Topic: The University of Liverpool

[Boston_Red]

I am thinking of going to graduate school and of course am attracted to Liverpool University.  Does anyone know how selective the school is?  What's the school's reputation?  Thanks.   

[Monty.]

Nah, give John Moores a go mate.

Liverpool Uni is full of pretentious snobs who think they're better than everyone else because they go a red brick uni.

*grabs coat and runs*

Nah, only joking. Not full. Just too many who spoil it for the nice people who study there However it is more than slightly annoying when most seem to think that there is only one University in Liverpool when there are in fact three. Well, 2 and a University College My best friend went to Liverpool Uni and was always more than a little pissed off that in her department they were terribly disorganised and there was no support for her when she needed it with essays and general stuff. Her department was like a ghost town most days. At mine at John Moores though it was the complete opposite.

Thing is, there's so much more you should consider when it comes to choosing a University I think. Location, nightlife et cetera rather than the sttributes of the uni itself. It all works out the same in the end.

[Aidan_B]

Thing is, there's so much more you should consider when it comes to choosing a University I think. Location, nightlife et cetera rather than the sttributes of the uni itself. It all works out the same in the end.

Yes and no.  For a graduate course it depends on the subject, and reputation of the institution and/or person you work for can heavily affect job prospects.

[Monty.]

Yes and no.  For a graduate course it depends on the subject, and reputation of the institution and/or person you work for can heavily affect job prospects.

I guess so. Although my mates have found it ok...but then none of them have been to 'shit' uni's.

[Aidan_B]

I guess so. Although my mates have found it ok...but then none of them have been to 'shit' uni's.

It really does depend upon the field more than anything, and from the original post I don't think we could do anything but idly speculate, fun though it clearly is.

Oh, and I do have to try and defend my red brick Uni pretentiousness.

[Curly Tom]

University of Liverpool rules ok. Shit on the moores tonight!

(Except Moores birds, they're all hot....  )

[Monty.]

University of Liverpool rules ok. Shit on the moores tonight!

(Except Moores birds, they're all hot....  )

When's your appointment at the eye hospital? Do you have any eyesight returning or is at still blurry?

[Curly Tom]

Come on, you KNOW moore's birds are fitter than Liverpool ones.... why do you think I spent so long in JMU? 

[Monty.]

Well there you go Boston Red, all must now be decided for you.

[Jimmy Conway]

John Moores is a Poly with mickey mouse degrees.
I can say that as University of Liverpool graduate, red brick and all that!

[Boston_Red]

Which is closer to Anfield?  That's how I'll make up my mind.  Oh, who has cuter women. 

[realtarragona]

The closest is maybe one of the John Moores' buildings on Byron Street.

[Monty.]

John Moores is a Poly with mickey mouse degrees.
I can say that as University of Liverpool graduate, red brick and all that!

And as a John Moores graduate, I can tell you to fuck right off!

[Boston_Red]

Look what I started!

[Curly Tom]

JMU for cuter women boston! But even if you go to Liverpool Uni you can get into the JMU union so it doesn't really matter.

[Monty.]

JMU for cuter women boston! But even if you go to Liverpool Uni you can get into the JMU union so it doesn't really matter.

Yup, Tom always cheated on Liverpool University with John Moores. It's only a matter of time before they find out about one another and all hell breaks loose.....

[Aidan_B]

You're not really helping the poor guy sort out his degree choice with your pathetic bickering are you.  Tsk.

[Boston_Red]

Ill check out both when I come visit for my yearly pilgramage to Anfield.  I am quite serious about the girls though. 

[The Albert Cock]

neither are as good as edge hill lar.

[smullo]

I started JMU this week, fucking birds everywhere, went down to St Georges Hall today and they were giving free condoms out, and all the birds were snapping them up, get to JMU! 

[Red Cofi Dre]

As a Liverpool Uni graduate, I can defnitely say that IMO JMU girls are fitter than Liverpool Uni! Thick but fit Only kidding of course, I have many friends that go to JMU and it's a nice place, towards the end of my course I used to go to JMU union quite a lot - decent bars there.

[Jessie]

I work with lots of students on placement from Liverpool Uni and they have all been very positive about the University and the city.

[Jase]

Looks like there'll be a few of us RAWKites sniffing around the female population in a few Liverpool student areas in the next few weeks!

[smullo]

Looks like there'll be a few of us RAWKites sniffing around the female population in a few Liverpool student areas in the next few weeks!

Where are you lad? I'll sign ya into the student union

[Red Cofi Dre]

Looks like there'll be a few of us RAWKites sniffing around the female population in a few Liverpool student areas in the next few weeks!

