Law at Uni of York

[stubiff]

https://www.york.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/llb-law/
"We are the only law school in the UK to use a problem-based learning approach as the basis for our undergraduate programmes. We believe this modern, practical method will help you to develop the skills and techniques you will need to stand out as a professional."

Anyone/DC gone through this and have any insight, please?

Have read/watched some blogs/vlogs and it seems an interesting way of doing it.

Problem based learning is a commonly used teaching and learning method at many law schools in the UK. York is not unique in using it, but perhaps unique if it's the only method used. Personally, I'd want a bit more variety if I were studying for 3-4 years. That said, York is a very well regarded university in a great city. Your child needs to choose the best course/place for them, and lots of different things will factor into their decision.

@stubiff. This is all a bit pointless. If your dc wants York, go for it. You won’t find many with direct experience of the course and so far, no one has. York say they are unique but I have no idea how they measure this and presumably dc is looking at more than York? They say it’s a response to employers but who knows which employers? Many still take loads of non law grads so what employers think is a moot point when measured against what York say. So how anyone can judge what employers think is best is beyond me! It certainly won’t be if you have been to York or Sheffield or Leeds. That’s pretty certain. Dc should do what suits. You also seem very heavily involved. What does dc actually want?

@TizerorFizz Agreed, it is pointless, so we'll call it a day on that part of the conv.

You don't find many/any with direct (recent) experience, regardless of the Q. It's usually parents or friends of, etc, like normal.

Grateful for any other insights from others, thanks.

This is the relevant info anyone going into law needs. Look at the very first para. It tells you everything.Not sure they are in the right order but start with BRAVO.

At the open day we met a couple who’s DS was looking at York, they had dinner next to us after open day, we are a medical family so have little understanding of Law schools and prospects

they gave us good insight to the course

1. the problem solving element doesn’t suit all minds
2. many students get good jobs but it still lags way behind the Oxbridge/bristol/Durhams when it comes to london firms
3. it’s a passionate environment with buy in from the lecturers and students expected to buy in
4. the Law school is growing in reputation all the time despite not being in existence very long

as parents we loved it and loved the campus but we encourage our Dc to make decisions and own them even bad ones

DD doesn’t feel it’s prodigious enough for her and we feel she is being a little driven by the future london magic circle opportunities

thanks for the thread most enlightening

@Tirangapete
Thanks for that.
Really depends what predictions DD has/will have.
You probably wouldn’t choose York if you had at least an AStar in your predictions, only for an insurance if you’re at the lower end.
In one report it was roughly the same as Manchester and the like, so depends what the definition of lags behind is.
Also there is no evidence that the success rate per applicant is lower. Probably excepting Oxbridge. Can be argued that it’s a numbers game.
But, if DD is interested in London then prob best, if can get in, to lean towards the more prestigious places.

She is 3 x A* predicted

her younger DS will struggle a little at A level she is Deaf and education is very hard for deaf children it’s disgusting that they don’t get contextual offers but people do based on some really flimsy stuff like their school

that sort of rewards bad schools

Technically disadvantaged areas or pupils rather than bad schools.
Surprised that deaf is not a criteria for a contextual offer.
She had the advantage of still being able to drop two grades if her std offers are AStar, A,A

Technically that whole system is broken

The proportion of students declaring a disability admitted to Oxford in 2023 was 19%. That surely would include deafness? Oxford obviously take note. Not sure about others?

Waiting still

DD feels more like this will be her best offer

she is a little flat about it , we aren’t we loved the place

waiting still on
Durham
Bristol
Warwick

It’s still early for those for law. How was their lnat? You’ll know of in for a decent shot from the result.
No personal knowledge of law at York, we didn’t visit as it was too close to home for dd and she didn’t fancy problem based learning as she isn’t looking to be a solicitor.
I know a lecturer on the course ex Cambridge who is very passionate about the learning style. My dd has friends in York who love the uni generally, accommodation is expensive.
I’d say they need to be up for the learning style. My dc has a friend at Uni studying law who had firmed York and got cold feet on results day. Fortunately she’d sat lnat and picked up good offer in clearing but is in eye wateringly expensive private halls as no uni accommodation left.

@Tirangapete
I think I’d be disappointed if I didn’t get at least one offer from those three if I was predicted 3 A Stars and the LNat was ok.

we spent the day at a MC firm last week for a year 13 open day

you do know most employ blind selection now?, none or the chambers are 100% Oxbridge, that’s nonsense, mainly because they got sick of over entitled work shy people filling their offices

your information is poor

@Tirangapete did your dc here from her last 3?

You are very wrong on this, I have recruited over 15 2.1+ students from York and all transitioned into placement and work so much better than their “traditional” educated colleagues, the skills based education like this course offers I believe will be the future of all education as AI takes over the academic functioning, I have two major magic circle law firms who have contracted us to target the honors graduates from York for their firms, again the skills and problem solving abilities seem to be highly valued by those employers

@recruitretain
Thanks very much for that direct feedback.

@recruitretain
Will send a PM if that's ok.

I think York does a session online to see if PBL is for you - possibly at offer stage.
It’s marmite I think. Those that opt for it seem to love it. My dc’s friend got cold feet and changed to another more traditional law uni on results day.
I know someone who is a lecturer there (ex magic circle married to magic circle) and she’s very enthusiastic re PBL.
I’m a solicitor in north and York has a good reputation.
I’d go to open day sessions and see.

Super advice, yes it’s very much suited to certain people rather than everyone, this Law school in under 2 decades has achieved what some law schools have not achieved in nearly a century, says it all really

@recruitretain
By 'has achieved', what do you mean - a reputation, something different to the norm, something else...

Reputation
placement credibility
standing in KPI league tables
it’s astonishing what it’s achieved in under 2 decades, and it’s reputation is growing fast amongst employers

First students in 2008 - wasn't aware of that.

Exactly, it’s phenomenal, they are at least a top 20 law school in UK and churning out very high quality graduates in that time and now have opened a sister school of Law in India