Reply 1
KCL
Reply 2
Original post by John.gren
I'm hoping to pursue a law conversion next year. Which institution is the most prestigious: The University of Law, BPP, or the Law & Professional Practice MSc/PG Dip at King's College London?
Is the King's course a conversion or a masters?
Original post by Academic007
Is the King's course a conversion or a masters?
Hi kings offer a conversion and a master together or just the conversion course!
Reply 4
I would ignore prestige, but still go with KCL because it's a proper university, not just a qualifications shop like the other two.
Reply 5
Original post by John.gren
Hi kings offer a conversion and a master together or just the conversion course!
£18,000 a year seems a hefty price for the masters but if you can afford it then go for it. Also, this is a two-year course which is long for a conversion but it says it includes the SQE preparation at no cost? So is it a conversion plus SQE course all in one? Also, check whether or not the SQE exam fees are included as part of the course or whether you have to pay yourself.
Reply 6
Original post by John.gren
I'm hoping to pursue a law conversion next year. Which institution is the most prestigious: The University of Law, BPP, or the Law & Professional Practice MSc/PG Dip at King's College London?
Hi there!
It’s fantastic that you’re planning to pursue a law conversion next year! When it comes to choosing an institution, it really depends on what you’re looking for in terms of teaching style, career support, and overall experience.
King’s College London is definitely the most prestigious in terms of global reputation, especially for an academic, research-driven approach. If you’re looking for a conversion course that’s more theoretical and tied to an academic environment, King’s might be the best fit. It’s a well-known name that carries weight internationally, but keep in mind that its focus may be less practical compared to other options.
The University of Law (ULaw) and BPP are both highly regarded for their professional, career-focused approach. ULaw in particular is entirely dedicated to law and business, with strong links to top law firms and an emphasis on employability. The pro bono opportunities, interactive teaching, and support for training contracts or pupillage applications are what really set it apart. If you want a practical, hands-on learning experience with a clear path to the legal profession, ULaw is an excellent choice.
BPP is also career-focused and has strong connections with the legal industry, so it’s a solid option too. However, ULaw’s smaller class sizes and its PEC Academic Model (Prepare, Engage, Consolidate) really stood out for me, as they ensure you’re fully supported throughout your studies.
In short, if prestige and an academic environment are your priorities, King’s may be the way to go. But if you’re looking for a highly practical, career-focused conversion course with strong professional links, ULaw (and BPP to an extent) would be better suited. Good luck with your decision, you’ll smash it wherever you go!
Reply 7
OP, I am sure that you can recognise marketing when you see it. Large numbers of people pass through UoL and BPP in order to obtain a PGDL and/or take professional exams. Some of those people (by no means all) obtain jobs with law firms or become barristers. There is no correspondence between success and the postgraduate law school attended. You can form a view about UoL by the non-stellar A level grades which it asks of those who take the LLB there.
Despite claims to the contrary, no law school is any good at teaching the practical aspects of lawyering. You can only learn to be a lawyer by lawyering, just as you can only learn how to fly by flying, how to ski by skiing, how to cook by cooking, and so on.
I can't speak for all the law firms, but my experience in chambers is that we aren't much interested in where an applicant obtained a PGDL or took the Bar exams. We are interested in how well the applicant did at university, whether studying law or not, as we see that as a more meaningful measure of ability. We are quite interested in people having LLMs or BCLs, but only if they have good first degrees, not an LLM obtained as degree-washing.
We don't show the selection panel the names of the applicants' universities, but it tends to be the case that candidates who have studied at the most competitive universities do well in selection exercises. My chambers' two most recent recruits have, respectively, a first in Modern History from Oxford and a PGDL, and a 2.1 in Law from the Open University plus experience in an NGO.
I would hope that the KCL course which you are looking at doesn't operate inside a silo, not connected to the rest of KCL's academically reputable law school. You might obtain a better quality of legal education at KCL, and that could be useful later on. Looking back at my Diploma in Law, I was well taught in some subjects and not in others. I did a lot of self-instruction, and once I was in practice taught myself other subjects, such as company law and conflict of laws. Bar school was not very useful, but the exam had to be passed. The course has changed since then, but still doesn't seem very good.
Money may be an issue. If one of the courses you are looking at is a lot cheaper than the others, that might be a decider, but I suppose that the prices may be much of a muchness.
Despite claims to the contrary, no law school is any good at teaching the practical aspects of lawyering. You can only learn to be a lawyer by lawyering, just as you can only learn how to fly by flying, how to ski by skiing, how to cook by cooking, and so on.
I can't speak for all the law firms, but my experience in chambers is that we aren't much interested in where an applicant obtained a PGDL or took the Bar exams. We are interested in how well the applicant did at university, whether studying law or not, as we see that as a more meaningful measure of ability. We are quite interested in people having LLMs or BCLs, but only if they have good first degrees, not an LLM obtained as degree-washing.
We don't show the selection panel the names of the applicants' universities, but it tends to be the case that candidates who have studied at the most competitive universities do well in selection exercises. My chambers' two most recent recruits have, respectively, a first in Modern History from Oxford and a PGDL, and a 2.1 in Law from the Open University plus experience in an NGO.
I would hope that the KCL course which you are looking at doesn't operate inside a silo, not connected to the rest of KCL's academically reputable law school. You might obtain a better quality of legal education at KCL, and that could be useful later on. Looking back at my Diploma in Law, I was well taught in some subjects and not in others. I did a lot of self-instruction, and once I was in practice taught myself other subjects, such as company law and conflict of laws. Bar school was not very useful, but the exam had to be passed. The course has changed since then, but still doesn't seem very good.
Money may be an issue. If one of the courses you are looking at is a lot cheaper than the others, that might be a decider, but I suppose that the prices may be much of a muchness.
(edited 2 months ago)
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