Dear friends,the impression that I have got recently is that Oxford's BCL is superior to Cambridge's LLM. How true is that?

I think it really depends on who you speak to, and also what you want to go on to do afterwards.

I discussed precisely this quandary, prior to applying, with an emminent QC, who was of the opinion that, if your desire is to practise at the Bar, the BCL at Oxford is the *only* Masters course in Law worth pursuing. But such opinions may differ...

Thanks for your reply.

Why does BCL have an edge over Cambridge LLM?

I do not think Cambridge lags behind Oxford in any way or it would not be paired with Oxford as Oxbridge!

I don't think it comes down to Oxford versus Cambridge - it's likely more a case of the BCL versus the LLM. As you say, there's not much to choose between the two universities - and doesn't Cambridge out-perform Oxford, at least according to the league tables? But I was merely passing on what I was told. I imagine it may differ between practitioners, but a persual of various Chambers - particularly Commercial Sets - does seem to throw up the phrase "BCL (Oxon)" again and again.

Let me add a little flavor to this this topic from a German perspective.

It is common knowledge among German jurists and law firms that for German applicants the Oxford MJur is open only to students with grades of at least 9 points in their First State Exam. This GPA is achieved by about 10 % percent of the class.

The Cambridge LL.M. by comparison is open to students with at least 11.5 points in their First State Exam. 11.5 points are achieved by only just about 2 % of the class.

It is for this reason that German jurists and law firms consider the Cambridge LL.M. to be "better" than both the Oxford MJur and the Oxford BCL.

Why also the BCL?

Because the BCL is viewed as the equivalent of the MJur for students with a common law background. The reasoning, hence, is: If the LL.M. is better than the MJur it must also be better than the MJur's common law equivalent, the BCL.

This of course is not quite true. However, it is what pretty much everyone in Germany thinks.

Why?

Because Germany is a civil law country. Lawyers with a common law background simply do not exist.

Hence, all that ever comes onto the hiring partner's desk are MJurs and LL.M.s. And between those two the hiring partner will always choose the LL.M.

Unfair, but fact.

Let me add a little flavor to this this topic from a German perspective.

It is common knowledge among German jurists and law firms that for German applicants the Oxford MJur is open only to students with grades of at least 9 points in their First State Exam. This GPA is achieved by about 10 % percent of the class.

The Cambridge LL.M. by comparison is open to students with at least 11.5 points in their First State Exam. 11.5 points are achieved by only just about 2 % of the class.

It is for this reason that German jurists and law firms consider the Cambridge LL.M. to be "better" than both the Oxford MJur and the Oxford BCL.

Why also the BCL?

Because the BCL is viewed as the equivalent of the MJur for students with a common law background. The reasoning, hence, is this: If the LL.M. is better than the MJur it must also be better than the MJur's common law equivalent, the BCL.

This of course is not quite true. However, it is what pretty much everyone in Germany thinks.

Why?

Because Germany is a civil law country. Lawyers with a common law background simply do not exist.

Hence, all that ever comes onto the hiring partner's desk are MJurs and LL.M.s. And between those two the hiring partner will always choose the LL.M.

Unfair, but fact.

Let me add a little flavor to this this topic from a German perspective.

It is common knowledge among German jurists and law firms that for German applicants the Oxford MJur is open only to students with grades of at least 9 points in their First State Exam. This GPA is achieved by about 10 % percent of the class.

The Cambridge LL.M. by comparison is open to students with at least 11.5 points in their First State Exam. 11.5 points are achieved by only just about 2 % of the class.

It is for this reason that German jurists and law firms consider the Cambridge LL.M. to be "better" than both the Oxford MJur and the Oxford BCL.

I thought I should throw in my two cents.

The question of "which is better" simpliciter is, in my opinion, the wrong question to ask. The question you should be asking is which degree is better for *you* in the light of your interests. Cambridge is where I would go if I were interested in international law. Oxford is where I would go if I were interested in jurisprudence and private law remedies. (Obviously I have omitted many topics, but you get the idea. Do the research.)

