Non-Graduate Law Degree

[ShaneRichards13]

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Hey just curious,

I'm about to start a Non-Graduate Law Degree at uws (i changed my mind about doing a BA (Psych) if there is any downside to doing a Non-Graduate Law Degree. That is would employers look down on you for having a single degree when there are many others that have double law degrees i.e. Arts/law etc.

Thanks for the reply's

[Lara1986]

Just curious - why did you decide to do non-grad law degree as opposed to turning your BA Psych into a BA Psych combined with B Laws?

I only ask as a few friends have done/ are doing Psych/Law and the two seem to compliment each other well and they all seem to be enjoying it so if that's not something you've considered perhaps that is an option?

[cottoneye]

I cannot say how employers look upon single degree law students although I wouldn't think it would preclude you from many opportunities. It is worth noting however that in order to apply for public service positions without a double degree or masters it is expected that you will have completed honours.

One other thing to note is that law is a fairly specific field of study and many students benefit greatly from exposure to other fields of academic thought. Given that it normally only takes one extra year for a double degree it is worth seriously considering whether you should combine your law degree with another.

[MichaelJackson2]

I agree, do another degree because these days a straight law degree does not portray the same degree of prestige it traditionally had. These days, a law degree is essentially the new arts degree.

But having said that, there's no point taking on another degree if it's not going to complement your law degree. For instance, studying corporate finance as part of a Commerce degree will not help you advise a client whether they have a diminished responsibility defence to murder if you later become a criminal lawyer.

So the answer to your question depends on which area of law you are looking to practice in.

[Lara1986]

Originally Posted by MichaelJackson2

I agree, do another degree because these days a straight law degree does not portray the same degree of prestige it traditionally had. These days, a law degree is essentially the new arts degree.

But having said that, there's no point taking on another degree if it's not going to complement your law degree. For instance, studying corporate finance as part of a Commerce degree will not help you advise a client whether they have a diminished responsibility defence to murder if you later become a criminal lawyer.

So the answer to your question depends on which area of law you are looking to practice in.

True to an extent.

But - eg I did B Laws and B Business (HRM and IR) and am not working in, nor intending on practising any sort of business related law. I am actually going into Family Law.

So long as you do enough relevant electives in your law degree, your non-law degree won't be any sort of a disadvantage as this will adequately inform you of the area. Eg, I did 2 family law units, one immigration unit, one social-science-ish crime unit, 2 skills units so that provided a whole heap of useful knowledge that relates to family law disputes.

Also - keep in mind that your non law degree need not relate directly to your field of specialisation in order to be relevant. Eg, whilst i am not entering business/employment related law, by degree is still useful in terms of how to run a practice and manage people should I choose to do that in future. It's also useful in understanding various workaplace situations given that people's work circumstances will be directly relevant to the family law matters in some circumstances.

So you can apply a degree in a multitude of ways A Psych degree would be pretty much relevant to anything, but most I would think to areas of law that are more 'people focussed' eg Crim, Family, Immigration etc in so far as it would assist you to understand the causes for behaviour and impact of the responses to this behaviourand the like.