what degree do you need to be a lawyer uk

• 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.

Full Answer

How to become a lawyer in the UK?

You should be committed to getting an understanding of all it takes to become a professional lawyer. At the same time, the law degree courses in the UK are known to equip you with the essential skills as well as knowledge from various disciplines facing common law issues.

Do you need a law degree to be a lawyer?

Short answer: no! Many very successful lawyers did not study a first degree in law and, in fact, around half of newly qualified lawyers have a non-law degree. However, there are benefits and drawbacks to entering the legal profession with a non-law degree.

What are the common law degrees offered in the UK?

Some of the common law degrees that are offered by the UK universities and colleges are: LLB –Bachelor of Law LLM –Master of Law Graduate LLB –instant LLB along with a post-graduate degree in the field of law

What subjects do you need to be a lawyer?

Knowledge from a specific subject area can inform the work that lawyers do in a different practice areas. For example, lawyers working in technology law can benefit from having studied computer science at university and knowing how different technologies work. STEM subjects have been especially sought after by many large law firms.

What GCSEs do u need to be a lawyer?

What GCSEs should I take to become a lawyer? To study law, you'll need at least five GCSEs (or equivalent Level 2 qualifications) at grade 4/C or above, including Maths, English Language and Science. Courses are competitive, so you should aim for the highest grades possible.

What degree do you need to be lawyer?

A law aspirant must have an LLB degree to be a Lawyer. It is not possible to be an Attorney or a Lawyer with just a Diploma or Certificate Law courses. A lawyer or advocate can either deal with individual clients, law agencies, law firms, litigation, administrative service, government agencies or corporate houses etc.

Are law degrees worth it UK?

A law degree is a great qualification to obtain employment – law graduates have the 6th highest employment rate - and bear in mind up to 60% of all law graduates chose to use their law degree to gain jobs other than in the legal profession.

How long is law degree UK?

Studying law in the UK UK law students study for a total of five years. Designed to cover nearly the same content as an LLB degree in a shorter amount of time, the GDL allows non-law students to switch to law after university. Alternatively, students can complete the typical LLB (3 years) or a combined LLB (5+ years).

How do I become a lawyer after 12?

Step-By-Step Guide to Pursue Law After Studying Science in 12thStep 1- Apply for a Law Entrance Exam. ... Step 2 - Choose the Right Law Course after 12th Science. ... Step 3 - Choose the Right Law College to Study Law. ... Step 4 - Go for Further Studies or Enrol in the State Bar Council.

Which type of lawyer gets paid the most?

Some of the highest-paid lawyers are:Medical Lawyers – Average $138,431. Medical lawyers make one of the highest median wages in the legal field. ... Intellectual Property Attorneys – Average $128,913. ... Trial Attorneys – Average $97,158. ... Tax Attorneys – Average $101,204. ... Corporate Lawyers – $116,361.

What are good A levels for law?

Many law students take at least one 'facilitating' subject such as a foreign language, maths, science, English, history or geography, which are deemed as good choices for students who want to keep their degree options flexible.

Is studying law hard in UK?

Law ranks as a prestigious degree. There isn't an easier place to study Law, all universities have the same level of difficulty for students looking to study their degree.

How much do lawyers make UK?

Salaries for newly-qualified lawyers across the rest of the UK are in the region of £27,000 to £60,000. As a newly qualified solicitor in Scotland, you can expect to be paid around £30,000 rising to £38,000, depending on your area of private practice or whether you're working in house.

How hard is a law degree?

Law School is a Heavy Workload Earning a law degree is pretty challenging because you are supposed to do a lot of hard work. This work comprises mostly of studying and understanding complex law cases loaded with new-fangled legal terminology and unusual jargon.

Is becoming a lawyer hard?

Becoming a lawyer in California is one of the most difficult, and most rewarding, career choices you can make. California is notoriously one of the most difficult bars to obtain membership in, and the steps necessary to do so include earning multiple college degrees, taking entrance examinations, and submitting ...

Which university in UK is best for law?

Best Universities For Law UK: 8 Best Law Schools University of Oxford. University of Cambridge. University College London. Durham University. King's College London. University Of Glasgow. University of Edinburgh. Queen Mary University of London.More items...

