UK law has been used as the basis of legal systems throughout the world. Study law in the UK and not only will you benefit from centuries of knowledge and experience, but you will also be at the forefront of innovative new practices. Some UK institutions specialise in recently developed research areas such as law and IT, covering fields of privacy, digital rights management, cyber crime and e-commerce.

Work experience for UK law students is available in a wide range of firms; from global and international companies with offices in London and overseas, to high street practices handling family issues and crime. There are also opportunities for law students in the UK to gain international experience by volunteering with human rights organisations.

You can find information about career opportunities on the Prospects website.

Why study law in the UK?

• Around 14,500 international students are currently studying law in the UK – around 17 per cent of all law students. You can choose from more than 1,500 courses at dozens of institutions in the UK.
• At many UK universities, students work on actual cases in progress, helping solicitors to gather evidence.
• Law in the UK has a truly international perspective. Many firms have offices in major financial and commercial centres overseas, and English commercial law is often the governing law in international contracts.

There are three separate legal systems in the UK, in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, and all are highly regulated. There are significant differences in some areas, and the content and structure of legal education can vary between the systems. So before you choose a law course in the UK, check that the country in which you intend to practise will recognise the qualification you’ll obtain here.

UK law and legal courses to study
To qualify as a legal executive you need to take a course accredited by the Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX). To study law at higher education level, you may also need to take the LNAT (National Admissions Test for Law). HNDs are available in Legal Studies or Law, and there are nine law-related Foundation Degree programmes.

To qualify as a lawyer in the UK, you need to follow a prescribed path, and pass modules in seven areas known as the Foundations of Legal Knowledge. These usually lead to an LLB (Bachelor of Law) or BA (Hons) Law. You’ll then progress to the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or the Bar Vocational Course (BVC), leading to a qualification as a lawyer or a barrister.

If you don’t want to practise as a lawyer, you can focus on a subject like business or human rights legislation, or combine a law degree with another subject. Degree courses in law enforcement and criminology usually lead to a BA, and you can combine criminology with subjects such as psychology or forensic science.

Postgraduate law courses in the UK
Postgraduate study and supervised work experience will allow you to qualify as a solicitor, barrister or advocate. More than 1,600 postgraduate law or law-related courses are available in the UK. Taught programmes usually lead to a Master of Laws (LLM) or Master of Arts (MA) qualification.

Options for research include a diploma course or a Master of Research (MRes) programme, and you can also study towards a Master of Philosophy (MPhil), Master of Letters (MLitt) or a doctorate (PhD).