Law degrees guide

What’s Law?

Understanding legal theory and applying it to real-life situations is part of studying law. There are several different strands such as criminal law, public law and company law as well as legal issues around topics like human rights and the environment.

What Law degrees can you study?

Undergraduate degrees in the subject of Law include those setting you on the path to a legal career, and degrees concerned with the wider area of legal standards, law enforcement and criminal behavior:

•Accounting and Law BA

•Business Management with Law BSc

•Crime and Investigation BSc

•Criminology with Law BSc

•Law LLB/BA

•Policing and Criminal Justice BSc

Degrees may offer a foundation year or foundation programme.

Many universities also offer sandwich courses with a professional placement or international exchange year. If a Law degree includes a placement, it can count towards the qualifying work experience needed to become a solicitor in England.

What do you need to get onto a Law degree?

Typically, entry to an undergraduate Law degree requires between 96–165 UCAS points. Some courses may have lower or higher requirements, and not all unis base their offer on UCAS points. Qualifications may include:

•A Levels: A*AA–CCC

•BTECs: D*D*D*–DMM

•Scottish Highers: AAAAA– ABBB (Advanced Highers: AAA)

•International Baccalaureate: 42–29

•Some Law degree courses require an interview and a pass in the Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT) or equivalent

Good to have

•English, history, politics or other essay-based subjects at A Level (or equivalent)

•Work experience or shadowing in a solicitor's firm, with a pro bono or legal charity, or at a court

•Visiting a court to see cases in action – you can also see videos of court cases via the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website

•Building your business awareness by keeping abreast of the news for stories with legal implications

•Further reading – check uni websites for suggested preparatory reading

•Knowledge of the career and developments from the websites of regulators, Law societies, and legal news sites

•Honing your skills in reasoning and argument by entering essay prizes or the Bar Mock Trial competition, or joining a debating society or group

•Attending summer schools, if eligible, such as UNIQ or Sutton Trust

What topics does a Law degree cover?

If you plan on a legal career, your Law degree must include modules on the seven 'foundations' of legal knowledge:

•Contract law

•Tort law

•Criminal law

•Constitutional/administrative law

•Land/property law

•Equity/trusts law

•European Union law (this will continue to be a foundation subject for the foreseeable future)

Students aiming to practice law in Northern Ireland must also pass a module on the law of evidence, which can be taken separately if needed. To practice law in Scotland, students must complete a degree in Scots Law, or a joint degree in Scots and English Law.

All Law degrees will also include a module on legal skills and methods. Optional modules might include:

•Law and medicine

•Media law

•Internet law

•Public international law

•Family law

•Intellectual property law

How will you be assessed?

Assessments are usually carried out by a mixture of the following, and will vary from module to module.

•Coursework

•Essays

•Exams (including seen, pre-release and open book exams)

•Presentations

•Reports

•A dissertation is usually a final year choice

Why study Law?

The quality of education at law schools in the UK is highly attractive, resulting in many students coming to study from overseas. A diverse cohort will expose you to different cultures and give you an international network that may prove useful later in life. You’ll also gain skills that will benefit you in any future career.

Career-specific skills:

•Skills in legal practice including mooting (a mock legal hearing where you argue points of law) and pro bono work

•Depending on the course, knowledge of law in specific areas such as family, commerce or finance

•Legal methods in research and drafting formal documents

Transferable skills:

•Analytical thinking

•Attention to detail

•Critical thinking and analysis

•Good oral communication

•Interpretation and explanation of complex subjects

•Negotiation

•Persuasive communication

•Practical problem solving

•Research

•Strong reasoning skills

•Team working

Professional accreditation:

•In Scotland, Scots Law degrees are accredited by the Law Society of Scotland and the Faculty of Advocates

•For Northern Ireland, degrees must be approved by the Council of Legal Education (NI); recognised degrees are listed on the website of the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS)

•In England and Wales, from September 2021, university Law degrees no longer require approval by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) or Bar Standards Board

•Some Law degrees may also include the choice to complete a Level 7 Diploma in Paralegal Practice, accredited by the National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP)

Are scholarships and bursaries available to students studying Law?  

Some universities offer law students a scholarship, bursary or grant so it’s worth seeing if you are eligible, how to apply and what it covers e.g., materials, tuition fees or living costs.  

What do Law graduates earn?

Law graduates can expect an entry-level salary of around £22,000, with the average law graduate salary in the UK being £25,000. Once you qualify you could expect pay of around £45,000 and within four years, your income could reach £82,000.

The government also has a legal trainee scheme – you’ll benefit from a salary and have your fees for legal courses paid. Salaries for trainees depend on your location and department.  

What jobs can you get as a Law graduate?

The obvious route for a Law degree is to become a solicitor or barrister (advocate in Scotland), which will require further vocational training. A Law degree is also considered highly among other professions, including academia, media, business, politics and banking.

Most qualified lawyers work in private practice, while others may join in-house legal departments, the Government Legal Service, or Crown Prosecution Service.

•Advocate or barrister

•Chartered accountant

•Chartered legal executive

•Company secretary

•Coroner

•Court legal adviser

•Crown prosecutor

•Family mediator

•In-house solicitor

•Lecturer

•Licensed conveyancer

•Management consultant

•Member of parliament (MP)

•Paralegal

•Public affairs consultant

•Queen’s Counsel (QC)

•Solicitor

•Trademark attorney

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

Law graduates require further vocational training to become a solicitor or barrister, which could include a postgraduate diploma or a master’s degree. Alternatively, in England, you could complete a graduate fast track diploma with CILEx (Chartered Institute of Legal Executives) to qualify as a chartered legal executive, specializing in a specific area of the law.

If you have a degree in a different subject than Law, you can take a Law conversion course or a graduate-entry qualifying Law degree.

Practicing lawyers can take postgraduate qualifications to specialize. Joint MBA and Law programmes are also available, both in the UK and overseas.

Examples of taught master’s and research degrees at postgraduate level include:

•Criminal Justice Policy MSc

•Human Rights MA

•Intellectual Property Law and Practice PGDip

•Law MPhil/DPhil/PhD

•Legal Practice LLM (SQE 1&2)

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