I know these have been asked before, but unfortunately they haven' t been answered in detail so far.

I am considering doing the LL.M. by distance learning at the U of London (specialisation: IP Law). I am especially looking for the following information:

+ reputation: is the external programme equal to a "regular" degree in terms of reputation and standing
+ is there any way of funding the programme (I am from Austria originally and would also follow the course from here)
+ experiences: I would be most grateful for any information from a graduate of the programme as regards the exams and any experiences after graduation (finding a position, etc) - preferably from Austria or Germany

Thank you in advance

Hi, Guido,
I am considering to subscribe for LLM - International IP in UCL. Have you already started the course? Could you please advise me your findings?
Cheers,

Patricia

Hello,

Just my 2 cents. I think the "value" associated with an LLM abroad is the "international experience" gained. So, a degree done via distance learning will not be as appealing as a regular LLM because it does not develop such "international experience".

So too, a distance learning degree doe snot provide human contact which is, I feel, integral to developing the necessary skills that are deemed "valuable" to law firms, law faculties, government departments etc.

I think any distance learning degree will be regarded with suspicion because half the benefit of an LLM are the residual skills gained in the course of learning - communication, cultural, advocacy, and the like.

So, I think the LLM will be regarded as something that is done online and develops no discernable skills but, rather, knowledge.

Apart from that, when you get the LLM, you will cite it as "LLM (Lon)" on your CV or credentials regardless of whether you did it via distance learning. BUT, inevitably, an employer will ask you: "how was London?". The appeal with an LLM from LONDON is the experience gained living and learning in LONDON.

Its a hard choice.

Good luck with whatever decision you make!

Thank you for your answers!

- Patricia: I have so far not started the course but I consider to submit my application before the deadline at the end of january next year. Are you considering the Distance Learning Programme as well? Do you consider specialising in IP?

- capa: thanks a lot for giving me your thoughts on distance learning. I would also prefer to go to London personally but due to my private situation distance learning currently appears to be the only solution. I think it is still better than having a LL.M. degree from an Austrian or German institution (there are a number of institutions that are given the right to award a LL.M. degree).

Do you know somebody who has completed the programme?

Thanks!

Guido

Hi Guido,

Hamboldt U of Berlin, Free U of Berlin, Heildelberg, and Munich are world class.

Maybe you should ask the recruiting team at law firms in the jurisdiction in which you wish to practice and live.

Good luck with it.

I recommend the llm external on UoL as other llms(full time or part time)for someone who already deal with law. That what I needed from the llm was the knowledge of the subject not social life on the university nor training of my speaking skills. If you on llm you had to study law before and that should be the place where you should gain all those skills. LLM is a very professional degree and you have to study, study and study - this is not a ground school. I highly recommend external program(I could't go full time because I am full time employed but I needed the degree) and my firm was fully satisfied with that degree. So think first if you really need it and I think University of London LLM is one of the top in the world so it doesn' really matter what form you are going to choose. You have to mostly study by yourself on all kind of llm and you take the same exams and if you need to talk to someone you can go on chat or contact the Uni.

all materials included and the program is very well prepared!!!

Some interesting points raised in the above post, which I am keen to comment on and hopefully bring the discussion round in later posts to directly answer the original poster's (OP's) start on the thread.

Hello,

Just my 2 cents. I think the "value" associated with an LLM abroad is the "international experience" gained. So, a degree done via distance learning will not be as appealing as a regular LLM because it does not develop such "international experience".

So too, a distance learning degree doe snot provide human contact which is, I feel, integral to developing the necessary skills that are deemed "valuable" to law firms, law faculties, government departments etc.

I think any distance learning degree will be regarded with suspicion because half the benefit of an LLM are the residual skills gained in the course of learning - communication, cultural, advocacy, and the like.

So, I think the LLM will be regarded as something that is done online and develops no discernable skills but, rather, knowledge.

Apart from that, when you get the LLM, you will cite it as "LLM (Lon)" on your CV or credentials regardless of whether you did it via distance learning. BUT, inevitably, an employer will ask you: "how was London?". The appeal with an LLM from LONDON is the experience gained living and learning in LONDON.

I just want to express my thanks to the person who defended the distance-learning LLM. I am also considering an LLM but was concerned about how legitimate it would seem if done over the internet, even offered by a very reputable institution. A benefit of your posting, besides making me feel better, is giving me and others ways to not defend our decisions (which would only make it sound like we might agree that this particular approach to learning was not optimal) but to champion distance learning as a way to gain valuable skills (group management over international timezones and collaborative working via the Internet) that are not aquired by conventional educations, and demonstrate other valuable qualities such as (as you expressed) committment, time-management, ambition (which may be better demonstrated when the education is coupled with a lack of the "fun" that comes with the school enviroment -- especially when travel is involved.

On the up side, undertakning LLM in computers and technology or IP law online may actually be deemed an advantage. You are learning via the medium of your subject area!

No doubt an LLM from London or Edinburgh would look fantastic, irrespective of whether it is done online or not.

I was only giving my opinion as a 22 year old undergraduate. No doubt more experienced people may have a different perspective.

Some thing I am told, at my age, is to gain experience that makes me stand out from other applicants. Overseas study is a great way of doing this. However, if you already have an established career, then everything I said above is not very suitable to your postgraduate "education". At my age, "education" involves those skills many of you already possess through both life experience and legal practice.

I think distance learning is worth considering "if" you are not looking for the adventure.

All the best

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and opinions regarding the UoLondon distance-learning programme (or the method of study in general). I agree that this way is suitable for those who (for whatever reason - current employment, family, etc.) are unable to go abroad personally for a year or two (like myself).

No doubt the latter option would be the better one for a couple of reasons (I spent one year in the UK during my undergraduate studies and it was no doubt a great experience for me personally and from a professional point of view).

Has anyone of you gone through this specific programme already? Or do you know ways of contacting people who have done so?