I don't mean to sound really stupid but this probably will sound dumb. What is the difference between an MA and a LLM. I am applying for the LLM in human rights at warwick but came across the MA at UCL a bit confused? having a blonde moment can anyone help?

The difference is that an LL.M. always is a LEGAL degree, while the MA isn´t necessarily legal. Of course you can get a Master of Arts with a focus on law too, but you have to consider that people won´t automatically see that you have a legal education when you have an MA behind your name. Plus, speaking for Germany, the LL.M. degree is getting more and more known and spread here, but I bet that all I would get with an MA would be blank stares. I´d say that you should choose the LL.M. over the MA for sure.

I would take a different view.

Yes, LLM gives you immediate recognition as a legal degree-but the truth is that whether you are applying an academic legal job or legal PhD or for a job with a law firm-any student with a legally based MA rather than LLM will be able to demonstrate on his/her CV that the MA is legally based.

For example, if anyone wanted to do a PhD at City in competition law and had a heading in his/her CV "MA (Substantially in Competition Law)" I would not be prejudiced I would be interested-the same goes if a Partner were recruiting for a competition law department of a law firm. What we are interested in is what you have really done-not the badge!

Dr. Alan Riley
Director LLM Programme
City Law School
Electronic Mail: alan.riley.1@city.ac.uk

Thanks for your replies i will be doing the LLM. Already have the LLB and not BA so continue the trend and go for the legal masters.

I agree, Dr. Riley, that for academic purposes a legal MA will weigh just as much as an LL.M. My statement was more focusing on the value the degree will have in the law job market... Even though both degrees can be equal having an LL.M. will do better there.

Good luck for your applications, shaz!

Shaz is your BA a LLB? If so then choose LLM for sure, but otherwise there is a special MA program suitable for you. The MA provided by Bristol, although takes 2 years rather than 1, counts as a master and a LLB.

MY BA is a LLB? Thanks i will do the LLM. Found a realli good course at Warwick but it is expensive can anyone tell me what there rep is like ect... am going to see it next week sometime. thanks again

You simply need to read through this whole thread:
http://www.llm-guide.com/board/8826

Thanks for that. What about UCE in Birmingham they have a really good LLM in Human Rights with an Amercian and European Pathway and placement opportunities only i think they are 37th for law and warwick is 12th.

Warwicks LLM in Human Rights is more academic, UCE is more hands on - more opportunties for placements and Claire Short is setting up a centre to re-open asylum cases on the grounds of Human rights at UCE.

It all sounds good but they dont have the Rep that Warwcik do or do they? would people consider a LLM from Warwick and UCE as equal?

Hello everybody! I can't get myself to make a decision so I hope some of you will be able to help. I have received an offer for both an LLM at the University of Kent and an MA in International Conflict Analysis. I completed my LLB at Kent and I am confident that I want to qualify as a lawyer, and will be hopefully completing my LPC next year. If I were to choose the LLM, in two years time my title would be LLB, LLM, LLM-LPC, which looks really boring and too straightforward in my opinion. The MA in a politics related field feels like a way to diversify, broaden my interests and learn something different. Also, I always hope I will be able to work for an NGO or an organisation like the UN sometime in the future and I think this could potentially help a lot. LLB, MA, LLM-LPC definitely sounds better doesn't it? Please share your opinions!!!