If, however, you are motivated by brand image and hiring prospects, then you might instead ask "which degree commands more respect *in my jurisdiction*". Certainly, I accept what Eppendorf said in respect of Germany. I suspect the same position is so in all European civil law jurisdictions. However, the opposite is true if you are from the UK or Australia (and, of course, some other common law jurisdictions other than the US), where the BCL is seen as finishing school for top barristers. You might also want to consider the fact that, to some, BCL will need explanation: why is it called a Bachelor? Why is it in Civil Law? The same problem will not exist for the LLM.

That being said, you are, at the end of the day, trying to compare two of the best law master programs in the world. Whilst you may have a preference for one over the other (though it seems like you do not), you will not go wrong with either one.

I thought I should throw in my two cents.

The question of "which is better" simpliciter is, in my opinion, the wrong question to ask. The question you should be asking is which degree is better for *you* in the light of your interests. Cambridge is where I would go if I were interested in international law. Oxford is where I would go if I were interested in jurisprudence and private law remedies. (Obviously I have omitted many topics, but you get the idea. Do the research.)

If, however, you are motivated by brand image and hiring prospects, then you might instead ask "which degree commands more respect *in my jurisdiction*". Certainly, I accept what Eppendorf said in respect of Germany. I suspect the same position is so in all European civil law jurisdictions. However, the opposite is true if you are from the UK or Australia (and, of course, some other common law jurisdictions other than the US), where the BCL is seen as finishing school for top barristers. You might also want to consider the fact that, to some, BCL will need explanation: why is it called a Bachelor? Why is it in Civil Law? The same problem will not exist for the LLM.

That being said, you are, at the end of the day, trying to compare two of the best law master programs in the world. Whilst you may have a preference for one over the other (though it seems like you do not), you will not go wrong with either one.

I thought I should throw in my two cents.

The question of "which is better" simpliciter is, in my opinion, the wrong question to ask. The question you should be asking is which degree is better for *you* in the light of your interests. Cambridge is where I would go if I were interested in international law. Oxford is where I would go if I were interested in jurisprudence and private law remedies. (Obviously I have omitted many topics, but you get the idea. Do the research.)

If, however, you are motivated by brand image and hiring prospects, then you might instead ask "which degree commands more respect *in my jurisdiction*". Certainly, I accept what Eppendorf said in respect of Germany. I suspect the same position is so in all European civil law jurisdictions. However, the opposite is true if you are from the UK or Australia (and, of course, some other common law jurisdictions other than the US), where the BCL is seen as finishing school for top barristers. You might also want to consider the fact that, to some, BCL will need explanation: why is it called a Bachelor? Why is it in Civil Law? The same problem will not exist for the LLM.

That being said, you are, at the end of the day, trying to compare two of the best law master programs in the world. Whilst you may have a preference for one over the other (though it seems like you do not), you will not go wrong with either one.

Thank you for your reply.
Which of these 2 commands more respect in the US?

Thank you for your reply.
Which of these 2 commands more respect in the US?

I thought I should throw in my two cents.

The question of "which is better" simpliciter is, in my opinion, the wrong question to ask. The question you should be asking is which degree is better for *you* in the light of your interests. Cambridge is where I would go if I were interested in international law. Oxford is where I would go if I were interested in jurisprudence and private law remedies. (Obviously I have omitted many topics, but you get the idea. Do the research.)

If, however, you are motivated by brand image and hiring prospects, then you might instead ask "which degree commands more respect *in my jurisdiction*". Certainly, I accept what Eppendorf said in respect of Germany. I suspect the same position is so in all European civil law jurisdictions. However, the opposite is true if you are from the UK or Australia (and, of course, some other common law jurisdictions other than the US), where the BCL is seen as finishing school for top barristers. You might also want to consider the fact that, to some, BCL will need explanation: why is it called a Bachelor? Why is it in Civil Law? The same problem will not exist for the LLM.

That being said, you are, at the end of the day, trying to compare two of the best law master programs in the world. Whilst you may have a preference for one over the other (though it seems like you do not), you will not go wrong with either one.

Thank you for your reply.
Which of these 2 commands more respect in the US?

Dear friend,

Many thanks for your valuable advice.