Law degrees | Top types of degrees you can opt for in the UK!

Law degrees | Choose the best one for you and boost your career!

Law is one of the most challenging academic fields, as it requires you to have the ability to work hard and be persistent to establish yourself as a professional. However, when you look at the number of students pursuing law degrees, you can wonder what the reason behind this popularity is. Well, to put it simply, not only is it recognised internationally, but if you complete a specialisation, you’ll be able to find employment in almost every corner of the world!

Law degree | What do statistics say?

As a matter of fact, the number of law graduates, both legal and paralegal, across England and Wales for the academic year 2021-22 was 18,927. Out of this, 27% of graduates secured a first-class degree, and 55% of the students recorded a 2:1 degree. This is a record in itself!

A law qualification can do wonders for your career, especially in the international arena. It cannot be ignored that studying law will provide you with skills that, globally, all employers require. Moreover, in the UK, lawyers are paid handsomely. The starting salary package for a salary is £35,000 annually, and it goes up to £ 1 million after 6 to 10 years in practice. 

Types of law degrees in the UK

There are several types of law degrees that can give you a lucrative career. The reason behind this is that these subdomains of law will help you understand the foundation of legal principles. Therefore, these legal concepts will enable you to advance your career and become a respectable lawyer. Here are some sub-types of law degrees that you can pursue in the United Kingdom – 

1. Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)

It is a full-time, 1-year law conversion course that updates you with the basic knowledge required for the present times. A Graduate Diploma in Law will help you become an entry-level lawyer and is specifically designed for students who have completed an undergraduate in some other subject. If you’re a student who wants to transition into law, this course fast-tracks a three-year course into a single year.   

2. Law Practice Course (LPC)

LPC is the vocational stage of training in a law degree course. It is the final step you will require to undertake and become a qualified solicitor. Additionally, it marks the completion of the professional credentials that are required to become a practising lawyer who can seek employability from prospective employers or for self-employment.

3. Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)

The Bar Professional Training Course is a PG program that permits law graduates by helping them gain the licensure or the credentials to practice as barristers in the territories of Wales and England. In order to be eligible for a BPTC, you must have a bachelor’s law degree from a recognized university in the UK with at least second-class (2:2) honours.

4. Bachelor of Law (LLB) 

The LLB is an undergraduate degree that is of three years duration and has seven core modules in its curriculum. They are –

• Criminal law
• Contract law 
• Constitutional /administrative law
• Trusts and Equity
• Land law
• Tort law 
• EU law

Now, in England and Wales, LLB is the qualifying law degree, but international students with law degrees may get an exemption from the GDL and LLB, given that the UK law board recognizes the institute. You can also study law in the UK for one year as part of the Erasmus program. You must note that LLB courses combined with other subjects like Politics or Human Rights could be extended by one year from an ordinary LLB course. 

5. Graduate LLB

The graduate LLB is a truncated two-year version of the LLB if you have already graduated with a non-law degree.

6. Master of Laws (LLM)

The LLM is a postgraduate course for students who have a graduate degree. This graduate qualification could either be in the field of law, or you could have plenty of professional legal or paralegal experience. The course duration is one year, and you could specialize in any legal domain. The coursework could be either exams or essays, or both. Moreover, you can pursue a taught LLM or a research-based LLM in the UK. 

Law degrees | Which are the most popular specialisations?

UK law courses offer different specialisations as well, and some of the popular ones are –

1. Commercial law

It deals with the law domain that has to do with the relations, rights, and business conduct of individuals who are involved in sales, merchandising trade, and commerce.

2. Constitutional law

Constitutional law talks about the state’s and people’s rights and responsibilities. It also deals with the structure of various public entities within the state’s jurisdiction and administration. In other words, we are referring to the British parliament, executive, legislature, and judiciary. By enrolling in this specialisation, you will gain knowledge about the first amendment law and how it can define and demarcate the relationship between the legislature, judiciary, and legislative. It also enables the lawyers to guide the government executive branches for interpretation of the constitution, when and where required.

3. Criminal law

Advocates specialising in criminal law are also typically called defence lawyers. They have expertise in defending those parties who have been accused of criminal behaviour.

4. Business law

Those lawyers who are involved in settling commercial disputes of entities, both private and public, and also in regulating commercial transactions are called business lawyers. It is one of the most popular law degrees. 

5. Admiralty law

Admiralty law is also called maritime law. Lawyers in this domain deal with both maritime law and domestic law. Admiralty law is related to the governance of part-time maritime disputes and nautical issues.

6. Environmental law

The collective law domain is an umbrella term that covers multiple aspects of the legal system to protect the environment. It helps in managing forests, minerals, and other specific natural resources.

7. Corporate law

The corporate law domain is all about the governance of the rights and relations, and conduct of organizations and businesses.

8. Healthcare law

Healthcare law concerns the area of health care. It includes the practices of caregivers and the rights of patients.

9. Intellectual property law

Intellectual property law is all about the laws that are related to the protection of the intellectual property of inventors, musicians, writers, and designers and enforcing the owners’ or creators’ rights.

Key takeaways

• The quality of law education in the UK is unmatchable. These programs also score high on the employability front, as most students find jobs after graduation.
• Lawyers’ salaries in the UK are typically high, and these law programs can help you get a top job in the UK. 
• There is an amazing range of law programs that you will find in the UK. Apart from the regular graduate courses and the PG specialisations, you can also choose fringe and niche-based law courses like environmental law and healthcare law.

We hope you enjoyed reading this blog. In case of any queries, reach out to us or drop a comment below!

Like this blog? Read next: 7 Best law schools in the UK

FAQ

Q1. How many years does it take to study law in the UK?

Answer- Typically, it takes 3 years to complete a law degree in the UK. However, some universities, like the University of Law in Guildford, England, have a two-year accelerated LLB (Bachelor of Law) degree.

Q2. Which are some of the best law universities in the UK?

Answer- The University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, London School of Economics, University College, London, University of Edinburgh, and the University of Glasgow offer some of the best law programs in the UK. 

Q3. Can a foreign student study law in the UK?

Answer- Yes, international students can study law in the UK. With effect from September 2021, overseas lawyers and students who wish to get England and Wales law qualifications can appear for the SQE (Solicitors Qualifying Examination).