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Any current Aberystwyth Law students who can give advice and information?

Can any Law students tell me what their typical timetable looks like please? And also, what are the seminars and tutorials like?

I realise the teaching and timetables vary across different universities, so thought it would be interesting to know more about Law at Aber. :smile:

Thanks!

I am planning to do Law at Aber in September, can't wait to move in! :biggrin:

Reply 1

grcd

I am not doing law, I am doing politics, but I have plenty of friends who do law; Apparently first year is very easy: Only two modules for semester one exams, lots of free time (the timetable is very easy on you), little to no work at first (but picks up in second semester). If you wish to learn something specific, fire away and I'll ask my friends!

Reply 2

Sharj

OP

grcd

I am not doing law, I am doing politics, but I have plenty of friends who do law; Apparently first year is very easy: Only two modules for semester one exams, lots of free time (the timetable is very easy on you), little to no work at first (but picks up in second semester). If you wish to learn something specific, fire away and I'll ask my friends!

Thanks so much for answering. Sounds good to me! :biggrin:

Will let you know if I have anymore questions. :smile:

Reply 3

NanonDJ

I am a student studying the law degree (LLB) here in Aberystwyth, and as to the reply you received that is completely incorrect, the law degree is considered one of the most difficult degrees to take in ANY university. Firstly you have up to sometimes 4 hours a day of lectures and also 2 seminars which you must attend and prepare for every week. Not only that but there is extensive reading which you must do after each lecture so that you become familiar with any relevant case law you might need to know for exams.
You will have 2 exams after the first semester in January on Legal System and Legal Process and then will have examinations in European Law, Criminal, Constitutional and Contract law in the summer semester, not only that but essays and assignments will also need to be submitted during the second semester which will contribute to the final grade at the end of the first year.
Overall it can be regarded as a rather difficult course which may not be suited to everyone but has very rewarding results.
Good luck with the course next year, Im sure you will enjoy it :biggrin:

Reply 4

Sharj

OP

NanonDJ

I am a student studying the law degree (LLB) here in Aberystwyth, and as to the reply you received that is completely incorrect, the law degree is considered one of the most difficult degrees to take in ANY university. Firstly you have up to sometimes 4 hours a day of lectures and also 2 seminars which you must attend and prepare for every week. Not only that but there is extensive reading which you must do after each lecture so that you become familiar with any relevant case law you might need to know for exams.
You will have 2 exams after the first semester in January on Legal System and Legal Process and then will have examinations in European Law, Criminal, Constitutional and Contract law in the summer semester, not only that but essays and assignments will also need to be submitted during the second semester which will contribute to the final grade at the end of the first year.
Overall it can be regarded as a rather difficult course which may not be suited to everyone but has very rewarding results.
Good luck with the course next year, Im sure you will enjoy it :biggrin:

Thanks for replying.

I did read around before applying and have been told that there is immense work required but I am willing to put the hard work in! :smile:

I'm sure I will like it as I find Law a very interesting subject which helps. :smile:

Could you please give me an example of a typical timetable please if you don't mind lol

Reply 5

Liam DJ

I am also a law student at Aberystwyth University and I agree with the above as the course is NOT easy what so ever. In fact it is difficult. I would like to add that there are seven compulsary modules throughout the degree. If you fail any of these, you will not have a qualifying law degree. You will have a degree but not a qualifying law degree. Also I have been told that if you do fail the first year, that does not mean that you will necessarily fail the whole degree. However there`s a lot of competition out there, and a potential employer will always look for the best. So try and pass your first year. As law students we understand exactly how difficult the course is, having had much experience of it. It is not meant to be easy, but if you work hard, you will get the results you deserve! You also need to enjoy yourself whilst doing the course. Work hard play hard :smile:

Reply 6

CortalUX

I've attached a copy of my timetable; I'm in the second semester of my first year, and although I'm posting on here, it is pretty intense - I've [just tonight] had to quit a job that I was in, in order to find the time to study - but aside from one or two lecturers [who tend to be the odd ones out] - it's been an amazing course so far.

semester2yr1.docx32.9KB

Reply 7

grcd

Well, depends on what you define difficult really. I come from a background in Greece where we are used to regular 5-6 hours of lectures and seminars per DAY, which means we find things inherently easier here. My friends so far consider the course very easy, and they too come from Greece and have studied Law in foundation; so bear these things in mind. I have personally read the Law books you are studying (while morally supporting my friends :P) and I can't say the subject is all too difficult at first -- plus the fact that workload is initially little. But I do recognize that things pick up a lot in the Second Semester.

All in all, I would NOT say that it is hard -- not by a far margin compared to studying Law in Greece, which also forces you to take up Ancient Latin amongst many other things -- having 9 to 12 modules per semester, now that IS hard :wink:

At any rate, I suppose anything is personal and viewed through each one's perspective; what is hard for me may be easy for you and vice-versa. I so far average 1st class marks, yet I study significantly less than what is assumed of me (there, I admitted it!), whereas the friend I am talking about who so far finds it easy, is a son of a lawyer (which means his father can help him with some essays), and still his marks are on the 2:2 scale.

