Which University is best for Law?

[KaitlinC]

I have had a lot of trouble trying to decide which university I should apply to in the past week, so I was hoping someone could offer me some advice or suggestions, I would really appreciate it, thank you in advance!
Ideally, I would like to study law and complete a double degree, I have considered both a law/criminology degree or a law/arts degree since I am very passionate about criminal law in particular. 
My atar result was excellent and I should be able to be considered for all courses so that isn't really a factor, mostly I am just uncertain as to which university would be suit me best. My issues include that Deakin Uni seems to have more of a focus on civil law whereas I'm interested in criminal law, Monash University would take me at least an hour and 40 minutes travel each way, and Melbourne Uni doesn't seem to offer double degrees in the traditional sense.
Please someone help me, thank you

[jamonwindeyer]

Welcome to the forums you guys!!

I'll let someone from VIC more knowledgeable than I answer your questions specifically, but just wanted to say that I do a 2-2.5 hour commute to my uni. I set up my timetable so I only have to go in 3 times a week (long days, but minimises travel), and it actually isn't bad! I do work on the train and occasionally drive, I came to actually like my morning commute (I never just sit and listen to music, it was relaxing, even with the traffic)

I'll be doing a similar thing this semester too of course it's inconvenient, but it isn't as bad as it might seem on paper! I thought it would be and I was pleasantly surprised

[Alter]

Echoing the above. I commute from regional Victoria to get to uni (about 2 hrs each way) and it's definitely not as terrible as everyone seems to believe as long as you learn to manage your time well. Doing a degree that has fewer contact hours also helps a lot.

In terms of choosing a uni, it could depend on what kind of job you want to have at the end of the day. As much as it sucks to be true, prestige matters a lot when it comes to choosing a university for law--particularly because the market for lawyers is very over-saturated at the moment. However, this can tend to play a part only for top-tier firms or careers, and your grades are more important than prestige anyway. How far is it to Melb uni/Deakin for you, and why are you set on a double degree as opposed to doing Arts and then Law?

[KaitlinC]

Welcome to the forums you guys!!

I'll let someone from VIC more knowledgeable than I answer your questions specifically, but just wanted to say that I do a 2-2.5 hour commute to my uni. I set up my timetable so I only have to go in 3 times a week (long days, but minimises travel), and it actually isn't bad! I do work on the train and occasionally drive, I came to actually like my morning commute (I never just sit and listen to music, it was relaxing, even with the traffic)

I'll be doing a similar thing this semester too of course it's inconvenient, but it isn't as bad as it might seem on paper! I thought it would be and I was pleasantly surprised

Thank you for the advice, I don't use public transport too often so a three hour round trip does sound quite tedious and wasteful, especially if I would be required to attend uni three, four times a week but I did think I might be able to use the time to study or listen to lectures or something similar to get the most from that time

Echoing the above. I commute from regional Victoria to get to uni (about 2 hrs each way) and it's definitely not as terrible as everyone seems to believe as long as you learn to manage your time well. Doing a degree that has fewer contact hours also helps a lot.

In terms of choosing a uni, it could depend on what kind of job you want to have at the end of the day. As much as it sucks to be true, prestige matters a lot when it comes to choosing a university for law--particularly because the market for lawyers is very over-saturated at the moment. However, this can tend to play a part only for top-tier firms or careers, and your grades are more important than prestige anyway. How far is it to Melb uni/Deakin for you, and why are you set on a double degree as opposed to doing Arts and then Law?

Honestly, I'm not too sure what I want to do at the end of the day specifically, I just know that I am very passionate about criminal law - and the focus on civil law at Deakin is part of the deterrence for me despite it's other assets. Deakin is only 30-40 minutes away from me, whereas Melbourne is closer to 1 hour.
In my mind, I would assume that future employers would value a double degree in criminology and law above arts and law which has kind of influenced my thinking so I'm just really, really unsure as to whether apply for the double degree, at say, Deakin or go to Melbourne due to its reputation. I am interested to hear your thoughts as to whether Melbourne's reputation is worth it?  Thanks

[vox nihili]

Commuting sucks, but it's manageable. You find that you better organise your time if you have to commute.

