Law

...past Spring about a young law student who admitted embezzling funds from an Edinburgh students society. I, along with several of my classmates, recalled attending criminal law lectures with this young student, and wondered how anyone could be quite so stupid as to even attempt to perpetrate such ridiculous fraud. But then, being a law student at Edinburgh University can do strange things to your mind.

Those of us on the postgraduate ...
...from her previous degree. The law faculty are very approachable, so if you have doubts about your qualifications, it is still worth contacting the university for more information. The deadlines for admittance are also very flexible- in my case, I decided to apply at New Year, even though the UCAS deadline was officially October. The lateness of my application was not a problem, and I know of others who were admitted even later than I was; so again, ... more

Those of you who read Scottish newspapers may recall an article this past Spring about a young law student who admitted embezzling funds from an Edinburgh students society. I, along with several of my classmates, recalled attending criminal law lectures with this young student, and wondered how anyone could be quite so stupid as to even attempt to perpetrate such ridiculous fraud. But then, being a law student at Edinburgh University can do strange things to your mind.

Those of us on the postgraduate law conversion course found it even more difficult to retain a grip on our sanity during our two year ordeal. If I had 2p for every time I wished someone had sat me down before the course began and gave me a real sense of what was to come- well- let's just say it would far surpass my Ciao earnings. I do realise that everyone has a different approach to study, and my experiences are meant to give a flavour of the time I spent doing this course- and not a blanket statement on law, Edinburgh, or anything else.

For starters, the two year course is designed for people who already have a degree. Edinburgh has certain criteria for admittance, and it seems to vary depending on the individual. My first degree was an MA in Folkore and Mythology from UCLA in America, and my admittance based primarily on my prior performance. I do know one person who was not able to apply because she only had a 2.2 from her previous degree. The law faculty are very approachable, so if you have doubts about your qualifications, it is still worth contacting the university for more information. The deadlines for admittance are also very flexible- in my case, I decided to apply at New Year, even though the UCAS deadline was officially October. The lateness of my application was not a problem, and I know of others who were admitted even later than I was; so again, it's worth getting in touch with queries.

The majority of the "mature students" as we were known had work experience of some kind. A few people went straight from their first degree into the conversion course, but in my experience, being more mature was a definite asset. In my opinion, many of the legal concepts made a lot more sense as a result of being a bit older and wiser.
The law degree also requires a significant amount of dedication, and having a good work ethic and disciplined approach to study is essential. There is a lot, and I mean A Lot of work involved in this course. I worked part-time both years, and found it a real challenge to keep on top of the workload.

The first couple weeks of lectures were like learning another language. Throughout the two years, there is an incredible amount of material to assimilate, but the first few days are the worst. For one thing, there is the law library to be tackled. Edinburgh offers good introductory course on legal skills, and it involves a library exercise. The university has one of the best legal libraries in Scotland, and very helpful staff, but you do need to acquaint yourself with the organisation of the materials.

Once you get your head round where to find the law, you can start learning it. But it takes time, and a bit of patience. Several people panicked when they didn't immediately understand everything- there is lot of Latin terminology, for example. Take a deep breath, and good notes- it WILL fall into place over time.

The first year material is quite interesting- but also deceptive. The course on Family Law appeared to be fairly straightforward, and most of us were blasé as we approached our first Christmas class exam. The results were a rude awakening- again, law exams take a bit of practice, and don't be shocked if you find yourself scoring quite badly at first. It's also a good experience to be jolted into awareness of how much dedication is required to really master the law. First year courses include Criminal Law, Contract, Scottish Legal System, Jurisprudence (Legal Philosophy), Family and a very weighty Constitutional law course. Lectures are generally held 3 times a week, with weekly or biweekly tutorials. While lectures are not mandatory, tutorial attendance is compulsory, and failure to complete assigned course work may result in being disallowed to sit course exams (not to mention a lot of hassle from your tutor). Certain courses are mandatory if you want to go on and complete the Diploma in Legal Practice, a necessity in order to practice law.

The quality of the lecturing at Edinburgh varies. A few courses, such as Property or Jurisprudence last a whole year, and often cover several topics within that subject. It can be frustrating to have a great lecture on day on Intellectual Property complete with slides and kitchen utensils (don't ask) and then to be bored rigid by endless droning about the Sale of Goods Act. Oh yes, did I mention the boredom? Get ready for it- it's inevitable. No matter how exciting and interesting you might find one area of law, there will be another which you will loathe with a fiery passion. Tutorials are a great chance to sort out problems with the material, or to engage in more in-depth discussions on the issues.

The main thing is to never underestimate the difficulty of certain courses. . A good many people had a very cavalier attitude toward certain courses (ie Family Law or Evidence) which on the face of it seemed simple enough. They weren't so calm at the resit. Directors of Study and other faculty are on hand to assist with problems, both academic and personal. I didn't really connect with my Director of Study, but there is usually somebody else to talk to if things become difficult.

Second year is when the fun really begins. It's a very heavy course load, and it doesn't really let up. The subjects include Delict (the Scottish term for Tort), Property Law, European Community law, Evidence, Tax and Commercial Law. Many law firms begin recruiting in the autumn of the final year for traineeships, so a great deal of time is spent filling out application forms. Finding a traineeship is a topic for another opinion, but the whole routine makes for a very competitive and intense atmosphere. At times I felt like my brain was going to explode from overload. A friend of mine got very behind in her work, panicked and had a breakdown from stress. Again, this is a good time to seek help from faculty or from classmates- everybody had trouble with certain parts of the course, and team work does help get you through.

Final exams take place at the end of May or June, and generally last 2 or 3 hours depending on the subject. It is imperative that you read the exam paper carefully, and answer the question rather than trying to show off how much you know. I got carried away once, and was marked down badly despite my good general knowledge of the subject. Law exams don't necessarily reflect either your intellect or your abilities as a future lawyer- rather, you are being tested of your problem-solving abilities under pressure. The course at Edinburgh is extremely rigourous, but also considered one of the best.

Edinburgh is a great city in which to live and work, and there are plenty of social outlets for students who need to blow off steam. The law faculty is based in Old College, which is situated in the heart of town, and there are many great facilities nearby, such as the gym. The Law Faculty have an interesting and useful website full on information about the city, the university, the degree course, and Scots Law itself- visit www.law.ed.ac.uk. Another helpful source for those wanting to know more about studying law in general is a fascinating book called One L by Scott Turow, available as an import through Amazon.

If you do decide to take on the two year conversion course, just remember- it does pass quickly, you will get through it, and embezzlement is never a good idea. Good luck.
 

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