money on accomodation but Cardiff has a higher ranking as a university so I am curious if it has a higher value as a degree and worth spending more money on.

The other thing is if I get a summer intership job from Northumbria I can do it from home since it will be in Newcastle so I wont have to rent a room for the summer, but again if a Cardiff Law degree has a better value for future job employers, should I accept their offer?

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The value of a law degree does not come from an arbitrary ranking or the name of the university. It comes from the quality of the course, the teaching, and the peer group. Those factors produce graduates who are more or less competitive when seeking professional opportunities. Competing head to head in a university-blind process, if Candidate A who went to Oxford gets the position and candidate B who went to a low ranked university doesn't get the position, this is because A has a stronger academic profile and has probably learned more than B.

Some universities can attract better academic staff than others, and have more resources - better libraries and so on.

I suggest that it is likely that you will receive a better legal education at Cardiff than at Northumbria. The additional cost may pay off later.
Original post by alexander.01
Northumbria and Cardiff have both given me an offer to study law.
Does it matter which law degree I get because I live close to Northumbria so I wont spend money on accomodation but Cardiff has a higher ranking as a university so I am curious if it has a higher value as a degree and worth spending more money on.
The other thing is if I get a summer intership job from Northumbria I can do it from home since it will be in Newcastle so I wont have to rent a room for the summer, but again if a Cardiff Law degree has a better value for future job employers, should I accept their offer?

Building on Stiffy Byng's great advice above, here are two more ways of thinking of it -

Law is an inherently intellect-based career - you are setting yourself up as an expert, and clients are paying you for your knowledge, brain-power, judgement, etc. So establishing the quality of your education, academic ability, intelligence etc is a fundamental part of establishing a career.

Derived from that, if you want to be a Barrister - Cardiff is the stronger option because this branch of law is highly academically competitive and Cardiff has a much stronger academic reputation.
If you want to be a magic Circle Solicitor - Cardiff is the stronger option for the same reasons as above. If you want to be a market town Solicitor in somewhere like Hexham - Northumberland is the stronger option, because locals will trust your local origins, you stay in the community and you can establish yourself with local experience. If you aren't certain of your future career plans - Cardiff is the stronger option for all the benefits above and it wouldn't actually harm any regional solicitors career.

Remember, these 3 years are a more or less one-time investment in a 40 year career. An extra 20k in debt now, should pay off within the first few years of earnings in a strong law career.
Original post by threeportdrift
Building on Stiffy Byng's great advice above, here are two more ways of thinking of it -
Law is an inherently intellect-based career - you are setting yourself up as an expert, and clients are paying you for your knowledge, brain-power, judgement, etc. So establishing the quality of your education, academic ability, intelligence etc is a fundamental part of establishing a career.
Derived from that, if you want to be a Barrister - Cardiff is the stronger option because this branch of law is highly academically competitive and Cardiff has a much stronger academic reputation.
If you want to be a magic Circle Solicitor - Cardiff is the stronger option for the same reasons as above. If you want to be a market town Solicitor in somewhere like Hexham - Northumberland is the stronger option, because locals will trust your local origins, you stay in the community and you can establish yourself with local experience. If you aren't certain of your future career plans - Cardiff is the stronger option for all the benefits above and it wouldn't actually harm any regional solicitors career.
Remember, these 3 years are a more or less one-time investment in a 40 year career. An extra 20k in debt now, should pay off within the first few years of earnings in a strong law career.

So a degree from Northumbria would significantly decrease my reputation? My interest is to become a lawyer in Greece since I am from there but live in England at the moment.
Original post by alexander.01
So a degree from Northumbria would significantly decrease my reputation? My interest is to become a lawyer in Greece since I am from there but live in England at the moment.

That is significant information you should have said from the outset! First of all, what is the Greek legal system based on? I doubt that any law qualification in the UK would help in Greece. We need Stiffy back there, but broadly there are two styles of law, and the UK practices a style that is different to most of continental Europe, and so the qualification doesn't transfer as it might to a Commonwealth country. Basically, it's best to qualify in the country you want to practice in, especially if the difference is UK to Europe.

