Hello guys, i just signed up here with high hopes that i will finally have found a place where i can get help/advise.

I'm from Malaysia & been working for 5 years not related to Law, but somehow recently I've been thinking about studying Law. I always felt knowing law gives an advantage whether it's related to work or life, and always though one can just study law by reading all the law books & constitutions one can find, but for the past few years i never managed to achieve it. I want to study Law for the sake of knowledge and less about qualifications & becoming a lawyer as in my country i lack certain important criteria (A Levels) to sit for bar exams.

So far the i've only heard of University of London External LLM (100% Exam) & Northumbria University Law School (100% course work), their fees seems reasonable, am hoping you guys out there can recommend me other good programs from other universities in UK & Aussie with fees similiar to these 2 (approx 5000pound).

I only have a UK degree in engineering it seems if i go for London Ex LLM i may need to start from a diploma as looking at their entry requirements it's either LLB or 5 years working exp in related field (i'd assume law).

I've heard that London Ex LLB exams have pretty high standards & passrate are lower compared to 80% rate for London LLM, just wondering are the subjects in LLM easier than LLB, since they study 1 subject (4 sections) each semester as oppose to 4 subjects a year in LLB.

I personally would appreciate coursework + exams compared to 100% of either.

I'm more interested in subjects related more towards commercial:
1.Contract Law
2.Tax Law
3.Company Law
4.Commercial Law

5.Trust Law
6.Financial & Investment Law
7.International Trade Law
8.Criminal Law

I know most of these subjects are covered in LLB courses, which i was initially thinking about London LLB as we have fulltime/parttime classes held here & it covers wider range of subjects, but apart from entry requirements & me not qualified to sit for bar exams, the tight 3 years schedule of 4 subjects a year with only 1 100% exam held in June really held me back from taking the course as from what i was told even full timers have problem not having sufficient time to prepare for studies .

So guys please help me out here as time is running short to make a decision. I'm really keen on learning

Comparing LLB and LLM is comparing apples and oranges.
LLB is an undergraduate degree, that will give you profound knowledge of domestic law issues and is required if you want to proceed to become a lawyer.

Studying for an LLM Degree, without holding an undergraduate degree in law will not give you a sufficient legal knowledge to do anything similar, to what a lawyer does. You will gain a very limited superficial knowledge about particular law areas.