How a UK Law Degree Can Help You Out in the Real World

Law courses in the UK are the third most commonly chosen type of degree course among international students at the moment and studying to be a Bachelor of Law (LLB), Master of Law (LLM) or taking the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) at a UK university has a number of benefits that could make it the right choice for you.

Studying for a UK law degree can open up lots of doors. The degrees prepare the students with core legal theories and practical expertise.

You will be able to pursue a variety of fantastic careers, from helping people to gain justice in the field of law to areas like management. But the benefits don’t stop there. Alongside this, it can be useful in the outside world in everyday situations, some of which will be looked at below.

Don’t have much time to read? Watch this short video instead–

Benefits of Studying Law in the UK:

Studying law degree in the UK can be useful in the outside world in everyday situations, some of which will be looked at below.

Extensive Knowledge:

Undergraduate law studies in the UK come up with a wide range of streams that are equipped in a way that allows you to develop extensive knowledge in various aspects of the law. You will have an opportunity to make your studies that is suitable to your studies. In the first year of your undergraduate, you will study the basics.

Later, in the second year, you will be provided with options to choose a specialization. It comes in three areas. They are Criminal Law and Justice, Commercial Law, and Human Rights Law. After the completion of your undergraduate law degree, you can choose to have a career in the field you enjoy.

Interchangeable Skills:

While developing mandatory subject knowledge while you are studying law, you will also get an opportunity to make use of skills that can be used in your personal and professional life. The skills that you will get to equip are spoken and written English language skills, teamwork, collaboration, project management, deep analysis, and research, giving attention to detail, and meeting deadlines. This will help you throughout your life.

A Good Deal of Career Opportunities:

When you graduate from studying law degree in the UK, you can explore plenty of jobs. Law graduates can work as paralegals, barristers, or solicitors. And they are also high in demand in police forces, finance, media, and politics all around the world. A detailed explanation of job opportunities is described in the following.

Arguments and managing emotions

Lots of things happen in the home. There will be times when couples argue. A challenge can be managing the situation when emotions run high. More often than not, people tend to agree instead of getting to the bottom of problems and relationships can break down. Law courses in the UK help you to put a point across effectively. You’ll learn case studies that can invoke high levels of emotion. You’ll learn about how to see beyond your feelings towards situations and problem-solve creatively and logically.

Consumer law and knowing your rights

Knowing the legal side of things can help you when you are buying or selling goods. If you choose to study consumer law, you will know the steps to take, but even if you don’t manage to study this area, a law course in the UK will make you passionate about learning and exploring other areas. You’ll know whether items can be returned and what to do when you are at a financial loss.

Learning how to read body language

Something which you will find useful to learn on a law course in the UK is the importance of body language. Studying the feelings and reasons why people take action does make you look deeper into signs and hints. The language a friend uses will be analyzed, and you’ll have the upper hand on how to make yourself more approachable. How guilty is someone? Did nerves play a part in the actions they took? Good body language is key to everything, from being in a healthy relationship to crisis management.

How to manage your time?

If you struggle to find time to study law Course in the UK can help you to manage your time effectively. The assessments you will cover will help you to use your time effectively in the outside world. If you have a deadline planned, breaking tasks down into smaller chunks is vital. This is something that can save you time and money in the outside world.

A law degree can be great for anyone looking to self-improve and explore a fascinating career. Researching and applying for the right higher education course for you can be a daunting prospect, especially if you are based internationally. A UK education consultancy, such as AHZ Associates, takes the stress out of the process and is here to help you every step of the way.

The length of the degree courses

Law is a demanding subject to study for a degree in, but law courses at UK universities are typically shorter than the ones you will find in places like the US and Canada. The standard length of the undergraduate LLB course in the UK is three years, while if you decide to go on and do the postgraduate LLM, this will generally take another year. Thus, you can graduate and start to pursue career opportunities much more quickly.

The qualifications are accepted in many other countries

The qualifications that can be obtained in law courses at UK universities are accepted in many other countries because English common law is the foundation of the legal system in those countries as well. This means that you can move to work in another part of the world if you wish, once you have finished your study law in the UK.

