Hi all. This is Anya. And today's video is about studying in England. Namely, how to choose a program, university and what steps need to be taken in order to enroll. My video is mostly dedicated to the LLM program, but I hope it will also be useful to those who are interested in higher education in England in general.
So how do you choose a program? It all depends on what goals you set for yourself. If you want to continue your career in your country, then choose the program that is popular and known in your jurisdiction. In the case of law, this is the LLM program, which is world famous in the CIS countries, Russia, and Ukraine. It is undoubtedly a bonus to your results. But if you want to practice law in England, if you want to work here, then you need to choose a program that would allow you to do this. And therefore it is important to know the features of the process of qualifying lawyers in England. I will not go into detail about the differences between solicitors, peristers, who wears wigs in court, etc. But I want to general outline to say that in order to become a lawyer, it is necessary, first of all, to obtain a qualifying degree in the field of law. These degrees are LLB and there is also a course called Graduate Diploma in Low, abbreviated as GDL. It allows those students who have studied some other subject or received education, maybe even legal education abroad, to learn in one year the same material that is taught in the Bachelor of Laws. And get this qualifying degree.
And further, after receiving a qualifying degree, it is necessary to take a course in the application of law, that is, the so-called practical course. It lasts one year, there is one course for solicitors and another for solicitors. After receiving these diplomas, that is, a qualifying degree and a practical course, you can proceed directly to the training. For solicitors this is called “Training Contrast”, and for solicitors it is called “Pupilage”. This is also a very complex process, because you need to keep in mind that Training Contrast is fixed for 2 years in advance, that is, if you plan to be a solicitor, then you need to submit an application now in order to start your Training Contrast in 2016-2017.
Just a few words about another method of qualifying as a lawyer in England, which is largely a retraining of experienced foreign lawyers who are already confident in their abilities and are specialists in any field. And for whom the method of going through the entire study again does not quite suit the time frame or other preferences. And this method consists of one comprehensive exam, it consists of several parts: theory and practice. Such an exam, of course, is a big challenge to your abilities and this must be taken into account. But if you are confident in your knowledge and your abilities, then why not. In the description below this video I will post a link to a diagram that describes the program I mentioned in more detail.
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When choosing a university, I would advise guidance on several factors. One of them is university rankings, various publications and websites, and newspapers compile international rankings. And there you can see the rankings of universities throughout the UK or in certain subjects, or world rankings. They are useful because they include measures such as student satisfaction and job placement. All these criteria, of course, are very significant. Also, in my opinion, the location of the university is important, because you are moving far from home and it is important to feel comfortable and that you like the place where you are. If you have already been to some cities and know what you like there, maybe you should give preference to universities in that city. It is also very important to visit various discussion threads where students leave their feedback, especially international students. Because as an international student, it is very important for you that the university takes care of you, your documents, visa issues. It is this kind of help that is very important, especially in the first stages, when you are just arriving and there are many unfamiliar moments. And the help of the university plays a very important role.
In my searches I also used social networks, where I looked for graduates of certain universities, tried to contact them, asked their impressions of the program. What they liked and what they didn’t. And I want to say that this helped me a lot, because I received a lot of feedback about some specific teachers and subjects. And this gave me certain knowledge before I started studying.
And another important factor is scholarship programs. It especially plays a big role for foreign students from outside the European Union, since it is known that tuition fees for such students are much higher than for local ones. And you can look for such programs at home, that is, in your country, there are various organizations and foundations. But also individual universities and their faculties offer various scholarships and grants. It is necessary to check the criteria for which programs you meet, and accordingly, also adjust your choice of university depending on this. It is worth being optimistic, I know of many cases where these scholarships have actually been received, so the financial issue should not stop you if you dream of studying in England.
And finally, what to do. Requirements and a detailed description of the admission process are located on the university pages. The entire process takes place online, which means you can start it while still in your country. And the requirements consist of main groups. The first group of requirements is for your education, that is, it can be a complete secondary or higher education, certain diplomas. And, of course, good grades in these diplomas. A good knowledge of English is also required. For various programs, especially such as jurisprudence, the requirements are quite high. This is the IELTS exam. Also acceptable TOEFL exam, and some universities accept Cambridge CAE, CPE exams. But the most common is, of course, IELTS.
