I graduated from City last summer (2004) with a good upper second class law degree. During my final year, I toyed with the idea of undertaking a Masters degree but was not sure if this would help or hinder my progress in becoming a solicitor. I became interested because I really enjoyed the final year of my law degree in which my writing skills and understanding of the law were beginning to blossom. Before I knew it, I had graduated! Whilst my friends were all commencing their LPCs and BVCs, I was still waiting a further month before the Masters course started. Doubts were already entering my head as to whether I had made the right choice.
Nevertheless, now one term complete, I am having the time of my life. I am in the full swing of a Masters in International Business Law at Kings College London, studying modules such as International Arbitration, Construction Law, Technology Regulation, and Private International Law. I was told by the faculty of law not to choose subjects that I necessarily wished to practice because the Masters is an opportunity to really have fun with the law. I chose subjects that have intrigued me for a number of years and did not have the chance to look at as an undergraduate. Admittedly, enjoying these subjects as much as I do, some are now areas that I am hoping to pursue.
Three of my modules are 100% exam assessed and one is a 15,000 word dissertation on a topic of my choice. I am regularly challenged through difficult assignments and seminars, which encourage me to read through the topics and keep up with the course.
The people I have met through the LLM are from all walks of life. Some, like me, are fresh out of university, whilst others are taking career breaks from working hard as city solicitors and reaching out for something more vocational for them, such as refugee law. I am hard pressed to find a country that isn't represented by at least one student. People from all over the world make up the post-graduate population, forming a global melting pot for making international contacts and provides the chance for everyone to really practice their language skills!
Kings is one of the four colleges that make up the University of London LLM. The other colleges include UCL, Queen Mary's and SOAS. There are over 200 electives to choose from, and is described by the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies as the richest legal course on offer in the UK. I certainly think so.
The LLM is by no means a ticket into a law firm, far from it. On a personal level, however, it can give you direction and confidence in areas of law that you may wish to practice. In the competitive world that we now live in, it can give one the edge in legal knowledge over one's peers. It is worth working hard to increase your intellectual skills such as analysis, evaluation and critical thought about various topics. Last year I took the rare opportunity to attend the annual lecture and dinner held by the Society of Advanced Legal Studies hosted by the Attorney General, the Right Honourable Lord Goldsmith QC. The Court of Appeal judge, Brook LJ, gave a speech on updating the civil courts in England & Wales. These are opportunities that are extremely valuable to me. All the attendees were alumni from the LLM course, and I felt able to converse with these leading lawyers easily because of our common bond - the Masters.
Returning to my initial thoughts about whether or not undertaking a Masters in Law was a good idea - I would say definitely a good idea.