Graduate Prospects - March 19, 2008 - (Page 15) www.prospects.ac.uk Issue 63 · 19 March 2008 · Fortnightly PROSPECTS GRADUATE 15 POSTGRAD BLOGGER WANNABE LAWYERS LIKE DAN ROBINSON FIND THAT DISTANCE LEARNING HAS BENEFITS. ‘I’m exhausted and struggling for both money and time - but these are mere setbacks’ GRAHAM FOSTER’S PHD SO FAR providing the opportunity for him to study around his work commitments He recalls: ‘A colleague had undertaken the part-time course at Nottingham Law School whilst working at distance in the UN Sierra Leone court, which convinced me it could be done.’ Dan has a busy schedule: ‘I study evenings a nd weekends, and occasionally mornings if I can pull myself out of bed – some university habits are not easily shaken. This naturally affects my social life, but it is important to make time for breaks from work, so I manage to unshackle myself from the desk on a fairly regular basis.’ Dan says the distance learning resources are excellent. ‘The lecture notes you never took because you were too hungover are now replaced with a comprehensive and understandable array of information, delivered to your door in a box. The tutors are a fantastic resource, easily accessible by email. The “virtual learning portal” is also very useful, containing lecture notes, courseworks, notes and presentations posted by lecturers, key new developments in the law, etc.’ ON YOUR OWN In Dan’s experience, the advantages and disadvantages of distance learning can be summed up in the same words: working on your own. ‘For some people, this is a great opportunity to work at their own pace, whether slow or fast; for others, the constant self-motivation proves daunting. However, it is useful to remember that everyone on your course is going through the same thing – it is a good idea to grab a few phone numbers and email addresses from other students on some of the residential weekends.’ LONGRANGE STUDENT DISTANCE LEARNING IS BECOMING online resources. Students have a designated personal tutor for every subject, and we have OF POSTGRADUATES, BUT SOME LAW a dedicated programme administrator. We STUDENTS HAVE THEIR OWN COMPELLING provide regional and overseas examination REASONS FOR WANTING TO BE ABLE TO venues so that students do not need to sit their STAY IN THEIR JOBS, EARN MONEY AND NOT examinations in Nottingham, but can sit them RELOCATE TO A UNIVERSITY TOWN. nearer to home.’ INCREASINGLY POPULAR WITH MANY SORTS Reason number one for law students is the generally above-average cost of the postgraduate course they must take in order to become English (or Welsh) lawyers. In addition students who did other undergraduate degrees must take an extra, conversion course. Law students’ second reason for choosing distance learning or other part-time options is realism. Progress into careers as either a solicitor or barrister is far from guaranteed so it may be wise not to finish law study with debts running into tens of thousands of pounds. HOW IT WORKS Nottingham Law School (part of Nottingham Trent University) is one of the places where distance learning is available for the Graduate Diploma in Law conversion course. Shane Russell is Principal Lecturer and Programme Leader for the Distance Learning GDL. She explains how the couse is run. Students are not working in isolation, Shane insists. ‘They have constant contact with tutors by phone and email. Students form online informal study groups, and this year’s students have set up a Facebook site.’ There is an also an opportunity four times a year for some old-fashioned face-to face contact at residential teaching weekends. STUDENT DAN One of the students on the course is Dan Robinson who divides his time between study and working for a nongovernmental human rights organisation, the Aegis Trust. Dan originally studied English Literature at the University of Durham. After graduating he spent over a year travelling in East Africa, where he first got involved with the Aegis Trust in Rwanda. On return to the UK, Dan was offered a job with the Aegis Trust. At the same time his ‘Students are given a textbook and casebook goal was to study and qualify in law. The for every subject, plus a study guide to keep them on track. We have 24/7 access to all our management at Aegis made this possible by Dan’s GDL finishes this summer. Next is the Bar Vocational Course. As a practical course covering advocacy skills the BVC is not ideal distance learning material, though the option is available. Dan, perhaps wisely, has decided that the GDL is where his distance learning stops. GRAHAM TRICKEY INFORMATION AND ADVICE www.prospects.ac.uk/findcourses POSTGRAD FUNDING FACTS www.prospects.ac.uk/links/fundstudy LATEST POSTGRAD COURSE OPPORTUNITIES www.prospects.ac.uk/links/latestcourses SEARCH THE POSTGRAD DATABASE SEND YOUR VIEWS, SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS editorial@prospects.ac.uk http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Graduate_jobs/p!edcaefX http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Feature_Articles/Feature_articles_2008/PhD_blog__9/p!edLcXij http://www.prospects.ac.uk/findcourses http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/fundstudy http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/latestcourses
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Graduate Prospects - March 19, 2008 Royal Bank of Scotland Hertfordshire County Council Barkers Advertising Agency Compass Management Consulting Limited Digby Morgan Exchem Virgin Atlantic Limited University of Liverpool Perriam & Everett Recruitment 3 mobile IAMCO Strategy Consultants Finnings Scotia Gas Networks Plc Propeller Training TRI-London Mason Blake Halcrow Group Ltd National Engineering and Construction Recruitment Exhibition Warwickshire County Council Smith Wright Bell University of West of England Graduate Prospects - March 19, 2008 Graduate Prospects - March 19, 2008 - (Page 1) Graduate Prospects - March 19, 2008 - (Page 2) Graduate Prospects - March 19, 2008 - Royal Bank of Scotland (Page 3) Graduate Prospects - March 19, 2008 - Royal Bank of Scotland (Page 4) Graduate Prospects - March 19, 2008 - Hertfordshire County Council (Page 5) Graduate Prospects - March 19, 2008 - Compass Management Consulting Limited (Page 6) Graduate Prospects - March 19, 2008 - Digby Morgan (Page 7) Graduate Prospects - March 19, 2008 - University of Liverpool (Page 8) Graduate Prospects - March 19, 2008 - 3 mobile (Page 9) Graduate Prospects - March 19, 2008 - Scotia Gas Networks Plc (Page 10) Graduate Prospects - March 19, 2008 - Propeller Training (Page 11) Graduate Prospects - March 19, 2008 - Halcrow Group Ltd (Page 12) Graduate Prospects - March 19, 2008 - National Engineering and Construction Recruitment Exhibition (Page 13) Graduate Prospects - March 19, 2008 - Smith Wright Bell (Page 14) Graduate Prospects - March 19, 2008 - Smith Wright Bell (Page 15) Graduate Prospects - March 19, 2008 - University of West of England (Page 16)
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