I'll be in the Union bar at Liverpool Uni on Tuesday from about 3 till 7 then off down town for a big session, going to be weird going back there now that I've graduated. Bound to be loads of freshers going around trying to make friends with every single person that walks past. Might pop into JMU union to see how it's going there.

[Jase]

Well, I'm a born and bred scouser fella! I'm now a trainee lawyer in Chester (so still a student), but still live in a house with some of me mates off Smithdown. I've got a new NUS and it needs to be used and abused though, and I've got mates who are still studying at JMU or Liverpool Uni.

Can't wait until the fix of double vision and medication though hehe.

[Harry_Wong]

The park outside the Admin building is infested with rats.

They go out for a runaround at lunchtime.

[Kez]

Well, I'm a born and bred scouser fella! I'm now a trainee lawyer in Chester (so still a student), but still live in a house with some of me mates off Smithdown. I've got a new NUS and it needs to be used and abused though, and I've got mates who are still studying at JMU or Liverpool Uni.

Can't wait until the fix of double vision and medication though hehe.

Ahhh....right....favour to ask....how on earth do you go about applying to companies for LPC sponsorship because no one at the Uni seems arsed to tell us how

[Jase]

You mean through law firms? Basically you have to apply for training contracts with law firms (the big ones recruit two years in advance), and most of them will pay your LPC fees. Some won't, but all of them offer two years employment with your training contract. It depends what year you're at uni on when you'll need to get your arse into gear though mate.

Most of the good firms have specialised graduate places that you apply through on their websites, you just apply online for a training contract anytime now until next July when they usually close the application process for that academic year.

[Rizla]

Ahhh....right....favour to ask....how on earth do you go about applying to companies for LPC sponsorship because no one at the Uni seems arsed to tell us how

You'll be lucky! Unless you are fortunate enough to secure a training contract, a career development loan is the best you can hope for. As for TC's and firm sponsorship, you need ideally to apply 2 years in advance for the types of firms that will sponsor you. Should aim to do it before the start of your last year at Uni, via Lawcareers.net, who have a database of firms in the UK

But dont hold your breath...not many get them!

[Kez]

Right, entering 2nd year as of Monday and know I have to start applying. So basically I need to sound out some law firms, write letters, do CVs etc etc? Was always under the impression from Uni that most people got sponsorship for the LPC?

[Jase]

Yeah, I haven't got one myself which is a bit shit, but you have to be lucky (or fucking good, I prefer 'lucky' though hehe) to get one.

One good way of getting into a law firm is through a vacation placement, do well in that and they're more likely to take you on for a training contract, and pay your LPC fees therefore. I'm applying for some vacation placements in the next couple of months.

[Rizla]

Right, entering 2nd year as of Monday and know I have to start applying. So basically I need to sound out some law firms, write letters, do CVs etc etc? Was always under the impression from Uni that most people got sponsorship for the LPC?

Only if you are lucky...the majority dont

As for the rest, that is what you need to do, though getting a Vac placement is just as tough as getting a contract. However you may have to apply before the end of next summer for 2008 for instance for a TC. I was knocked back in all my ones for 2006 and so far for 2007. Another half dozen I am yet to send [have late deadlines] or hear back from, but I am not hopeful. It's bloody hard to get anywhere, especially if you are based like I am in the South East. Put it this way, I got a 2:1 MA from St Andrews Uni and all I have managed from dozens of apps is one interview and one assessment day. If you get a 2:2 you are as good as wasting your time and money if you want anything decent. Am now doing the LPC [funded by my indulgent grandmother, thankfully] but the future is uncertain

Give it some serious thought, because at the end of the day your chances of landing a job as a solicitor can be a coin toss at best these days

[Kez]

Did you apply to the CPS. They always seem to be sending the Law School stuff telling them how they'll put pretty much anyone through the LPC these days.

I've got bloody high ambitions for myself. I can't afford a career development loan so it's sponsorship or nothing. Bottom line is, I am going to work my arse off for the next 2 years and will be gutted if I come out with anything less than a 2:1. I'm also hopeful that my intention to spend the rest of my life living in the North West will count for me in terms of loyalty to the company/area, and I want to progress from being a solicitor to a solicitor advocate, so I'm hoping that might get me brownie points.

[Rizla]

Did you apply to the CPS. They always seem to be sending the Law School stuff telling them how they'll put pretty much anyone through the LPC these days.

I've got bloody high ambitions for myself. I can't afford a career development loan so it's sponsorship or nothing. Bottom line is, I am going to work my arse off for the next 2 years and will be gutted if I come out with anything less than a 2:1. I'm also hopeful that my intention to spend the rest of my life living in the North West will count for me in terms of loyalty to the company/area, and I want to progress from being a solicitor to a solicitor advocate, so I'm hoping that might get me brownie points.