Then again, you may find that you fall in love with the United Kingdom while doing your degree and if that turns out to be the case, you will still have a head start in launching your law career in the UK. That is because the country is the chosen base of many of the biggest and most prestigious law companies from around the world. This includes four of the companies that are ranked in the top 10.

Why should one pursue law in the UK?

Worldwide recognized degrees

In addition to being respected internationally, UK institutions frequently have very well-regarded law schools.

Lancaster University has received many honors. The University’s law school is ranked 136th overall and 82nd in the world for law and legal studies by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021, which guarantees that you’ll receive a top-notch education and that businesses in the UK and abroad will recognize your degree.

UK law system

One of the oldest and most commonly used justice systems in the world will be covered when you pursue a law courses in the UK.

Since the legal systems of all nations are based on common law, which is the system in use here, your degree will contain a wealth of transferrable knowledge should you decide to work abroad.

Work in the UK after studying

Even though you have the option to work overseas, the UK has highly forgiving post-study work visa policies. You are permitted to remain in the UK for up to two years after graduating under the Graduate Immigration Route. Watch our video below to learn more.

Universities in the UK provide a variety of law degrees

Studying law in the UK is all about developing a thorough understanding of the fundamental legal concepts and principles that will enable me to become a respected attorney. Additionally, your law degree in the UK strives to provide you with a broad range of abilities and information from several fields where legal-related challenges are present.

The two most popular types of legal degrees sought by international students are the undergraduate degree in law (LLB, as it is known in the UK), and the postgraduate degree in law (LLM). But institutions in the UK also provide their pupils with other legal credentials.

Below are the law degrees offered at UK universities:

• LLB – Bachelor of Law.
• Graduate LLB – Fast track LLB leading to a postgraduate degree in law.
• LLM – Master of Law.
• GDL – Graduate Diploma in Law.
• LPC – Law Practice Course.
• BPTC – Bar Professional Training Course.
• QLTS – Qualified Lawyer Transfer Scheme.

Entry requirements for studying Law in the UK

• International Baccalaureate requirements: 34 points.
• A-levels requirements: AAB.
• State Board or National Board requirements: 65% or higher
• IELTS requirements to study Law in the UK: 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6.0 in any one component.

Tuition fees for studying Law in the UK

Undergraduate law programs in the UK have international tuition costs that range from about £12,000 to about £20,000 per academic year. Conversely, postgraduate-level tuition is substantially more expensive. The cost of an LLM degree in the UK is between £14,000 and almost £30,000.

Depending on the UK location you are studying in, the annual cost of living in London might be over £12,000, compared to £9000 to £10000 outside of the city.

Documents you need for studying Law in the UK

For master’s-level law studies in the UK, the following papers are needed:

• An Undergraduate law degree
• Transcripts
• Language Proficiency
• CV
• Proof of experience (two to three years)
• SOP (Statement of Purpose)

Salary range

Legal education does ensure a prosperous job. Lawyers at the company, notably those who specialize in patent law, are among the highest-paid workers in the world. Additionally, a barrister’s beginning pay in the UK is £35,000, with the possibility of earning up to £1 million after six to ten years of practice.

Courses in Law

In the UK, there are five-course options, they are-

• Undergraduate Law Degree (LLB)   
• Postgraduate (Masters / LLM)  
• Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)  
• Legal Practice Course (LPC)  
• Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)  

Undergraduate Law Degree (LLB)  

The LLB (Hons) program’s primary goal is the development of student’s legal knowledge, comprehension, and expertise. The ideas and technical norms of law will also be taught to the students, along with how to use them to analyse difficult issues, build cases, and draw logical conclusions.

Duration: LLB degrees usually take three years to complete.

Application: Through UCAS, you can apply to law schools in the UK. To examine the application process for UK law schools, click here. Unless you are applying to Oxford University or the University of Cambridge, you may submit your application at any time between mid-September and the end of June of the current academic year.

