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The external LLB in Canada
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joshua 
Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 4 |
The external LLB in Canada
Hi all.Tue Dec 13, 2005 06:19 AM Greetings from the Great White North! I'm Canadian, completed the B.A. and M.A. at Canadian universities. I've always thought about studying law, at a Canadian university, but family and work reasons made this extremely difficult to impossible. I want to hear from other Canadians on the board. Is anyone studying for, or has completed the external LLB from the University of London, and can share their experiences, ie. academic rigour, how the degree is perceived in terms of career advancement, etc...does the degree prep and qualify one for further "on-campus" studies elsewhere? I'm thinking of doing an LLM later in life out of personal interest...but hey, I'm getting ahead of myself here... Thanks. |
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| werejim
Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 1 |
The external LLB in Canada
Hi Joshua,Thu Jan 12, 2006 05:27 PM I have done a fair bit of research on this. I have completed one year toward the UoL LLB, and I am Canadian living in Quebec. To answer your questions as best I can: Academic rigour: Excellent. The exams are not easy. The workload is significant. Career advancement: Not sure. Although I have no research to substantiate this I would venture that a distance learning degree will tend to be viewed as a lesser dergree. My own experience is that on a social level people perk up when they hear you're studying law at University of London. There is a great deal of prestige associated with the school. Does it prepare you for further future, on campus, study? Not sure as I have not gone that route. I would think that it would be a good prep for further study. Now, if your question is: Is this a good way to get into Canadian Law school? I'm not sure I would endorse it. With a foreign earned LLB one would apply to Canadian law school as an advanced standing student, or as a National Council on Accreditation applicant (Note: if you're in Quebec, it's different). Advanced standing spots are difficult to land. Plus, the grades at UoL tend to be very low, only something like 4% of students achieve an upper second class standing. Less than 1% first class standing. A lower second does not look good on an application, since most schools will place a great deal of importance on marks achieved in previous legal studies. Please note that if you have a focused legal interest there are various DL LLM programs available that do not require a LLB for entry, one may be more suitable for your purposes. Hope this helps. |
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| Pretorian
Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 2 |
The external LLB in Canada
Hello,Mon Jan 16, 2006 05:02 PM I too am a canadian resident and I'm currently completing a LL.M from the U.of London in Banking and Finance and would like to enter in magic circle law firms in london in corporate/securitization. My qualifications are as follows: -LL.B from Canada -M.A in international relations and Management from Netherlands. -M.B.A from France -Currently passing my bar exams in Quebec, as as soon as that is done will pass the english bar. -2 years experience in corporate finance in fortune 50 company. -Currently working in corporate law and M&A -Speak french, english, italian and spanish. How would you rank my chances of getting there? |
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| sdusa
Joined: 24 Mar 2006 Posts: 3 |
The external LLB in US
Hi, I wonder if I am eligible for applying to a LL.M program (one-year) in California or another state in the US after completing the external LL.B (three-yr program) from the UOL and subsequently to sit for a CA bar exam. Currenly, I reside in CA and am in a Ph.D. program in psychology.Sat Mar 25, 2006 09:30 PM TIA, [Edited by link updater on 25 Mar 2006] |
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| ljohnson
Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 1 |
The external LLB in Canada
I appreciated the first and second posts here, as I am also a graduate of a BA and MA from Canadian Universities. I want to study law, but I am not wishing to go back in to full time studies. The External LLB seems like the perfect option for me because I would like to work full time. I should note that I grew up in England, and am considering moving back to the UK in the future (although this is undecided), so a UK LLB has an additional attraction to me in case I ever decide to make this move.Thu Nov 16, 2006 07:13 PM In the meantime, however, I am concerned about accreditation as a lawyer in Canada upon completion of the U of London External LLB. I visited the FLSC website and reviewed the guidelines, but I am wondering if anyone has direct experience with this. I am wondering how much additional law school is required at a Canadian university upon completion of the London LLB. Any advice would be most appreciated. Thanks! |
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| RP.
Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 1 |
The external LLB in Canada
Wed Feb 14, 2007 09:17 PM I am wondering how much additional law school is required at a Canadian university upon completion of the London LLB. I'm not entirely sure of this, but the US, Commonwealth and Israeli students that went to law school with me in Canada needed 2 years to get their Canadian LL.B. Whether the law society in your province has other, less stringent requirements, I don't know. |
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| JohnnyCockring
Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 3 |
The external LLB in Canada
Hey guys, not sure if anyone is still in the LLB program in Canada. But i have been doing extensive reseach and survey searching and it seems as the law degree from UOL and its external program is very well high in prestige and honors. I have currently achieved my MBA from York University and always wanted to do my LLB. Unfortunately my timing sucks because now York has a LLB/MBA joint program.Tue Feb 27, 2007 06:08 PM Well anyways, i was just wondering if anyone is still in this program and how do they find it. Some say the exams are NOT east and some do. Can someone please help me. |
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| jacob_cowan
Joined: 05 Jan 2008 Posts: 1 |
The external LLB in Canada
I have been looking into the LLB external program from the University of London. I am currently a teacher in British Columbia, with a Masters Degree in Educational Administration, a Bachelor of Education, and one course short of a BA with an English major. I am looking to change careers without stopping working and resubjecting my family to the poverty associated with a student lifestyle. The external program seems like just what is required, but I don't want to waste my time and money on a degree that doesn't allow me to practice law in Canada. This is what I have found out so far:Sun Jan 06, 2008 06:30 PM -You can get in to the external program straight out of high school, which is a problem in that the LLB in Canada is meant to be a professional degree. If you take the program and intend to practice law in Canada, you should probably take the 3 year option, or you will have to do 2 years of upgrading at a Canadian law school after you finish. -Your marks matter, a lot, when you want to practice in Canada. With less than second class honours you will not get any recognition for the degree, and higher marks usually translate into less upgrading. I think that second class honours is a B average, and from what I hear the marking is tough in this program - you have to work for a B. -If you do not have another degree, you will have to go to a Canadian law school after you finish the external program for 1 or 2 years. If you do have another degree you may qualify to take challenge exams instead. I have been in contact with someone from the body (whose name escapes me) in charge of reviewinf foreign law education and credentials in Canada, and she has been non-commital, but helpful. I am trying to find out the exact criteria used to make these decisions, so that I can make an informed decision. -The University of London has a great international reputation, with Nelson Mandella, Ghandi, H.G. Wells, George Bernard Shaw, and countless politicians and judges counted among their alumni. If anyone else has more information or stories about applying to the bar in a Canadian jurisdiction after taking the external LLB from the University of London, please let me know. Many thanks, and best wishes. |
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| Resipsa
Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 1 |
The external LLB in Canada
Eligibility to take the Bar in the US or Canada should not be an issue. It certainly is not an issue in the US. Both the US and Canada follow Common Law, therefore you should be take able to take a Bar review course and pass the Bar.
Wed Jan 30, 2008 09:49 PM |
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| monalisa smile
Joined: 28 May 2008 Posts: 1 |
The external LLB in Canada
Could anyone help me please. I applied for the LLB external program at university of london. I am a candian citizen. I was thinking of doing one year at UOL and tranfer to a law school in canada. Do you think that would be possible?
Thu May 29, 2008 01:55 PM |
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| dko
Joined: 30 Sep 2008 Posts: 1 |
The external LLB in Canada
Hi all,Wed Oct 01, 2008 10:11 PM First of all, thank you for all your information and I found them very useful. I have obtained a BSc from a Canadian University in the west coast and I am greatly interested in the field of law. I have been admitted to the External LLB program and I was wondering if anyone can shed some light on how to go about in practicing as a lawyer, please? FOr example, do I need to quit my current job (in the field of biotechnology) and work as a legal assistant? Any help will be deeply appreciated. Thank you so much in advance. [Edited by dko on 01 Oct 2008] |
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cowboyblues  Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 74 |
The external LLB in Canada
This thread is very interesting and surprising - particularly with respect to the number of Canadians wanting to work in the UK.Fri Nov 21, 2008 03:17 PM I would just like to add to be wary of the external LLB as it does not hold the same cache as an LLB at one of the constituent colleges of the University of London. Despite the marking standards being the same, the degree will not have the same market value. If you plan to practice law in Canada, then the external LLB or any LLB from the UK is pretty worthless as you'll be required to pass the arbitrary NCA exams before you can pass the Bar exams. This can involve an additional one/two years of study. |
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| twista88
Joined: 09 Jan 2009 Posts: 1 |
The external LLB in Canada
Sun Feb 08, 2009 04:42 PM This thread is very interesting and surprising - particularly with respect to the number of Canadians wanting to work in the UK. Hi there, What you have said is quite right . Where internal vs external candidates is concern, then internal would be given preference and that's it. Ultimately, both mode of obtaining a LLB degree from UOL requires candidates to enrol and pass the requisite bar exams laid down by the governing body in the jurisdiction you desire to practice in. When the degree in its own capacity is recognized for practicing purposes in most jurisdictions then we need not worry, go ahead and obtain it, regardless whether you desire to practice, for career advancement or just for knowledge, investing in an UOL degree is never a waste, it will come in handy in due time. As far as stale education is concerned, should you desire to practise after a long time, even though you have obtained a degree from the most prestigious universities in the world and you have not had a career relating to the field of study your degree relates to, then employers will have doubts and probably label you as having stale qualifications. My advise to all who are pursuing or intending to pursue a law or another degree from UOL, would be to go ahead! Regards, Marc [Edited by twista88 on 08 Feb 2009] |
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| addisondm
Joined: 26 Apr 2009 Posts: 1 |
The external LLB in Canada
Could someone please elaborate on the post above concerning Mon Apr 27, 2009 07:28 PM "If you plan to practice law in Canada, then the external LLB or any LLB from the UK is pretty worthless" "you'll be required to pass the arbitrary NCA exams before you can pass the Bar exams. This can involve an additional one/two years of study. " -Is this true? -What are the steps I would follow after obtaining the LLB from University of London External? -How long could this take? Reading the above statements kind of dissapointed me as I was excited there was an option for someone like myself who cannot quit my job to go back to school. -Are there any other online LLB programs in Canada that are credible? I have many questions, if someone can answer them could you please email me at addisondm@gmail.com [Edited by addisondm on 27 Apr 2009] |
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