CPS is an option, though I dont know anybody on my course who has got any sponsorship money from them. Also,  it is quite poorly paid in comparison, and naturally it is in the criminal sector, which personally I have no intention in involving myself in. As for location, the North West may have more vacancies as many actually want to work in London, due to the fact that they pay through the nose down there

Try and get some experience, if not through online applications, through letters and phonecalls to local firms. I spent some time at a North West firm this summer, it helps if you have a contact [It was my Grandad's old firm in St Helens] but if you ask nicely some firms may let you tag along for a week and give you lots of the boring stuff that no one else wants to do. 

At the same time, though, I enjoyed my time there and in most cases the vacation schemes help you to understand what goes on in a firm. Looks great on the CV as well

[Kez]

There's a lot of local firms at the top end of Smithdown by the Tesco in Mossley Hill that I was going to write some polite begging letters to, and plenty of firms where I live in the Midlands too. My idea was to get Christmas/Easter/Summer experience of some description whilst applying for the TCs and what not. The thing that's annoying me is that there seems to be no help forthcoming from Liverpool Uni in actually undertaking the tast of applying to places. It's a bit like they take your money, teach you law and then don't give a fuck if you get anywhere or not.

And I don't see why people want to work in London. Sure the firms pay through the nose, but it costs significantly more to live down there than it does up North, so once you factor in living costs the salaries are about equal.

[blurred]

And I don't see why people want to work in London

My mate's got a TC with Allen and Overy, starting in March/April next year. By the time we're capital of culture he'll be on 50k a year!

I do get your point, though, just pointing out how criminal some of the salaries are (and how, perhaps, I should have actually bothered with it and gone into the legal profession! )

[Rizla]

There's a lot of local firms at the top end of Smithdown by the Tesco in Mossley Hill that I was going to write some polite begging letters to, and plenty of firms where I live in the Midlands too. My idea was to get Christmas/Easter/Summer experience of some description whilst applying for the TCs and what not. The thing that's annoying me is that there seems to be no help forthcoming from Liverpool Uni in actually undertaking the tast of applying to places. It's a bit like they take your money, teach you law and then don't give a fuck if you get anywhere or not.

Unfortunately law firms are still rather elitist organisations and tend to look from Oxbridge downwards, so perhaps the rate of law graduates becoming solicitors from Liverpool Uni is quite low, so the careers office might be saying 'you'll be lucky! Good luck' rather than giving you any real help?

Who knows? But careers offices at universities are generally a bit of a joke. Check out the Lawcareers site, that will tell you most of what you need to know

Oh, and many of the Vac schemes for most firms are online. Try that first, before ringing them up. However, I am sure at least one firm will give you a 'unofficial vac scheme'...

Oh, and you are right about the cost of living in London. However, as you climb the greasy pole, your salary can rise astronomically down there, far more so than in the north...

[Kez]

I'd rather be on a lower salary in the North than on stupid money in the South and taking time off for depression due to hating being down there. Maybe some firms do still look from Oxbridge down, but I think they're probably the larger, national firms that can have the pick of the crop. That said, I looked at Oxford and Cambridge as options and their degrees actually seemed rather basic and sparse. Liverpool Uni is a good Uni and appears to be looked more favourably on by the Northern firms who would rather like their employees to stay with them than fuck off down south. I have no intention on moving out of the Northwest pretty much ever - surely that has to count for at least 1 brownie point?

Regardless I am determined to succeed. I have yet to fail at something I've really and honestly wanted to do and I'm not going to start now!

[Rizla]

I'd rather be on a lower salary in the North than on stupid money in the South and taking time off for depression due to hating being down there. Maybe some firms do still look from Oxbridge down, but I think they're probably the larger, national firms that can have the pick of the crop. That said, I looked at Oxford and Cambridge as options and their degrees actually seemed rather basic and sparse. Liverpool Uni is a good Uni and appears to be looked more favourably on by the Northern firms who would rather like their employees to stay with them than fuck off down south. I have no intention on moving out of the Northwest pretty much ever - surely that has to count for at least 1 brownie point?

Regardless I am determined to succeed. I have yet to fail at something I've really and honestly wanted to do and I'm not going to start now!

It's not that bad down there! We have far less rain down here than in the north west, and the summer warm evenings outside the pubs can linger on till October

But showing a commitment to the area is usually seen as a positive. So long as you get a 2:1 and get adequate experience, you may have better luck up there than I have had down here. However, you may have to pay for the LPC yourself...