Montreal or geneva (switzerland)?

[simonblue]

Hi, im sorry if this bother you, but i need to decide an important path in my life in the next months:
I live in Argentina (im 20 years old) startin the "Law" career (degree i think...6 years). i live here and only pay the books (university is free) but im planning to move to geneva..or at least thats what i thought...
Aproximately, in my research, to live in geneva i will be spending like 3,500CHF(3180 eur) per month, with an aproximately 4,000 NET (3630 eur) starting salary as a practicing lawyer (is this true?)
The pros, i could stay 4-5 years here, with the free university, move then to Spain and finish the carrer (i think it is possible..right?) with a 2.500euros per month budget (university + living there) then move to geneva.
BUT, i was searching about canada, and discover that (though) the minimun salary with a small firm would be 2200(cad) NET (like 1400 euros) with 2.000 maximun living cost... and then the salary raise...in a silly and fantastic way (i actually like more the WEST canada, rocosas, but montreal is a great city)
I hear that lawyer have a descending job offers and the raise it is not very good... but i actually cant know if it is like that ( once i decide the country i want to live in, ther is no turning back..or i would have to spend a 6 more years ... minimun ...ridicolous...
The real thing, is that going to geneva is more than possible: i have 4-5 years to make the necessary money, i would NOT spend money in university those years, spain is WAY more cheap than canada, where i think i will be spending 30,000-40,000 per annun (live + university...six years with that budget is litle bit privatite)
pd: do you need if somethin from my county is recognized as a bachelors in canada?
So, Geneva or montreal? please, argue the question (in terms of salary and living conditions. i love both countries)
Thanks!

 

[Leon]

Switzerland is generally considered to have a high standard of living but it's hard to pick if you haven't really spent any time in either place.

As for doing a law degree, have you looked into how well that translates between countries? As far as I know, you will be studying the law of the country of your university but if you move to another country, you will have to re-learn all the law there, in their language, and pass a licensing exam to be allowed to practice.

 

[8Hannah8]

English speaking part of Canada is based on Common Law as opposing to Civil Law in Quebec. If you receive a degree in Quebec (Montreal) your practice would be limited to Quebec.

However, if you do LLM later, you will be able to take a Bar Exam and practice all over Canada.

What area of law are you planning to practice? Pretty strange to see the salary comparison and advancement possibilities without any background details.

 

[jomz]

Hi, im sorry if this bother you, but i need to decide an important path in my life in the next months:
I live in Argentina (im 20 years old) startin the "Law" career (degree i think...6 years). i live here and only pay the books (university is free) but im planning to move to geneva..or at least thats what i thought...
Aproximately, in my research, to live in geneva i will be spending like 3,500CHF(3180 eur) per month, with an aproximately 4,000 NET (3630 eur) starting salary as a practicing lawyer (is this true?)
The pros, i could stay 4-5 years here, with the free university, move then to Spain and finish the carrer (i think it is possible..right?) with a 2.500euros per month budget (university + living there) then move to geneva.
BUT, i was searching about canada, and discover that (though) the minimun salary with a small firm would be 2200(cad) NET (like 1400 euros) with 2.000 maximun living cost... and then the salary raise...in a silly and fantastic way (i actually like more the WEST canada, rocosas, but montreal is a great city)
I hear that lawyer have a descending job offers and the raise it is not very good... but i actually cant know if it is like that ( once i decide the country i want to live in, ther is no turning back..or i would have to spend a 6 more years ... minimun ...ridicolous...
The real thing, is that going to geneva is more than possible: i have 4-5 years to make the necessary money, i would NOT spend money in university those years, spain is WAY more cheap than canada, where i think i will be spending 30,000-40,000 per annun (live + university...six years with that budget is litle bit privatite)
pd: do you need if somethin from my county is recognized as a bachelors in canada?
So, Geneva or montreal? please, argue the question (in terms of salary and living conditions. i love both countries)
Thanks!

Couple of points that may help you understand the system a little better

Law program in Canada is 3 years in duration.
To be accepted into law school one needs to have a bachelor degree with a very high GPA (one can apply with only 3 years of a bachelor completed but this significantly lowers chances of acceptance)
On average for 1 available space in any Canadian law school there are 20-30 applicants
International tuition fees will be approximately $30,000-$40,000 annually, all other miscellaneous cost including rent, food, phone, books, transportation will cost you on average $20,000-$24,000 annually (in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary much more as cost of living in those cities is very high).

 

[jomz]

Also here's a good site to compare cost of living between Canadian cities or any other cities in the world.

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/comparison.jsp

The cost of living through the this site is fairly accurate.