Law degree

[joelhuang]

Hi, does anyone know of other institutions that offer a degree in Law, besides SMU and NUS?

 

[Geforce3]

do not if u want to practise, ur only real chance lies with SMU and NUS locally

 

[joelhuang]

Hi, I'm currently in the workforce, and I'm considering taking it to go further in my career, as well as to fulfill a passion. However, by taking NUS or SMU's option, I'll have to take a break from my job and focus on my studies solely. Hence, I was wondering about the other options available...

 

[rainyjerk]

In singapore context
do u wan to practise and get called to the singapore bar? if yes, u will need to go NU/SMU

or

overseas to do a LLB from a law scietty recongized univeristy.(and u need to do a conversion course for 3 mths @NUS)

Else u can go to UOL to apply for their LLB? but even if u grad with good result, u r still not allow to practise. (but u can do so in HK/Aussie and some commonwealth conutries) if i m nto wrong

 

[joelhuang]

Thanks rainyjerk! I found the list of recognised overseas degrees, and now I have a better understanding. It seems like taking the degree will almost certainly mean taking a break from work. Ok, I shall now make plans for it

 

[mozzie]

LAW degree, like Medical degree is a Professional Degree; hence expect to do it FULL-Time and on-campus at the actual overseas Universities (Australia, UK, Canada). those private school that have "part-time" Law programs are obviously not credible.

would you engage a Lawyer to fight your case, if he only spent 1-2 yrs part-time to earn his "law degree"?!? The answer is obvious!

 

[rainyjerk]

LAW degree, like Medical degree is a Professional Degree; hence expect to do it FULL-Time and on-campus at the actual overseas Universities (Australia, UK, Canada). those private school that have "part-time" Law programs are obviously not credible.

would you engage a Lawyer to fight your case, if he only spent 1-2 yrs part-time to earn his "law degree"?!? The answer is obvious!

thats abit over generalizing. there are para-legals who worked for years and decided to upgrade their academic credentials, thus take up a LLB part time? and just FYI is only SG lawyers to get called to the bar before practising even as a solictor.

take a look at HK, Open U LLB, there are lots of working adults who takes up such part time LLB. maybe due to $$ contraint or wanna upgrade themselves.

by the way, what type of cases do top notch singapore lawyers fights? any? usually those lawyers are expats? working in Allen & Glen hill or Clifford Chance. so... my take is...if u r really intending to read law for a career purpose, do it out of SG. esp if u r referring to criminal law litigations, less business cousels.

 

[rainyjerk]

LAW degree, like Medical degree is a Professional Degree; hence expect to do it FULL-Time and on-campus at the actual overseas Universities (Australia, UK, Canada). those private school that have "part-time" Law programs are obviously not credible.

would you engage a Lawyer to fight your case, if he only spent 1-2 yrs part-time to earn his "law degree"?!? The answer is obvious!

FYI, UOL LLB is definitely creditable. Just that SG has some funny regulations tt distant learning progs graduates are not/will not be called to the bar upon fresh graduation from law school. (of course u might have a chance to be named on the ROLL, if u have tonnes of experience from overseas)

 

[rainyjerk]

Thanks rainyjerk! I found the list of recognised overseas degrees, and now I have a better understanding. It seems like taking the degree will almost certainly mean taking a break from work. Ok, I shall now make plans for it

yea...do search the uni carefully and make sure it's recongize from the Singapore Law Society. if possible skip the down under unis. go for the ones in UK instead.

and if you are looking SMU, i would suggest u to drop this idea as their LLB is not a full fletch LLB (with all law modules) in the degree. thus... if u r competing yourself with SMU LLb and other uni LLB, SMU LLB definitely lose out, as the SMU ciriculum has some business modules in it. thus SMU law grads are not too highly sought after by the employers

 

[Geforce3]

FYI, UOL LLB is definitely creditable. Just that SG has some funny regulations tt distant learning progs graduates are not/will not be called to the bar upon fresh graduation from law school. (of course u might have a chance to be named on the ROLL, if u have tonnes of experience from overseas)

they just want to ensure that the law industry remains an elite industry and to weed out dubious characters (in terms of academic qualification)

 

[70niner]

FYI, UOL LLB is definitely creditable. Just that SG has some funny regulations tt distant learning progs graduates are not/will not be called to the bar upon fresh graduation from law school. (of course u might have a chance to be named on the ROLL, if u have tonnes of experience from overseas)

in the past UOL LLB dist learning is eligible to be called to the bar. Some of the older lawyers may be graduates.

not sure when they exclude it from the list of recognised degrees to practise locally.

