Hello. I just thought of butting in, without any invitation, to give my opinion about this topic (I am indeed a pain Ive got an opinion about everything). So, like Private Equity said before, Id stick to Cambridge especially cause youve managed to get into Cambridges most prestigious colleges. Cant do much better than that why leave this fantastic opportunity behind? Just because some people say Oxford is more prestigious? In my humble opinion, theres not much difference between the two and, unless youve got an offer from one of Oxfords best colleges, Id go through with Cambridge without second thoughts Dont forget one thing: Ive heard before people saying the Oxford Mjur is a real pain in the arse and youll have twice as more workload to do throughout the teaching year. Im not saying you shouldnt work hard and study (neither am I implying the LLM at Cambridge will be easy because it wont), but you cant leave all the fun outside. I reckon youll have more time to lark about and do nothing (just for the fun of it) at Cambridge than Oxford. I think its something to take into consideration when choosing where to go

In the UK, only the BCL is considered to be more prestigious than the Cambridge LLM. I've never heard people saying that Oxford was more prestigious than Cambridge overall, though I am sure there are countries that may prefer one over the other.
You have two excellent options. Flip a coin,

Thank you, Beicon
Hat-trick, no offence but be careful when you make these comments. I'll take you good wishes for my career - always useful. However, I am already on the investment committee of a USD 2 bil company (a subsidiary of an LSE-listed co). As mentioned before, need law knowledge for work, not planning to be one. Currently trying to read for exams and distract myself with something such as this website. I have given you an advice based on my experience in the business world and what we look for when hiring lawyers. Originality is crucial when you are leading teams - you cannot survive without originality when you are doing M & A deal or tax structuring. However, it will take to at least 15 years to get to this stage. At a lower level your employers will be looking for junior lawyers and associates who are accurate and punctual in their given work. Honestly, at this level your work will include basic drafting, checking contracts and lease agreements. Law firms are very afraid when people show too much originality at that stage as it is simply not required. Originality will mean one of two things (1) you will get bored easily with all this checking and will either leave or get distrusted and your work quality will suffer and (2) you will terrorise partners will your "new" ideas and they will have less time to devote to their main clients

Thank you, Beicon
Hat-trick, no offence but be careful when you make these comments. I'll take you good wishes for my career - always useful. However, I am already on the investment committee of a USD 2 bil company (a subsidiary of an LSE-listed co). As mentioned before, need law knowledge for work, not planning to be one. Currently trying to read for exams and distract myself with something such as this website. I have given you an advice based on my experience in the business world and what we look for when hiring lawyers. Originality is crucial when you are leading teams - you cannot survive without originality when you are doing M & A deal or tax structuring. However, it will take to at least 15 years to get to this stage. At a lower level your employers will be looking for junior lawyers and associates who are accurate and punctual in their given work. Honestly, at this level your work will include basic drafting, checking contracts and lease agreements. Law firms are very afraid when people show too much originality at that stage as it is simply not required. Originality will mean one of two things (1) you will get bored easily with all this checking and will either leave or get distrusted and your work quality will suffer and (2) you will terrorise partners will your "new" ideas and they will have less time to devote to their main clients

To be fair though, neither the MJur nor the Cambridge LLM is particularly original :)
Good luck on your exams Private Equity!

Giulia, this is for you
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/trinity-reclaims-place-as-top-cambridge-college-1744958.html

I've just been reading through the posts above - from my experience, almost everyone I know agrees that the BCL and MJur are more "prestigious" than the LLM at Cambridge. The BCL/MJur is generally perceived to be harder, more intense work than the LLM, and I have friends who have done both the LLM and BCL who would vouch for that. I have two friends currently on the LLM at Cambridge who have both said they would have chosen the BCL instead if given the opportunity. I get the impression that the LLM is less structured and less work. However, whether you go to Cambridge or to Oxford, you will be at one of the best universities in the world and it will put you in good stead for your career. I would look at the courses available and work out which suits you better, rather than worrying too much about prestige.