So, don't take things for granted, but know one thing: You will love it in Aberystwyth! We look forward to seeing you next year :wink:

Reply 8

Chris Newcombe

Hang on, can we get this straightened out please for all prospective students who look at this post. Firstly Interpol student opinions comparing Law in Greece to UK law cannot be done as you get a long lunch break and Greek law is what is known as Civil Law - this is statute based law, working off what the government has legislated on. Common law is in the UK and as a result is mainly case-law based. Therefore you'll find that the majority of your time will be finding cases and using them to prove your arguement. The statute is only the basis but it's how it has been interpreted which is what UK law is really about. You learn a few latin words but it's really all English. Also A-level law doesn't help after the first year. As well they break you in easily for the first 5 weeks and then you have a reading week, then the work piles up on you, and they expect you to think like a lawyer. As well you have to be perverse in your thinking about contradicting your reasoning all the time so your arguement will win through.

But it is a good course, as well what the interpol students fail to realise is you get your own departmental library and your textbooks average about 550 pages long (cover to cover). Also the law degree is seen to not only be a degree in law but in reasoning and logic, not in philosophy. We're not interested in philosohy unlike interpol with Hobb's theory of Social contract, we want clear crisp, consise logical argument, and we also don't mess around with it, or you can really damage your chances to be a lawyer if you don't apply yourself so you need to have the self- disipline to work on your own.

Reply 9

grcd

That's very well and understood; no one disagree with that. What you basically told us is that law is one side of the coin, while politics is the other; and this is all true. I also know the differences between approaching law in UK and Greece; this was not at all my point. My whole point was that Aberystwyth is a very friendly place, the law department is very good and that the first year (especially first semester) is not hard enough to repulse you from studying; and that he should be happy to join the ranks of our university come September.

I got an overall first class (exam results included) in my politics degree so far, my friend got 2:2s, so this might be a helping point: Of course things can be really difficult depending on what you want out of your degree.

Reply 10

Chris Newcombe

I will say that Aber is friendly town, even when you speak to the Weslh students from the Welsh speaking hall (Pantycelyn), and there are plenty of pubs, be warned the sports societies are hell-bent on socials on getting everyone wasted, also most societies tend to stick to the more expensive pubs in town and the one's that serve rubbish at the pumpsd. The law dept. is the best in Wales (so don't accept Cardiff) and has the centre of Welsh legal affairs based there. Expect to work hard, but it is rewarding cos the more you put in the more you'll get out of your degree.

Reply 11

Teacupx

hey,
aber is amazing :smile:

however, when contemplating a law degree you need to look at whether or not you will make the 2.1 grade you need to get into law school, if that is the path you want to take. If you aren't getting the grades in the first year, then like most lecturers will say, its more difficult to be knocking out 2.1s in your second and third year. some of the lecturers are dull but i suppose thats with any subject.
secondly the LPC accept any Aber student as long as they have a pass, however, some aber lecturers disregard the lpc at aber :s
the timetable is fairly good and seminar classes are small. however, the only pieces of work you are expected to do is reading for seminars and 3 essays, which isnt much compared to other subjects.
also id use the library for most of your books, as law books are crazily priced and difficult to sell on.
i think if you look at statistics aber isnt the best in wales, as much as i love aber, from the grades they accept people on and the degree results i dont think you can say aber has the best law dept in wales, x

Reply 12

Chris Newcombe

This is a late reply to what people are saying, I was stuck in NI for a while. Firts, Aber has the best law department in Wales, cos we're the oldest and has provided more QCs and judges than Cardiff, our biggest legal rivals, also more academics have written books who have been to Aber. Second your grades in the first year will be mainly around the third 2:2 mark as most people are not thinking like lawyers when they arrive. The LPC is at Aber but you need to get a 2:1 really to be considered for the profession. Also the lecturers regard the LPC as good. That's due to a standard of teaching that is acceptable to the Law Society (the body that regulates solicitors) and the exams are done externally, that means sit them in Aber, not marked in Aber. So the standard is good. The library is very good, mainly for cases you can't get on Westlaw or Lexis Nexis, but you will need to have possesion of a textbook for the revision period and essay period as they disappear very quickly, so BUY the textbooks, clearly there is a cheapskate posting here.

Secondly, attend lectures as it saves on the reading and sort of brings things alive, also they explain things the books don't, also DO pay attention to a bit of politics or you won't understand Constitutional law or EU law.

Thrid and final point is regarding the stats, they say there are lies, damn lies and statistics. They tell us when comparing unis, the problem is they have warped the spectrum of unis especially in Wales buy shoving them all into a league table. As well don't look at those law league tables or things like that as the people forget the difference between Scottish law and Common law jurisdictions. Also the grades that the uni accept people on were forced on them for the past 3 years by the University of Wales not by Prifisgol Aberystywth (University) that's according to Niel Kibble, outgoing reader in law and former admissions tutor. Teacupx has forgoten the first rule of argument here, making a point is all well and good but remember to give the evidence and explain it. Clearly not a mooter - DO Moot as well in the mooting society and if you like to argue like I do (as 2 people who have posted stuff (Liam and Nannon DJs) know, too mch about me cos they're my friends) join debating and a political society as they argue constantly, remember being shy in a seminar and not getting the confidence to stand up and speak does you no favours in teh long run as you have to do a module in the LPC or BVC called "ADVOCACY". That means presenting a legal arguement in a formalised way as you would in court. So no hiding at all. And get work experiance over the summer if you can.

Any current Aberystwyth Law students who can give advice and information?

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