When evaluating the prospects for obtainingWestern legal educationtaken into accountThere are many factors, but the main ones are always two:

* Availability of additional career prospects

* cost of education

No one needs to prove that getting a legal education in the USA is an additional competitive advantage over other applicants for a “warm” and well-paid place ...

But the question is: where to go to study?

main feature, which distinguishes American legal education from education in England lies in the practical orientation of training lawyers in the United States. An English legal education is certainly very good and prestigious. But the training of lawyers in England is overly academic, to the detriment of the practical orientation.

If your goal is to gain practical knowledge and skills, then American universities are more suitable for you.

Legal education in the USA differs from studying in Russia:

a) the volume of the studied material

b) increased requirements from teachers.

Therefore, the main "location" of most students is the library!!! Read: independent and critical work. “Retell on the exam close to the original what the professor said at the lectures” does not work in the USA!!! Think for yourself, argue, prove your opinion!!!

Each course (subject) has a certain number of credits (training units) - an average of 2-3. These are not course grades, but exactly the number of points that this or that course (subject) gives and which must be scored in order to receive a diploma. The minimum number of credits per semester is usually 12, the maximum is usually 15-17.

In the United States, lecturing in universities is considered very prestigious. Traditionally, advisors and partners of the largest law firms, as well as acting judges, are involved in lecturing. And this is another “plus” for obtaining an American legal education, aimed not at theory, but at practice.

It must be said that in the United States there is no such general course on civil law that is taught in Russia. In the first year, all students are required to study several subjects that can be considered as a definite alternative to the course "Civil Law". In the future, everything depends on the chosen specialization. If a student wants to become a specialist in corporate and commercial law, he goes to the appropriate courses during the second and third years of study. If not, this is where his exposure to courses in corporate and commercial law is limited. Thus, the two main ideas of American legal education are rigid specialization and practical orientation. That. American universities produce specialists who know their specialization brilliantly.

There are no diploma and term papers in the USA. In order to receive an honors degree, it is enough to study well throughout the entire educational process. At the same time, some courses offer students the opportunity to write and defend a written work, but this is a written work, for which you can get 1 additional credit, which will be taken into account when calculating the credits required for graduation.

The level of presentation of the material also differs significantly from the Russian approach. The main goal of this or that course is to show the practical orientation of the studied material and evaluate, including critically, the economic efficiency and fairness of a particular model proposed by the legislator. In general, the main purpose of study is practical. Theoretical and philosophical subjects, which are taught in excess in Russia, are available here, but are studied only by those who show interest in them, that is, these courses are optional.

There are three legal degrees:

J.D. (Juris Doctor) - the first law degree in the United States.

It is awarded after the end of the three-year term of study. The main category of students in this category are graduates of American colleges and universities. J.D. degree gives the right to its owner to engage in almost any type of legal activity. At the same time, do not forget that if you want to practice law in the United States, you must join the bar, for which an entrance exam is taken. In England, an analogue of the American J.D. is the degree LL.B.

The next degree is LL.M. (Legum Magister, Master of Laws).

It should be noted that the LL.M. received mainly by international students who have received a law degree outside the United States. As a rule, holders of J.D. rarely seek an LL.M.

The highest degree in American law schools is S.J.D. (Doctor of Juridical Science).

This degree is awarded on the basis of the preparation and defense of a dissertation, for which 3 to 5 years are allotted, depending on the university.

We, as an educational agency,

we can help our students get their first law degree -

J.D. (Juris Doctor).

It was written above that you can get it after completing a 3-year course of study ... Yes, it is, BUT before this 3-year course, you must complete another 4-year course, which is called “pre-law” ... Thus, the whole “ the road" to the coveted degree takes 7 years ...

Our key partner in the USA - the prestigious University of Massachusetts (campus in Dartmouth near Boston) together with the UMass School of Law Dartmouth offer a 3 + 3 program that allows you to get the coveted degree in law not in 7 years, as usual, but in 6 years!!! Saving a whole year - saving money and time!