How to become a lawyer in the UK?

One of the ways to become a lawyer in the UK is to become a barrister. A barrister must first complete Academic Training—meaning a law degree or an unrelated degree followed by a conversion course (or Graduate Diploma in Law). Instead of training in a law firm like a solicitor, a barrister candidate will take the Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT) ...

How long can a lawyer practice in England?

Lawyers who have practised UK law for less than three years may also apply, provided they are registered with the Law Society and have pursued a professional activity in the UK for at least three years.

What Does a Barrister Do?

There are approximately 17,000 practising barristers who are employed or self-employed in England and Wales. They have their own areas of expertise just as solicitors do. The Bar Council defines barristers as:

What are the two branches of the English legal profession?

The English legal profession is divided into two branches: solicitors and barristers. The reasons for this division are mainly historical, rather than the result of a conscious effort to divide the profession into two distinct parts. The Bar Council (through the Bar Standards Board) regulates barristers and the Law Society (through the Solicitors Regulatory Authority) regulates solicitors.

What are the rules for solicitors?

Solicitors are subject to regulation by specialist bodies. In England and Wales, the regulatory framework governing the solicitor’s profession restricts anyone except qualified solicitors from offering ‘reserved activities’, relating to: 1 the exercise of rights of audience; 2 the conduct of, and the preparation of documents in, court and immigration tribunal proceedings; 3 the preparation of instruments and the lodging of documents relating to the transfer or charge of land; 4 the preparation of trust deeds disposing of capital; 5 the preparation of papers on which to found or oppose a grant of probate or a grant of letters of administration; 6 the administration of oaths and statutory declarations; and 7 to undertake immigration work not included under these reserved activities.

What percentage of barristers are QCs?

They are often consulted by others for research and advice on complex or unusual cases, or novel points of law. Approximately 10% of practising barristers are Queen’s Counsel (or QCs). The rank of Queen’s Counsel has, traditionally, been a mark of distinction and seniority.

How long does it take to become a bar in the middle of the court?

Once the candidate joins one of the four Inns of Court (Middle Temple, Inner Temple, Gray’s Inn and Lincoln’s Inn) they undertake the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) over one or two years for Vocational Training. Once this is successfully completed and any extra training is undertaken, the Inn “Calls” you to the Bar.

What is a barrister and solicitor?

Barristers and solicitors specialise in a select number of practice areas, meaning that many of the subjects studied by undergraduate law students are only really useful for academic purposes.

Why do lawyers need to know a specific subject?

For example, lawyers working in technology law can benefit from having studied computer science at university and knowing how different technologies work. STEM subjects have been especially sought after by many large law firms.

What is the conversion course for a non-law graduate?

The most common conversion courses for non-law graduates are the CPE (Common Professional Examination) and the GDL (Graduate Diploma in Law). This is a requirement before you complete the LPC to qualify as a solicitor and the Bar course to become a barrister. It is recommended to take a conversion course before taking the SQE (the new process for qualifying as a solicitor), but it may not be a requirement.

What are the benefits of law school?

The benefits of studying a law degree 1 give you knowledge of the areas of law you are likely to come across as a qualified lawyer, and offer a more in-depth knowledge of some aspects of law. 2 teach you useful skills, transferable across many professions. These include: problem solving, critical thinking, logical reasoning and analytical skills. 3 surround you with other students with the same ambitions, and you’ll be kept in the know by your law department about careers advice, fairs, guest speakers and events that can give you good links to potential employers. 4 let you have the opportunity to test whether law is right for you by getting involved in your university’s law society: moots (mock trials), socials, meeting recruiters, presentations and so on. Not all law societies allow non-law students to join, meaning that if you don’t do a law degree you might miss out on this insight into the profession as an undergraduate. 5 open doors to other non-law professions. The law degree has a good reputation among employers and you can start careers in areas, such as legal publishing, banking, tax and more.

What does "give you knowledge of the areas of law" mean?

give you knowledge of the areas of law you are likely to come across as a qualified lawyer, and offer a more in-depth knowledge of some aspects of law.

Do lawyers need a law degree?

