Postgraduate profile: MA law conversion course

Jamie Turner chose an MA in law as his conversion course to get a broader introduction to the sector.

I considered the traditional conversion course but chose to study the MA (an alternative two-year course giving direct entry onto the LPC or BPTC). I felt that it would give me a broader knowledge of the law (as the course covered a much wider range of legal subjects than the traditional CPE) and a greater opportunity to work part time to help fund the course.

Finding the right balance

The course is spread over two years and is therefore slightly less intensive than other conversion courses. I was able to live in Nottingham and commute to Sheffield for lectures and seminars. I also worked part time and still managed to have a life outside of my studies. The work expected was definitely a big step up from my undergraduate degree but this was largely due to the quantity rather than its difficulty. I found the methodology for structuring legal questions and answering them very different from anything I had done before. The course requires a lot of reading so it helps to be organised.

Tips on choosing a postgraduate law course

Make sure the course is right for you and that you are doing it for the right reasons and not because you don't know what else to do. Studying for a masters gave me an excellent grounding in law and prepared me well for the next step. There is the potential to have a high-earning career but you must offset this with the tuition fees and the living expenses involved in qualifying.

Jamie studied in MA in law at the University of Sheffield.