Tertiary and Continuing The Law Thread

[deeman12]

Yeah that'd be right jonoman. I remember units 1 & 2 going over the basic elements of a contract i.e., offer, acceptance, consideration, and intention. It also covered implied warranties and implied terms. The units also covered torts like negligence, nuisance, trespass, etc.

Again, pretty useful knowledge to be taking into a law-degree.

 

[Donners]

Agree. Legal studies is morr about analysis of the social aspects of law and why law exists. Law is learning real laws.

I find a law degree is more about teaching how to think in legal terms, rather than teaching the laws themselves.

The structure of a degree is such that a typical student won't retain a lot of what is taught, and even if they did, it would be only a fraction of what they need to know. Hell, there's plenty of experienced criminal barristers who don't get things like tendency evidence.


The real learning is done after the degree finishes, and it never ends.

 

[Teffy]

I find a law degree is more about teaching how to think in legal terms, rather than teaching the laws themselves.

The structure of a degree is such that a typical student won't retain a lot of what is taught, and even if they did, it would be only a fraction of what they need to know. Hell, there's plenty of experienced criminal barristers who don't get things like tendency evidence.


The real learning is done after the degree finishes, and it never ends.

Yep.

IMO, law degrees (and I don't have one) are mostly about process.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

I find a law degree is more about teaching how to think in legal terms, rather than teaching the laws themselves.

The structure of a degree is such that a typical student won't retain a lot of what is taught, and even if they did, it would be only a fraction of what they need to know. Hell, there's plenty of experienced criminal barristers who don't get things like tendency evidence.


The real learning is done after the degree finishes, and it never ends.

Interesting point re: cognitive process.

This is the exact opposite to a medical degree IMHO.... but thats for another forum.

 

[BlueTouchPaper]

Law students!

Just wondering if some recent grads/current students have a few tips on how to hit the ground running when starting a Law degree?

I'm quite apprehensive of the work load considering the course is graduate-entry, and don't quite know what to expect in spite of the seminars.

Subject wise assuming you've got some base knowledge of the legal system it should all be a breeze.

Reading things like this ^ and thinking 'I actually have no idea' despite my under-grad major being criminology (not sure how good a grounding - if any - that will give me.

Thanks in advance!

 

[LouisCK]

I'm two years in and hate it immensely.

I built it up in my head too much, and it was a massive let down. Transferring to arts at the end of year most likely, then might JD it later, but more likely to go the MBA route.

Its just so damned boring. It doesn't teach you anything other than how to pass law exams either.

 

[Teffy]

I'm two years in and hate it immensely.

I built it up in my head too much, and it was a massive let down. Transferring to arts at the end of year most likely, then might JD it later, but more likely to go the MBA route.

Its just so damned boring. It doesn't teach you anything other than how to pass law exams either.

I laughed.

I can't quite work out whether you are perceptive, or monofunctional.

 

[BlueTouchPaper]

Transferring to arts at the end of year most likely, then might JD it later, but more likely to go the MBA route.

Its just so damned boring. It doesn't teach you anything other than how to pass law exams either.

Where are you studying Louis? Sounds like a Melbourne Uni type setup - If so, did you start before their JD completely took over?

 

[LouisCK]

Deakin. Its heavy on the commerce side I guess, and in hindsight I probably should have gone with LaTrobe considering I'm more into the International stuff.

But its dreadfully impractical.

Teffy, I hope its the former. I can honestly say two years into my degree if someone asked me anything law related I'd be stumped outside of muttering something like "precedent, um, yeah I ahhh, I don't..."

The only parts that have been relevant are easily, EASILY, learned in an arts degree or a criminal justice TAFE course. Or via google.

Some people love it though, so good luck to 'em. But I've learned there's a good reason so many law students don't practice law after graduation. Its probably at least partially due to lowered standards of education now that its such big business - but...

A very large portion of the class do literally nothing until two weeks before the exam (100% of the mark) then swap notes like crazy (mostly notes they got off people who studied the same subject the year before) and prepare their notes. Everyone pretty much passes the units, because its so hard to fail - and a couple of people make everyone look bad by getting HD's and bragging about it on facebook. Nobody likes these people.

That is my law degree in a nutshell.

 

[checkraiseulite]

From Goldman to Deakin law eh? Interesting.

 

[Smell The Glove]

Graduated this year from La Trobe in law and currently completing the Leo Cussen PTC. Should be qualified in Feb next year.

To those in first/second/even third year law- unless you are really interested and have your heart set on becoming a lawyer or something similar- get out now while you have a chance! Too many law students finish the degree simply because they think its a useful generalist degree (it isnt) or because they are more than half way through and feel like they may as well finish it.

The plain fact is that unless you have a 75+ and/or honours, its near impossible to work in any top tier/mid tier firm in the city. And once you actually get out there and/or do the PTC course, you'll quickly become disillusioned with the sheer amount of pointless paperwork and letters you'll have to draft. Only a small proportion of legal work is client contact/legal research (dare I say, the fun parts). I work in a large law firm, and believe me, it aint worth it.

Do a science degree, or a commerce degree, or do a trade. Just get out now while you have a chance.

