Does the university you go to really matter? (1 Viewer)

[monstermunch]

I'm just wondering as there seems to be a lot of snobbery within the law forum about universities.
I'm a psychiatric nurse that would love to study law, however I need to continue working while I study. Therefore I am considering doing my law degree at Charles Darwin University simply for the fact that the whole degree is online.
What I'm wondering is when it comes to the time when I am looking to practise law, would having studied law at CDU go against me.
Thanks for your time

 

[flamearrows]

I'm just wondering as there seems to be a lot of snobbery within the law forum about universities.
I'm a psychiatric nurse that would love to study law, however I need to continue working while I study. Therefore I am considering doing my law degree at Charles Darwin University simply for the fact that the whole degree is online.
What I'm wondering is when it comes to the time when I am looking to practise law, would having studied law at CDU go against me.
Thanks for your time

It really depends on what your ambitions are after you finish the law degree. If you don't want to work in commercial law or for a significant government agency (DPP etc.) then it doesn't matter so much. If you do want to work in commercial law, going to a university with a good reputation (Go8 etc.) is very important.

However, I'd really question the value of a degree taught only online. I very much doubt that it'd prepare you for much at all, and your would-be employer would question that as well.

 

[Rothbard]

10000000000%

if you don't go to UNSW you may as well kill yourself

 

[BeeemER]

charles darwin wtfisthatshit.

 

[Existential]

10000000000%

if you don't go to UNSW you may as well kill yourself

UNSW + USYD too.

 

[kaz1]

UNSW + USYD too.

only UNSW

 

[the-derivative]

UNSW - if you're asian.
USYD - if you're anything else.

 

[WannaBeLaw]

UNSW - if you're asian.
USYD - if you're anything else.

how does a person's DNA make a difference? i know they have certain quoata's for people with indigenous DNA though.

 

[monstermunch]

It really depends on what your ambitions are after you finish the law degree. If you don't want to work in commercial law or for a significant government agency (DPP etc.) then it doesn't matter so much. If you do want to work in commercial law, going to a university with a good reputation (Go8 etc.) is very important.

However, I'd really question the value of a degree taught only online. I very much doubt that it'd prepare you for much at all, and your would-be employer would question that as well.

Thank you for your advice.

 

[Rothbard]

Mate I am a proud fuckan white and I go to UNSW

and it is the best

 

[Richard Gilmore]

ANU rocks

 

[17028354]

i'd love to say no, but really it does matter.


as for law and distance education, i would advise against it.

you need contact for law, as well as social interaction with your lecturers/tutors/fellow students.

 

[monstermunch]

i'd love to say no, but really it does matter.


as for law and distance education, i would advise against it.

you need contact for law, as well as social interaction with your lecturers/tutors/fellow students.

Thank you for your reply, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind explaining what it is about law that makes external study a bad idea, I have studied my bachelor of science, diploma in criminology and social policy, bachelor of nursing and my post grad diploma in mental health nursing all externally, and didn't feel that I had missed out on anything. Obviously I have no experience of studying law so your response would be much appreciated.

 

[LA88]

Thank you for your reply, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind explaining what it is about law that makes external study a bad idea, I have studied my bachelor of science, diploma in criminology and social policy, bachelor of nursing and my post grad diploma in mental health nursing all externally, and didn't feel that I had missed out on anything. Obviously I have no experience of studying law so your response would be much appreciated.

Law is a unique degree in that one benefits much more from interacting and discussing the materials than other degrees. You learn more from discussing issues with your peers sometimes than you do from listening to a lecture or reading a textbook.

Also, remember that the law is a profession that requires high-level interaction with clients. Being comfortable with discussing the law is part of that. By regularly participating in tutorial / seminar discussions, one gains the skills that will make one an effective lawyer

 

[monstermunch]

Law is a unique degree in that one benefits much more from interacting and discussing the materials than other degrees. You learn more from discussing issues with your peers sometimes than you do from listening to a lecture or reading a textbook.

Also, remember that the law is a profession that requires high-level interaction with clients. Being comfortable with discussing the law is part of that. By regularly participating in tutorial / seminar discussions, one gains the skills that will make one an effective lawyer

Thanks for your reply. Every degree that I have studied externally had discussion sites, where students go to discuss aspects of the course and answer questions given by tutors, do group work etc. I'm assuming this program would also offer that.

I suppose in a way I am trying to justify it to myself as it really comes down to the fact that if I don't study law externally I'm not going to be able to study it at all as I have to work full time.

I'm just concerned that after I have completed the degree, and then obviously completed the practical training course, prospective employers would look down on a law degree from CDU, however I live in Adelaide so its not like they would be expecting me to have studied at a Sydney Uni.

 

[Existential]

only UNSW

no it is UNSW and USYD that are looked highly upon by employers. i have heard many ex-law students say this.

 

[scaredytiger]

If you want to do Law externally, I'd advise doing a course that holds a week of on-campus classes - not just an online course. You need to be able to discuss law principles and speak well in public.

 

[17028354]

isn't Adelaide uni in the G8?
or was it the university of south australia.


let's face it, there is an over-supply of law students.

employers would not want to hire someone who got their degree solely from distance education.

as LA88 said, law is a unique program in that it's not about regurgitating the law, it's about apply the facts, and justifying them as if you're a judge (problem solving) as well as considering other factor like the 'social utility', 'policy issues', etc.

you won't be able to pick these up from just doing distance ed.

 

[twistedtigers]

You guys have no idea what you're talking about. Top tier may be out for distance education students, but it is certainly not a bar to employment in law.

I don't know what you think is so get out all amazing about your discussions at your desks in the lecture rooms - half the law students there don't even understand the subject being discussed and there's no allowance in law school for the harsh realities of working in law.

Yes, distance education will probably cut you out of top tiers, but I have been offered two different positions as a restricted practitioner to date with 6 months left on my degree. The class requirements are the same, we listen to the same lectures, complete the same assignments and sit the same exams, marked by the same examiners.... and most of the time my marks beat the on-campus students.

Working in law whilst you study is going to be a hell of a lot more useful and productive than any pointless little discussions by a bunch of immature students bursting with self esteem and ego. You may have wonderful theoretical arguments with each other, but there's no way in hell it teaches you to deal with abuse from frustrated, upset clients who are suffering with their situation whilst struggling to pay your prohibitive fees.

Most of you are all so full of ego and self importance that I honestly wonder how you'll cope once you're faced with real clients and the realities of practising in law.

 

[Existential]

Most of you are all so full of ego and self importance

welcome to bored of studies.