Original post by OJ321
Hello,
Recently got offered a place to study law LLB at York for ABB (got a Contexual 😍). however I’m worried about my career prospects, as I want to be a commercial barrister. should I take this offer or wait a year and reapply to places like Nottingham or Exeter
Recently got offered a place to study law LLB at York for ABB (got a Contexual 😍). however I’m worried about my career prospects, as I want to be a commercial barrister. should I take this offer or wait a year and reapply to places like Nottingham or Exeter
York is good for law and is not inferior to Nottingham and Exeter.
Is there any reason that you want to give up York for a gap year? Or just purely due to perceived "better" career prospect from Nottingham and Exeter? Your future is determined by your capabilities but not where you come from.
Anyway, there is no rush to decide. Maybe you could take the offer, focus at your exam to get the highest grades and leave it until the results day.
Original post by cksiu
York is good for law and is not inferior to Nottingham and Exeter.
Is there any reason that you want to give up York for a gap year? Or just purely due to perceived "better" career prospect from Nottingham and Exeter? Your future is determined by your capabilities but not where you come from.
Anyway, there is no rush to decide. Maybe you could take the offer, focus at your exam to get the highest grades and leave it until the results day.
Is there any reason that you want to give up York for a gap year? Or just purely due to perceived "better" career prospect from Nottingham and Exeter? Your future is determined by your capabilities but not where you come from.
Anyway, there is no rush to decide. Maybe you could take the offer, focus at your exam to get the highest grades and leave it until the results day.
Well, my auntie is barrister, and she suggest for me to go to Warwick like she did (I hated it). I like the city of York, and I already have connections to shadow commercial barristers through her; however, I want to do this for myself by myself, and I know commercial chambers are the hardest set’s to break into, so I’m just looking for the best possible chance for me to do that as my GCSEs are just Average and I’m hoping for ABB at a level or AAB
Original post by OJ321
Well, my auntie is barrister, and she suggest for me to go to Warwick like she did (I hated it). I like the city of York, and I already have connections to shadow commercial barristers through her; however, I want to do this for myself by myself, and I know commercial chambers are the hardest set’s to break into, so I’m just looking for the best possible chance for me to do that as my GCSEs are just Average and I’m hoping for ABB at a level or AAB
If you like York, why bother to take the gap year?
Whatever your plan, it is 3 years away. It is full of uncertainties and I suggest you just do your bests at the moment, so to get ready for whatever will be.
To be rude, there is no guarantee that Nottingham, Exeter or any uni will give you an offer next year. There is no guarantee that, if you are re-sitting A Level, you will achieve better grades.
A bird in hand is better than a flock in the woods.
(edited 4 weeks ago)
Original post by cksiu
If you like York, why bother to take the gap year?
To be rude, there is no guarantee that Nottingham, Exeter or any uni will give you an offer next year. There is no guarantee that, if you are re-sitting A Level, you will achieve better grades.
A bird in hand is better than a flick in the woods.
To be rude, there is no guarantee that Nottingham, Exeter or any uni will give you an offer next year. There is no guarantee that, if you are re-sitting A Level, you will achieve better grades.
A bird in hand is better than a flick in the woods.
Yeah I get your point thank you🩷
Original post by OJ321
Well, my auntie is barrister, and she suggest for me to go to Warwick like she did (I hated it). I like the city of York, and I already have connections to shadow commercial barristers through her; however, I want to do this for myself by myself, and I know commercial chambers are the hardest set’s to break into, so I’m just looking for the best possible chance for me to do that as my GCSEs are just Average and I’m hoping for ABB at a level or AAB
1.
If you want to do it for yourself by yourself, York fulfils that criteria, as you got in by yourself+ your auntie didn’t go there.
2.
Why would you be worried about career prospects when York is one of the best law schools in the UK- only one that uses PBL can help to stand out.
3.
Nott+ Exeter will leave you with exactly the same prospects( maybe worse if their career support isn’t as good as York is proven to be)- save the year off and choose York, whose city you like too.
(edited 4 weeks ago)
Reply 6
Original post by OJ321
Hello,
Recently got offered a place to study law LLB at York for ABB (got a Contexual 😍). however I’m worried about my career prospects, as I want to be a commercial barrister. should I take this offer or wait a year and reapply to places like Nottingham or Exeter
Recently got offered a place to study law LLB at York for ABB (got a Contexual 😍). however I’m worried about my career prospects, as I want to be a commercial barrister. should I take this offer or wait a year and reapply to places like Nottingham or Exeter
I will be honest - if you get those Alevel grades you will struggle for most top legal roles let alone the commercial bar. The commercial bar is pretty much oxbrdige only and is more elitist than MC law firms. If your goal is getting into an MC firm or just becoming a barrister I would'nt say Exeter would be a big leap, surprised you didnt get in Exeter is not competitive for Law. Nottingham has a strong law school but its not big enough of an improvement to take a year of your life off. I'd only wait if you have the chance to go to Oxbridge, LSE, UCL and maybe KCL/Durham/Bristol
Original post by funded-lapel
I will be honest - if you get those Alevel grades you will struggle for most top legal roles let alone the commercial bar. The commercial bar is pretty much oxbrdige only and is more elitist than MC law firms. If your goal is getting into an MC firm or just becoming a barrister I would'nt say Exeter would be a big leap, surprised you didnt get in Exeter is not competitive for Law. Nottingham has a strong law school but its not big enough of an improvement to take a year of your life off. I'd only wait if you have the chance to go to Oxbridge, LSE, UCL and maybe KCL/Durham/Bristol
Nah my plan was never a MC too much stress and not enough work life balance I would like to stay in the northwest it’s too expensive to live in London I’ve seen a few who have graduated from Leicester but only one commercial barrister from Manchester who does commercial so far ( I hate LinkedIn premium smh) but there’s more people from York down south for some reason
Original post by funded-lapel
I will be honest - if you get those Alevel grades you will struggle for most top legal roles let alone the commercial bar. The commercial bar is pretty much oxbrdige only and is more elitist than MC law firms. If your goal is getting into an MC firm or just becoming a barrister I would'nt say Exeter would be a big leap, surprised you didnt get in Exeter is not competitive for Law. Nottingham has a strong law school but its not big enough of an improvement to take a year of your life off. I'd only wait if you have the chance to go to Oxbridge, LSE, UCL and maybe KCL/Durham/Bristol
Oh yeah I forgot to mention I didn’t apply to Exeter I changed my degree after firming York for a different degree
Original post by funded-lapel
I will be honest - if you get those Alevel grades you will struggle for most top legal roles let alone the commercial bar. The commercial bar is pretty much oxbrdige only and is more elitist than MC law firms. If your goal is getting into an MC firm or just becoming a barrister I would'nt say Exeter would be a big leap, surprised you didnt get in Exeter is not competitive for Law. Nottingham has a strong law school but its not big enough of an improvement to take a year of your life off. I'd only wait if you have the chance to go to Oxbridge, LSE, UCL and maybe KCL/Durham/Bristol
What do you think of York law?