Also, much more manageable if you have just one long leg in, rather than having to change trains/buses/trams a lot during your trip.

[brenden]

In the same situation as you I would choose Monash.

[spectroscopy]

I have had a lot of trouble trying to decide which university I should apply to in the past week, so I was hoping someone could offer me some advice or suggestions, I would really appreciate it, thank you in advance!
Ideally, I would like to study law and complete a double degree, I have considered both a law/criminology degree or a law/arts degree since I am very passionate about criminal law in particular. 
My atar result was excellent and I should be able to be considered for all courses so that isn't really a factor, mostly I am just uncertain as to which university would be suit me best. My issues include that Deakin Uni seems to have more of a focus on civil law whereas I'm interested in criminal law, Monash University would take me at least an hour and 40 minutes travel each way, and Melbourne Uni doesn't seem to offer double degrees in the traditional sense.
Please someone help me, thank you

i personally wouldnt go to monash if i lived anywhere near wyndham central secondary college. its just under 2 hours each way.
in your situation i would do melbourne bachelor of arts and then do postgraduate law (JD). first off you can do a bachelor of arts that includes criminology + the other arts stuff which you seem to be tossing up between (yay)
also it should take roughly the same time as the double degree of arts&law. melbourne b arts+JD is usually 6 years but it can be done in as little as 4.5 ... theoretically you could do it in 4 but that would be wild LOL 4.5 is also hard but 5 is very realistic. at which point you will take just as long as a monash/deakin arts/law student who wouldve had to overload a little bit, but you will have a postgrad law degree (rather than a bachelors) + you wouldntve had to go so far as to go to monash/burwood every day ! win win.
also although melbourne and monash are both good, through my life of going through recruiting for corporate jobs (not law but its similiar across consulting/finance (finance is probably more snobby & competitive than law)) going to melbourne is always a huge boost in these suit & tie fields.  a long time ago it was the main uni for these sorts of things so alot of the partners of the big law firms are from melbourne (although monash is becoming increasingly represented over time) and people tend to be kinder to alumbi of their own uni
i personally dont really like how people are snobby with unis as you learn similiar shit at every uni but it definitely exists in the workplace. especially in a field like law where there are SOOO many graduates and recruiters have to heavily rely on heuristics to cull large chunks of applicants for things, you need all the help you can get.


also, before anyone knocks deakin, note that deakin students can also get the opportunities at big places, but you have too be alot better to stand out.  and for the really elite firms its much harder to get in. i've got a mate at a big name but mid-tier firm, where out of a sample of his 22 of his co-workers who he knows what uni they went to: they have around 12 melb students, 9 monash, 1 deakin   but the kid from deakin is apparently an absolute gun with a ridiculous resume. so if deakin appeals to you just make sure u dominate your course. also another factor to consider is range of subject choices, especially if you go to a non-burwood deakin

just my 2 cents that i have to throw in, good luck and hope you do well

EDIT: clarity

[Faith-PoweR]

also although melbourne and monash are both good, through my life of going through recruiting for corporate jobs (not law but its similiar across consulting/finance (finance is probably more snobby & competitive than law)) going to melbourne is always a huge boost in these suit & tie fields. 
i personally dont really like how people are snobby with unis as you learn similiar shit at every uni but it definitely exists in the workplace. especially in a field like law where there are SOOO many graduates and recruiters have to heavily rely on heuristics to cull large chunks of applicants for things, you need all the help you can get.

also, before anyone knocks deakin, note that deakin students can also get the opportunities at big places, but you have too be alot better to stand out.  and for the really elite firms its much harder to get in. i've got a mate at a big name but mid-tier firm, where out of a sample of his 22 of his co-workers who he knows what uni they went to: they have around 12 melb students, 9 monash, 1 deakin   but the kid from deakin is apparently an absolute gun with a ridiculous resume.

I've heard similar things. Someone who works in the HR department in one of the big four banks recently told me that Melbourne and Monash graduates do have significant advantages in terms of getting an offer.