Which would be best?

[kx]

I am just looking on opinions on which you would all think would be best for graduate prospects.

1. University of London, external program - Law and Accounting
2. University of London, external program - LLB Law
3. Open University - Law
4. Part time Law degree at an ex-poly (Northumbria)

All the above taking 4 years and with work experience although not legal.

5. Full time Law degree at a new local university, it was rated about 5 from the bottom in the times league tables, would take the normal 3 years

Any thoughts

[DaveT]

I did OK with the Open University LLB, but I did have legal work experience (paid CAB adviser). With any of these, make sure you get at least a 2.1 and preferably a first. I'd avoid option 5 like the plague - you'll lose 3 years salary and have little to show for it.

[LawJo]

Hi

Are you in the North West by any chance???

I only ask as there are 2 new Uni's in this area and I know them both quite well.

PM me if you need advice on the above

Failing that, Open Uni, has an excellent reputation for distant learning.

Go with what's best for you. Have a look at all the options that each one provides, see what connections each one has with LPC providers and legal firms, in the end it's your gut feeling that matters

LJ

[TeNosce]

If you are in the North West, Staffs Uni offer a 2 year LLB (I think other Unis do too but not sure which!) That'd save a year over your option 5.

My friend did London External LLB and got quite a few interviews for TCs. I think it is quite well respected (I read somewhere or other that it was as hard as Oxbridge due to self motivtion etc).

Obviously I don't know your circumstances but maybe you could consider doing a well regarded but easier degree so you get a 1st and then doing GDL full time? This is def. what I would do (full time degree then GDL, rather than the ft LLb I did).

[TeNosce]

Oh and I thought Northumbria had a really good reputation. They do that 4 year special degree there which exempts you from LPC - I think this would save you a lot of money as they charge you for 4 years Llb plus about £1000, rather than 3 years law and £10000. Might be worth having a look at that?

[LawJo]

I'd avoid option 5 like the plague - you'll lose 3 years salary and have little to show for it.

I do not want to enter into a 'mass debate' ( ssshh.. no pun intended) on the subject of the quality of Uni's ( its been done time and time again)... but again I see this huge upturned nose against new Uni's providing LLB's.

I am ' lucky' enough to be at a more established Uni, However, out of the 200 or so 3rd yrs on my course, only a tiny handful have TC's set up for 2009. I have friends at newer uni's and they are all getting TC's. They have a hungry team of lectures, who know all the students and who want the law dept to succeed and are investing time and effort in assisting and encouraging students.

I have a good mate who did law at Oxford. She managed to get a 2:1, by slogging herself in yr 3. She had every opportunity to succeed, but she had no drive or ambition. She is now a trainee manager for M&S...

A full time degree is not as hard as it seems. I am working, with 3 kids and doing a f/t degree.. and doing pretty well. Anyone with a reasonable brain and a tonne of motivation can do it!!!

LJ

[kx]

Thanks everyone

TeNosce - I am in the north west but Staffs is too far away

[flamehairedfalconer]

Hi,

I did both the CPE and the LPC at Northumbria. I found the uni, the staff and the support to be excellent. I actually did the CPE distance learning, and although as part of the staff/student committee I did need to make some recommendations, all in all I found that they were well set up to deal with part time students and mature students.

In comparison to Newcastle Uni, with whom I am doing a part time masters, who havent got a clue with regards to part time students.

Its the little things that make a part time students life easier, like having all day in which to hand in your course work on the deadline day (Northumbria), not 2 hours from 1pm, but also uploading an electronic version via blackboard within the same timescale (Ncl).

[sumoking]

I have had dealings with Northumbria University (in fact they bought me dinner once) and found them to be quite pleasant and pretty damn clever.

[kx]

Bumping this as I still do not have a clue what to do and any new members may have some input:P