It is also very important to know that when filling out an online application, you must provide 2 characteristics and at least one of them must be from your place of study. That is, you need to ask your teacher, lecturer to give you such a description. You must also attach a motivation letter to your application. In it, you must describe yourself as a person, as a specialist, what your plans are, why you chose this particular university and this program, what you want to achieve. That is, this is an opportunity to convince the university that you really want to study there and that you are a good candidate. Even if you had bad grades, gaps in your resume, this motivation letter is such an opportunity to explain these points, turn them from shortcomings or some ambiguities into your advantages. Indeed, you need to take this letter seriously because, in my opinion, it is one of the most important criteria, provided that you meet all the requirements. Your motivation letter is the culmination of your application.
Legal education has always been one of the most sought after. For many, a law degree is the first step towards a career in the legal sector. However, this is not the only reason to study law at university. Law, as we know, is a complex discipline, and for many students its attractiveness lies in the unique combination of the human factor with the intellectual component.
What is law?
This may seem obvious, but still, what is the law? Law or legal law, interacts with almost all areas human life, touching on issues related to business, economics, politics, environment, human rights, international relations and trade. It is significant that the first academic degrees in the world were related to law. As a law student, you can expect to learn how to resolve some of the most problematic, often seemingly intractable, conflicts and problems in modern society.
Law courses provide a framework through which one can study and understand different societies and cultures, preparing not only for a specific legal career, but also for a wide range of professional roles, including those necessary for life in general.
What to Expect from Law Degrees
There are many various types law degrees, which vary depending on where you study.
Like most degrees, law courses begin with required core subjects and the opportunity to choose a specialization that is tailored to a specific career path later on. Training is conducted through a combination of lectures, seminars, group work, presentations, discussions, mock trials, and courtroom training to help students learn important legal skills such as research and analysis, public speaking and forming arguments.
Some institutions allow students to spend a year studying abroad. Some may also provide students with the opportunity to work on a voluntary basis with real clients, which helps to gain invaluable experience and legal skills that will help with future employment.
Key skills you will acquire while studying at the Faculty of Law:
- Knowledge of legal issues, policy, theory and case studies
- Understanding of modern business, politics, sociology and ethics/morality
- Participation skills trial
- Skills in working with legal documents
Legal specializations
Compulsory modules that you can study on law courses include: Introduction to Legal Methods, Introduction to the Legal System, Introduction to Legal Studies, Legal Literacy. Other topics that may be offered include: constitutional law, criminal law, criminology, business law and trusts, human rights, international law (public or private), jurisprudence, labor law, land law, law and government, law and society , law and individuals, contract law, legal methods, maritime law and tax law.
Legal specialties cover a wide range of issues in order to provide a generalized understanding of human society and its laws. By gaining a solid foundation in basic legal principles and objectives, you can tailor your degree to suit your interests. This may mean choosing to specialize in a particular area of law, or in a particular area of culture or society, or even switching to a related field such as business or politics.
Some popular legal specializations include:
Criminal law
Sometimes criminal law is studied as a degree in its own law. Criminal law deals with various aspects of legislation relating to crimes. You will learn about criminal law theory and will also consider issues such as crime and gender, correctional justice, criminal justice, global problems crime, human rights, and socio-legal methods and theories. You will also study more specific aspects of criminal law such as murder, mental disorder offences, European Criminal Law, counter-terrorism legal responses, sentencing.
Ownership
Also known as land law, property law is the legal field dealing with real property (land other than personal or personal property) and personal property. You will explore the concept of title, a term used to describe different categories of rights to use land. Depending on the module, you can learn how and when ownership is created (based on a contract, agreement or court decision), and when this right is legally valid. You will also learn about issues such as mortgages, rentals, property, commercial real estate, and shares, property management, acquisition land plot and construction legislation.
Legal regulation in the field of intellectual property
This specialization deals with intangible assets, which include: creations of the mind (music, literature and others works of art), inventions, discoveries, words, phrases, as well as symbols and images. You will learn about the economic, social and theoretical issues related to intellectual property (IP). You will deal with issues such as IP policy, laws, trademark protection, patent protection, patent and copyright law. You will also look at IP in global and regional contexts, for example focusing on the integration of European IP laws, and take an in-depth look at what constitutes intellectual property.
