Posted Mar 11, 2012 15:48
Dear all,
I have been admitted to both Oxford MLF and Cambridge MCL. Therefore, I have to choose between one of these two programs by March 23rd.
This is a difficult choice for me, since both programs are strong and very attractive. Additionally, since I am interested in business law in general, these two programs fit my plans very well.
I would appreciate if you could share your thoughts/ideas on this matter.
Thank you in advance.
Best Regards.
Posted Mar 17, 2012 22:32
hi there...in a similar (if not the same) boat... have to chose between the MCL and BCL...have you decided?
Posted Mar 17, 2012 22:43
I havent decided yet. I have until next Friday to make up my mind.
In reality, I have to choose between MCL, MLF and MJur. At the moment, I think that I will choose MJur for three main reasons:
1) I can take only corporate oriented courses plus a dissertation;
2) the course it is a bit more flexible than MCL and MLF; and
3) I think that I can benefit a lot form tutorials.
What are you considering?
Posted Mar 18, 2012 04:13
MCL is designed to become the most elite legal course in the UK and one of the top courses in the world. It is too early to talk about the future but I feel like you should think twice before you decide. If you would like to pursue your career as a corporate lawyer, Cambridge is the place to be.
Also see the most recent ranking based on reputation (which is relevant for student that will practice law in int law firms). Cambridge is the most reputable university in Europe and the UK. http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2012/03/14/the-worlds-most-reputable-universities/
Posted Mar 18, 2012 14:30
still thinking...I have time till April 1 for paying the MCL reservation fee.
Beshem, any particular reasons for saying, "If you would like to pursue your career as a corporate lawyer, Cambridge is the place to be"?
Posted Mar 18, 2012 16:39
pardon the interruption guys, I just wanted to mention that everytime I see the world MLF i think about another one.
have a nice day
Posted Mar 20, 2012 16:15
Beshem, I agree that MCL is a great program for corporate lawyers, but what do you think of it for a wanna-be academic still in the field of corporate and commercial law? Is it worth in your opinion to choose over Oxford offering tutorials which are of particular value from an academic point of view?
Posted Mar 20, 2012 16:41
If you think that a master course will improve so much that you will eventually become a high calibre scholarly type student, sorry but this is just not the case. You have to see it as a transition phase between the undergraduate studies and the Ph.D. Or it is supposed to constitute a very basic introduction to the legal practice. It is a phase where you need to discover the area that you like or cultivate an interest in a particular legal discipline. Since I characterise it as an intermediary device, I think the tutorial system is a little exaggerated. Of course, it has impressive merits as a system. However, it is more suitable for an undergraduate study than a postgraduate study.
We can go into more detail but maybe not so necessary. So briefly, I recommend that you go for a school with great reputation. If you cannot decide between two universities with great reputation, then check the academic staff in the particular area that you are interested.
The reason why I recommended "MCL" is because I closely followed how much significance the Faculty of Law attaches to this course and that they wanted to establish the most elite legal programme in the UK. Cambridge has the strongest links with Harvard Law School and "MCL" will benefit from this link by including academics from Harvard to teach for the programme on a regular basis. Likewise, The Corporate Law team at the Faculty of Law also has strong links with the Judge Business School which will support the programme continuously. I guess it is not necessary to mention how good the academic team is. In addition to Ferran and Cheffins, the Faculty's expertise in this area has been reinforced by the arrival of Jodie Kirshner and Prof Sarah Worthington.
Posted Mar 20, 2012 19:27
Hi Corplaw. I think you have to be careful in comparing the two programmes. While from a distance they might look similar (and in some ways they are) they differ in significant ways and once a full understanding of the differences are appreciated then hopefully the decision about which course suits your particular needs will be easier. I did some research into both and this is my understanding of the courses
With the MLF you are a full and proper member of the Oxford business school (Said). What this means is that apart from having access to the business school's alumni, recruiting events etc. you are taught by professors and teachers from the school. If you study the MLF, I believe you are taught financial economics, financial accounting and two separate finance classes. The course content, teachers, exams etc. are the exact same as if you studied the modules under the MBA course at Said. No law is taught in these classes meaning you have a pure and full understanding of finance, economics, accounting on their own. MLF students going for jobs in these areas therefore have exactly the same knowledge/understanding of the area etc. as if they had done an MBA. This compromises half of the MLF programme and has nothing to do with law.