Reply 10
I am a commercial barrister. I agree with the advice above that you should go to York.
It is not true that the commercial Bar recruits only from Oxbridge, London, and Durham, but you will need a first or very high 2.1 and maybe also an LLM or BCL in order to be a competitive candidate for pupillage at a commercial chambers.
Good luck!
It is not true that the commercial Bar recruits only from Oxbridge, London, and Durham, but you will need a first or very high 2.1 and maybe also an LLM or BCL in order to be a competitive candidate for pupillage at a commercial chambers.
Good luck!
Original post by Stiffy Byng
I am a commercial barrister. I agree with the advice above that you should go to York.
It is not true that the commercial Bar recruits only from Oxbridge, London, and Durham, but you will need a first or very high 2.1 and maybe also an LLM or BCL in order to be a competitive candidate for pupillage at a commercial chambers.
Good luck!
It is not true that the commercial Bar recruits only from Oxbridge, London, and Durham, but you will need a first or very high 2.1 and maybe also an LLM or BCL in order to be a competitive candidate for pupillage at a commercial chambers.
Good luck!
Do you think an LLM would only be worth it going down the barrister route, as aspiring solicitors will likely go straight to SQE after their LLB?
Original post by Stiffy Byng
I am a commercial barrister. I agree with the advice above that you should go to York.
It is not true that the commercial Bar recruits only from Oxbridge, London, and Durham, but you will need a first or very high 2.1 and maybe also an LLM or BCL in order to be a competitive candidate for pupillage at a commercial chambers.
Good luck!
It is not true that the commercial Bar recruits only from Oxbridge, London, and Durham, but you will need a first or very high 2.1 and maybe also an LLM or BCL in order to be a competitive candidate for pupillage at a commercial chambers.
Good luck!
Yeah that’s no problem I’m hopefully looking to stay in the north west but when I become established and have a good 9-12 years under my belt I might try move to a chambers in London which one do you think chambers would prefer a LLM or a BCL ?
Reply 13
The Oxford BCL and the Harvard LLM are the two swankiest one year taught Master's degrees in the common law world. I also recommend the UCL LLM (I teach on that). For Harvard, you would need a Fulbright or Kennedy Scholarship or similar.
Reply 14
Original post by JE9
Do you think an LLM would only be worth it going down the barrister route, as aspiring solicitors will likely go straight to SQE after their LLB?
An LLM would never be a waste of time, but the degree is probably more use to an aspirant barrister than to an aspirant solicitor.
Reply 15
Original post by OJ321
Yeah that’s no problem I’m hopefully looking to stay in the north west but when I become established and have a good 9-12 years under my belt I might try move to a chambers in London which one do you think chambers would prefer a LLM or a BCL ?
PS: If moving chambers after several years in practice, your academic CV will be of background relevance. Your practice will be what matters at that stage.
Original post by Stiffy Byng
The Oxford BCL and the Harvard LLM are the two swankiest one year taught Master's degrees in the common law world. I also recommend the UCL LLM (I teach on that). For Harvard, you would need a Fulbright or Kennedy Scholarship or similar.
What do you think of Edinburgh for one year LLM- I’m not doing it just curious?
Reply 17
I don't much about Edinburgh's law school, but would expect it to be good.
Original post by Stiffy Byng
PS: If moving chambers after several years in practice, your academic CV will be of background relevance. Your practice will be what matters at that stage.
Yeah that’s exactly what I’m thinking it’s really just breaking into a commercial chambers once you’re in you’re set
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- I need advice, can I still get into a top law school after this?
- Clearing
- When does University of York typically give offers?
- Uni of York or Manchester
- Can I change courses after getting an offer?
- Rejected from Cambridge - Should I reapply?
- confused
- What uni should I pick?
- History degree, law careers advice
- Which Univerity is the best option for me for law?
- Ideas for stellar gap years for Law
- York or Glasgow LLB for Magic Circle Law Firms
- Official University of York Applicant Thread 2024
- Warwick anxiety
- Grades dropped and in mocks for law place
- Uni of York Accommodation 2025
- Unfair Predicted Grades – What Should I Do to Get Into a Top Law School?
- bristol law alternative offer
- Glasgow Law Withdrawal to Apply for York Accom?
- Politics, Philosophy and Law LLB vs Law LLB at KCL
Latest
Trending