Commercial law
Also known as business law, commercial law is a body of law that deals with the rights, contracts and actions of individuals and legal entities engaged in trade and industry.
Commercial law is often considered a branch of civil law (not criminal law), and is a fairly large section of legislation, including elements of economics, business, management and finance. Business law involves the study of all legal issues related to running a business. It covers legal topics such as small business rights, corporate contract regulation, tax classifications, employment contracts, termination agreements, licensing issues, as well as a wide range of business issues such as securities, intellectual property, legal transaction support, pensions and benefits, trusts , immigration, labor law and bankruptcy.
Ecology
Legislation in the field of protection, maintenance, regulation and improvement of the environment regulates the interaction between humanity and the natural environment. Environmental law An increasingly popular major, it examines the legal side of how institutions, businesses and corporations seek to reduce their environmental impact. Environmental law is an interdisciplinary field, and consists of areas such as law, politics and human rights, aiming to cover a huge variety of issues relating to the environment. You will learn about global environmental laws in areas such as climate control, resource conservation, environmental protection, natural resources and climate change policy, and gain an understanding of local or national environmental laws such as noise control, energy remediation and regulation, and policy.
Family law
Family law is the legal field that deals with issues affecting the family. You will learn about a range of family law issues in relation to parents, children, their protection, marriage, civil partnerships, cohabitation, divorce, human rights, adoption and surrogacy, and much more. You will learn how to use the law to resolve controversial issues in families, including termination of relationships and follow-up issues, in cases of child abuse and abduction, establishing paternity, and in cases of judicial decisions regarding minors. International family law may also be studied, including transnational and interstate issues, along with specific subjects such as international child protection law. You can also study modern problems, including commercial surrogacy, paternity laws, and others.
Other specializations studied in law courses include:
Labor law - addressing contracts and claims, which include unfair dismissal, discrimination, etc.
Health Legislation - deals with laws and regulations regarding public health;
Insurance Law - legal regulation of insurance, insurance policies and claims;
Patent Law - Focuses on the granting of patents for inventions and new technologies;
International law - studies the rules and laws accepted as binding in relations between states and peoples, and not between individual citizens.
You can also specialize in legal studies within specific cultures or regions.
Career prospects
In order to advance their careers in the legal sector, many graduates choose to continue their legal education. The specific type of legal training varies depending on legal practice, as well as the type of legal career.
In England and Wales, for example, legal training for aspiring solicitors includes one year of legal practice (LPC), followed by two years' placement as a trainee solicitor.
While law school graduates are well prepared for specific legal careers, a law degree does not limit you to working in that particular field. As in other subjects in the area social sciences, law degrees can provide good preparation for a wide range of different career paths. Other sectors you might consider include: accounting, banking, business and management, trade, finance, public sector, HR, journalism, marketing and PR, media, politics, publishing, education.
Hi all!
This blog may be of interest to those who:
1. Works in the civil service or is related to politics - I am absolutely sure that if at least 10% of what I write here will be used in Ukraine (in the field of administrative, constitutional, criminal, financial law, judicial system, etc. ), then our country will rush forward and we will be able to build a rule of law very quickly.
2. Wants to organize his own legal business in Ukraine - in London, firms have existed for centuries and here is the largest legal business on the planet (the three largest law firms on the planet are English firms) - therefore, the things that I will write about here can be safely taken from weapons for all those who want to build the right legal business focused on the long term.
3. Wants to work as a lawyer in England - I will write a lot about how one becomes a lawyer here, what qualities one must have for this, how legal education is structured here, etc.
4. Frequently works with English law firms - I will periodically write about the most important concepts of English law and especially cover those aspects that are unknown to Ukrainian law or fundamentally different from it.
A few words about myself: I just started a training contract as a trainee solicitor at the English law firm Linklaters LLP. Linklaters became the largest law firm by revenues on the planet in 2008 (http://amlawdaily.typepad.com/amlawdaily/2009/07/linklaters-results-.html). The phenomenal success of this company is particularly interesting and I want to dedicate a separate post to this company (but not now). I have already lived in London for 4 years and all this time I have been combining study and work. Before coming to London, I worked in the civil service and in a law firm in Ukraine.
