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Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011

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Bigua

Joined: 19 Mar 2009
Posts: 21
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Thu May 21, 2009 10:03 PM
Dear all,

I am from Brazil and I am planning to apply for an MJUR/LLM on Oxford, LSE and Cambridge. I am 31 years old and I have graduated in one of the top law schools in my country (SP).

I have 4 years of working experience at the biggest law firm in my country in the capital markets area and now I am working as an in house legal counsel in a Investment Bank. I have also studied finance for 1 week in London. At the time I should have finished my Master in Law and Economics.

I am also a professor in a postgraduate course at a top law school in Brazil, currently engaged in a lot of pro bono activities. I wanted to know if you think that it is possible for me to get admitted to these universities.

Actually, I am worried about the timing, age and the crisis. I know that with the crisis and all that many people is returning to law school, so I wanted to be sure if it is worthy to apply this year.

Additionally, I wanted to know if you think my CV and experience is sufficient or what else should I consider to include at the time of applying.

Many thanks in advance.

Regards
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Santa


Joined: 08 Jan 2009
Posts: 383
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Thu May 21, 2009 10:12 PM
I might post some more here tomorrow if nobody else has, but I can already lift all your doubts and assure you that you have a VERY good chance to get admitted in each of the schools, and thus an almost certainty to have a place to go in 2010! Your record seems to be very good, especially because you are already a Professor.
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PUCCA


Joined: 23 Oct 2008
Posts: 347
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Fri May 22, 2009 08:34 AM
I totally agree with you I think he stands a very very good chance!

If you also got very good grades then I think you are almost in!!! of course there are a lot of qualified students just as you are but I think you have to give it a try because otherwise you wont know what would have happened!

My advice is to apply because you have the necessary qualifications and experience :0

Good luck!

---
Never stop trying to be better
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Bigua

Joined: 19 Mar 2009
Posts: 21
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Fri May 22, 2009 01:52 PM
Tks for all.

I’ll apply for sure. Notwithstanding the fact that I have a good experience and being a professor, my average grade in Law School is not that great. In Brazil we study 5 years and sometimes there is a lot of unnecessary subjects that may contribute to a lower average grade. Nevertheless, my grades in my Master in Law and Economics are very high.

As PUCCA said, I’ll have to give it a try because otherwise I won’t know what would have happened!

Regards
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PUCCA


Joined: 23 Oct 2008
Posts: 347
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Fri May 22, 2009 02:38 PM
thats right! if you got very good grades in your Masters that will also be something positive for you!!! We also do some unncessary subjects while we are studying at law school and it also takes 5 years. Since my uni was a catholic university we had to study sometimes like cristianismn, ethics and some other subjects that are good yes but not really related to law!

Go there and make the latin community proud!

From a fellow latin female colleague :)

---
Never stop trying to be better
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LawyerinUSA

Joined: 16 Feb 2009
Posts: 46
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Fri May 22, 2009 04:48 PM
We also do some unncessary subjects while we are studying at law school and it also takes 5 years. Since my uni was a catholic university we had to study sometimes like cristianismn, ethics and some other subjects that are good yes but not really related to law!


I think all law students should take classes on ethics. Generally, this class, called "Professional Responsibility," is required in US law schools. It does not necessarily work the way it should, though, as there are far too many marginally ethical attorneys!

[Edited by link updater on 31 May 2009]
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Bigua

Joined: 19 Mar 2009
Posts: 21
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Fri May 22, 2009 05:24 PM
I agree LawyerinUSA.

Does anyone who have been accepted to the uni mentioned above could help me with any other tips?

Tks
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Jorst2

Joined: 23 Mar 2009
Posts: 7
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Fri May 22, 2009 05:45 PM
Bigua, I agree with Pucca, I am from Colombia and have already been admitted to LSE, UCL, King's, QM and a few more. I applied to as many Universities as I could in order to have bigger chances, and I guess it did pay off. I beleive you have a very good chance of being admitted too (don't know about Cambridge or Oxford though), it is true that undergrad grades are a requirement but if you did well in your masters and have all that work and teaching experience you say yo have, you certainly are a strong candidate for a place. However, correct me if I'm wrong but I think deadlines for applying have already passed. You should check on that. Anyways, give it a try and you'll see you will make it.
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Bigua

Joined: 19 Mar 2009
Posts: 21
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Fri May 22, 2009 05:55 PM
Tks Jorst2.
I'll apply for next fall. I believe that they start to accept applications in August/September 2009 for the following year (2010/2011).
Anyway, I 'll try to apply to as many Universities as I can in order to have bigger chances.

Does anyone believe that IELTS is better than TOEFL (for UK uni) ?

Regards
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PUCCA


Joined: 23 Oct 2008
Posts: 347
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Mon May 25, 2009 08:40 AM
I think IELTS is better for UK unis and well its more complicated to me than toefl. I did it twice because the first time i got an overaal score of 7.0 and i needed 7.5 . The second i got 7.5 and 8 in almost all the other components. You have to work hard and practice but its possible to get a high score of course :)

---
Never stop trying to be better
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littledoll

Joined: 28 Jun 2009
Posts: 14
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Fri Oct 02, 2009 10:26 AM
I found this thread and although it's quite old I thought I'd reply since the issue is probably useful to everyone applying right now.

First of all, I want to say that you probably have really good chances of getting in. Your CV sounds excellent.