So let's say your goal is to get a law degree in the US and you want to get the coveted J.D. (Juris Doctor) at the prestigious University of Massachusetts. What will the enrollment look like?

A foreign student enters the UPP-II program, which is both a preparatory program for foreigners and the first year of a Bachelor's degree ... You can start studying three times a year: in September, January or May. For admission, the applicant must have completed secondary education and speak English at the level of TOEFL 196/525/69 or IELTS 5.5

Upon successful completion of this first year, the international student is GUARANTEEED to move on to the second year of the Bachelor's program. And, we emphasize - ANY bachelor's program of the university!!! Not necessarily for the pre-law program. The fact is that the first year is quite “general” and lawyers, economists, and engineers study similar specialties in their first year. Therefore, if a student “on the spot” decides that jurisprudence is still “not mine”, then he has a chance to change his specialization. This, by the way, is an additional plus for entering the University of Massachusetts through the UPP-II program.

We look forward to cooperation!

We are happy to answer additional questions!

You can make a request online by filling out the form:

There are two types of lawyers in England - solicitor and barrister. A barrister is a lawyer who handles court cases, speaks before a judge, prepares documents for court, etc. Solicitors after 1990 also received the right to appear before a judge if they have a special certificate. Although a solicitor (with a certificate) has the right to appear before a judge, there are very few such solicitors and the practice has developed in such a way that they still attract barristers to appear before a judge (a solicitor cannot appear in court above the High Court level - that is, solicitors are not appear in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of England.

In England (that is, not in Britain, namely in England) in 2008 there were 112.2 thousand solicitors and about 16.5 thousand barristers. From 1997 to 2008 the number of lawyers in England increased by more than 50%. In England it is very easy to check whether a person is a solicitor or not - you just need to drive in the person's data at this link - http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/choosingandusing/findasolicitor/view=solsearch.law

In the blog, I will cover mainly the activities of the solicitor, since it is the solicitors who are involved in 90% of cases as legal advisers.

In order to become a solicitor, you need to have a law degree. This is either (1) Bachelor of Laws in England (3 years) (LLB) or (2) Bachelor of Anything (maybe not in England) plus a one-year very intensive course (called GDL - Graduate Diploma in Law). Since I have a Ukrainian education, I took the path of "Ukrainian bachelor" plus GDL.

Also, in addition (regardless of whether a person received a bachelor of law in England or a bachelor plus GDL), you still need to take a one-year LPC (Legal Practice Course). That is, in my case it was education in Ukraine plus GDL (year) and LPC (year). GDL and LPC cost around £8,000 and £12,000 respectively.

In addition to legal education, you also need to complete an internship in a law firm (training contract) for two years in 4 different departments for 6 months in each department or 4 months in 6 departments - in each company in different ways. Getting an education is relatively easy. What is really difficult is to get a training contract – today the competition in good companies is about 20-40 people per place. In England, more than half of people with a law degree will never work as lawyers (they won’t even start) because firms have a limited number of places per year for those who will undergo a training contract (the number of training contracts is several times less than graduating lawyers).

If you become a solicitor, then you are required to undergo training throughout your life and receive a certificate every year, which costs a little more than $ 1,600 per year (although if you work for a law firm, then the firm covers these costs). This fee goes to an organization that regulates the activities of lawyers. If you do not have a certificate, but continue to provide services as a soloist, then this is a criminal offense.

The next entry will be about how lawyers are regulated in England - what they can do, what they cannot do, what rules apply in the market.

UK legal qualifications are widely recognized and respected in many countries. The variety of courses, modes of study, the possibility of combining courses, the presence of universities and faculties offering either only law or a combination of courses - all this indicates the extreme flexibility of approaches to studying law in the UK.

However, in order to become a practicing lawyer, as a rule, one diploma of higher education is not enough. The choice of the program depends on what career prospects the applicant is set for. The steps that students who wish to practice law in the UK must pass are different from those required for employment in Russia. Getting a law degree in the UK is a lengthy, complex and costly process. Before making such a responsible decision, answer yourself the questions - where do you plan to live and work after receiving your qualification, and what exactly do you want to do?

Who are solicitors and barristers?