Blog entries will be structured in such a way that I will periodically write about those aspects that are especially important for a lawyer and the legal business (commercial, ethical, career aspects, etc.) and how this all happens in England. My first posts will concern common system legal “infrastructure” in England, and only then I will “string together” other facts and events that are relevant to English lawyers and to English law in general.
All the entries that I will make are for informational purposes only and provide only basic information. I deliberately omit many details to make it easier and more interesting to read. If someone is interested in some aspect, then Google will always come to the rescue.
So... Entry 1
Who is a lawyer in England?
In England there are two types of lawyers - solicitor and barrister. A barrister is a lawyer who conducts court cases, appears before a judge, prepares documents for court, etc. Solicitors after 1990 also received the right to appear before a judge if they have a special certificate. Although a solicitor (with a certificate) has the right to appear before a judge, there are very few such solicitors and the practice has developed in such a way that they still attract barristers to appear before a judge (a solicitor cannot appear in court above the level of the High Court - that is, solicitors do not act in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of England.
In England (that is, not in Britain, but in England) in 2008 there were 112.2 thousand solicitors and about 16.5 thousand barristers. From 1997 to 2008 the number of lawyers in England increased by more than 50%. In England it is very easy to check whether a person is a solicitor or not - you just need to enter the person's details using this link - http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/choosingandusing/findasolicitor/view=solsearch.law
In the blog I will mainly cover the activities of a solicitor, since solicitors are involved in 90% of cases as legal advisers.
In order to become a solicitor you need to have a legal education. This is either (1) a Bachelor of Laws in England (3 years) (LLB) or (2) a Bachelor of Anything (maybe not in England) plus a one-year very intensive course (called GDL - Graduate Diploma in Law). Since I have a Ukrainian education, I took the “Ukrainian Bachelor” plus GDL route.
Also, in addition (regardless of whether a person has received a Bachelor of Laws in England or a Bachelor plus GDL), he must also complete a one-year LPC course (Legal Practice Course). That is, in my case it was education in Ukraine plus GDL (year) and LPC (year). GDL and LPC cost around £8k and £12k respectively.
In addition to legal education, you also need to undergo an internship at a law firm (training contract) for two years in 4 different departments, 6 months in each department, or 4 months in 6 departments - different in each company. Getting an education is relatively easy. What is really difficult is getting a training contract - competition today in good companies is about 20-40 people per place. In England, more than half of people with a legal education will never work as lawyers (they won’t even start) since firms have a limited number of places per year for those who will undergo a training contract (the number of training contracts is several times less than the number of graduating lawyers).
If you become a solicitor, then you are required to undergo training throughout your life and receive a certificate every year, which costs a little more than $1,600 per year (however, if you work for a law firm, the firm covers these costs). This fee goes to the organization that regulates the activities of lawyers. If you are not certified but continue to provide services as a solicitor, it is a criminal offense.
My next post will be about how lawyers are regulated in England - what they can do, what they cannot do, what rules apply in the market.
And now the same thing, but in Ukrainian - my good friend Svetlana translated the first entry for the purpose of promotion Ukrainian language(thanks Sveta!!!):
Hello everyone! If you read the series, then you are a lawyer for everything, either you want to become a lawyer or just enjoy this profession. The main idea of this blog is to share your thoughts about the legal profession in England and the life of a lawyer here. I have become obsessed with this blog because of the steady flow of new knowledge, and I feel compelled to pass on this knowledge to others. As of now, I am a qualified lawyer in Ukraine (that is, I have a lawyer’s certificate and a good confession) and in two days I can withdraw my qualification as a lawyer in England, with less recognition, and also And I will periodically update the English legal system with the situation in Ukraine and other countries, including the countries of the SND, USA, Asia and the EU.
This blog can be liked by those who:
1. I focus on government services and have a relationship with politics - I am absolutely convinced that I would like 10% of what I write here to be published in Ukraine (in the sphere of administrative, constitutional, criminal, national law, judicial system, etc. .in.), then our country is moving forward, and we can quickly become a legal power.
