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Criminal Justice LLM

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MateuszGrucki


Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 33
Criminal Justice LLM
Wed Jan 21, 2009 03:01 PM
I have just been offered a place at the University of Nottingham (School of Law) today (LLM in Criminal Justice) but someone has written that Nottingham Law School (NTU) is much better with regard to postgraduate studies. I am extremely confused as I thought I am applying to a very good univeristy. Any opinion about LLM in Criminal Justice at the Univeristy of Nottingham (School of Law)?Which one is in fact better?
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Tamar


Joined: 04 Jul 2008
Posts: 40
Criminal Justice LLM
Wed Jan 21, 2009 03:09 PM
Congratulations first of all :)))

Well look at the rankings, Nottingham Trent is on the tenth place whereas NTU appears on the 43th. Some of my friends have graduated from Nottingham Law school, HR, IHL and Criminal Justice LLM-s and they were very happy with studies therein.

I have also applied to Nottingham law school but just several days ago - on January 15th. When did you apply? And how long did it take them to respond?

Thanks in advance for response
Tamar

---
What does not kill me makes me stronger

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MateuszGrucki


Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 33
Criminal Justice LLM
Wed Jan 21, 2009 03:16 PM
That is where the problem is. Nottingham Law School is at the Nottingham Trent University (NTU), whereas at the University of Nottingham it is called the School of Law. University of Nottingham is one of the best universities in the UK according to law, but someone stated that according to undergraduate studies. NTU appears on the 43th but also according to undergraduate studies. I have read today that NTU is better in LLM and that is why I am so confused. You say 'Nottingham Trent is on the tenth place whereas NTU appears on the 43th'. The thing is this is the same uni. I have applied to Uni of Nottingham on 6th of January. Good luck and thanks for trying to help me:)!!!
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MateuszGrucki


Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 33
Criminal Justice LLM
Wed Jan 21, 2009 03:53 PM
Please help!!!I am not sure whether I should be happy or sad that I got this offer!!!
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Pharrell


Joined: 02 Nov 2006
Posts: 119
Criminal Justice LLM
Wed Jan 21, 2009 04:06 PM
You should be happy :)
Nottingham University is very good school but i am not an expert in criminal justice LLM ...
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MateuszGrucki


Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 33
Criminal Justice LLM
Wed Jan 21, 2009 04:08 PM
But how about LLM in general?Isn't the Nottingham Law school- Nottingham Trent University better than University of Nottingham?
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Pharrell


Joined: 02 Nov 2006
Posts: 119
Criminal Justice LLM
Wed Jan 21, 2009 04:28 PM
I'm not from Nottingham Trent University / University of Nottingham so i don't know...
but In my opinion University of Nottingham is better
( rankings).
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MateuszGrucki


Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 33
Criminal Justice LLM
Wed Jan 21, 2009 04:36 PM
The problem is that the rankings show undergraduate courses not postgraduate ones. I have not expected such a problem like I am facing now!Who knows which univeristy is better according to postgraduate law - NTU or University of Nottingham (preferably LLM in Criminal Justice)?
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TiGGer

Joined: 11 May 2007
Posts: 104
Criminal Justice LLM
Wed Jan 21, 2009 05:13 PM
Hey MateuszGrucki!

I have given my comment to this issue in another post already. I have just finished my LL.M. at Nottingham Law School (NTU). I was extremely happy with my decision! Was a fantastic experience! In my year there were some students from Uni of Nottingham coming over to Nottingham Law School for their LL.M. coz they said for postgraduate studies, ie LLMs, Nottingham Law School is considered slightly better. I cannot say whether this is actually true. I am pretty sure that there is nothing wrong with doing an LL.M. at Uni of Nottingham at all. It is a very good University! However, I had several job interviews during the last couple of weeks and almost every (magic circle) law firm regarded the LL.M. from Nottingham Law School as a big plus. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is also offering a special LL.M. Environmental, Planning and Regulatory Law at Nottingham Law School! So, I guess, it cannot be that bad ;-)
But don't worry. You should simply accept your offer from Uni of Nottingham and be happy coz it's an excellent choice. Well, or try to apply to Nottingham Law School, too - if the application deadline hasn't run out yet.
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MateuszGrucki


Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 33
Criminal Justice LLM
Wed Jan 21, 2009 05:29 PM
Thanks a lot for your comment!I have just checked the entry requirements for NTU and University of Nottingham LLM and the former requires 2.2 whereas the latter 2.1. It means it is much easier to get to NTU. Moreover, the modules I can choose at Nottingham Uni are more interestic for me as I do not really want to do International Criminal Law dimension. Thus, I will probably stick to what I just got. Anyway, Nottingham is not my first choice as I am still waiting for LSE, UCL and KCL to reply. I have completed my applications this week so it will take so time but at least I have got a place (I applied only to those four aforementioned). Thanks for your help!!!!
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Pharrell


Joined: 02 Nov 2006
Posts: 119
Criminal Justice LLM
Wed Jan 21, 2009 09:25 PM
Good luck with choosing your studies :)
What is your priority - LSE, UCL, KCL ?

[Edited by Pharrell on 21 Jan 2009]
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MateuszGrucki


Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 33
Criminal Justice LLM
Wed Jan 21, 2009 09:34 PM
Getting to any of them would be a great thing for me. I can still remember when I came to England 4 years ago and my tiny dream was to get to undergraduate law at the University of Kent. I still have got two years to go to graduate in Poland as I am doing Polish Law in Poznan simultaneously. Thus, postraduate studies in London would be something I did not expect some time before:)
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Tamar


Joined: 04 Jul 2008
Posts: 40
Criminal Justice LLM
Thu Jan 22, 2009 06:23 AM
Oh sorry,

It was mistake, I wanted to wrote that Nottingham University occupies the tenth place :) And my friends have also recommended me to make masters in Nottingham University School of Law and not NTU. :)

Good luck

---
What does not kill me makes me stronger

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MateuszGrucki


Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 33
Criminal Justice LLM
Thu Jan 22, 2009 09:19 AM
No worries Tamar:)I also got confused!Which LLM did you apply for?You should hear from them pretty soon I think. I have applied on 6th of January and already got the offer. I have got 2.1 but probably my strong argument is that I am doing full-time law in Poland simultaneously (2.1 equivalent) Good luck!!!
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Richie_85

Joined: 30 May 2008
Posts: 32
Criminal Justice LLM
Thu Jan 22, 2009 01:25 PM
Interesting discussion!
Frankly speaking, I know from my dad (who is a partner at one of the magic circle firms) that it is by far not as important where you have done your degrees, but how you actually performed (you learn from books anyway...). Just have a look at the online application forms. You have to type in your result. If you type in "2:2" you are out automatically - even if it is a 2:2 from OxBridge etc. So, I guess one should not get too stressed out about that issue.
I have done my LLB at University of Nottingham (plus internships at Freshfields and Latham) and got a 1st. However, I am currently doing my LLM at Nottingham Law School and to my eyes (!) the working conditions are indeed slightly better than at my old alma mater. Well, the campus is not as nice, but the staff members are so friendly and it is not that overcrowded. I have to admit that I also chose Nottingham Law School for my LLM coz I want to do my LPC there afterwards.
To conclude, I think both institutions are really really good (by the way, the distinction between academic and professional law seems to be rather arbitrarily). Having experienced both I (!) do prefer Nottingham Law School, but Uni of Nottingham is a great choice, as well.
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Richie_85

Joined: 30 May 2008
Posts: 32
Criminal Justice LLM
Thu Jan 22, 2009 01:31 PM
And yes, it's true, many Freshfields lawyers are doing an LLM at Nottingham Law School. During my internship I met several of them - preferably from Germany (Berlin, Hamburg, Düsseldorf office). Great for networking ;-)
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MateuszGrucki


Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 33
Criminal Justice LLM
Thu Jan 22, 2009 01:33 PM
Thanks Richie. I am planning to do BVC after LLM and I will surely apply to NTU!
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crimlawyer

Joined: 18 Nov 2008
Posts: 287
Criminal Justice LLM
Thu Jan 22, 2009 01:54 PM
Hey,

Maybe we will meet in london. I have applied for the LSE some 8 weeks ago, and I guess I am on the brink of receiving a result. I guess we are one of the few LLM applicants interested in criminal law.

