Why do most Universities only offer Law as combined degrees? (1 Viewer)

[SoCal]

I am just wondering why do most Universities only offer Law as combined degrees? Is it because they want you to have something to fall back on if you can't get a job as a legal practitioner?

 

[Lexicographer]

It's so you have a field to work in (and thus build a specialised career). Lawyers are far more useful when they know more than just the law.

 

[SoCal]

Originally posted by Lexicographer
It's so you have a field to work in (and thus build a specialised career). Lawyers are far more useful when they know more than just the law.

Well, when you put it that way!

 

[Tenax Propositi]

Originally posted by Lexicographer
It's so you have a field to work in (and thus build a specialised career). Lawyers are far more useful when they know more than just the law.

I don't think that's necessarily true. Although Law is a 'postgraduate' degree, I'm sure a lot of Arts/Law or Communications/Law (moi) don't necessarily plan on going into whatever it is arts people are qualified to do, or media law for comm/law students. Also, im sure all biz/law students dont necessarily go into corporate law.

I'm not exactly sure why it is recommended as a combined degree come to think of it! I know it is a requirement in NSW or something.... someone clarify please! lol

 

[jm1234567890]

What would medicine/law (monash) do?

 

[Lazarus]

My understanding is that people used to be able to complete the LLB without being required to undertake any other tertiary study... and there was a flood of naive and unworldly lawyers.

 

[jase_]

Law at UTS is offered as a single degree I believe.

 

[Tenax Propositi]

Originally posted by jasee
Law at UTS is offered as a single degree I believe.

True.

So there must be one definitive answer out there somewhere.

 

[santaslayer]

Overseas firms actually value the LLB degrees offered in Australia because it is a combined discipline. I guess the notion behind the combination was to allow the LLB degrees in Australia to be more attractive compared to a single LLB qualification in other regions. What's more, jobs other than the legal profession nowdays require a solid background in law anyway.

 

[santaslayer]

Originally posted by melbournian
Where did you pull this from. Outside of NSW, practically every uni offers straight law. Although Arts/Law or Comm/Law are much more popular than straight law.

Overseas care more about international applications. Hence, why ANU law is regarded very highly in the international community.

1) Official booklet from the Law recruitment week held not that long ago near Darling Harbour. It was even presented at UoW separatly.
I also obtained this information from the ALSA Reporter, 15th ed. 2003 pp 12,-15. I would scan it for you if I had a scanner. Anyone with an additional copy should show it to the person in doubt.

2) Australia is one of, or probably the only one country that offers a combined law degree, hence the reference to Australia. Sorry for not being specific enough and stating "No place else in Australia other than NSW".

3) Your last point is confusing. Firms care more about "international applications"? If I went to a uni other then ACU Law, I would not be bothered with? If I was in an Australian uni doing law and I applied for a position in Hong Kong, I would be dismissed?

EDIT: hmm....i'm gonna go find the booklet just to prove my point..it was a quote by an international law firm recruiter.....

 

[Lexicographer]

Originally posted by Tenax Propositi
Law is a 'postgraduate' degree

What? How did you come up with that?
_________________________________________

Santaslayer, I actually remember reading very similar, if not identical, things in some of the magazines scattered around our Law Students' Society office (yes I'm a member of that too). You don't necessarily need a solid legal foundation to work in other disciplines, but it is a great help in certain aspects of such work (conversely, a lawyer with a science degree will be far more useful to scientists because he will be able to think and work effectively with their terms and concepts).

 

[santaslayer]

Originally posted by melbournian
No. I am saying ANU (not ACU) law is far more internationally focused than say Sydney or particually Melbourne uni law.

1) I stand corrected for my typo.

2) I can't argue with that. But ANU only offers combined law doesn't it? Thank you for providing evidence in support of my first post.

 

[santaslayer]

Originally posted by Lexicographer
Santaslayer, I actually remember reading very similar, if not identical, things in some of the magazines scattered around our Law Students' Society office (yes I'm a member of that too). You don't necessarily need a solid legal foundation to work in other disciplines, but it is a great help in certain aspects of such work (conversely, a lawyer with a science degree will be far more useful to scientists because he will be able to think and work effectively with their terms and concepts).

1) Yay, thanks. I have officially given up finding the piece of junk. Well, my room is more like the piece of junk.. and yeah.....

2) Yeah, that's true, legal background is not essesntial at the moment, but highly valued. Eg. Ernst & Young, Tax & Law division.