Short answer: no! Many very successful lawyers did not study a first degree in law and, in fact, around half of newly qualified lawyers have a non-law degree. However, there are benefits and drawbacks to entering the legal profession with a non-law degree. So, if you are interested in a career in law and thinking about what degree to study ...

Do law recruiters have the same criteria as non-law students?

Law recruiters have the same criteria whether you’re a law student or not: a good academic background and the skills to be a lawyer. Non-law graduates aren’t inherently at a disadvantage during the recruitment process. Remember that studying law at university is very different to working as a lawyer, so law graduates have to find out about ...

What are the entry requirements for law school in the UK?

The entry requirements for the high-end law schools in the UK vary significantly. They ultimately depend on the particular university, your nationality, the previous degree, and the academic level of the course. Depending on the same, you will be required to submit essential documents to support your application.

Why Study Law Degree in the UK?

Given their several years of experience, they have developed an unmatched reputation amongst the law colleges in the world.

What is a LLB degree?

Bachelor (known to as LLB in the United Kingdom) and Master (referred to as LLM in the UK) Degrees in Law are the most common law degrees or courses that are sought-after by international students. Every year thousands of international students from different parts of the world come over to the UK to seek high-end law degree programmes offered by reputed colleges and universities in the country.

What is the emphasis of a law degree in the UK?

When you are pursuing a lucrative law degree course from a prestigious UK university, emphasis is paid on both, theoretical as well as practical learning. The programmes also focus on presenting a series of real-life situations that you need to handle through debating and critical thinking. At the same time, the curricula of the law courses in the UK are highly flexible towards encouraging and providing you with the opportunity to understand and interpret law effectively.

What is the curriculum of law in the UK?

Amazing Curriculums: The law courses offered in the UK are primarily focused on providing the law students with a comprehensive understanding of important legal issues in multiple contexts. It is effectively achieved through the right balance of both theoretical as well as practical concepts of the subject. The respective law courses remain under continuous revision towards keeping pace with the ongoing modifications that are taking place in the field of law all around the world.

Which famous person has a law degree?

There is no surprise that some of the most experienced law professionals have completed their higher education from such institutions. For instance, Mahatma Gandhi was one of the most famous individuals who obtained a law degree from the esteemed University College London.

Is there a law school in the UK?

Renowned Academics: The law schools in the UK are home to some of the top-leading law professionals from all around the world. Most of the professionals have several years of relevant experience in matters of international law, along with major political agreements and war conflicts. Therefore, when you are seeking a law graduate degree course in the UK, you can be assured to receive knowledge from the best.

What is the difference between a BA and a BA in law?

You’ll typically undertake an LLB if you’re interested in practicing as a lawyer, whereas a BA/BSc degree will allow you to focus on law more as an academic subject to be applied to different fields. Law degree entry requirements.

What is a law degree with integrated foundation?

A small number of universities do offer Law degrees with integrated foundation years, specifically for students who don’t have the required qualifications to gain direct entry onto their degree programme. The first year is designed to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills for degree-level study.

What grade do you need to be to get an international baccalaureate?

Many courses won't require you to have studied a specific subject, but will ask that you have at least either a grade 4 in Higher Level English or a grade 5 in Standard Level English.

What Other Qualifications Do You Need to Become a Lawyer?

The types of qualifications which you will be required to get after University vary depending on the type of Lawyer that you would like to be.

What A-Levels Do You Need to Study Law at University?

If you want to study Law at degree level, there are often no specific subject requirements set out by most Universities. However, this is not to say that there aren’t A-Level subjects which will prepare you better for studying for a Law degree.

What Makes A-Level Politics Well Suited to a Prospective Lawyer?

A-Level Politics is another great A-Level choice if you are interested in becoming a Lawyer. It gives you an overview of the political systems and governments which may help with your basis for understanding your Law University course.

What language do lawyers speak?

A Modern Foreign Language A-Level, such as Spanish, French or German, could be incredibly useful to someone looking to be a Lawyer.

What is an A level in politics?

A-Level Politics is another example of an A-Level which will help you to develop your analysis skills. Additionally, you may be able to develop your debating skills, which, similarly to your critical analysis and logical argument skills (which are developed in History), will be essential in a career as a Lawyer.