These are the types of practicing lawyers in the UK. The educational path is different for different types.

- Solicitors (colicitors) do a wide variety of legal work, such as handling corporate transactions, property transfer cases, and litigation. They can be narrow specialists and generalists. Those who specialize in litigation can only do so in lower courts (they will be allowed to speak in higher courts by acquiring additional, higher qualifications). Many solicitors are in private practice and many work in the legal departments of public or private organizations.

- Barrister (barristers/lawyers), also called counsel or legal advisers, serve as attorneys in all courts.

- Legal advisers, whose work is similar to that of solicitors, but who usually specialize in a particular area, such as the transfer of property, litigation or probate matters. They work with solicitors in England, Wales and in the legal departments of public or private organisations.

So, you want to practice law in the UK.

• After finishing school in Russia you will need to go through the following steps:

1) Obtaining a complete secondary education in accordance with the British education system

A Levels

2 years

2) Academic Stage (academic stage)

LLB (Bachelor of Laws)

2 years

3) Vocational Stage (professional stage)

Legal Practice Course (LPC)

1 year

4) Workplace training (practical stage)

Training contract

Pupillage

2 years

• With higher education received in Russia (legal or any other) or a UK higher education not in the field of law, as well as in the case of a non-academic law degree with relevant professional experience, the following scheme applies:

1) Academic Stage (academic stage)

Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)

1 year

2) Vocational Stage (professional stage)

Legal Practice Course (LPC)– for those who plan to qualify as a solicitor

Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)- for those who plan to qualify as a barrister (barrister)

1 year

3) Workplace training (practical stage)

Training contract– to qualify as a solicitor

Pupillage- to qualify as a barrister (barrister)

2 years

• If you are a certified practicing lawyer in your country , You can become a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales bypassing the normal qualifications process but by passing specific examinations.

Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test (QLTT)– for those who plan to practice in the UK as a solicitor

B ar Transfer Test (BTT)– to obtain the British qualification of a barrister (barrister)

If you wish to practice law in Russia.

For those who plan to work in Russia after receiving a legal education in the UK, the most suitable course of study will be the program leading to the LLM (Master of Laws) degree.

In Russia, holders of foreign legal degrees LLM are considered universal specialists. To be able to study on the LLM program in the UK, the candidate must have a Russian higher education (in any field) or a British LLB degree, good knowledge of English, a resume and references.

The program is very convenient for those who need a law degree to advance in their careers. Many Russian lawyers strive to obtain an LLM degree in order to successfully work in Russia in an international company.

Program Graduate Diploma in the UK is a preparation course for international students who have completed their higher education in their home country and plan to continue their studies at a master's degree in a British university. The program focuses on language and academic preparation, and also includes the development of students' research and study skills for further success in master's studies.

Legal education has always been one of the most sought after. For many, a law degree is the first step towards a career in the legal sector. However, this is not the only reason to study law at university. Law, as you know, is a complex discipline, and for many students its attraction lies in the unique combination of the human factor with the intellectual component.

What is a law?

This may seem obvious, but still, what is a law? Law, or legal law, interacts with almost all areas of human life, touching on issues related to business, economics, politics, the environment, human rights, international relations and trade. It is significant that the first scientific degrees in the world were connected with the law. As a law student, you can expect to learn how to resolve some of the most problematic, often seemingly intractable, conflicts and problems in today's society.

Law courses provide a structure through which to explore and understand different societies and cultures, preparing not only for a specific legal career, but also for a wide range of professional roles, including those required for life in general.

What to Expect from Law Degrees

There are many different types of law degrees, which vary depending on where you study.

Like most graduate degrees, law courses begin with the required core subjects, and the opportunity to choose a specialization that is adaptable to a particular career later on. Teaching is based on a combination of lectures, seminars, group work, presentations, discussions, "mock" trial, courtroom training to help students learn important legal skills such as research and analysis, public speaking, and argument formation.

Some institutions allow students to spend a year of study abroad. Some may also provide students with the opportunity to work on a voluntary basis with real clients, which helps to gain invaluable experience and legal skills that will help in future employment.