Best of luck
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MateuszGrucki


Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 33
Criminal Justice LLM
Thu Jan 22, 2009 02:04 PM
Can I just ask you what sort of degree are you expecting and have you got any relevant experience?To be honest it would be my dream to get to the LSE, but I am realist and In am aware that my 62% average (which will go maximum to 65% at the end of stage 3) would probably not be enough to get the offer. Moreover, I have got no relevant experience. I have just applied on 6th of January and found out yesterday that my application is panding due to the lack of transcript from my Polish Law course back in Poland. I have supplied them with one yesterday so now it will take some time to get back from them. Please let me know if you get the offer!The good thing is that as you said we are one of the few LLM applicants interested in criminal law. Good luck:)!!!!Which other have you applied to?Me LSE, UCL, KCL, Nottingham (got the offer).
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crimlawyer

Joined: 18 Nov 2008
Posts: 287
Criminal Justice LLM
Thu Jan 22, 2009 02:10 PM
I have applied for LLMs at OXbridge as well. And I applied for the Msc in oxford and at the LSE

I am a practicing lawyer with 2 years of graduate experience, pro bono work, NGO engagement, articles written, teaching assistant, 90% average on my LLB (it does not mean that much in my country).
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MateuszGrucki


Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 33
Criminal Justice LLM
Thu Jan 22, 2009 02:16 PM
It means you are in the different league:)!
Where are you from by the way?
The only strong argument to support my case is that I am studying English Law at Kent and Polish Law in Poznan simultaneously. I think it is something that distinguish me from other applicants and I hope it may be of an interest to the LSE as they have already asked me to provide transcipt from Poland. Good luck and hope to meet you at the LSE:) !!!
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crimlawyer

Joined: 18 Nov 2008
Posts: 287
Criminal Justice LLM
Thu Jan 22, 2009 02:26 PM
I am from Brazil. Do not underestimate your potential. I am still to find out, but I think having an interest in criminal law is already a distinguished feature.
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MateuszGrucki


Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 33
Criminal Justice LLM
Thu Jan 22, 2009 02:28 PM
I hope you are right:)!
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drjeckyll

Joined: 06 Apr 2009
Posts: 1
Criminal Justice LLM
Tue Apr 07, 2009 01:00 PM
Hi. I did the criminal justice LLM at the University of Nottingham 3 years ago. I think that there might be some confusion between the two universities.

Nottingham Law School is attached to Nottingham Trent University. The Law School is very good for professional postgraduate studies such as the BVC and LPC. It is also possible to do an LLM there. However, the University of Nottingham has recieved better RAE results (meaning that you are more likely to be taught by an internationally renowned expert) and is ranked higher in the Times Student Law tables.

I really enjoyed the LLM and was really impressed by the standard of teaching and the support afforded by the non-academic staff. Since I was there they have also revamped the library, and I hear that it is very impressive. The other advantage of Nottingham is that they offer postgraduate accomodation, whilst I had some friends in London who really struggled to find somewhere suitable. The accomodation is also really good for making friends, but was a bit basic.

If you are still unsure about Nottingham, it might be a good idea to look at the modules and think about what you would like to do. I found that I did better in the modules that I enjoyed. [Edited for grammer]

[Edited by drjeckyll on 07 Apr 2009]
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Jeremy Bentham

Joined: 17 Feb 2009
Posts: 47
Criminal Justice LLM
Tue Apr 07, 2009 01:16 PM
I have applied for LLMs at OXbridge as well. And I applied for the Msc in oxford and at the LSE

I am a practicing lawyer with 2 years of graduate experience, pro bono work, NGO engagement, articles written, teaching assistant, 90% average on my LLB (it does not mean that much in my country).


Hey Crimlawyer which of your applications is your first choice? I've been accepted for the llm in criminal law/justice at lse and ucl, leaning towards lse. Any thoughts?
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