How To Apply

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CLFA’s Preferred U.K. Law Schools

UCAS

The University College Application Service (UCAS) is the organization responsible for managing applications to U.K. universities. Applicants to undergraduate programs, such as the LLB degree, in most instances can’t apply directly to a university. The application should be channeled through UCAS. Applicants to graduate programs, such as LLM, do not need to apply through UCAS and can apply directly through Canada Law From Abroad.
Any domestic or abroad prospective student is entitled to make an individual application through UCAS and self manage the process. In actual fact, the great majority of U.K. domestic students apply through registered UCAS advisors. A UCAS advisor is a person that has been officially approved and provided with UCAS advisor credentials. This enables the advisor to act on behalf of the applicant to ensure that:
the application is properly completed,
to function as the central confidential repository for academic references and,
to track the students application process with each of the universities.

Canada Law From Abroad is a registered U.K. UCAS Advisor that acts as a consultant for the Canadian Law From Abroad’s Preferred U.K. Law Schools and provides a cost-free service to Canadian students.

WHY USE Canada Law From Abroad AS YOUR UCAS ADVISOR?
Canada Law From Abroad is a registered UCAS (University College Application Service) advisor in Canada for the 8 U.K. law schools in the consortium.
John G. Kelly of Canada Law From Abroad provides these cost-free services:
Information sessions on the strengths and advantages of each U.K. law school in the consortium.
Individualized guidance on matching the student’s legal career aspirations with the 8 law schools in the consortium.
A one-stop application service. You submit only one copy of your personal statement, reference, etc. for all of the law schools you apply to.
A cost-free, personalized service which streamlines and tracks the entire U.K. law school application process. This way you avoid the risk of a ‘blind application’. There will be no surprises!
Ongoing personal support and application trouble-shooting.
John G. Kelly has direct access to each of the 8 law schools in the consortium which eliminates application headaches!
Upon graduation, participation in Canada Law From Abroad’s JOB NET BOOT CAMP.

Applicants can apply up to a maximum of five U.K. law schools from among the 8 listed in Canada Law From Abroad’s Preferred U.K. Law Schools which include:
University of Birmingham
www.bham.ac.uk
University of Bristol
www.bris.ac.uk
City University of London
www.city.ac.uk
University of Exeter
www.exeter.ac.uk
University of Kent
www.kent.ac.uk
Queen Mary University of London
www.qmul.ac.uk
University of Southampton
www.soton.ac.uk
University of Sussex
www.sussex.ac.uk
Unlike Canadian law school applications, you only need to fill out one uniform application form, file one transcript, complete one personal statement and have your referee complete one short academic reference form. You file it electronically into the UCAS system for a nominal fee (approximately $35).

‘How To Apply’

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Personal Statement

Your personal statement is important. It will be read by the admissions department. You can either post it when registering with Canada Law or insert it after the fact.

Personal Statement Tips

•It cannot exceed 47 lines. Anything over 47 lines will be excluded from the UCAS site.

•You may want to consider drafting in an offline word format and reviewing and editing it until it fits within the 47 lined limit.

•UCAS utilizes a sophisticated plagiarism screening device. Don’t lift sentences or even key phrases from other sources. This is your personal statement. You risk having your personal statement being subjected to a plagiarism review or even rejected which can be fatal to your application.

•Your personal statement should read like it’s been written by an aspiring professional. Avoid the use of slang words or colloquialisms.

•Be positive. You want to go to law school to advance in life not because you’re bored or just don’t like what you’re presently doing.

•Don’t indicate you’ve always dreamed of being a lawyer and want to go to law school to safe the world. Admissions committees aren’t looking for grandiose statements and may well rate your application as unrealistic.

•You must refer to something in your academic experience to date that has indicated to you why you believe the legal profession is a good fit for you.

•You must also include a brief statement that indicates you’re a credible candidate because of who you are as a person. There’s more to you than grades.

•Mentioning a life experience such as volunteer community work or involvement in a university students’ association that has influenced your decision to pursue a career in the legal profession is well received.

•Your application doesn’t have to state that you want to practice law. A strong statement that you want to pursue a career in the legal profession or international relations or work as an advocate for a non governmental organization (NGO) is looked upon favourably, particularly if it’s supported by a reference to a meaningful work or volunteer experience which is also mentioned in your personal statement.

•Your application must be accompanied by one academic reference. If you’ve chosen the academic reference for a specific reason, such as exceptional performance in their course, it’s to your advantage to mention the course in your personal statement. The academic reference will validate your statement.

•Make certain that your application does leave the reader with the unquestionable impression your priority is law school and not one of a number of academic options you’re looking into. There needs to be a strong “Yes I want to go to law school” statement somewhere in the statement.

•Think about your last sentence or two. They should create a positive personal and academic profile.

