KCL v. LSE for EU Law


Hello. I am a Canadian law student, trying to decide between KCL and LSE. My interests are European Union law and international private law. Personally, I am leaning toward KCL - the program seeks stronger and it is less expensive. However, my parents are pressuring me to accept the offer from LSE because of it's strong reputation here in Canada. Can anyone offer some advice? Does LSE really have a much stronger reputation, and is this reputation justified? Any help would be much appreciated!

Hello. I am a Canadian law student, trying to decide between KCL and LSE. My interests are European Union law and international private law. Personally, I am leaning toward KCL - the program seeks stronger and it is less expensive. However, my parents are pressuring me to accept the offer from LSE because of it's strong reputation here in Canada. Can anyone offer some advice? Does LSE really have a much stronger reputation, and is this reputation justified? Any help would be much appreciated!
quote
C.Miller

LSE does seem to receive a lot of recognition in North America, but I'm coming from a student recruitment perspective, rather than an employer's perspective, so I can't say if that transfers in to employment market too.

I'm not giving an answer directly here but a few more question may help you to arrive at your own decision...?

Do you want to work in Canada when you graduate, or somewhere in Europe? If the latter, then it matters less about the perception in Canada...

Are LSE and KCL top-rated for their experience in European Law, or are their other areas of law stronger?

What are your recruitment prospects in Canada? Where do you want to work? Do you need to rely on recognition of powerful brand names in your CV to get an interview?

What course offers the most interesting programme to you?

Which programme has the strongest academic profiles?

Which has the strongest research rating (RAE 5 or 5*)?

Are your parents funding your place on either programme?

What are your reasons for preferring KCL? "programme seeks stronger" I don't understand. "less expensive" is understandable. Are there other reasons?

Sorry for all the questions and answers to none, but hopefully they may help you see some real differences between the two institutions that will assist you in making your mind up (and persuading your parents one way or the other?)

Good luck.

Colin.

LSE does seem to receive a lot of recognition in North America, but I'm coming from a student recruitment perspective, rather than an employer's perspective, so I can't say if that transfers in to employment market too.

I'm not giving an answer directly here but a few more question may help you to arrive at your own decision...?

Do you want to work in Canada when you graduate, or somewhere in Europe? If the latter, then it matters less about the perception in Canada...

Are LSE and KCL top-rated for their experience in European Law, or are their other areas of law stronger?

What are your recruitment prospects in Canada? Where do you want to work? Do you need to rely on recognition of powerful brand names in your CV to get an interview?

What course offers the most interesting programme to you?

Which programme has the strongest academic profiles?

Which has the strongest research rating (RAE 5 or 5*)?

Are your parents funding your place on either programme?

What are your reasons for preferring KCL? "programme seeks stronger" I don't understand. "less expensive" is understandable. Are there other reasons?

Sorry for all the questions and answers to none, but hopefully they may help you see some real differences between the two institutions that will assist you in making your mind up (and persuading your parents one way or the other?)

Good luck.

Colin.
quote
JKS

I went to the LSE. I now work outside the UK. Forget King's unless you plan to stay in the UK where King's still means something. The LSE's reputation has opened many doors. for me. Most people that I know that went to King's had mixed feelings. Maybe this has changed. The LSE, though, can be a hard place for some to fit in.

I went to the LSE. I now work outside the UK. Forget King's unless you plan to stay in the UK where King's still means something. The LSE's reputation has opened many doors. for me. Most people that I know that went to King's had mixed feelings. Maybe this has changed. The LSE, though, can be a hard place for some to fit in.
quote
sanjopanza

I'd choose LSE. I am about to finish at LSE as an undergrad. I studied EU Law last year. The course, taught by the excellent Prof Damien Chalmers, was very stimulating and challenging, and I am sure postgrad courses would be even more so. If you do Competition Law you'll have Prof Giorgio Monti, who taught my tort lectures in the first year - he has a very sharp mind and explains things with exceptionally clarity. European Administrative Law is taught by Prof Carol Harlow, a leader in the admin law field, and also I believe one course is taught by Prof Trevor Hartley, who I believe is a powerhouse in EU Law.