2. If you want to organize your legal business in Ukraine, firms in London have been around for centuries, and the largest legal business on the planet has grown here (the three largest legal firms on the planet are English and companies) - therefore, the speeches about which I am writing here can be kindly taken to This is for everyone who wants to run a proper legal business with a long-term focus.
3. If I want to become a lawyer in England, I will write extensively about how to become a lawyer here, what is needed for this mother’s need, how legal education is required here, etc.
4. Often works with English law firms - I will periodically write about the most important concepts of English law, and especially reveal those aspects that are unknown to Ukrainian law or fundamentally in the new branch are withdrawn.
A few words to myself: I have successfully issued a training contract as a trainee solicitor in the English law firm “Linklaters LLP”. Linklaters became the highest-earning law firm on the planet in 2008 (http://amlawdaily.typepad.com/amlawdaily/2009/07/linklaters-results-.html). The phenomenal success of this company is especially noteworthy, and I want to dedicate my last post to this company (not immediately). I have already lived in London for 4 years and have been studying and working all this time. Before coming to London, I worked in government service and in a law firm in Ukraine.
Entries in the blog will be prompted in such a way that I periodically write about those aspects that are especially important for a lawyer and legal business (commercial, ethical, career aspects, etc.), and how everything works in England . My first entries will focus on the legal system of legal “infrastructure” in England, and then I will “string together” other facts and ideas that may be related to English lawyers and to English law. All the entries that I will make are of a familiar nature and provide more than basic information. I carefully omit a lot of details to make it easier and more efficient to read. If you want to highlight any aspect, Google will always come to help.
Wait... Entry 1
Who is a lawyer in England?
In England there are two types of lawyers - solicitor and barrister. A barrister is a lawyer who handles court documents, appears before the judge, and prepares documents for the court. Since 1990, solicitors have also been denied the right to appear before a judge because they have a special certificate. Although a solicitor (with a certificate) has the right to appear before a judge, there are very few such solicitors, and the practice has developed in such a way that baristers are still hired to appear before a judge (a solicitor cannot appear before a judge in the High Court - Solicitors will not appear in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of England (not in Britain, but in England itself) in 2008 there were 112.2 thousand solicitors and about 16.5 thousand barristers. From 1997 to 2008 The number of lawyers in England has grown by more than 50%.
In England it is very easy to check whether a person is a solicitor or not - you just need to enter the person's details for the request - http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/choosingandusing/findasolicitor/view=solsearch.law
In this case, I will highlight the activity of the solicitor as the main rank, since the solicitors themselves are responsible for 90% of cases as legal specialists.
In order to become a solicitor, your mother must have legal knowledge. This is either (1) Bachelor of Laws in England (3 degrees) - LLB), or (2) Bachelor of Something (maybe not in England) plus a single-degree, very intensive course (called GDL - Graduate Diploma in Law). Since I have Ukrainian legal background, I have completed the “Ukrainian Bachelor” plus GDL. Also, in addition (regardless of whether a person has taken a Bachelor of Laws in England or a Bachelor plus GDL), it is also necessary to take a one-year LPC course (Legal Practice Course). So my choice is all coverage in Ukraine plus GDL (riv) and LPC (riv). GDL and LPC cost approximately 8 and 12 thousand pounds per day.
In addition to legal education, you also need to undergo an internship in a law firm (training contract) for two years in 4 different departments for 6 months in the skin department or 4 months in 6 departments in each department . It is very easy to remove light. It’s really difficult to get rid of the training contract - competition in good companies today has 20-40 people per place. In England, more than half of people with legal knowledge do not practice as lawyers (to be sure), and some firms in the world offer a large number of places for those who are undergoing training contracts. There are also fewer law graduates).
Once you become a solicitor, you are required to undergo training throughout your life and obtain a skin certificate, which costs a little more than $1,600. on the river (however, if you work for a law firm, the firm covers the expenses). This contribution is taken by the organization that regulates the activities of lawyers. If you do not have a certificate, you will continue to serve as a solicitor, but this is a criminal offense.
My next post will be about how lawyers are regulated in England - what they can do and what they can’t, what the rules are for entering the market.