• Mature students who’ve been out of school for more than two years can call upon a “professional” source for a reference. make certain your personal statement indicates that you are a mature applicant who can rely on professionals familiar with your work experience for a reference if you choose this route.

UCAS Registration Instructions for LLB
Go www.ucas.com or just enter UCAS into Google. For Bristol Law School see the Note at the end of these directions.
Click into the Apply link on the left hand side of the UCAS Home Page.
Click into the Registration link on the left hand side of the Apply Page. The Registration box will take you into a standard conditions acceptance site. Tick the check box at the bottom of the page to accept.
You will enter the “Initial Details” page. Insert your name and birth information.
The next page is to check for previous contact. Check the appropriate box. A) If you’ve used UCAS before it will take you to a site where you can insert updates. B) For first timers you will enter the postal address page. Click “EU Overseas”.
You are now in the Postal Address page. Enter your address for contact over the next 90 days. Students in a university or college residence use your home address.
The Extended Contact Page is next. Verify your address. Insert an e-mail address. Make certain the e-mail address you provide will be valid for 4-6 months.
You will be transferred to the Security Page. Insert a response for all boxes.
You are next at the Register Success page. Write down your user name.
Click into the Apply section. In the apply section check the ‘Through A Careers Organization’ box.
On the next page enter the buzz word, ‘canadalaw’ (all lower case, one word). N.B. You must enter the buzz word as ‘canadalaw’.
Your application will now be posted on the Canada Law from Abroad Advisor site.
Email John at johng@canadalawfromabroad.com to confirm that you’ve applied to law schools in Canada Law From Abroad’s Preferred U.K. Law Schools group.
Include your 10 digit UCAS registration in the email so John can begin tracking your application.

Canada Law From Abroad is now your registered UCAS advisor. It can track progress for you and make inquiries on your behalf if you need an update. Your reference letters are also assured confidentiality. All of your reference letters should be directed to me, John G. Kelly at johng@canadalawfromabroad.com. They will then be pasted directly on to your application and forward the completed application to UCAS.
You apply to universities and programs by codes. The codes for the law schools that Canada Law From Abroad represents are:
University Code Law Program Code

1. University of Birmingham Law School
B32 (School Code)
M100 (3 year LLB)
M990 - point of entry 2 (2 year Accelerated LLB )

2. University of Bristol

3. City University London Law School
C 60 (School Code)
M100 (3 year LLB)
M110 (2 year Accelerated LLB or GEBBL)

4. University of Exeter Law School
E84 (School Code)
M103 (3 year LLB)
M106 (2 year Accelerated LLB )
M1N1 (3 year LLB with Business)
MR11 (4 year LLB with French)

5. University of Kent Law School
K24 (School code)
M100 (3 year LLB)
M100 (2 year Accelerated LLB)

6. Queen Mary University of London
Q50 (School Code)
M100 (3 year LLB)
M101 (2 year Accelerated LLB)

7. University of Southampton Law School
S27 (School Code)
M100 (3 year LLB)
M101 (2 year Accelerated LLB )
M125 (4 years European Legal Studies LLB Law)
M130 (4 years International Legal Studies LLB Law)
M1M2 (3 years Maritime Law LLB Law)

8. University of Sussex Law School
S90 (School Code)
M100 (3 year LLB)
M101 (2 year Accelerated LLB)

Academic Reference

✴ Once you designate Canada Law From Abroad as your registered UCAS representative your academic reference is provided with a confidential single source referral.
✴ UCAS only permits you to use one academic reference. Think about who the best source would be. If possible, your academic referee should support what you’ve said in your personal statement. For example, if you’re course work in political science or criminology has inspired you to look to a career in the legal profession then, if possible, have a professor in that discipline write the academic reference for you.
✴ Whatever the situation that professor should be a person who can attest to your academic ability and competence to do well at law school.
✴ Don’t use a general reference that may have been written for other purposes.
✴ The academic reference can’t exceed 47 lines. Make certain you bring this to their attention. Anything more than 47 lines will require editing.
✴ The academic reference should be in word document format and e-mailed to johng@canadalawfromabroad.com. It will be electronically filed with all of the law schools you have applied to.

University Transcripts

When your application has been processed by UCAS you can email your interim transcripts along with you UCAS Number to each of Canada Law From Abroad’s Preferred Law Schools that you’re applying to.

Note: An official final transcript will be needed before an unconditional offer can be made.

University of Birmingham

Halisha Patel

Admissions Office

University of Birmingham

Birmingham, UK, B15 2TT

NOTE: When your application has been processed by UCAS you can email your interim transcripts along with you UCAS Number to Halisha Petel at: H.Patel.3@Bham.ac.uk

Further Note: An official final transcript will be needed before an unconditional offer can be made.

