Lawyers vs. Accountants (1 Viewer)

[Baiku]

How much of the "real" law is seen in the "Commerce-Law" subjects? ie- Business Law, Corporations Law?

At Monash Commerce/Law is basically...
7 core Commerce unit then a major in a commerce unit.
Regular Law degree minus a few elective units.

So basically, even though I'm doing Commerce/Law - I could still be an Accountant at the end of it if I did CPA/CA, or a lawyer if I did articles. I still do criminal law, constitutional law, etc.

 

[turtleface]

Although admittedly from what I've seen Business Law subjects are very superficial and overview-ish, its not like LLB subjects are much better. Just cause I do the 2 contract subjects (for example) still does not give me much more contract knowledge than an accounting student. I'd have to actually work in that field to get any meaningful knowledge/understanding of that area of law.

The law is so complicated that even a LLB does not mean "you have a good working knowledge of the law". Its rather like what jasee was talking about, i.e. learning about the sort of legal issues that exist...whats gone on etc.

no, a generalist business law subject would not give you the 'general' skills in relation to business law. 99.9% of the time, the business would need to look to a lawyer, not an existing non-lawyer employee, for legal advice.

To be more specific, they'd look for a lawyer that specialises in that area. A simple LLB grad would know next to nothing about specific legal issues.

 

[Omnidragon]

I'm surprised you take this view of contracts, turtleface.

I personally found it quite applicable. I wasn't an expert or anything... but having learnt about misrep, unconscionable dealing etc and contingency clauses, I felt like I could relate to a lot of things.

I guess it also depends on your background tho. My family is involved in a lot of small entrepreneurial matters, so I'd probably see it more in small things like this. I think it's less prevalent in, say, a big law firm or accounting firm.

 

[Frigid]

Just cause I do the 2 contract subjects (for example) still does not give me much more contract knowledge than an accounting student.

the question is, have you done 2 contract subjects yet?

assuming you're an undergrad ComLaw at UNSW, you wouldn't have taken contracts 2 yet.

 

[turtleface]

I'm surprised you take this view of contracts, turtleface.

I personally found it quite applicable. I wasn't an expert or anything... but having learnt about misrep, unconscionable dealing etc and contingency clauses, I felt like I could relate to a lot of things.

yeah you can see how it plays out in practice with regards to some aspects, but I just felt some issues like consideration was difficult to see how it applied. I got this view from being jibbed in internet contracts, when you get charged for a service that they haven't actually allowed you to use...it seems like theres a total failure of consideration.

he question is, have you done 2 contract subjects yet?

assuming you're an undergrad ComLaw at UNSW, you wouldn't have taken contracts 2 yet.

I just read the books (e.g Butterworths Contracts and the Contracts Case Law Guide). I'm really slow and if I don't pre study, its difficult for me to keep up. Maybe the contracts thing was a bad example though since its true I haven't studied both yet. it just seems unrealistic that you are an expert in contractual law after just 2 subjects. You'd surely need experience and further study/research (whether formal or as part of job).

Anyway, despite all of this I realise I have wrecked myself a bit so I'll stop now incase I'll make more of an ass outta myself