Does the other degree in the double degree component matter? (1 Viewer)

[trevhk]

As most of you know, the preferences close on the 6th of January. However, I'm in a bit of dilemma over which degree I should combine law with. I have heard varying responses, with some saying that the other degree is almost decisive on the legal career that you will embark upon after graduation. Is this true? Will taking a commerce degree prohibit me from entering human rights and criminal advocacy? Vice versa if I took up arts and tried to enter into commercial law?

Your help is most appreciated.
Thankyou!

 

[chewy123]

It's not decisive on your career. The large number of different electives in law means that you can do either of those things you wanted to do, irrespective of what you combine law with. For example, you can pick law electives related to human rights, or law electives to do with commerce or taxation...etc..
Also, if after the first year of uni you think art is not for you, you can always transfer.

 

[flamearrows]

As most of you know, the preferences close on the 6th of January. However, I'm in a bit of dilemma over which degree I should combine law with. I have heard varying responses, with some saying that the other degree is almost decisive on the legal career that you will embark upon after graduation. Is this true? Will taking a commerce degree prohibit me from entering human rights and criminal advocacy? Vice versa if I took up arts and tried to enter into commercial law?

Your help is most appreciated.
Thankyou!

Your signature indicates that you've already made up your mind?

The second degree will have little impact on the area of law that you enter, but could have a major impact if you think you'd like to enter business - be that finance or accounting or whatever - rather than... uh, just law I guess.

 

[melsc]

Do the one that interests you, as has been said it makes little to no difference as your law electives will be where you can 'specialise' (as far as you can in an undergrad degree OR mix it up if whats what you want), none of the content you do in your non-law degree will have any legal perspective so its not all that relevant.

You'll have to be doing it for the first three years of the degree so you'll want to like it! Employers often like the idea of well rounded grads and there are so many com/law grads anyway.

 

[avant]

It won't matter a huge deal - best advice is to pick the secondary degree that you enjoy most. Everyone I know who studies law places less emphasis on the second degree - comm/law students from my experience spend about 1/2 the time on comm that they do on law; as an arts/law student, I can say that I literally spend about 10% as much time on my arts subjects as I do on my law subjects (sadly I still get better marks in arts).

You should know that some commercial firms will have a slight to moderate preference towards Comm/Law students, especially over Arts/Law students. However, I've been told that top tiers are more equitable in this regard. And by far the most important component is what law subjects you pick and which you do best in.

Certain plaintiff firms will have a moderate to strong preference towards Arts/Law students, but again your choice of law subjects and electives (later on in your degree) speaks volumes.

 

[avant]

I should note also that if you are interested in getting into a top 4 commerce firm or something like management consulting, then a Comm degree (with extremely good marks) will probably place you in best stead.

Also, if you are not particularly interested in another field, just do straight law. Nothing wrong with that, really. Some employers will prefer a 'more rounded' student but you can show this thru work experience and extra-curriculars.

Personally, all my Arts degree did for me was contribute $13,000 towards my HECS debt and waste 2 yrs of my life. Don't get me wrong, I loved the classes that I undertook; but I could have done that sort of study (politics, philosophy) in my free time through Project Gutenberg as a hobby.

 

[UAI30orless]

I should note also that if you are interested in getting into a top 4 commerce firm or something like management consulting, then a Comm degree (with extremely good marks) will probably place you in best stead.

Also, if you are not particularly interested in another field, just do straight law. Nothing wrong with that, really. Some employers will prefer a 'more rounded' student but you can show this thru work experience and extra-curriculars.

Personally, all my Arts degree did for me was contribute $13,000 towards my HECS debt and waste 2 yrs of my life. Don't get me wrong, I loved the classes that I undertook; but I could have done that sort of study (politics, philosophy) in my free time through Project Gutenberg as a hobby.

qft.

In fact, I'd go one step further and say that if you can demonstrate that you've taken part in extra-cirricular activities, it shows that you have a genuine academic curosity as it is voluntary and not forced like formal education is.

 

[bored at work]

For working in law it doesn't matter at all. It does make a difference if you're planning to work in other fields though.

 

[BOSnewbie]

I'd second that - when I did a clerkship at one of the top tier commercial law firms, I'd say about 80% of the seasonal clerks were Arts/Law students, with only a handful of Comm/Law students. A lot of the grads I met had done Arts/Law at uni too.

That said, I think Comm/Law is the way to go if you're indifferent between Arts and Commerce (as I would have been if not for the fact I believe Commerce opens far more doors from a vocational perspective). Science or Engineering are possible combinations too, but I imagine they would involve high contact hours and the people I know doing Science/Law and Engineering/Law hate their course and don't have sufficient time or energy to do well in both degrees

It won't matter a huge deal - best advice is to pick the secondary degree that you enjoy most. Everyone I know who studies law places less emphasis on the second degree - comm/law students from my experience spend about 1/2 the time on comm that they do on law; as an arts/law student, I can say that I literally spend about 10% as much time on my arts subjects as I do on my law subjects (sadly I still get better marks in arts).

You should know that some commercial firms will have a slight to moderate preference towards Comm/Law students, especially over Arts/Law students. However, I've been told that top tiers are more equitable in this regard. And by far the most important component is what law subjects you pick and which you do best in.

Certain plaintiff firms will have a moderate to strong preference towards Arts/Law students, but again your choice of law subjects and electives (later on in your degree) speaks volumes.

 

[Foodie]

Doing Arts in conjunction with Law will help fine tune your writing and argument-mapping skills, will probably succeed in giving you a more holistic outlook on the world, and most importantly, will provide you with much needed variety. Commerce and specifically a major in accounting, will turn you into a hapless drone w/ no personality.

Speaking personally, of course.

 

[rx34]

I think you should do arts if you prefer the 'human rights' areas. Don't just do commerce because all your mates are doing it, rather do arts because you have an actual interest in it.

 

[flamearrows]

Doing Arts in conjunction with Law will help fine tune your writing and argument-mapping skills, will probably succeed in giving you a more holistic outlook on the world, and most importantly, will provide you with much needed variety. Commerce and specifically a major in accounting, will turn you into a hapless drone w/ no personality.

Speaking personally, of course.

I'd like to think I've retained the vestiges of personality, but everyone I know would disagree. Hapless drone is going a little far though.

 

[Strawbaby]

I support much of what other have said and add that doing something that isn't arts or commerce could be a bonus in separating your CV a little from others'. I study Creative Arts/Law and people are always interested in what the former includes and what I want to do with it.