Why Apply for a Law Degree?
It’s always difficult to decide what you want to study at university, but with a bit of thought you can usually narrow down the list to two or three subjects that really interest you.
Remember, when you’re trying to decide what to study it’s important to consider whatever you decide will become your focus for the next three or four years of your life, so don’t just choose something on a whim.
Any subject you choose, whether it’s Law or something else, will need to keep you motivated for the duration of your course – and if the graduate employment prospects are good, so much the better!
It’s also important to take into consideration your strengths and abilities. Ask yourself questions such as “Will I be suited to the methods of study and assessment for this course?” and “Will I do well in a career in this field after graduation?”
Why apply for a Law degree?
If you’re still considering your possibilities, and you think a Law degree might be right for you, here are some reasons to apply…
You’ll develop a wide range of skills, not just law specific ones
Obviously you’ll develop some course specific skills that will benefit you if you go into the legal sector after graduation, but you’ll also gain skills that will serve you well regardless of the industry you work in.
For example, you’ll have strong written and oral communication skills, you’ll be able to approach tasks in a clear and logical way, you’ll be an effective problem solver, and you’ll have experienced many aspects of human life.
You’ll have the opportunity to put theory into practice
A Law degree is very much a hands-on subject and you’ll find that much of your studying is vocational. Some universities even have their own mock courtrooms so you can practice in a realistic environment!
You’ll also have the chance to get involved in pro bono societies, debates, and moot competitions to give you an idea of what life in the legal profession is really like.
You’ll have great career prospects
Of course, many students choose to study Law because they want to become a solicitor or barrister after graduation, but that certainly isn’t the only option open to you.
Due to the range of skills you’ll have, you’ll find that almost any career is an option, although for some roles you may need further study or work experience. If a career in the court room or with a law firm isn’t for you then there are many other ways you can use your skills.
For example, if you’d still like to be involved in the law, you could train in a specialism such as e-commerce and work for big companies like Amazon advising them on all their legal matters.
You could also use your skills in something entirely unrelated to your Law degree and have a very successful career.
You’ll have clear options if you want to work in the legal profession
If you’ve studied your Law degree with a view to becoming a solicitor or barrister then you’ll have a clear route to this after graduation.
There are generally three options open to graduates who wish to practice law:
- LLM (Master of Laws)
- Legal Practice Course (LPC) – for solicitors.
- Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) – for solicitors
You’ll be well respected by future employers
Regardless of the career you go into, you’ll find that employers respect your Law degree as it shows commitment, a variety of skills, and a certain level of maturity and understanding.
You’ll be learning with students from all over the world
The UK is known internationally for the quality of its education so many students come from overseas to benefit from what UK universities have to offer. This means that by the time you graduate, you’ll have a diverse international network of contacts that could be extremely valuable later in your career.
Your studies have a real-life application
Much of the studying for a Law degree is case based and universities usually use real-life examples to show how theory can be put into practice. This means that you’ll spend a lot of time looking at real legal cases and have factual examples of the real-life applications of your studies.
