UK Law Grad Choosing Next Steps: MBA Co-op or GPLLM?

[SteelersFan289]

Hey everyone,

Hope you're all doing well! I’m currently in my third and final year at the University of Leeds School of Law in the UK. I am a Canadian student and went straight into law school after high school, thanks to scholarships and a clear early goal of becoming a lawyer. While I knew there would be challenges, especially when it came to returning to Canada, the decision and opportunity made sense financially and academically at the time.

I am currently ranked in the top 1.6% of my class, and my long-term goal is to practise in commercial or tech law, with a focus on areas such as financial transactions, capital markets, or emerging technologies.

I’m returning to Canada this September and currently deciding between two graduate school paths. I’m leaning toward pursuing further education to strengthen my profile, as I don't have an undergraduate degree before attending law school, and my academic path so far has been high school, followed by law school. I also do not have any Canadian universities on my resume. That said, I’m open to hearing about whether pursuing another credential is necessary.

The first option is the McMaster DeGroote MBA Co-op program. It is a 2.5-year program, with graduation expected in December 2027. It includes three co-op placements, which I aim to complete in the financial or banking sectors. While completing my MBA, I would also fulfill my NCA requirements. My rationale is that the program would broaden my business knowledge, provide hands-on experience, and allow me to develop dual expertise in both business and law. I believe this combination could help me stand out as a candidate with a diverse and commercially grounded background, while also expanding my professional network.

The second option is the GPLLM at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law, in the Canadian Law Concentration. This one-year program satisfies NCA requirements and would be a more direct continuation of my legal education. It would enhance my resume by adding the University of Toronto Law and provide me with access to their alumni network and career services. While I’ve heard mixed reviews about the program, I’ve also seen success stories, so I’m still undecided.

For context: I went through the 2025 summer recruit and received three OCI interviews (two BigLaw firms and the Attorney General’s Office). I made it to in-person interviews for all three, but unfortunately didn’t land any offers. I received positive feedback about my interview skills and was told it may have come down to numbers. That said, I’ve wondered whether my age at the time (I was 19) or my UK-only legal education without an undergrad played a role.

While I’ve reached out to my network, I wanted to gather additional perspectives and hear what others think. I’m torn between these two paths and would really appreciate any advice or insight from those who have taken either route, or from anyone with thoughts on which option might better position me for success in the Canadian legal market, especially in the commercial or tech sectors. I’m also open to any alternative suggestions I may not have considered.

Thanks so much for reading. I appreciate everyone's time and any guidance they can offer!

 

[CleanHands]

If you still want to be a Canadian lawyer and are contemplating further education with that objective in mind (rather than shooting your shot with your CV as is), getting a Canadian JD makes infinitely more sense than the options you are asking about.

13 minutes ago, SteelersFan289 said:

I went through the 2025 summer recruit and received three OCI interviews (two BigLaw firms and the Attorney General’s Office). I made it to in-person interviews for all three, but unfortunately didn’t land any offers. I received positive feedback about my interview skills and was told it may have come down to numbers. That said, I’ve wondered whether my age at the time (I was 19) or my UK-only legal education without an undergrad played a role.

Yes and yes.

[bigtruss]

Of the options you've listed, the law degree (GPLLM) is likely a better option for becoming a Canadian lawyer.

The JD suggested above would give a higher probability of landing a job as a Canadian lawyer, but it would also strip you of more of the potential payoff of becoming a practicing lawyer faster that drove you to do the UK LLB in the first place (6 total years of school rather than 4, both less than 7). I'm not well placed to comment on how likely landing a good legal job in Canada with the GPLLM is but would imagine it's less than the JD but more than the MBA. The right choice seems to depend a bit on your risk appetite and what the rough probability of the GPLLM leading to a job you're happy with is (e.g., 60% chance is very different from 25% chance).

Just out of curiosity, did you not have any interest in qualifying in the UK and practicing in one of the areas of interest you mentioned? I imagine $ is a driver of your decision making process based on areas of interest. Leeds is a solid school and graduating in the top 2% of your class could open doors for a training contract at a top firm where you would get paid 60-65kGBP for 2 years as a trainee solicitor, then make an NQ salary far higher than associate salaries on Bay Street (top U.S. firms in London like Latham & Watkins are paying 173kGBP/year and Magic Circle firms are paying 150kGBP/year). London is also a special and fun city. 

Can't believe I'm trying to help a Steelers fan 😂 best of luck with whatever you choose!

[Conge]

MBA will take you off the track to becoming a lawyer, IMO. It's not a bad option, but it's not a the path to becoming a lawyer. 

GPLLM could get you on track, but do you have data on how many graduates actually get articles and employment with a UK LLB +GPLLM? Your LLB class ranking will be in your favour but you will still be "outside" the normal path.

JD puts you directly on the path to becoming a lawyer and the employment prospects are good, especially if you perform nearly as well as you did on your LLB.

I appreciate JD is the longest road, but it's also probably be best option for your goal. 

 

[BondGuy]

On 6/5/2025 at 2:59 PM, CleanHands said:

If you still want to be a Canadian lawyer and are contemplating further education with that objective in mind (rather than shooting your shot with your CV as is), getting a Canadian JD makes infinitely more sense than the options you are asking about.

Yes and yes.

I'm late, but I'd agree with this. And when I agree with CleanHands you know you're getting both sides of the story. 

Given you did it right out of highschool, you're not really losing much in the way of time. 

I have come across a handful of MBAs in the legal field when I'm working on/with/around Bay Street types. But many more Canadian JDs. Many. Many. 

I say this as a NCA myself.