Is math essential for a lawyer?

Although A-Level Maths is not essential, it may be useful to a Lawyer who works with numbers, such as a Lawyer who deals with Tax Fraud or Copyright Law (who may use formulas in their day to day career), or a Divorce Lawyer (who will have to deal with Percentages).

Is English writing a good skill for a lawyer?

Language abilities are incredibly useful in any career. As I’ve said before, English writing skills are incredibly useful for any Prospective Lawyer. So, if it interested you, an English A-Level may be a good choice for you.

Law qualifications and training for solicitors

There are several qualification routes you can take to become a solicitor:

Requirements for working in the UK as a lawyer

If you are qualified as a lawyer in a different country you will need to have your qualifications recognised by the Law Society.

What Other Qualifications Do You Need to Become a Lawyer?

There are a number of different types of Lawyer, so to find out what other qualifications you need to become one, you have to first decide which route it is that you would like to go down.

What GCSEs Do You Need to Train to Become a Lawyer After University?

After you have completed your degree at University, GCSEs become slightly less important than they were at your time of application. Because you have a number of more recent qualifications which are more related to Law, GCSEs have much less impact on your ability to move forward in your career.

What GCSEs Do You Need to Study Law at University?

Generally speaking, when you are applying to University, GCSEs are not the most relevant qualifications which you will have on your application . However, this does not mean that they are something which should not be taken incredibly seriously, as they will certainly be considered by Universities when you are applying to do your Law degree. If you would like to find out more about how relevant GCSEs are, take a look at this useful article about how important GCSEs are to Universities, Employers and Colleges.

What GCSE Grades Do You Need to Achieve to Become a Lawyer?

So, the GCSEs that you need to achieve to become a lawyer are 5 GCSE passes, including passes in English Language, Maths, and Science.

Is GCSE a good qualification for a lawyer?

It is important to always consider the fact that GCSEs are not the most relevant qualification for becoming a Lawyer, but they do serve as stepping stones to get into your ideal Law-Related A-Levels at Sixth Form, and Universities do have minimum requirements for GCSE Grades in some subjects. The short answer to this question is that, in order ...

Is it hard to choose GCSEs?

Choosing your GCSEs can be tough, especially if you already know what our dream career is, but you’re not quite sure how to get there. So, how important really are GCSEs? And which subjects will put you in the best position to move forward in your journey to becoming a Lawyer?

Do universities require A level subjects?

However, despite the fact that there are some subjects that set you up better for studying law, most Universities don’t have specific requirements for A-Level subjects taken. Clearly, this varies between Universities, so it is worth looking at the requirements.

What are the skills required to become a lawyer?

flexibility – no two days are the same. commitment – training requires significant effort and resource. strong oral and written communication skills. A strong academic background is important, but employers also look for personal skills and attributes, for example: dedication.

How long do you have to study to become a solicitor?

You must study and train for at least six years full time, and competition for training contracts is high. Try to find out as much as you can about what a career in the law is like by: talking to solicitors, for example at careers fairs. applying for work experience. The qualification system for solicitors is changing.

What does a solicitor do?

Solicitors represent and defend clients’ legal interests and provide advice. Find out more about the work solicitors do, the skills needed and how to qualify. A career as a solicitor can be rewarding and intellectually challenging. There are many different areas of law you can specialise in, so the work can be varied.

How long does it take to get a law degree?

If you have a non-law degree, you must complete the Graduate Diploma in Law. It can be taken full-time for one year, or part-time for two years.

How many A levels are required for a college degree?

a minimum of two A levels, and three A levels at A grade for the most popular courses

Is a solicitor the same as a barrister?

A solicitor is different from a barrister. Someone who is looking for legal advice will normally see a solicitor first. If the client needs more specialist advice, then the solicitor may instruct a barrister. Solicitors and barristers both offer legal advice, and can also represent their clients in court, but barristers are more likely ...

Is being a solicitor rewarding?

A career as a solicitor can be rewarding and intellectually challenging. There are many different areas of law you can specialise in, so the work can be varied.