The other half of the MLF course is indeed made up of law subjects (which you have a choice and are mixed in with BCL students - with tutorials seminars etc etc) and the MLF 'deals' course. As I understand it, the deals course and some of the Finance related BCL courses do not start until the second term (although most run through all terms) to allow the MLF students get a base and understanding of accounting/finance/economics. As I understand it, the students are then encouraged to not just look at problems/ regulation/deals/ contracts in the financial world from a legal view but from both a detailed finance/economics understanding as well.
From what I could find out when researching the Cambridge MCL is however very much focused on law and there is no link with the Cambridge business school. An optional module in an introduction to finance/accounting is available but I can't see how it could compare to four MBA courses taught by business school professors. The cambridge 'deals' course also seems to run from the start so perhaps some finance/economic/accounting knowledge is assimilated through that?
As for the 'law' elements of the two courses, it seems that there must be more law in the cambridge one. As to which is the better l'law' quality, as im sure you know yourself that debate is as old as the hills, but it seems the consensus at the moment is Cambridge for international/public law and Oxford for private law but in reality they are both exceptional law university's.
I did a lot of research into both courses including contacting a former student of the MLF and this is where my knowledge comes from. I applied to both but alas got accepted at neither but there is always next year. If I had been accepted to both however I would have chosen the MLF in a heart beat. The opportunity to combine my residual knowledge of law with a detailed knowledge of finance is very tempting and would be absolutely fantastic for going into a corporate law firm (law firms love people who have detailed finance knowledge) or interdisciplinary academia in the field of any type of finance and law or corporate law etc. But I am sure whichever institution you will choose you will have an amazing education and year and perhaps if I had spoken to a student who studied the MCL (although obviously impossible!) they would have been as enthusiastic as the Oxford student and maybe I would think differently. Indeed im sure whichever course you do employment wont be a problem afterwards.
So in summary from my understanding; Cambridge course very much a law masters with concentration on legal rules/theory applied to financial 'deals', the Oxford course to give you a separate interdisciplinary knowledge and it is only in later terms that the two are merged ('deals' course etc.)
Hope this helps and best of luck in your decision. I hope I will be as lucky as you next year!
Posted Mar 22, 2012 13:50
As posted above, both programs are indeed completely different. I am myself a lawyer and member of the recruitment team of our firm and last year we have recruited an MLF student. The Oxford MLF program is NOT an LL.M., it is an M.Sc. (Master of Science) as it contains a very large portion of finance classes. If you are interested in corporate finance as a lawer, this program is unique in the world. You indeed take your classes at the Said Business School. The program is supposed to be great, with tons of guest lectures from professors of other business and law schools (most notably Columbia, Harvard and Stanford).
All depends on what you are interested in and whether you would be prepared to take on non-law courses with serious mathematical requirements. Also this program offers you a lot of opportunities in the jobmarket apart from law firms or legal counsel jobs.
Posted Mar 07, 2014 01:25
Hi,
Any of you guys now in employment after doing the MLF or MCL in the UK or Europe?. I have offers for both, but due to my financial circumstances I want to pick the one which creates the most opportunities. In terms of previous experience, I'm a corporate lawyer at the Takeovers Panel in NZ for the last two years, a market regulator of M&A transactions (like the London Panel) and I've spent time at a boutique public law firm started by a former Prime Minister of New Zealand.
Any advice is appreciated!
Thanks
Posted Nov 17, 2014 02:58
Hi guys,
Does anyone know whether the MCL and BCL require academic transcripts of undergraduate study if you are a graduate law student (Juris Doctor)?
Posted Apr 12, 2018 17:55
Googled and found this thread. Any new insights on the MLF vs MCL debate?
Thank you in advance!
Posted Apr 12, 2018 22:48
Hi guys,
Does anyone know whether the MCL and BCL require academic transcripts of undergraduate study if you are a graduate law student (Juris Doctor)?
[Edited by Mombastic on Apr 12, 2018]
Posted Apr 13, 2018 09:13
The Faculty requires your undergraduate transcript before admitting you to any Master's course. No exception.
Article Sep 04, 2018
To keep up to speed in today’s fast-changing world, LL.M. programs are adapting their finance curriculums to reflect updated needs.
