Having undertaken a number of short courses and attended a number of seminars in my specialist areas, I came to the conclusion that short courses, seminars and self-driven research can only take you so far.
Formal study at a university offers a variety of different benefits (and a few drawbacks), which I will cover in my next post. For now, I would like to explain why I decided that this was the right way to move forward in my career.
I have been considering gaining a qualification in Law for a while but it wasn't until I attended my sister's graduation last year that I found the right course for me. The International Law, Globalisation and Development course at Oxford Brookes had everything I was looking for - a high-quality taught course at a renowned university, impressive access to resources and range of modules in subjects areas I specialise in or would like to specialise in in the future. An hour commute from home and it was decided. But why consider another degree in the first place?
Formal study at a university offers access to expertise. Expertise not only in the form of your lecturers, but also in the form of visiting lecturers and speakers, industry partnerships and the library with its own subject-specialist librarians. I am also currently benefiting from access to the vast treasures of the Bodleian Library, including its Law Library. This may not get most people's hearts racing, but linguists are a funny sort!
Secondly, I am a firm believer that how you think critically about ideas and arguments - as well as how you approach a problem - is just as important as what you know. Online courses teach you how to manage your own learning and decide which tasks should be prioritised, seminars teach you to think critically and quickly lest you miss your opportunity to discuss an elusive point, and self-study teaches methodical progress, research skills and independent thinking. For me, a formal university course teaches all of these, plus how to discuss problems and ideas at length, critically with peers from a range of backgrounds.
Thirdly, if life were easy, it would get boring very quickly. I enjoy challenges and I love learning, so a high-intensity LLM was a logical choice. Like any challenge, studying part-time comes with ups and downs but on balance I believe it is worth the commitment.
Finally, formal study - all being well - grants you a qualification. This is not only a bonus for your sense of personal achievement but it allows you to prove to clients and potential employers that you have skills and knowledge that others may only claim. A recognised qualification may give you access to more interesting work, better revenue sources or other areas of employment. It is a personal and professional asset worth working for.
(In case you are interested:)
Semester 1 - Completed
I was concerned about not coming from a formal law background, but I was soon reassured. The range of people on course, from so many disciplines and countries, was fantastic. I was very keen to get to know everyone, to learn with them and to understand their different perspectives.
International Law
History and foundations of the current international legal system
Principles and sources of international law
Main areas and
Advanced Legal Research Methods (Affectionately know as Alarm!)
How to research international law, from library resources to blogs
Types of sources and choosing between them
Structuring a response to a legal question
Referencing (*shudder*)
Semester 2 - Just started
Law, Globalisation and Development
A multidisciplinary consideration of how the fields of law, globalisation and development influence and interact with each other
International Refugees and Migrants
History of migration patterns, influences and the development of the law surrounding refugees and migrants, again multidisciplinary
Semester 4/5 - TBC (Human Rights and/or Corporate Social Responsibility)
Next Entry: The Pros and Cons