Postgraduate (Masters / LLM)

An LLM is a postgraduate degree that expands on the information you already have as a law graduate. You cannot, however, practice law in the UK with just an LLM. It only enables you to gain proficiency in a single area of law.

Duration: An LLM takes nine to ten months of full-time study or two years of part-time study based at an institution or by distance learning.

Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)

Students can advance to the next stage of becoming a lawyer by converting their existing knowledge into law through the Graduate Diploma in Law, generally known as the Common Professional Exam (CPE).

Duration: Courses can be taken part-time or through distance learning, but they must be finished in full within four years. A full-time CPE/GDL course must last at least 36 weeks, including the weeks of exams.

Legal Practice Course (LPC)  

This is the last qualification needed to practice law in the UK. This practical course is intended to give aspiring attorneys the tools they need to practice law.

Duration: This course lasts one year full-time or two years part-time.

Application: For full-time courses, application forms are available from September through the first of December of the year before you need a spot, with offers being made public in the following February.

Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)

The next step in becoming a barrister is this. It is a vocational course that will equip the student with the abilities and information needed to become a lawyer.

Duration: This course has a one-year full-time or two-year part-time

Application: Students should submit their applications between 16 October 2010 and 10 January 2011 for the BPTC courses beginning in 2011.

Two Year LLB in the UK

A two-year LLB/JD program called Graduate Entry Law, Senior Status Law, or an Accelerated LLB is available in the UK for students with a first degree in any field who want to pursue a legal career.

In general, students may select elective modules in their second year of the two-year LLB, which covers the basic modules and theoretical underpinnings of the law. A Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the United States or Canada is equivalent to a UK LLB degree.

Career opportunities for UK law graduates

Here are a few positions law graduates with a law courses in the UK could pursue:

• Advocate
• Solicitor
• Barrister
• Detective
• Entrepreneur
• Law Journalist
• Politician
• Professional law counselling
• Law Academic

Solicitor:

A solicitor is required to work as a confidential adviser who will have direct contact with the clients. They will combine their expertise and their personal skills to provide assistance and legal guidance. After being qualified, they can work independently by practising privately, being in-house for an industrial or commercial organization, in a central government or local or in court. When you get a qualified law degree, you are supposed to crack the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

Then, you will have to work for two years to gain legal work experience, mostly in a training contract. If your undergraduate degree stream is not in the law stream, you will have to enroll in an SQE exam preparation before appearing for the examination. The salary of a solicitor ranges from £27,000 to £60,000. Partnering up with a law firm can increase your pay to £100,000.

Arbitrator:

Arbitrators are required to work in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). This legal job is completely about Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). They hold the responsibility to make decisions on disputes that are based on the evidence that is presented by every party. This profession is one of the ways to raise legal disputes and resolved them outside the court. It can be an individual or any business, both sides should agree and follow the last decision made. An average salary of an arbitrator is £28,000. That can be raised to £65,000 with more time and experience.

Barrister:

Being a Barrister, you’re required to have the qualities like passion, dedication, and hard work. The roles and responsibilities of this job include giving specialist legal advice to the client who they represent, performing other tasks depending on their area of expertise They advise clients based on law, holding conferences with clients to talk to them about their situation, examining the witnesses, and find out reasons why the court ought to support their case, and negotiate settlements with the other party. A barrister can earn an average of £25,000 and £100,000 many of their experience in their expertise.

Barrister’s Clerk:

The role of a Barrister’s clerk is to practice assistant or be an assistant to managers. They are responsible to run an administration and manage the business activities of barrister’s chambers. You will have to be familiar with court procedures and etiquette and develop a type of law that is undertaken by the chambers. But this profession doesn’t apply as a route to becoming a barrister. The salary for a barrister’s clerk can quickie rise up to £27,000 with a few years of experience.

Chartered Legal Executive:

Only graduates who have successfully cracked the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) training program are eligible to use the title, chartered legal executive. You have to be a qualified lawyer who owns client files. When you be a fee earner in private, your work will be charged directly to the client. This is also the main importance between legal support staff and chartered legal executives. If you are a CILEx student, your average pay could be from £15,000 – £28,000. After successfully completing the exam, you get a rise of £38,000 and it rises gradually with years of experience.