I think it also depends on your motivation in pursuing a BCL or LLM. I applied only to Cambridge, for two reasons. First, I am interested in transitioning from practice to academia and wanted the additional unstructured time to (1) write a LLM thesis that I can publish and (2) hopefully, prepare an additional paper for publication in my free time. To become an academic, you need publications that it is very difficult to prepare while practicing full-time (my current job routinely runs 12-16 hours per day). Second, I intend to concentrate in international law, for which Cambridge is particularly known and respected in my country. As much as I respect that the BCL is more rigorous/regimented, it doesn't suit my particular needs at this point.

On the other hand, it sounds as though the poster deciding between the MJur/LLM wants a credential useful for practice in the UK. It seems that they might consider not only (1) how London firms regard the two degrees in terms of "prestige" but (2) which degree will best prepare them to transfer from Italian to English legal practice in only a year. Perhaps a good way to research this is to look at the firms in which s/he's interested in practicing, see how many foreign trained lawyers they have hired, and how many studied at Oxford vs. Cambridge.

Hi everyone,

I have heard from a former BCL student that classes will sometimes run after the end of term. I'm looking at booking flights pretty soon and would like to head home to be with family over Christmas. Flights are cheaper in early December, but I wouldn't want to miss anything important. How safe should I play it? Would leaving on 8 December or so be okay, considering Michaelmas term ends on 4 December? What sort of subjects might be likely to run over into the holidays? Similarly, does anyone have insight on how early I should return before the start of the Hilary term on 16 Jan? Thanks - looking forward to meeting you soon!

Hi.

So I read the great debate on Oxbridge. How about Oxford v. Berkeley? I want to work in the US at some point of time but I cant just let go of Oxford. Does anyone know about career prospects in the US after reading for the BCL???

Study both.

If you want both badly go for both.

Knowledge is power.

anha

I'd plan to be in Oxford at least for the first part of 9th week, i.e., the week after term officially ends, as you may have some tutorials scheduled then. Same thing about 0 week for Hilary. I didn't have any lectures or seminars outside of term though and my professors were pretty accommodating with scheduling tutes.

Thanks Baltic_Avenue!

I can't believe this board is so dead so close to term starting! I suppose everyone is busy getting ready to make the big move - I know I feel like I'm being run off my feet.

Nevertheless, where is everyone - I can't be the only one feeling a bit confused and overwhelmed at times :)

If I could maybe get the ball rolling once more, does anyone know what happened to Comparative Human Rights?? I really had my heart set on this course, and it has quietly slipped off the list that we were first sent with our offer. I've only just noticed this. Being slightly obsessed, I checked and found that this was the only course omitted between that list and the one we were emailed a few weeks ago. Will Chris McCrudden be taking any other courses?

Hey..where have all the Cambridge LLM 2010 people disappeared???? Do we have a facebook group/ any other thread as well...Thanks

Hey..where have all the Cambridge LLM 2010 people disappeared???? Do we have a facebook group/ any other thread as well...Thanks

Hello people,
Giulia it seems that I have the same dilemma with you: I got offers both from Oxford and Cambridge and I've been admitted to Queen's at Cambridge.
I still don't know the Oxford college but I am inclined for there, because MJur is better for public law-philosophy of law issues,because Cambridge seems too "posh" for my underground qualities (I don't claim of course that Oxford is kind of that, but at least I will find some interesting spots/bars friends said), because it has a better reputation in Greece and all my greek professors are "in love" with MJur. However, I don't plan to stay and work in Greece, especially now with the crisis. I'd rather travel, work in the US, continue my PhD in the States. That's the plan=not a certain one. I am not the typical first class student, I just happen to enjoy studying in certain periods. I love acting and dancing and people told me that Oxford is ideal my "beyond-law" expectations.

I know that it may seem para-normal to you, since I see comments speaking about job planning-carrer building-scaring new ideas, but I love beeing free, reading whatever I like, working wherever my conscience permits, travelling with people, being in multi-tasking environments. I haven't still chosen my path, but I will go for Oxbridge, just for the experience of academic life there.

I couldn't agree more with Giulia: the courses seem a bit narrow, but I've been told that reputation is all in these cases (that it's why I declined LSE's offer). I understand that both are top ranking universities and there is not THAT difference between them, but if somebody could give me some additional details, I would be grateful.

I am interested in Coparative Public Law and International Environmental Law. Maybe Human Rights as well.

Thank you by heart.