 

[ssfc0203]

In my second semester first year of Law and I'm loving it. I'm at UWS - not a sandstone Uni so I'll have to work that much harder to get a good job once I graduate. What I love about my degree though is the practicality of it - I'm not sure if this is the same for all unis but my last assessment in Crim Law was a moot type bail application. We actually went into the moot courts with our applications and then got grilled by the 'judge'. It was an awesome experience, and I was completely floored that we actually do something things like that in first year.

I'm not too fussed about what I do with regards to Law tbh. I've gone down the Science and Engineering route, and I've found what I love in Law and Arts.

 

[DTRAIN87]

Graduated this year from La Trobe in law and currently completing the Leo Cussen PTC. Should be qualified in Feb next year.

To those in first/second/even third year law- unless you are really interested and have your heart set on becoming a lawyer or something similar- get out now while you have a chance! Too many law students finish the degree simply because they think its a useful generalist degree (it isnt) or because they are more than half way through and feel like they may as well finish it.

The plain fact is that unless you have a 75+ and/or honours, its near impossible to work in any top tier/mid tier firm in the city. And once you actually get out there and/or do the PTC course, you'll quickly become disillusioned with the sheer amount of pointless paperwork and letters you'll have to draft. Only a small proportion of legal work is client contact/legal research (dare I say, the fun parts). I work in a large law firm, and believe me, it aint worth it.

Do a science degree, or a commerce degree, or do a trade. Just get out now while you have a chance.

75+ streuth, that's completly contrasting to what I've been told by my Cousin, the guy I know from basketball, lawyers and other law students.

My cousin got a high credit average without honours, as he was told it is utterly pointless to do it in Melb because it was not a research based program but rather an academic program through coursework and would do nothing to enhance his chances. He was employed at a big firm.

Secondly, the guy I know from basketball and a guy I worked with in an assignment from Adelaide botyh gave me the not what you know but who you know line. He has struggled through the degree thanks to having to undertake full time work but has virtually been guaranteed the articles position at an Adelaide firm with a pass gpa. Guy from basketball got his job in a top firm from the boss asking last years graduates who you knew from the pile. He got the position from grads who had superior gpas with only two distinctions in his degree.

Thirdly lawyers I know, who know how I hate study have told me to see them when I graduate.

I see what you are saying, however I think there is a strong case to say that there are many other ways to go without crucifying yourself at uni.

 

[Affidavit]

I've mentioned it previously in this thread.

Who you know > what you know

 

[Teffy]

If you're talented and you are a pit bull defender then the jobs will come to you regardless of who employs you.

 

[BlueTouchPaper]

^^ Any of you guys doing the Melbourne JD?

A bit apprehensive of how 'intense' the compulsory summer unit is.

 

[DTRAIN87]

^^ Any of you guys doing the Melbourne JD?

A bit apprehensive of how 'intense' the compulsory summer unit is.

No but have heard it is a month of intense work from my friend who did it. Says it wasn't ideal and preferred it to be a unit over the semester rather than just a month. Lost all his Feb he said.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

^^ Any of you guys doing the Melbourne JD?

A bit apprehensive of how 'intense' the compulsory summer unit is.

It's boring and will take away part of your life.

 

[Black Diamond]

I'm two years in and hate it immensely.

I built it up in my head too much, and it was a massive let down. Transferring to arts at the end of year most likely, then might JD it later, but more likely to go the MBA route.

Its just so damned boring. It doesn't teach you anything other than how to pass law exams either.

Mate, I went through the same thing in my first two years. In fact as I type this now I'm avoiding listening a lecture.

My advice is get a job and work 30+ hours a week. My guess is you aren't really putting any effort in and only get the books out as big deadlines approach. You got in to law so you are obviously smart. Just earn some money and gun it from a week or two out from exams. If you get a job in an office or some other professional environment (not retail or hospitality) you can use that experience in lieu of a good GPA to land a job, inside the legal profession or not.

You can always pad it out afterwards with a part time diploma in management or finance.

 

[jonoman89]

Administrative law is killing me. So ****ing boring. And difficult...

 

[Affidavit]

Administrative law is killing me. So ****ing boring. And difficult...

Tell me about it man I'm doing it now.

 

[BomberFletch31]

Administrative law is killing me. So ****ing boring. And difficult...

I am so glad to have got that out of the way. Administrative Law was by far the most boring unit I have done.

Constitutional Law, Corporations Law and Property weren't particularly interesting to me either, but at least they're not as boring as Admin Law.

 

[DTRAIN87]

I am so glad to have got that out of the way. Administrative Law was by far the most boring unit I have done.

Constitutional Law, Corporations Law and Property weren't particularly interesting to me either, but at least they're not as boring as Admin Law.

Constitutional is a head****. But fortunately I only need 6 on the final exam to pass .

Contract is the one I hate the most though. ****ing horrible.

 

[jo172]

Shocked at the lack of hate for Corporate. Just shocked. So simple, but so much ****ing content.

 

[jonoman89]

I am so glad to have got that out of the way. Administrative Law was by far the most boring unit I have done.

Constitutional Law, Corporations Law and Property weren't particularly interesting to me either, but at least they're not as boring as Admin Law.

Really? I thought consti was great. I really enjoyed contract law and torts as well.

Evidence is a head ****, particularly hearsay. But very interesting.

Property? Meh....nothing special.