Key skills that you will acquire while studying at the Faculty of Law:

• Proficiency in legal matters, knowledge of politics, theory and case studies
• Understanding of modern business, politics, sociology and ethics/morality
• Litigation Skills
• Legal document skills

Legal Specializations

Required modules with which you can study in law courses include: introduction to legal methods, introduction to the legal system, introduction to legal studies, legal literacy. Other topics that may be suggested include: constitutional law, criminal law, criminology, commercial law and trust, human rights, international law (public or private), jurisprudence, labor law, land law, law and government, law and society , law and individuals, contract law, legal methods, maritime law and tax law.

Legal specialties cover a wide range of subjects, with the aim of providing a generalized understanding of human society and its laws. Once you have a solid foundation in basic legal principles and objectives, you can tailor your degree to suit your interests. This may mean choosing to specialize in a particular area of ​​law, or in a particular area of ​​culture or society, or even switching to a related field such as business or politics.

Some popular legal specializations include:

Criminal law

Sometimes criminal law is studied as a degree in its own law. Criminal law deals with various aspects of the law relating to crimes. You will learn about the theory of criminal law and will also consider issues such as crime and gender, corrective justice, criminal justice, global crime issues, human rights, and socio-legal methods and theories. You will also study more specific aspects of criminal law such as murder, mentally disturbed offences, European criminal law, counter-terrorism legal measures, sentencing.

Ownership

Also known as land law, property law is the legal field relating to real property (land other than personal or chattel property) and movable property. You will study the concept of "tenure" - a term used to describe the various categories of rights to use land. Depending on the module, you can find out how and when ownership is created (based on a contract, agreement or court decision), and when this right is legally valid. You will also learn about issues such as mortgages, rents, property, commercial real estate, and stocks, property management, land acquisition, and building law.

Legal regulation in the field of intellectual property

This specialization deals with intangible assets, which include: creations of the mind (music, literature and other works of art), inventions, discoveries, words, phrases, as well as symbols and images. You will learn about economic, social and theoretical issues related to intellectual property (IP). You will deal with issues such as IP policy, laws, trademark, patent, patent and copyright protection. You will also look at IP in global and regional contexts, for example focusing on the integration of European IP laws, as well as an in-depth study of what constitutes intellectual property.

Commercial law

Also known as business law, commercial law is a body of laws that pertains to the rights, contracts, and actions of individuals and legal entities engaged in trade and industry.

Often, commercial law is considered a branch of civil law (not criminal law), and is a fairly large section in the legislation, including elements of economics, business, management and finance. Commercial law includes the study of all legal issues related to the conduct of business. It covers legal topics such as small business rights, corporate contract regulation, tax classifications, employment contracts, firing contracts, licensing issues, as well as a wide range of business issues such as securities, intellectual property, legal support of transactions, pensions and benefits, trusts. , immigration, labor law and bankruptcy.

Ecology

Legislation in the field of protection, maintenance, regulation and improvement of the environment regulates the interaction between humanity and the natural environment. Environmental law is an increasingly popular specialization and examines the legal side of how institutions, businesses and corporations seek to reduce their environmental impact. Environmental law is an interdisciplinary field, and consists of areas such as law, politics and human rights, with the aim of covering a huge variety of issues relating to the environment. You will learn about global environmental laws in areas such as climate control, resource conservation, conservation, natural resources and climate change policy, and gain an understanding of local or national environmental laws such as noise control, energy recovery and regulation and politics.

Family law

Family law is the legal field pertaining to matters relating to the family. You will learn about a range of family law issues regarding parents, child protection, marriage, civil partnerships, cohabitation, divorce, human rights, adoption and surrogacy, and more. You will learn how to use the law to resolve disputes in families, including termination of relationships and subsequent issues, in cases of child abuse and kidnapping, establishing paternity, and in cases of judgments involving minors. Also, international family law can be studied, including transnational and interstate issues, along with specific subjects such as international child protection law. You can also study contemporary issues, including commercial surrogacy, paternity laws, and others.

