I joined this platform a few weeks ago and since then I am observing the correspondence and views expressed with interest. I must tell that I am very surprised with some of the comments made. I see lots of foreign students expressing concerns as to the reputation of law schools and making decisions purely on that. Well I was one of them last year and chose to go to Southampton to do my maritime law llm. Let me tell you one thing: what you read on the School website is very far from reality. When I arrived in September, I discovered that Professor Charles Debatista who is a very big name left the Law School- that was not mentioned on the web-site. I also soon discovered that Professor Merkin teaches only 2 weeks in the LLM programme as he is a research professor- there was no reference to that in the web-site. I also learnt from other students that Professor Gasskel who founded maritime at Southampton left the School a few years ago. I ended up taking lectures in key subjects from someone I had never heard about before. I also read comments from people saying go to Bristol or UCL for maritime law as they have good reputation. True UCL has a very good reputation in philosophy of law and Bristol likewise in feminist studies and social studies but do these people know how many maritime/trade lecturers professors exist in Bristol or UCL- not many is the answer as I have friends doing LLMs in those places. All I am saying is that dont be fooled like I was with websites and rankings! Does anyone commenting here know the fact that all rankings published in Newspapers such as Times and Guardian the essential data is obtained from undergraduate courses? I learned all these after I came here. I hope I can help some of you by sharing my disappointment. Be smart and choose a ppace where there is a vibrant environ,ment and people do not live on reputations. Choose somewhere where you will learn a lot. Rankings give you a general idea but no one can claim that Cambridge is the best place for transport law studies! Good luck my friends

Good point !

I do not know anything about this particular university, but the scheme sounds familiar to me....

In my opinion a good library might sometimes be better than a bunch of high reputed lecturers from whom you may only catch a glimpse every now and again - because they are too important or busy and do not bother about intern. postgrads....

Can someone comment on the LLM for Environmental law in QM. I have an offer there and considering that or their banking and regulation course. Thanks

I have commented elsewhere that what Linyin84 says about the three named professors at Southampton above is entirely made up. What is said about the current teaching schedule of prof Merkin demonstrates that s/he is not a student at Soton, and what is said about prof Debattista shows that s/he was not a student last year. If you want details, please read my other post or contact me directly. One way or another, don't believe everything you read. Some of it is half truths but some of it is actually completely false.

I have an offer for an LLM in Maritime Law from Southampton. I am considering not to accept it as my friends who are doing the Masters in Southampton this year have told me that two of the big professors have left Southampton (Gaskell and Debattista-it must be true as they are not on the School's website) and that courses are taught by young lecturers.