University of Bristol

Mark Samways

Post-Graduate Office, School of Law

University of Bristol

Wills Memorial Building, Queen’s Road

Bristol, UK, BS8 1RJ

NOTE: When your application has been processed by UCAS you can email your interim transcripts along with you UCAS Number to Mark Samways at: law-pg-admissions@bristol.ac.uk

Further Note: An official final transcript will be needed before an unconditional offer can be made.

City University London

Adrian Dutch

International Student Recruitment Office

City University London, Northampton Square

London, UK, EC1V 0HB

NOTE: When your application has been processed by UCAS you can email your interim transcripts along with you UCAS Number for A) GELLB to Charlotte.Houghton.1@city.ac.uk and B) LLB to L.A.Childs@city.ac.uk

Further Note: An official final transcript will be needed before an unconditional offer can be made.

University of Exeter

Alicia Butterfield, International Officier

University of Exeter, Admissions Office, 8th floor

Laver Building, North Park Road

Exeter, Devon , UK EX4 4QE

NOTE: When your application has been processed by UCAS you can email your interim transcripts along with you UCAS Number to Alicia Butterfield at a.butterfield@exeter.ac.uk

Further Note: An official final transcript will be needed before an unconditional offer can be made.

University of Kent

Emma Marku, International Support Officer

International Office , The Registry

University of Kent

Canterbury, Kent, UK, CT2 7NZ

NOTE: When your application has been processed by UCAS you can email your interim transcripts along with you UCAS Number to A) Dan Lee at d.r.lee@kent.ac.uk and B) Emma Marku at E.L.Marku@kent.ac.uk

Further Note: An official final transcript will be needed before an unconditional offer can be made.

Queen Mary University

Jake Duffin, Departmental Undergraduate Admissions Manager

Department of Law, Queen Mary, University of London

Mile End Road, London, UK, E1 4NS

NOTE: When your application has been processed by UCAS you can email your interim transcripts along with you UCAS Number to Attn: Jake Duffin at: law-admissions@qmul.ac.uk

Further Note: An official final transcript will be needed before an unconditional offer can be made.

University of Southampton

Jo Fretwell, International Office

University of Southampton, Highfield Campus

Southampton, UK, S017 1BJ

NOTE: When your application has been processed by UCAS you can email your interim transcripts along with your UCAS Number to Jo Fretwell at: j.n.fretwell@southampton.ac.uk

Further Note: An official final transcript will be needed before an unconditional offer can be made.

University of Sussex

Chris Duffy, Admissions Co-Ordinator,

Undergraduate Admissions, Room 110,

University of Sussex
Sussex House, Falmer, Brighton, UK, BN1 9RH

NOTE: When your application has been processed by UCAS you can email your interim transcripts along with you UCAS Number to James Horne at: C.Duffy@sussex.ac.uk

Further Note: An official final transcript will be needed before an unconditional offer can be made.

Student Visa

All Canadian students attending law school in the U.K.

are required to obtain a student visa!

Once you receive a formal offer of acceptance from the law school you wish to attend return the offer with your acceptance and passport details immediately. You will receive a “CAS” letter from the university indicating that you will be attending the law school commencing the fall term. With that letter in hand Google World Bridge for directions on how to obtain your student visa.

Bristol MA Law

✤Good news for Canada Law From Abroad applicants. University of Bristol has a distinct law degree program. The Bristol MA Law is an accelerated, fast-track, two year, full-time senior status postgraduate degree in law that allows students to combine their LLB course of study with 1 LLM graduate course.
✤Applications to Bristol’s MA Law do not go through UCAS but directly through Bristol and John, acting as your advisor.
✤This allows students to apply to 6 universities, not just the 5 which is the maximum number of schools that students can apply to through UCAS.
✤Bristol recommends that students have a minimum 3.2GP on a 4 point scale to apply for the MA Law program.
✤In order for John to facilitate your Bristol MA Law application follow the directions below:
1.Go to the following web site: https://app.hobsons.co.uk/AYApplicantLogin/ApplicantConnectLogin.asp?id=bristol-g
2.Set up an account with a username and password.
3.E-mail your username and password to John at johng@canadalawfromabroad.com
4.Scroll through the drop down list and select Canada Law From Abroad as your Education Representative.
5.Complete the application as directed.
6.You will need to submit 2 (two) academic references for an MA Law application.
7.You can use the same personal statement as you did for your regular UCAS application. However, you aren’t limited to the 47 lines and you do have the option of writing a more comprehensive personal statement.

UCAS Registration Instructions for LLM

•The starting point for an LLM application is to contact John at Canada Law From Abroad for individualized advice and direction on the program and institution that best fits your legal career plan.
•John will act as you LLM advisor and facilitate your application(s).
•Applications to LLM Degree programs do not go through UCAS.
•Students apply directly to each university.
•LLM applications are administered through separate admissions offices.
•Students can apply to as many LLM degree programs/universities as they wish.
•An LLM Degree application requires:
✴A) a more comprehensive personal statement than required in an LLB application, and
✴B) more academic references (2 not 1).