@Stiffy Byng for the proper legalese on this
Original post by threeportdrift
That is significant information you should have said from the outset! First of all, what is the Greek legal system based on? I doubt that any law qualification in the UK would help in Greece. We need Stiffy back there, but broadly there are two styles of law, and the UK practices a style that is different to most of continental Europe, and so the qualification doesn't transfer as it might to a Commonwealth country. Basically, it's best to qualify in the country you want to practice in, especially if the difference is UK to Europe.
@Stiffy Byng for the proper legalese on this

In Greece a degree from England makes people unique and it is highly valuable. After obtaining my degree I will take a bar exam to become a Greek practising lawyer, but I don't know if a degree from Cardiff would make a big difference for when I start practising in Greece.
Original post by threeportdrift
That is significant information you should have said from the outset! First of all, what is the Greek legal system based on? I doubt that any law qualification in the UK would help in Greece. We need Stiffy back there, but broadly there are two styles of law, and the UK practices a style that is different to most of continental Europe, and so the qualification doesn't transfer as it might to a Commonwealth country. Basically, it's best to qualify in the country you want to practice in, especially if the difference is UK to Europe.
@Stiffy Byng for the proper legalese on this

Greece has a Civilian Law system. Legal systems fall into two broad categories: the Common Law System as used in most of the UK, Ireland, most of the Commonwealth, and the USA; and the Civil Law system, as used in most of Europe and elsewhere. The Civil Law also appears to some extent in the laws of Scotland, in Southern African Commonwealth countries, in Mauritius and in the State of Louisiana.

In this context, Civil Law refers to the law developed in secular courts as opposed to Church Courts in the former territories of the Roman Empire. The Common Law is the secular legal system which developed separately in England, originating from Anglo Saxon customary law and the laws of the Angevin Monarchical courts.

It is not uncommon for lawyers to train in both systems, but to practise law in Greece you would have to obtain a suitable qualification in Greek law.

I would not say that studying at Northumbria would "decrease your reputation". I do not think that either Cardiff or Northumbria is lilkely to have much name recognition outside the UK. Cardiff is a research led university, originating as a college of the University of Wales. To the extent that either of the universities you are considering has an international standing, it's Cardiff. Neither can train you to be a lawyer in Greece.
Reply 7
Original post by Stiffy Byng
Greece has a Civilian Law system. Legal systems fall into two broad categories: the Common Law System as used in most of the UK, Ireland, most of the Commonwealth, and the USA; and the Civil Law system, as used in most of Europe and elsewhere. The Civil Law also appears to some extent in the laws of Scotland, in Southern African Commonwealth countries, in Mauritius and in the State of Louisiana.
In this context, Civil Law refers to the law developed in secular courts as opposed to Church Courts in the former territories of the Roman Empire. The Common Law is the secular legal system which developed separately in England, originating from Anglo Saxon customary law and the laws of the Angevin Monarchical courts.
It is not uncommon for lawyers to train in both systems, but to practise law in Greece you would have to obtain a suitable qualification in Greek law.
I would not say that studying at Northumbria would "decrease your reputation". I do not think that either Cardiff or Northumbria is lilkely to have much name recognition outside the UK. Cardiff is a research led university, originating as a college of the University of Wales. To the extent that either of the universities you are considering has an international standing, it's Cardiff. Neither can train you to be a lawyer in Greece.

Is mmu good for law or should I try and get into a better university. I've heard it has good connections to chambers as I want to be a barrister but I don't want to make a mistake. What do you think?
What are your predicted grades? I suggest that you might wish to aim for the university with the highest entrance standards which you can reasonably hope to attain, subject always to that university being one at which you can see yourself enjoying your time. A happy student is usually a good student, and there are many factors which go to make up a good university experience.

The brutal reality is that not many of the former polys can compete effectively on quality against older universities which have more resources and can attract better academic staff. The UK has an over-supply of law schools and the attrition rate amongst aspirant barristers and solicitors is high.

A particular set of chambers might have connections with one or more universities, through for example providing talks to students and sponsoring prizes, but all chambers recruit candidates on individual merit.
Original post by Stiffy Byng
Greece has a Civilian Law system. Legal systems fall into two broad categories: the Common Law System as used in most of the UK, Ireland, most of the Commonwealth, and the USA; and the Civil Law system, as used in most of Europe and elsewhere. The Civil Law also appears to some extent in the laws of Scotland, in Southern African Commonwealth countries, in Mauritius and in the State of Louisiana.
In this context, Civil Law refers to the law developed in secular courts as opposed to Church Courts in the former territories of the Roman Empire. The Common Law is the secular legal system which developed separately in England, originating from Anglo Saxon customary law and the laws of the Angevin Monarchical courts.
It is not uncommon for lawyers to train in both systems, but to practise law in Greece you would have to obtain a suitable qualification in Greek law.
I would not say that studying at Northumbria would "decrease your reputation". I do not think that either Cardiff or Northumbria is lilkely to have much name recognition outside the UK. Cardiff is a research led university, originating as a college of the University of Wales. To the extent that either of the universities you are considering has an international standing, it's Cardiff. Neither can train you to be a lawyer in Greece.

