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What combination should I do? Got combined law offer for 2014. So confused! (1 Viewer)

lau101

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Hi I deferred my offer of combined law at UNSW for a year, and I know I have until November to decide what I want to do law with, but im still so confused/undecisive. I want to work in a corporate law firm and be rich, but I also have a passion for language and international stuff, I guess I am torn between Commerce, economics, arts and international studies. I hear international studies is basically the same as what I can do with arts but with a year exchange so would this be worth it? Also I want a jobthat has a lot of employment opportunities and enjoy my time at university :) Thanks!
 

Sathius005

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You should do Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce because it is more rewarding and more enjoyable. I did International Studies sub major for my Bachelor of Business at the University of Technology, Sydney and hated every minute of it. In high school I was really passionate about French culture and wanted to work in France/ Europe. So before the census date I pulled out of the International Studies sub major. International Studies is really crappy and boring. If you want to work as a Corporate Lawyer you should do Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws.

B Com and LLB is really fun. You get to bargain, argue, mediate, agree and disagree. A great start for people who want to get a taste of business and legal principles. The classes are great because they demystify the perceived truths about your legal system and its impact on businesses.
 

Trans4M

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It honestly doesn't matter what degree you combine with. Just do what you will enjoy if law is what you want to practice. I actually know more Arts/Law than Commerce/Law students clerking at law firms.

If you are looking at job prospects, then it would be Commerce/Law. This combination allows you to find jobs in the legal and business sector e.g. Big 4 Accounting Firms, Big 4 Banks, Big 6 Law Firms etc

On a side note why do you want to work in a corporate law firm? Working in a corporate law firm does not necessarily mean you will be rich. You will only be rich if you make partner. If you are looking at being rich, barristers usually make more money. In fact if being rich is your answer, I will guarantee that no firm will recruit you, unless you have some connection.
 

lau101

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Well while being rich is part of it, it isn't the whole reason. I am also passionate about the economy and business, however these interests extend to other things too like international relations which is why I cant decide. I know money making is part of the reason for everyone whether they admit it or not. So you are saying I won't ever make it in a big firm because I have no connections? Where do commerce/law students typically do internships at? Thanks :)

It honestly doesn't matter what degree you combine with. Just do what you will enjoy if law is what you want to practice. I actually know more Arts/Law than Commerce/Law students clerking at law firms.

If you are looking at job prospects, then it would be Commerce/Law. This combination allows you to find jobs in the legal and business sector e.g. Big 4 Accounting Firms, Big 4 Banks, Big 6 Law Firms etc

On a side note why do you want to work in a corporate law firm? Working in a corporate law firm does not necessarily mean you will be rich. You will only be rich if you make partner. If you are looking at being rich, barristers usually make more money. In fact if being rich is your answer, I will guarantee that no firm will recruit you, unless you have some connection.
 

lawstu

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Depends on what you want.

If making money is heavy on your things wanted list, do a B.Comm. and stay away from law itself. Get a law degree if you want.

If you want to become an academic, a B.A. could be okay. Really depends on your law grades and what else you do and, again, what interests you.

If you want to possibly become a scientific researcher or understand the nature of things, you could do science. Lionel Murphy and Robert French did chemistry and physics, respectively, IIRC.

Other things are available. The world is your oyster, but you really have to think about this a little more and come to a decision by yourself. Good luck.
 

Trans4M

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Oh no i don't mean you can't get a clerkship at big law firms if you don't have connections. I meant it as if your answer to the question of why work at corporate law firm is being rich, you will not be given a clerkship unless you know like a partner or something.

Most of my friends in older years have no connections in the big law firms and they still get clerkships.

Most COmmerce/Law students do Investment Banking/Consulting. A lot of them do law just to make their degree look nice. However, you do have some doing clerkships as they genuinely enjoy law more.

Not sure if you know what a clerkship is but just incase, a clerkship is essentially a law internship.
 

lau101

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Oh no i don't mean you can't get a clerkship at big law firms if you don't have connections. I meant it as if your answer to the question of why work at corporate law firm is being rich, you will not be given a clerkship unless you know like a partner or something.

Most of my friends in older years have no connections in the big law firms and they still get clerkships.

Most COmmerce/Law students do Investment Banking/Consulting. A lot of them do law just to make their degree look nice. However, you do have some doing clerkships as they genuinely enjoy law more.

Not sure if you know what a clerkship is but just incase, a clerkship is essentially a law internship.
Thanks :) You have been very informative. I'm leaning towards commerce/law or international studies/law since I could do a major in a language and a minor in international business. Do you have any insight on this? I'm glad because I don't really have any connections.
 

lau101

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or even arts/law since I feel like ill be a granny by the time I finish university if I do a 6 year degree (i will be age 25) :O
 

Crobat

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Thanks :) You have been very informative. I'm leaning towards commerce/law or international studies/law since I could do a major in a language and a minor in international business. Do you have any insight on this? I'm glad because I don't really have any connections.
From what I've heard about international business as a major/minor is that it's generally unrecognised as it does not specialise in anything in particular where majors/minors like Accounting or Finance do. And in surfing the net a few months back I found that it was one of the majors that had higher unemployment rates by business/commerce graduates. That being said, I've also heard it's a great course and fun to learn though.

I would also take the Comm/LLB. While learning a language is 100% beneficial, if you are truly interested and passionate in it, then you should have no problems learning it on the side as a bit of extra-curricular, separate from your degree. I plan on starting to learn Mandarin (well re-learn in my case anyway :haha:) on the side of my Business/LLB degree soon. If you are diligent then it really shouldn't be a problem :)
 

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