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Old 03-08-2017, 06:45 AM
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Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
If I may add my inputs, let's talk about what most singaporeans have done and then rank the schools accordingly.
With the exception of a very select few that have gone into academia, with a NUS LLB and go on to Yale to further their studies with a JSM and JSD, etc, most Singaporeans would traditionally have come from NUS/SMU for their undergrad LL.B.
My gut feel is that we view it this way among recruitment partners:
(1) the best are people with a LL.B (first class) from any law school (but sg qualified) and they go on to do a LL.M (or BCL) from either Cambridge, Harvard and Oxford. Those are the best. Of course if they have a PhD to supplement, even better. But chances are people with PhD go on to become academics.
(2) next, are people with BA law from Oxbridge. A BA law from oxbridge at high 2:1 is roughly equivalent to a NUS weak first class (more than 5% but below 10% of cohort) or a very strong SMU magna. A first from Oxbridge is in a league of its own and potentially equal in status to a strong first class or very high summa from SMU (more comparable are those with the double degrees rather than single degree).
(3) next are the people with strong NUS 2:1 or SMU magna. These are equivalent to a UCL/LSE/Durham first class. A mid 2:1 from NUS / SMU cum laude would be equivalent to all other first class on the list of scheduled universities (UK as well as Australia).
(4) NUS weak 2:1 or 2:2 LL.B or SMU (lower than cum laude) would be equivalent to all 2:1 LL.B from the list of scheduled universities (UK as well as Australia). A first class from the list of omitted universities would belong here.
(5) any 2:2 LL.B or lower from the list of scheduled universities / 2:1 LL.B from the list of omitted universities.
"My gut feel" says it all. Who's the "we"?
You do know that it is not really that difficult to get into programmes similar to Cambridge LLM if you have a first from a decent university right? The added value of doing a masters immediately post llb is almost negligible unless you are aiming for academia - and you will be wasting one year of your PQE.

Truth is every partner/recruiter/firm will have different standards and preferences when it comes to the candidates. Some place greater emphasis on academics and some care more about fit and attitude, etc. Undeniably, there are some schools which would rank higher than than others. Further, a first from a decent university would likely give your cv a greater chance of being noticed and then shortlisted for interviews. However, when it comes to retention, it is more about your work performance, fit and attitude. As you progress in your legal career, your results matter less and less.

Next question you would probably ask is what is a "decent" university? It again depends on the people reading your cv and doing the recruitment. If you are applying to an international firm with foreign graduate recruitment, SMU is likely going to be ranked the same as any other Russell group university. As another example, if the partner reading your cv went to the same university as you, chances are you will have a higher chance of being noticed and shortlisted.

Times are tough, whichever school you are in, work hard to get good results, get internship experience, do your best for the internships and hope for the best.
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