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Canadian law students are now undertaking a two-year high quality law degree in the UK which has been specifically designed to meet the challenges faced in the new world of law.

Many Canadian students wishing to qualify as lawyers in Canada have combined their legal studies with the opportunity to study abroad. Given the similarity in their respective legal systems, one of the most popular destinations for future Canadian lawyers is the UK (as Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from a UK institution can be used towards qualification as a lawyer in Canada).

This article looks at a new innovative two-year degree being offered by The College of Law, the largest legal professional educational institution in the UK.

The world of law is changing, and so is the role of lawyers. Professional firms are now increasingly demanding that graduates have practical knowledge and good employability skills and not simply a good grasp of legal principles. Put simply, firms are looking for men and women of business that can respond to the legal and commercial demands of their clients throughout the world.

'We have designed the degree from the ground up to help create the next generation of legal professionals'
Martin Smith, Head of Business Development, College of Law

In response to these demands, The College of Law, the UK's largest provider of professional legal education, has developed a new two-year Bachelor of Laws (LL.B Hons) degree. The course, which is offered at six of the College's UK centres - London, Birmingham, Bristol, Chester, Guildford and York - provides a highly focused and rigorous education that allows students to start their legal career earlier than the traditional three year degree route.

However, although the degree is two-years, the thing that makes the College's degree so different is the fact that it fits the same learning hours as a three-year degree into just two years. In addition, instead of concentrating on just legal theory, the course teaches practical legal skills that lawyers will need in the real world of law, including drafting, writing and commercial awareness. Essentially, lawyers will be taught to think like a professional lawyer from day one.

"I have only had a great experience so far, the tutors are excellent and really know their stuff, it's a very easy transition to make as it's a very clear program...I like the practical approach and I must say that the way it is split over three terms, and exams follow each one, is ideal, hugely ideal."
Sheron O'Connoer - LL.B student from Calgary, Alberta.

BACK HOME

The two-year degree from the College of Law can be used towards qualifying as a lawyer in Canada. Students who study the College's two-year LL.B will have been deemed to have completed some of the compulsory elements that are contained in a traditional three-year law degree obtained from a Canadian university (the compulsory elements need to be studied before a student can move on to the professional stage of training).

Further, students completing the College's LL.B can go on to study for an LL.M Master of Laws degree. An LL.M will count toward even more of the comulsory elements contained in a traditional Canadian law degree. As such, students will only have to study a few additional elements (normally three) when they return home to be in the same position as a Canadian student who took a more traditional route. However, there is also the added advantage of having obtained an LL.M within roughly the same time frame as the Canadian student obtained an LL.B under the traditional three-year route, which has obvious advantages when entering the employment market.

NEW FOR 2013

The College has announced that it will offer an integrated LL.M Legal Practice Course (LL.M LPC). Students studying the LL.M LPC will progress toward qualification in Canada (as outlined above), but with the added benefit of obtaining an LPC. The LPC is a compulsory course that needs to be taken by all students wishing to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. As such, the LL.M LPC will help towards qualification as a lawyer in Canada and also towards a solicitor in England and Wales.

APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP

Why not apply for one of the College's scholarships!

We have ten £3,000 awards towards the cost of the first-year LL.B tuition fee of £9,000. Two of these ten scholarships will be awarded in conjunction with law firm partners - including Dechert LLP. In addition to the award, the recipients of these awards will also receive a week's work experience with the relevant firm.

You can also apply for one of the College's merit based awards, the LLB Star Awards. There are 30 available, and these will be awarded on a first come, first served basis for those students who fulfil the set criteria and have made the LL.B course at The University of Law Limited (any centre) their Firm Choice, by Friday 10 May 2013.

Further details of the LL.B scholarships, including the application process, can be found at the following link - college-of-law.co.uk/lawscholarships.

The College also offers scholarships for other course, including the LL.M LPC. Further information on all the College's scholarships can also be found at - college-of-law.co.uk/lawscholarships.

"I heard about the College scholarship when I applied for the LL.B. The application involved writing an essay, which I took a great deal of care over. I was thrilled when I heard I had been awarded one of the £3,000 scholarships. I would recommend any overseas student to apply for the scholarship - good luck!"
Sheron O'Connor, LL.B Student from Calgary, Alberta.

About the College

OUR TEACHING

Another aspect that makes all the College's degrees different is that its teaching methods more closely replicate how lawyers work. The focus of degrees is on small face-to-face workshops (of 20 students), where the students will work in groups to solve practical legal issues. The whole philosophy is summed up by Martin Smith.

"As the degree is condensed into two years, there is no padding. Students won't waste time learning subjects they will never use in practice. That means they won't be spending weeks learning about the historical development of law from the 15th century, they will learn only what is of value.

"So they will look not only at the law but how it is practised and how individuals and businesses encounter the law in the modern world. A good example of this is contract law. This is a fundamental to most commercial and corporate law and that is why legal firms have told us they want graduates who have drafted a contract and who understand how a contract works in practice.

"In some law degrees, students may not have actually seen a contract, and while they may be able to write beautiful essays they may not have been taught how to apply what they have learned when they start in their firms.

"Legal firms do not want graduates who can just tell clients there are two sides to any argument, they want trainees who can hit the ground running and know about problem solving and decision making."

OUR CONTACTS

The College has plenty of experience of understanding what professional law firms require. The College has exclusive deals to provide professional training to students joining some of the world's largest international law firms, including Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy and Linklaters. In addition to these and similar contacts, the College's careers service helped 84% of students graduating from its Legal Practice Course (the equivalent of the Bar Admission Course) to find legal work within a few month's of leaving.

These impressive figures are also testament to the College's reputation and prestigious status as the UK's largest professional legal educator. The College's history can be traced back to the Law Society's School of Law in the 19th century although the College itself was founded in 1963. Since then it has been at the forefront of developments in legal education, including the move towards skills based training.

Further connections to the legal profession are evident by the fact that all the College's teaching staff are trained lawyers, many of which worked in international law firms. This helps students understand what a career in law is all about, as the teaching staff have been there and done it themselves.

STOP PRESS

On the 22 November The College of Law announced that it had been granted university title and in future will be known as The University of Law. The granting of a university title represents the culmination of many years of growth, innovation and recognition of the institution’s unique role in legal education.

Find out more

Martin Smith, Head of Business Development at the College will be attending the Recruit in Canada International University Fairs this coming Spring at the following locations:

• Toronto – March 3 (Metro Toronto Convention Centre)
• Vancouver – March 5 (Vancouver Convention Centre)

Martin, who has taught and designed many courses at the College, would be delighted to meet with you and to answer any question you may have.

Also visit our Virtual Open Day, which contains information about all our courses, our centres and much more - college-of-law.co.uk/virtualopenday.

Further information on the two-year LL.B can be found on the College’s website: www.college-of-law.co.uk/degree.