Company Secretary:

Being a company secretary, you will be responsible for ensuring that the organization gets complied with standard finance and legal practice. You should also make sure that the company maintains higher standards of corporate governance. A base of a company secretary is £30,000. You should possess the capacity to work with numbers, perfect analytical skills, problem-solving skills, and high confidence to support high-profile client and board numbers.

Coroner:

Being a coroner, you will have to investigate deaths, what the cause of the deaths is, and finalize the cause of the death by analyzing the available information. Once the cause has been finalized, you have to notify the registrar. You will have to write an official report and should make recommendations. Former Barristers or Medical Doctors with more than five years of experience apply for this job because this profession draws a huge salary. The salary is based on their location. It can be around £85,000 and it rises to £115,000 and above for chief coroners.

Judge:

You will have control of trials and hearings in your courtroom being a judge. You have to analyze the evidence, interpret laws and make a fair decision with no partiality to any of the parties. When it comes to criminal cases, you have to decide what sentence must be given to the defendant if they have been convicted. You have to have the experience of being a solicitor or barrister first to become a judge. It follows part-time work that is supervised by an experienced judge.

Lecturer of Law:

After the completion of your law degree, you can use that experience of learning to teach law. This involves an additional study to become qualified as a teacher or lecturer. You will have to plan lessons, find out new topics and research them, and mark exams.

Legal Secretary:

If you become a legal secretary, your job will be to ensure that the office runs in a smooth manner. You will provide administrative support to solicitors and legal executives. You will have to produce wills, contracts, company with solicitors to court, accompany with police stations and deal with clients. You should possess the ability to type accurately and quickly. You should have an eye for detail.

Licensed Conveyancer:

A licensed Conveyancer is like a property law specialist who works on behalf of clients buying or selling a property in England and Whales. You should be dealing with legal matters, administration, finance, and queries that come under property transactions. This work can be taken up by any graduate of any degree. This job requires passing the Council of Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) exam.

Mediator:

You will work as a mediator between conflicting parties. You will have to maintain civil relationships, solving any issues or disputes with tactics, efficiency, and patience. You should act as an impartial third party who works with a wide range of people like divorcing couples, separated parents, landlords, and tenants. Your task will include meeting clients and finding new ways to work on the conflicts. It involves legal authorities in cases where mediation is not working.

Paralegal:

Being a Paralegal, you will have to give out legal services. But you are not qualified as a solicitor, barrister, or charted legal executive. You can’t work as solicitors. Paralegals don’t have the eligibility to work as solicitors especially if they don’t have a law degree. You should have an understanding of a client and sector, good people skills, and networking skills. You will have to analyze information and look for implications.

Patent Attorney:

You will be specially trained for drafting patents and with the help of the knowledge of intellectual property law, you will have to lead inventors or assist companies through the process of obtaining a patent. You should act to enforce inventors’ rights if it is infringed. You should also possess an understanding of scientific and technological principles. You should also have the ability to explain complete technical ideas easily and precisely.

Scholarships to study Law Degree in the UK

There are several valuable scholarships to study law courses in the UK. Make use of these best scholarships to study law in the UK scholarships. The scholarships are listed in the following-

Scholarship Name	Provided by	Range
Chevening Scholarship	Government of the UK	£18,000
Commonwealth Master Scholarships	Government of the UK	£15,600
Gate Cambridge Scholarship	University of Cambridge	£500 – £2,000
LLB Scholarship	University of Birmingham	£3000
Dickson Poon Undergraduate Law Scholarship Program	King’s College London	£18000-36000
Law School Scholarships and Grants	University College London	£1,000 -12,000

Straightforward admissions process

The UK has one of the most straightforward application processes for law degrees, as it does not require those applying to pass an admission test as part of it, which is the case in lots of other countries. Often, a personal statement explaining why you want to study law in the UK and what qualities you have that will make you suitable is requested instead.

FAQs