24.10.2017
If you dream of becoming a sought-after and highly paid lawyer, then be sure to consider options for obtaining a legal education in England. First of all, everything educational programs England are the best example for educational institutions from other countries, and secondly, English-legal lawyers are in demand all over the world, since most cross-border transactions are subject to English law.
Graduates who have received a higher legal education in England are always highly valued on the international labor market and are in demand; there are practically no problems with employment.
There are many options for obtaining an education in the field of jurisprudence. These include bachelor's, master's, and doctoral studies, as well as special legal courses and advanced training courses. An undeniable advantage of legal education in England is that the theory is immediately supported by practice - during educational process Practical examples, legal precedents from life are considered, lectures by famous experts in this field (judges, solicitors and barristers) are organized, various seminars and master classes are organized.
Of course, get it vocational education in England it is not cheap at all, especially in such a sought-after specialty as law. To study at Oxford or Cambridge, or at any other top university, you will have to spend 15-20 thousand pounds a year (and this does not take into account additional costs for accommodation, food and household needs). But graduates, as a rule, recoup these investments already in the first years of work in large international companies. In addition, do not forget that gifted students can apply for scholarships, which sometimes significantly help reduce costs.
To obtain a legal education in England you must:
- own English almost at native level (TOEFL from 230 or IELTS from 7.0)
- understand specialized terminology and possess the necessary academic skills
- have a certificate of completion of Foundation, A-level or IB middle, senior and graduate programs. Law faculties are very demanding of applicants. A minimum of three subjects must be A and no lower.
At the university, the study of law begins with a bachelor's degree, usually lasting three years, at the end of which a Bachelor of Laws degree is awarded and a young lawyer can obtain legal practice in one of the law firms, while conducting cases in court and appearing before a judge. This includes family, criminal, civil and corporate law.
To become a Solicitor, that is, a specialist who is the first to contact the client, provides him with general consulting support and can subsequently represent his interests in court, a young lawyer must pass annual course training on the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and only after that he will be able to enter into an internship contract with a law firm. A solicitor can specialize in one specific area, or be a generalist. Work is permitted only in lower courts. Many solicitors are in private practice, others work in the legal departments of public or private organizations, law firms Oh.
Another important point is that before starting the LPC course, the student must become a member of the Law Society. This rule is enshrined in the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority (SRA).
Another legal specialty is called a barrister. These people can appear in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of England if they have a special certificate, which can be obtained by completing the one-year course The Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC). They also handle more serious legal cases. Barristers are also called advisors or legal advisers. Becoming a barrister is extremely difficult and requires a lot of work and patience. We also note that in order to be admitted to the BPTC course, a lawyer must join one of four professional associations.
However, let's return to academic education. Following the bachelor's degree is a master's course, the LLM degree. It is possible to enroll in a master's program immediately after a bachelor's degree, or with a different diploma, but after undergoing special training and then passing the LSAT exam. Training at this level takes one year.
Already during your studies, and the sooner the better, we recommend completing an internship at a law firm. At least summer internship, which is quite easy to get to. It’s better to try to get a trainee contract. Of course, getting into a company of the Magic Circle level (these are the 5 leading law firms in England) is quite difficult, since the competition is 30-40 people per position, but starting your career there and gaining invaluable experience in a well-known organization will be extremely useful for building a future career.
If, after receiving a legal education in England, you plan to work in Russia or another country, then the most suitable course of education will be the program after which you will receive an LLM degree. With this degree, in your homeland you will be considered a generalist specialist.
The next stage in education will require three whole years. After this, the Juris Doctor degree is awarded.
The list of universities producing highly professional lawyers is not limited to Cambridge and Oxford. These include the University of Birmingham in Birmingham, the University of Sheffield in Sheffield, Liverpool John Moore's University in Liverpool, the University of Southampton in Southampton, Kingston University in London and many others.
Legal education has always been one of the most in demand. Jurisprudence is a complex discipline that combines high intelligence, logic and the ability to analyze a large amount of information. Keep in mind that a law degree does not obligate you to pursue a career in that field. This can be excellent preparation for developing a career in other directions. For example, banking, accounting, business, management, finance, politics, journalism.
