Commerce or Law?

Lambo SG

Hi all,

Just a quick post here cos im fed up of typing everything again...i created the topic just now and the post didn't show up in the forum :S

Not sure which forum I should post this under.

Well.. I have just finished my UNSW (University of New South Wales) foundation studies in Sydney and obtained quite a decent GPA. I can now choose a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law (BCom/LLB) double degree at UNSW which is my first choice. Initially I wanted to choose the normal Bachelor of Commerce major as I doubted my own ability to get into law school.. but now I've achieved what I've always been eyeing..

btw the link is here

http://www.law.unsw.edu.au/future_students/undergraduate/index.asp

The thing is should I go for it? It is a 5 years degree program.. For the first 3 years, I will be taking commerce and law concurrently. After 3 years, I will be awarded a Bachelor of Commerce degree with my area of specialisation (e.g. Finance). For the 4th and 5th year, it will be concentrated solely on Law.. for example Criminal law, Torts, etc.

One of the major things that I'm concerned about is that I'm not sure whether an aussie law degree is recognised in Singapore as I'm sure that employers will definitely favour local grads from NUS or top law schools from the west.. therefore im not sure whether this long 5 year road is worth it. And also I heard that you got to undertake some kinda test in order to practice law in singapore if your degree is from overseas.

On the other hand, the commerce degree from UNSW is highly reputable and sought after as its by the Australian School of Business which is arguable one of the best in Australia. And if I choose to drop law halfway, I will still be awarded the Bachelor of Commerce degree.

Interest wise, I've always been wanting to do a commerce degree.. and it is my dream to be a banker or something that has to be in the corporate world. However, after taking legal studies (kinda similar to law) in foundation studies, I've found law to be very interesting and had aced all the exams and presentation on it..thats why I chose the Bcom/law degree. However I know that legal studies is over simplified and the actual law degree is much more complex than it, and I'm aware of what is expected of me..

My parents are pretty supportive of me and I'm free to choose whatever I want to take, but they want me to give it serious consideration as its alot of $ and 5 years is a long road. Money wise they are able to afford the tuition fees and expenses. And personally, even though I find this road a long one, I feel that it will definitely be rewarding and pay off in the long run as I'm not in a hurry to get married and to 'feed' my family by getting a job.

Thanks for reading and sorry if you guys find this lengthy..

your comments are much appreciated :)

Whimsy SG

Commerce without law is like body without proper brain. Law without commerce is like a brain without nutrition. However, you should moderately manage them both upon your graduation and started to work in real life. The choice is still yours and your limitation.

parn SG

Hi all,

Just a quick post here cos im fed up of typing everything again...i created the topic just now and the post didn't show up in the forum :S

Not sure which forum I should post this under.

btw the link is here

http://www.law.unsw.edu.au/future_students/undergraduate/index.asp

Thanks for reading and sorry if you guys find this lengthy..

your comments are much appreciated :)

Go for it.

Quick enough for you?

Lambo SG

thx guys :)

parn: yea quick enough.. if i find law unsuitable i can still drop it and get a commerce degree..

deathmaster SG

just go for the law degree lah.

commerce is like so common nowadays.

at most, even if you dun do well in law, you can still call yourself an underacheiving law grad, and take up business related jobs.

TooFree SG

Isn't business law module which consists of contract law, agency law, company law and corporate governance part of the business degree? Can your double degree admit you to the bar AND the corporate?

Fcukpap SG

foreign law degree is recognized subject to FULL TIME study and u must also go through the Graduate Diploma in Law in NUS (FULL TIME 1 YR)...and serve pupillage...and take the Bar Exam...before u r could be officially registered to practice as an advocate & solicitor in Sg.....

if u dun do the above but a foreign law degree....u can only aspire in the paralegals...

but armed with a doubles with law....it is very good in the commercial private sector....u can try for in-house legal advisory role....good prospects with corporate experiences.....

by all means....since u have already embarked half way....

Fcukpap SG

its always good to have doubles...

specialized in something difficult or professional in one area and armed with a general business or commerce degree concurrently is PAR EXCELLENT

Lambo SG

hoever who edited my topic.. i think its abit inappropriate. Cos its a double degree, Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law (BCom/LLB). 5 years course.

I can't choose solely law, but I can combine it with my commerce major.

@Toofree: yes it can admit me to bar and corporate.. the degree is versatile.

fuckpap: thanks for the info, appreciate it :D

Fcukpap SG

sianz in a dot .

Lambo SG

wtf why is the post lumped together.. i already paragraphed it. sorry guys

Fcukpap SG

professionally qualified and experienced...pqe rather

dabade SG

Shotgun SG

It depends on whether your Law degree is recognized in Singapore or not. You still have to be called to the barr to practice.

Do pursue your dream job. It is worth it. But make sure you pursue it practically by spending your time on recognizable degree etc.

Lambo SG

thanks fcukpap.

Shotgun: Yes, the UNSW law degree is recognized in Singapore and is one of the approved universities under the Ministry of Law website. Just that the age thing is a big turn off..

However, what you said really made sense and perhaps shone some light on my decision.. yea I should pursue my dream job and I only got one shot at it even if I will be in a different industry next time.

Lokey SG

This kind of double degree is worthless. It get you to nowhere.

A lawyer is a professional job, with a registration number. If you are working on the law side, you need to undergo understudy for 2 years to be a registered lawyer. You need to find a good mentor to guide you. And who cares about your degree when you win your first case.

If you dont do the apprenticeship, then you are just a normal law executives which is no better than an business office administrator. If you are working on the commerce side as an executives, you still need to pass your work to a lawyer to sign and stamp. My suggestion is take one, either commence or law but not both.

It is not that I look down on you. Since, you are not those RI, RJ fellow, I think your English is only half-way and logical thinking is less quick and sharp. It is difficult to survive in the law industry. How much material you have, you should know by now, right? The fact is that you are asking us commoners about this question in sgforums. This meant that don’t have good networking either.

Being a lawyer is not easy and they get high pay for what they deserved. Have you find out what they exactly do?

The fact that you are a poly guy . This meant that you are really not a paperwork person. I question if you can sit in the office all day on the desk.

BadzMaro SG

Double degree nowadays for Law, to be admitted they will look at the number of actual law papers u took. Try and take more laws instead, cross credited into your commerce degree than the other way round, unless you are not that keen to be a lawyer.

And age is not a factor when admitted into bar nor is it a factor when doing tutelage/apprenticeship, if you are good... they will know u are good. And after a few years, paper counts for jack. Its experience, and see which field of law you are specialised in.

acidek1 SG

BadzMaro brought up a good point on admission into bar. From my understanding, Double Degree Law graduates need to apply for special consideration from Minlaw while pure Bachelor of Law graduates do not.

BadzMaro, you seem to know abit about the process since you mentioned they consider the number of law papers taken. Do you have more details on this, and the success rate of Double Degree holders getting admitted?

I ask because I'm in a similar dilemma, but one between doing an LLB v.s LLB/BCom. Thanks!