Hello, I have another question. Would it be a good idea to study in Northumbria University for my 1st year and then at Newcastle for the 2nd and 3rd year.
Reply 10
Original post by Stiffy Byng
What are your predicted grades? I suggest that you might wish to aim for the university with the highest entrance standards which you can reasonably hope to attain, subject always to that university being one at which you can see yourself enjoying your time. A happy student is usually a good student, and there are many factors which go to make up a good university experience.
The brutal reality is that not many of the former polys can compete effectively on quality against older universities which have more resources and can attract better academic staff. The UK has an over-supply of law schools and the attrition rate amongst aspirant barristers and solicitors is high.
A particular set of chambers might have connections with one or more universities, through for example providing talks to students and sponsoring prizes, but all chambers recruit candidates on individual merit.

Abb. So should I not appy to mmu if I want to become a barrister and should look at universities like York for example. Is it close to impossible to become a barrister from a university like mmu. Thanks for the help!
If Newcastle University will let you join in the second year, yes, but I don't suppose that you could be guaranteed a transfer. I do not know what Newcastle's policy on transfers might be.
Reply 12
Original post by Mgw778
Abb. So should I not appy to mmu if I want to become a barrister and should look at universities like York for example. Is it close to impossible to become a barrister from a university like mmu. Thanks for the help!

@Stiffy Byng
Original post by Mgw778
Abb. So should I not appy to mmu if I want to become a barrister and should look at universities like York for example. Is it close to impossible to become a barrister from a university like mmu. Thanks for the help!



Nothing is impossible, but you have to be realistic. You might be a competitive candidate with a degree from MMU but the chances are that you are more likely to be competitive with a degree from somewhere such as York, even in a university-blind process, for the reasons explained above.
Original post by alexander.01
Northumbria and Cardiff have both given me an offer to study law.
Does it matter which law degree I get because I live close to Northumbria so I wont spend money on accomodation but Cardiff has a higher ranking as a university so I am curious if it has a higher value as a degree and worth spending more money on.
The other thing is if I get a summer intership job from Northumbria I can do it from home since it will be in Newcastle so I wont have to rent a room for the summer, but again if a Cardiff Law degree has a better value for future job employers, should I accept their offer?

Do you mind me asking what grades Cardiff wanted?
Original post by alexander.01
Hello, I have another question. Would it be a good idea to study in Northumbria University for my 1st year and then at Newcastle for the 2nd and 3rd year.


A transfer is highly unlikely. Most LLBs dont necessarily cover the mandatory modules in the same order throughout the course. So at Northumbria you might cover modules in year 1 that you would cover again in year 2/3 at Newcastle, conversely you might miss out modules. As a result, if one wants to change university you would usually need to start the LLB from scratch at the new institution.
Original post by selby1974
Do you mind me asking what grades Cardiff wanted?

AAA
Original post by alexander.01
AAA

That might be an instant answer to the OP's question (assuming that the OP still wishes to study in the UK and not in Greece). I would be surprised if Northumbria asks for AAA.

A student's peer group is important. It is more fun to be surrounded by people who are have a similar level of academic engagement to your own, and this also helps you perform better as a student. Big law firms and barristers' chambers are clusters of academic high achievers, and that is why they recruit from universities which admit academic high achievers.
Original post by alexander.01
AAA

Thank you. They want 3 A* now 😬
Northumbria work in UCAS points of 120 which is BBB or equivalent. Cardiff can offer AAB if you’re doing an EPQ and get an A or above in it. But Cardiff are often in Clearing and do sometimes offer ABB then. It varies by year of course.

Northumbria isn’t a bad course, their Law School is quite good and it has a decent reputation for the Bar Course (realise this is not the undergrad, so apples v pears). But, if the OP is going back to Greece I’m not sure their degree would be of much use!

I visited Cardiff and thought it seemed good for law. It didn’t make my shortlist in the end. They offered some interesting optional modules and some good links with the local legal community, as well as some very strong pro bono opportunities (some of the best I saw actually). Again however, not sure it’ll help anyone returning to Greece to work.

Realistically OP needs a university with good international standing like LSE, but that’s a whole different league.

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