| Topic Name: |
Harvard/Columbia Law vs Cambridge/Oxford Law |
| Message Name: |
Some more thoughts |
| Date Posted: |
11/05/2002 |
| In Reply To: |
I am American so I guess i won't be able to take advantage of the cost reductions! oh well. but as you say it is less expensive than a 3 year JD.
But my question is whether I can justify going overseas for my law degree. My justification is I don't want to practice law in the US, or for that matter practice law at all. I want to return to banking with time spent in London and/or Asia, perhaps even permanently. If for some reason in the future I decide the law is for me rather than banking, I see the LLM as the option for obtaining qualification in the US. Additionally, the law programs at Cambridge and Oxford are a lot more 'academic' than vocational, which (i guess I'm a dork as well) i would enjoy more.
I think my concern is that everyone around me is so conscious of the H-Y-S schools that the option of going overseas is not appealing. I can understand the advantages of obtaining a US JD, but (to beat a dead horse) I don't want to practice. Maybe that in itself is the justification?
thoughts?
am curious, are you currently in law school now? Are you applying? if so, where? |
| Message: |
Well, here's the thing. You're doing this additional degree because you want advancement in banking, correct? A JD or an MBA would most probably do that. Associate level or whatever. THe only problem with a BA(Juris.) is precisely its nature, as a bachelors degree. Even though, in essence, you learn the same concepts about the law as any JD student, you're coming back to the States with, in the end, is only another bachelors degree. If you go and do the LL.M. immediately afterwards, that may be different. I don't work in banking, so I'm certainly no authority, but you may want to be certain that a bank wouldn't want a masters-level degree before bringing you in, not just a second bachelors degree.
As for the type of work you'll do at Cambridge and Oxford, you're right, it will be a lot more academic than many US law schools, which is part of the appeal of it. You get to flex your intellectual muscles, so to speak, and not just learn the black letter of the law. However, H-Y-S tends to approach the law from that angle as well. Theory theory theory, and then for the bar exam, take a prep course. Personally, I think this is a better approach. Law school should teach you how to think and how to read the law.
So, you don't want to practice (That's settled!), but again, I would do some research into banks' hiring departments, see what they generally look for. If they can see that the BA (juris.) is much closer to a JD than a normal bachelor's degree, then, as you said, the fact that you don't want to practice law may be the justification.
Everyone is H-Y-S conscious. Forget them. Do what's right for you. The fact that you don't want to work at Cravath the day after you pass the bar gives you an immense amount of freedom in terms of where you want to go. But check out some banks, see what they look for in their associates. If they're smart enough to see that a BA(juris) is basically a JD, then you have a real option (and then all that you need to do is some soul searching to figure out if you want to be abroad for a few years). If not, then perhaps think of alternatives (BA then LL.M. being one of them)
Hope that was helpful. Any other questions, just let me know.
as for me, I'm working now, but applying to law schools now. About 13 of them to be precise. Mostly northeast, one or two Left Coast. The usual, I suppose.
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