Other specializations that are studied in law courses include:

Labor law - addressing contracts and claims, which include unfair dismissal, discrimination, etc.

Health legislation - pertains to public health laws and regulations;

Insurance Law - legal regulation of insurance, insurance policies and claims;

Patent law - focuses on granting patents for inventions and new technologies;

International law - studies the rules and laws adopted as binding in relations between states and peoples, and not between individual citizens.

You can also specialize in legal studies within specific cultures or regions.

Career prospects

In order to advance in a career in the legal sector, many graduates choose to continue their legal education. The specific type of legal training varies depending on the practice of law as well as the type of legal career.

In England and Wales, for example, legal training for aspiring lawyers includes one year of legal practice (LPC), followed by a two-year placement as a trainee lawyer.

While law graduates are well-prepared for specific legal careers, a law degree does not restrict you from working in that particular field. As with other social science subjects, law degrees can be good preparation for a wide range of different career paths. Other sectors you might consider include: accounting, banking, business and management, trade, finance, public sector, HR, journalism, marketing and PR, media, politics, publishing, education.

Abroad. Here in dozens of universities there are many programs for the study of law. You can get a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree, as well as choose from advanced training or internship programs. There are many pluses.

First, the foundations of British law are widely used throughout the world. Second, in many universities, students work on real cases, which is, of course, an ideal practice. It remains only to decide on the university. His choice will depend on your tasks and financial capabilities. However, in England at most universities the cost of education is about the same.

Location: Southern England

17 legal programs ( , ) lasting from 8 months to 4 years.

Cost: £13,200 per year on average. Accommodation around £10.000

10 legal programs ( , ). Moreover, if Oxford has more opportunities for those who need a bachelor's degree, then Cambridge is more focused on doctoral degrees. It is no coincidence that this university is considered the supplier of Nobel laureates. The duration of training is from 1 to 3 years.

Cost: Slightly higher than Oxford, averaging £14,500 a year. But accommodation will cost less than about £7.000-8.000.

How to apply to Oxbridge?

The most important thing is that you need to know English as well as an Englishman (according to IELTS certificates - 7.0, TOEFL - 230). Ideally, it would be good to graduate from an English school with an “A” grade in at least three subjects and apply.

The second option is to take advantage of an international student scholarship. For example, participants of the Chevening Scholarship can get a master's degree at any university in the UK, including Oxbridge.

The third option is to study at one of the Russian schools that issues international bachelor's degrees, and then set off to storm Oxbridge.

Rivals of Oxbridge

Red Brick Universities is an informal term for a group of six prestigious universities in England located in large industrial cities. All of these institutions were previously viewed as "upstarts" compared to Oxbridge. Currently, 6 "red brick universities" are part of the prestigious Russell Group, which accounts for 2/3 of all UK research grants.

Location: Central England

21 legal programs ( , ) lasting from 1 to 4 years.

Cost: Average £14,000 per year. Accommodation - £6.000

Pros: The university distributes to foreign students. But perhaps the most important plus is the university library. It is one of the largest libraries in the UK. In you can find unique editions including Shakespeare and Dickens.

Location: Northern England

21 legal programs ( , ) lasting from 6 months to 4 years.

Cost: £12,000 per year on average. Accommodation - £4.000.

Pros: the university has representative offices in different countries, including in the territory of the former USSR. In addition, the university gives out every year.

Students can be trusted

Among students who came to study in England from different countries, completely different universities are popular. Those in which there are many international programs.

Location: North West England

15 legal programs ( , ) lasting from 1 to 3 years.

Cost: Average: £10,000. But the university offers various scholarship opportunities. In addition, living here is much cheaper than in Oxbridge - a year will cost about £4,500 per year.

Obvious pluses: Liverpool is the third largest city in England (fifth in the UK) and a major commercial and economic center, therefore, there will be many opportunities for practice. Excellent transport links with other cities - airport, port, railway. In addition, it is considered one of the centers of youth culture, so you definitely won’t be bored in it. Besides, Liverpool is the birthplace of The Beatles!!!

Location: Southern England

10 legal programs ( ,