 

[rainyjerk]

they just want to ensure that the law industry remains an elite industry and to weed out dubious characters (in terms of academic qualification)

elite? they even allow overseas grad with 2.2 Hon(previously 2.1)(from overseas uni like bristol, sheffied, leeds) to practise and loosen the requirement for down-under lawyers to praticse in singapore. guess the change were made a yr ago or something. and seriously...what lawyers in singapore do? most of them are just sitting in legal committee of companies. maybe ocassionally some corporate litigations. take a look in the singapore legal industry...the top few firms are nv the local firms...

anyway... i do not see the point for a normal solicitor to be called to the bar before practising(doing work such as drafting of buy sell contract for properties or divorce). i do not even see this requirement in other ex british colonies or even UK itself.

 

[rainyjerk]

in the past UOL LLB dist learning is eligible to be called to the bar. Some of the older lawyers may be graduates.

not sure when they exclude it from the list of recognised degrees to practise locally.

guess currently they still allow UOL LLB grads to join the SG bar. just tt u have to clock afew yrs of working exp upon graduation before getting called.

this takes a longer time in relative if you are comparing with your counterparts who study in NUS/SMU or come back from overseas law school.

 

[mozzie]

yea...do search the uni carefully and make sure it's recongize from the Singapore Law Society. if possible skip the down under unis. go for the ones in UK instead.

...

what's wrong with the Law degrees (LLB) from Aussie Unis? care to elaborate..

 

[ooomgomgomg]

Hi, I'm currently in the workforce, and I'm considering taking it to go further in my career, as well as to fulfill a passion. However, by taking NUS or SMU's option, I'll have to take a break from my job and focus on my studies solely. Hence, I was wondering about the other options available...

Have you calc the ratio population:lawyer? What's the chances of making it in this market? Can you find your niche eg. criminal lawyer or IP lawyer?

 

[rainyjerk]

what's wrong with the Law degrees (LLB) from Aussie Unis? care to elaborate..

general perception of a UK LLB is more prestige incomparison with an Aussie. (thou it's subjective...but most of SG law case precedences were set by the english law, by the house of lord like Lord Denning, the old folk).

anyway just a thot, how many of our frenx went Aussie to read law instead of UK?

And aussie law courses do not really follow english law, as they have a "set" of their own...so when u come back...you might need to "adapt" to the english law principles again.

Uk UNi accepted by Law society Singapore

The 15 ‘scheduled’ universities are:
1. University of Birmingham LL.B (Honours)
2. University of Bristol LL.B (Single Honours)
3. University of Cambridge BA Law
4. University of Durham LL.B (Honours)
5. University of Exeter LL.B (Honours)
6. University of Leeds LL.B (Honours)
7. University of Leicester LL.B (Honours)
8. University of Liverpool LL.B (Honours)
9. University of London (from any of the following): LL.B (Honours)
• King's College London
• London School of Economics & Political Science
• Queen Mary and Westfield College
• School of Oriental and African Studies
• University College London
10. University of Manchester LL.B (Honours)
11. University of Nottingham LL.B (Honours)
12. University of Oxford BA (Honours) Jurisprudence
13. University of Sheffield LL.B (Honours)
14. University of Southampton LL.B (Honours)
15. University of Warwick LL.B (Honours)

http://www.britishcouncil.org/singa...rmation-leaflet-recognition-of-uk-degrees.pdf

More info abt choosing law sch...

http://politics.sgforums.com/forums/2297/topics/394972?page=1

 

[oohman]

One of my fren is graduating from Stansfield with LLB(Hons).. I think the person has got a 2nd class upper..

What are the chances of her getting into SMU to do JD and btw, it is also expensive..
What other alternatives are out there ?

 

[Geforce3]

One of my fren is graduating from Stansfield with LLB(Hons).. I think the person has got a 2nd class upper..

What are the chances of her getting into SMU to do JD and btw, it is also expensive..
What other alternatives are out there ?

u can try, but competing with 1st class hons from more reputalble unis with only 30 slots

 

[oohman]

u can try, but competing with 1st class hons from more reputalble unis with only 30 slots

So what other paths are there available ?

 

[cosycatus]

practise in HK where it's recognised...
HK pays much much better too. Get some experience and u can come back ( and you might NOT want to come back to lower pay ...lol)