If you wants to practise law professionally then your first step has to be to take a law degree. It is an attractive subject for anyone who is inspired to make a change in society and who wants to put forward their own opinions as well as have the opportunity to challenge the opinions of their peers.

As the law plays an increasing important part in almost all areas of modern life, a degree in it can also be an asset for many other vocations not directly related to any legal professions i.e. management, human resources and accounting.

Law courses have a reputation as being one of the hardest degrees to pass. Apart from the routine academic studying, student must also display an ability to make rational arguments for their case, have a clear understanding of statutes and be good at problem solving and negotiating. Courses include both academic and vocational stages of training. Some of the more dedicated universities have their own purpose-built law schools, dedicated law libraries and even mock court rooms.

Being at university is a ideal time to meet new people and gain new experiences and become that independent person that you have to be. However the sheer volume of work on a law degree can take some students by surprise, it can be difficult for some people to juggle everything around and it can take a bit of time to get used to. Of course in the end all the hard work is worth it as the ethos that you learn will stand you in good stead in helping you to gain a career in the legal service.

Law Degree Overview

They will be designed to help you think critically, develop your research and communication skills and to help you meet the requirements of the legal profession. The course contains four compulsory modules that have been set by the The Solicitors Regulation Authority and The Bar Standards Board, they are collectively known as the ‘Foundations of Legal Knowledge’.

Students will learn about:

How the legal system is actually structured.
Seeing the legal system as a whole.
The English Legal System.
Law of Contract
Constitutional and Administrative Law
Criminal Law and European Law.
Interviewing
Using information from different sources
Working in groups
Logical reasoning
The relationship between The English Legal System and various international sources of law.
Data collection, analysis, IT, communication and report writing.

Law degree assessment
This will be done by a combination of examinations (one for every year) and coursework. Certain skills, such as interviewing clients could be assessed by the video recording of a practical exercises.

Entry and admission
Candidates will be individually assessed on their skills, qualifications and experience  and will have to attend a compulsory interview. Apart from this three A level’s or a BTEC National Diploma offer will be 320 UCAS tariff points.

Law degree structure and typical course content
Most courses are designed and structured so that each of the three years counts equally towards your finals. Apart from lectures and seminars, students will also partake in workshops, discussions, presentations and group learning.

Year 1 modules
Introduction to the concepts and study of law and legal reasoning.
Studying the laws governing the UK’s constitution, criminals, contracts, land, property and jurisprudence.

Year 2 modules
Understanding law.
Law; the individual and the state.
Understand legal requirements of the European Union.
Method, Procedure and Systems.

Year 3 modules
Law; agreements, rights and responsibilities.
Torts
Land law

Law degree personal statement
Below is a personal statement written by one of our writers. You can use this example to gain an idea of how to structure and put together your own one. You are strongly advised not to copy or plagiarise it, instead use it as a resource to inspire your own creative writing.

Example

“I find the idea of studying one of the key pillars of society and eventually practicing the legal skills have learnt to be extremely appealing. To me law and criminology are both intellectually stimulating, rewarding and enjoyable subjects. I believe that many aspects of a law course will relate to everyday life situations, meaning that everything you learn relates to real-life experiences, this appeals to me greatly.

I have chosen to do a placement purely for experience benefits as I feel that without any I will be at a severe disadvantage in any future job hunting. For my work experience I worked part time for a firm of solicitors who specialised in personal injury and were locally based. It has given me a really good understanding of the practical side of law. Initially my role there was as a administrative assistant where i was involved in talking to clients, updating records and answering the phone. Later on I moved on to become a personal assistant to an experienced solicitor and there i undertook a lot of legal responsibilities, such as researching precedents, explaining court procedures to clients and helping to draft contracts. Whilst there I also developed a marketing plan for the company, it was well received by the senior managers and was communicated to all the employees. It was an amazing time that allowed me to see what I was getting myself into career wise and also gives me something useful and unique to put on my CV.

Having looked at many other universities I feel that your School of Law is second to none. It is near the top of the league table as regards graduate employment, and that is a important attraction for me. Your reputation for good lectureship is such that it has last year attracted a huge influx of foreign students, which proves further that your standards have not diminished over the last few years. I have also discovered outstanding feedback from previous graduates regarding your course delivery and in the provision of students with everything that they need to do their coursework and study for their exams.”

More Law personal statement examples

University interview questions

Why made you apply to our university?

Answers

  • I feel your university provides a course and experience that you just don’t get anywhere else.
  • You have a proven track record of producing very high quality graduates who are skilled and educated in their own particular disciplines.
  • I am impressed with the strong links your university has forged with relevant professional institutions, these are contacts that can help student to find a relative easier path to their professional careers.
  • The college had a very welcoming atmosphere was fantastic, I found it to be driven and very career orientated.
  • I feel it offers amazing value for money.
  • It has a excellent reputation for high standards, hard work and a job at the end of the course. The percentage of your graduates for finding work is better than many other institutions.
  • I feel your lecturers and tutors are academically strong and outgoing communicators who can relate to a students needs and career aspirations.

Why do you want to do a law degree?

Answers

  • I have always enjoyed using language and precedents to come up with creative solutions to complex issues.
  • My view of the legal profession is that it is a fun, exciting and rewarding place to be.

How long does the degree course last
Most full time course typically last the standard three years.

Career relevancy
Apart from the degree being a basic requirement of becoming a solicitor or barrister. It is also useful for relevant legal positions local government, the police, the prison service, charities etc.

After obtaining a degree students can progress directly to the vocational stage of training. For those who wish to become solicitors the vocational stage of training is the Legal Practice Course. There are three main training stages to qualifying as a barrister or a solicitor, each stage leads onto the next one. The stages are;

  • Academic
  • Vocational
  • Professional

Law degree letters and abbreviations
LLB which stands for the Latin Legum Baccalaureus, and also Bachelor of Laws.

Law degree classification
Most law firms or Barristers Chambers want and look for graduates who have a 2:1 grade or higher. Anyone with grades lower than this will find it hard to be considered for a position, unless they can explain that there were mitigating circumstances for their low classification.

 

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