Reputation and job prospects are very important things, but additionally from the standpoint of academic quality I certainly vouch for the LSE in this subject area. I've not got any experience of King's so this is not a comparison of relative strength.

I'd choose LSE. I am about to finish at LSE as an undergrad. I studied EU Law last year. The course, taught by the excellent Prof Damien Chalmers, was very stimulating and challenging, and I am sure postgrad courses would be even more so. If you do Competition Law you'll have Prof Giorgio Monti, who taught my tort lectures in the first year - he has a very sharp mind and explains things with exceptionally clarity. European Administrative Law is taught by Prof Carol Harlow, a leader in the admin law field, and also I believe one course is taught by Prof Trevor Hartley, who I believe is a powerhouse in EU Law.

Reputation and job prospects are very important things, but additionally from the standpoint of academic quality I certainly vouch for the LSE in this subject area. I've not got any experience of King's so this is not a comparison of relative strength.
quote
lion

I got in LSE & Cornell without scholarship.Which would be the better option?

I got in LSE & Cornell without scholarship.Which would be the better option?
quote

I went to the LSE. I now work outside the UK. Forget King's unless you plan to stay in the UK where King's still means something. The LSE's reputation has opened many doors. for me. Most people that I know that went to King's had mixed feelings. Maybe this has changed. The LSE, though, can be a hard place for some to fit in.


Man, we have had this discussion already, see the blog http://www.llm-guide.com/board/24010/2

That blogs discusses this topic in length.

Here i'll just summarise a few points on this KCL v LSE debate:

1. LSE does have a better internatioanal reputation than KCL overall. That's not because KCL is a bad school, in fact it's a great school, rather that LSE focuses on areas such as politics and economic that transcends international boundaries, unlike KCL which is a multi-faculty university.

2. The thread asks which is better in EU law: well as mentioned in the previous blogs KCL, in this field, I personally think, is better. You have EU law professors in KCL who also teach at the College of Europe and who are practictioners in the big law firms in both London and Brussels.

3. Don't take my word for it have a look at Brussels law firms website and see whether people received their LLM in EU law from LSE or KCL.

4. I am not trying to suggest that KCL is better than LSE or vice versa generally! All I'm suggesting is that when it comes to EU law KCL has the edge.

5. To JKS's arrogant remarks that King's does not mean anything outside of the UK. For your information, I am right now sat in my 25th floor office overviewing the city of BRUSSELS (which is outside the UK) working for the leading law firm in EU Law. Not bad for someone who graduated from a univeristy that does not mean anything!

Hope this helps!

<blockquote>I went to the LSE. I now work outside the UK. Forget King's unless you plan to stay in the UK where King's still means something. The LSE's reputation has opened many doors. for me. Most people that I know that went to King's had mixed feelings. Maybe this has changed. The LSE, though, can be a hard place for some to fit in.</blockquote>

Man, we have had this discussion already, see the blog http://www.llm-guide.com/board/24010/2

That blogs discusses this topic in length.

Here i'll just summarise a few points on this KCL v LSE debate:

1. LSE does have a better internatioanal reputation than KCL overall. That's not because KCL is a bad school, in fact it's a great school, rather that LSE focuses on areas such as politics and economic that transcends international boundaries, unlike KCL which is a multi-faculty university.

2. The thread asks which is better in EU law: well as mentioned in the previous blogs KCL, in this field, I personally think, is better. You have EU law professors in KCL who also teach at the College of Europe and who are practictioners in the big law firms in both London and Brussels.

3. Don't take my word for it have a look at Brussels law firms website and see whether people received their LLM in EU law from LSE or KCL.

4. I am not trying to suggest that KCL is better than LSE or vice versa generally! All I'm suggesting is that when it comes to EU law KCL has the edge.

5. To JKS's arrogant remarks that King's does not mean anything outside of the UK. For your information, I am right now sat in my 25th floor office overviewing the city of BRUSSELS (which is outside the UK) working for the leading law firm in EU Law. Not bad for someone who graduated from a univeristy that does not mean anything!

Hope this helps!
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