Want to change the world? This could be your first step.
Law can be an exciting and rewarding degree to choose, whether you're passionate about social justice or interested in the legal world. Known for demanding coursework and extensive reading lists, a law degree comprehensively prepares students to become barristers or solicitors. It can also open doors to other careers, as students develop desirable transferable skills; you could end up in business, government, non-profits, academia, or international organizations.
Not only is law one of the most well-respected and prestigious degrees out there, but it's not at all as limiting as it might seem. Here are some of the many reasons you should consider studying law at university.
The Intellectual Challenge
Going to university is the first step to challenging your critical thinking. Studying law is the second.
One of the most defining features of a law degree is its intensity. It suits students who are willing to read extensively to develop their knowledge. Students are asked not only to read casebooks, statutes, academic articles, and legal commentaries, but to understand and analyse them effectively.
But it's not only your reading stamina that a law degree develops: critical thinking, analytical ability, and research skills are all put to the test over the course of the degree. Studying cases, in particular, requires excellent logical reasoning skills. You must construct well-reasoned arguments and anticipate counterarguments, which involves applying legal principles to real-world problems.
Real World Application
It's this focus on real-world problems that many students find most appealing about a choosing to study a law degree.
Law programmes include 'moot court' exercises, in which students must argue cases in simulated court settings, usually under a tight time constraint. The 'judges' are faculty members and legal professionals who question and challenge the student's arguments. So, the moot is not just a chance to experience the reality of practising law, but is a great opportunity to network with the judges.
Unique Networking Opportunities
You've probably heard that networking whilst at university is the key to securing your professional future. Well, law degrees are particularly network-focused, and regularly provide various networking opportunities.
Guest lectures, panel discussions, and seminars featuring legal professionals are all common events over the course of a law degree. The alumni network is usually strong, especially if you're attending a prestigious university. Alumni associations and mentorship programs can be invaluable to students looking for career guidance and even professional opportunities.
Vacation schemes (or 'vac scheme,' used within the legal industry to refer to short internships) offer crucial experience for law graduates. If you're looking to become a practising legal professional, then vacation schemes are the way to go. Firms use them to identify and recruit potential candidates for graduate schemes and training contracts, which are required to become a fully qualified solicitor.
Transferable Skills and Diverse Career Paths
But vacation schemes and practising law professionals are not the only options for law graduates. There are many transferable skills that a law degree develops, and all are in high demand with employers, like:
Analytical thinking
Interpersonal skills
Ethical judgement
Attention to detail
Persuasion, negotiation and communication
Problem-solving
Save this for your CV, because all of the above skills are relevant in plenty of fields ranging from sales, project management, business development, data science, and consulting. No need to feel limited; around 30% to 40% of law graduates find employment outside of traditional legal roles.
High Earning Potential
With the rising cost of tuition fees and maintenance whilst at university, a degree that promises high earnings can be a financially wise decision.
Law graduates, especially those who become partners at major law firms, barristers in high-profile cases, or judges, can earn high salaries. Top lawyers can expect to earn six-figure salaries. Entry level salaries are usually more generous than in other industries, too.
However, this varies dramatically depending on the university you choose to study at. Cambridge University’s law degree yielded median earnings of £69,400 in the tax year ending in 2019, while graduates of the University of Wolverhampton, for example, had a median salary for law graduates of only £21,500.
What Next?
So you've been persuaded to pursue law. What now? The application process is rigorous and competitive, especially for Oxbridge universities. To get ahead, you'll need as many resources and support as you can get.
Avalon Education offers a unique 1st Class Service giving you bespoke tuition from an Oxbridge Law graduate. Unlike traditional private tuition, the 1st Class Service includes a series of mock interviews that are conducted by other tutors you have not met before, in order to most accurately mimic the experience of Oxbridge interviews.
To get your first one-hour trial lesson for just £5, make sure to book before August 1st - and hurry, spaces fill fast!
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