This leads me to my question/doubts or whatever. I also intend to apply to Cambridge and maybe even to Oxford. But somehow I have the feeling it is not even worth it when I read all the posts of people applying. I am in the final year of my LLB. I am first in my class so far, but other than that I have barely any other experience. I will start an internship at the Federal Foreign Office but that's all for work experience. I am a founding member of a little think tank and speak a few languages. Does that make me interesting at all? It seems as if I really should not even bother applying with my few experiences. What do you think?
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Bigua

Joined: 19 Mar 2009
Posts: 21
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Fri Oct 02, 2009 10:14 PM
I know people with average grades who got in at Harvard, Columbia, Chicago, LSE etc...

I am strating to reallize that all the process and application package are kind of an urban legend.

IF YOU WANT IT, APLLY FOR IT.

Doesn't matter your nacionality etc.. Just go for it...
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isaiah

Joined: 05 Oct 2009
Posts: 9
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Tue Oct 06, 2009 08:16 PM
hey all,

well I am also looking apply to oxbridge and lse for 2010-2011..I have excellent grades (top 4 of 330), some expereience at magic circle firms and a few publications which I co-authored with notable professors in the field of IT law..

what do you think of my chances? i would like to pursue a commercial law programme once admitted

I do find it hard to write my motivation letter; can someone assist me with this?..even though I do think they will not even consider it once they had a look at your marks 9the thing they will look first into when they receive your app materials)..for the above schools I think it's all aboyt the grades..

if one of you is also contemplating applying for schools above you can pm'en me...

byebye

[Edited by isaiah on 06 Oct 2009]
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giulia9800

Joined: 09 Oct 2009
Posts: 4
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Sat Oct 10, 2009 12:33 PM
Dear All,

I'm thinking of applying to Cambridge for 2010-2011.
I know the deadline is 17th november 2009, do you think sending all the application documents by the first days of November will be too late?

I graduated 3 years ago and i'm working in a legal firm. May I ask my employer (who is also a full professor) to write my second reference letter or it is better to have my letter written by a professor from my university?

Many thanks in advance
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littledoll

Joined: 28 Jun 2009
Posts: 14
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Sat Oct 10, 2009 04:41 PM
Hey giulia,

I am not 100% sure but I think your employer can write you the reference. I also think that I read somewhere on the homepage that you can ask your employer. Just check the website again.

I have a completely different question. I will also apply to the Cambridge Trust and we need a third reference. Do you think it is ok if the personal reference is written by the same person as the academic reference? I would like to ask the same professor as she knows me very well personally and academically.
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giulia9800

Joined: 09 Oct 2009
Posts: 4
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Sat Oct 10, 2009 06:31 PM
dear littledoll,
thanks for your answer. I'm sure I've read somewhere that your personal referee can be one of your academic referee, but you've to check through the website.
When are you planning to send your application?
I prefer applying online, but I didn't understand if the deadline of 17th november is fixed only for submitting the online application or also for sending the documents in hard copy.
Thanks for your help
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lil81

Joined: 12 Oct 2009
Posts: 10
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:38 AM
giulia9800, I am also not very sure as to the deadline of 17Nov - whether it applies to merely the online submission or inclusive of the hard copies of the documents.. I am kinda strssed out at work coz i hv been nominated by my department to go for my LLM next year. They specifically named Cambridge as the place to go but yet I am afraid that I am not good enough to be accepted into Cambridge..
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giulia9800

Joined: 09 Oct 2009
Posts: 4
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:52 AM
I called BGS yesterday and they confirmed that the 17th november deadline is only for submitting the online application.
Lil, if your department has selected you for LLM Program in Cambridge, they definitely think that you're good enough, and I'm sure you are. if they want you to go there, they will also provide you with strong references. so, go for it!
Good luck!
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lil81

Joined: 12 Oct 2009
Posts: 10
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Tue Oct 13, 2009 11:02 AM
Thanks for the info on the deadline.. To be really honest, I am kinda scared of being rejected coz I have applied to Cambridge like some four years ago and they rejected me then.. My lecturers at that time were really optimistic, but I think I've disappointed them. I was accepted to King's College London that time, but was unable to go due to financial reasons. I really don't hv that much confidence though everyone sounds so hopeful that I will pull through.. They really hope that I'd get in next year..
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littledoll

Joined: 28 Jun 2009
Posts: 14
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Tue Oct 13, 2009 02:56 PM
Yeah, thanks for calling! Now I am not so stressed out anymore. I thought we have to turn everything in by that deadline. Lil, don't be scared. If you got nominated that is a very good sign that you are able to get in. I guess we are all really scared. Just look at me I am still doing by first law degree, so no work experience. I also don't think my chances are good, but you never know, right?!
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plethora

Joined: 11 Oct 2009
Posts: 11
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Tue Oct 13, 2009 06:06 PM
Does anyone happen to know if the Director of Graduate taught admissions (Edwin Peel) makes the admission decision himself or this is made by a panel?
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isaiah

Joined: 05 Oct 2009
Posts: 9
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Tue Oct 13, 2009 08:13 PM
hey all,

refrerences for cambridge have to be addressed to "Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies", but how should you then include this in the reference lette?

- Dear Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies,
- To the Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies,
- Dear LLM Admission Committee,

What do you all think?

[Edited by isaiah on 13 Oct 2009]
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plethora

Joined: 11 Oct 2009
Posts: 11
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Wed Oct 14, 2009 06:06 AM
Aren't the Oxon and Cantab references sealed and hence confidential?
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littledoll

Joined: 28 Jun 2009
Posts: 14
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Wed Oct 14, 2009 08:44 AM
Yes, but that doesn't solve the problem right. Although you might not be able to read the reference you can tell your referee how he has to address them. I don't know what my referees did, maybe I should ask them. But don't you think Dear Sir or Madam is also enough?
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littledoll

Joined: 28 Jun 2009
Posts: 14
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Wed Oct 14, 2009 03:28 PM

[Edited by littledoll on 14 Oct 2009]
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