What Studying Law at University is really like

This guide will help you choose whether or not studying law is suitable for you and which law undergraduate course you should apply for. This is the guide for you if you want to study the difference between an LLB and a BA. Or if you want to know what other topics you may take in addition to a law undergraduate degree. A law undergraduate degree also covers a range of law modules and topics. So make sure to look at module descriptions to decide what you are interested in when deciding!

How do you get there – Your Grades and Subject requirements to Study Law at University

Grade Requirements

The grade standards for each university are different. It is critical that you consider the grade criteria when deciding which universities to apply to, and that you have compared the grade requirements to your intended grades. It’s a good idea to have different grade standards for each of your five university options.

The chart below seeks to give you an indication of what grades you’ll need for law school at various colleges based on your A-Level grades. Check the university websites for requirements for alternative qualifications.

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Subject Requirements

University law undergraduate courses do not usually need you to have studied particular topics at A-Level. You do not need to have studied law, politics or any other kind of law subject at A – Level to study law at university. There are a number of international students with different qualifications and subjects so, it would be unfair of them to expect you to complete certain subjects at A – Levels. Some A-Levels, such as critical thinking, are not recognised as part of your offer, and you should verify with your selected university about this.

An essay-based course, according to some colleges, will be beneficial. This does not imply that you must pick an essay topic at A-Level; rather, it may assist you in your legal studies. Topics for essays include

• English Literature
• Politics
• History
• Geography

The difference between an LLB and a BA Law Course at University

When applying to law school, you’ll notice a little code at the end of each course title, such as “LAW LLB” or “LAW BA.” The letters LLB and BA stand for “Bachelor of Laws” and “Bachelor of Arts,” respectively.

Understanding the difference –  Between an LLB and a BA?

• An LLB indicates that the course is a ‘qualifying legal degree,’ implying that you have completed all of the prerequisite courses to begin practising law (i.e. as a solicitor or a barrister)
• A BA, on the other hand, may provide the ability to take non-law modules. This means that a BA degree can be obtained without having studied enough core content to proceed directly into professional training courses. As a result, you will need to take an additional exam to close the gap and begin your professional training.
• If you’re more interested in the study of law than the practise of law, and you believe you could be excellent at it, this could be a nice option for you.
  • If you’re more interested in the study of law than the practise of law, and you believe you’d like to explore chances to study non-legal issues as part of your degree, this could be a good fit for you.
  • But! There are certain BA courses that cover all of the essential information so that you may start practising right away. This implies that if a course is BA, you should check to see whether it is a ‘qualifying legal degree,’ because if it is, it is the same as an LLB and you may begin professional training courses right after graduation.

You can start the path

To practicing law straight away

“Qualifying Law degree” same as LLB

You may not start the path

Practicing law straight away

What is in the course: studying law at University

You will take the following mandatory courses as part of your LLB law programme at university. Each issue is described briefly in the list…

Constitutional and Administrative Law – Constitutional and administrative law deals with people’s interactions with the government. There are political implications to this matter.

Criminal Law entails understanding the legal principles for what constitutes a crime and what does not, as well as some normative considerations for what constitutes a crime and what we may justify. a government sanction

Contract Law – This is a private law topic in which you will learn about the elements of a legal contract and the role of promissory estoppel.

Tort Law – You will study about “civil wrongs” in this topic, which are wrongs that are not criminal in nature, such as defamation.

Trusts and equity Equity and trusts law is founded on the Courts of Chancery, and it is about fairness/justice.

EU Law – You’ll learn about the laws that apply to European Union members.

Land Law – The rules governing land rights and interests are covered in this topic.

It’s possible that your legal course will include feature

Other compulsory topics exclusive to the university (or a few universities)

Oxford University, for example, requires you to take the ‘An introduction to Roman Law’ programme.

You can pick from a variety of extra modules.

When it comes to modules, you should…

> Look at the university’s list of non-compulsory alternatives, especially if there is a module you are very interested in studying.

If you’re looking at modules, you shouldn’t…

> be too critical or decided on what modules you think you will like/dislike. Remember you have not yet started studying law and you might surprise yourself!

Studying Law at University – Options and variations on the standard ‘Law LLB” course: 

Languages/Year in another country

You should consider applying for a legal programme that includes a language if you are fluent in a language or have language competency, such as through taking a language at A-Level. Law undergraduate courses are normally three years long, but law plus a language adds a further year in which you may be able to study or work in another nation while honing your language abilities.

Some universities also offer this year abroad language addition to nations where you will be able to learn in England, such as the Netherlands, which may be of interest to you if you wish to spend some time in a different country.

If you’re interested in international law, this could be of special interest to you.

Law with …

You do not need to pursue law on your own! It is feasible to do a dual honours degree if you are interested in law but also in another area. You could, for example, like a topic at A-Level but wish to add something new to your degree programme. The following are some of the disciplines that may be studied in conjunction with law:…

• Politics
• History 
• Sociology
• Business

Studying combined honours has a number of advantages. It allows students to “engage with law in a more humanistic approach” rather than perceiving it as “strict prescriptive norms,” according to Charlotte Woodhead, director of Law at the University of Warwick. If it seems interesting to you, look into dual honours programmes.

Summary – Things to Keep In Mind

Choosing what law course to study at the university level may be a difficult and daunting undertaking; you never know what you want to accomplish or how things will end out. There are a variety of reasons to choose law: you may be interested in its analytical focus, want to learn something new, or be fascinated by its real-world applicability and diverse employment opportunities. Once you’ve made your pick, you should be aware that the variances don’t end there: not all colleges provide the same “legal” course.

Consider the various grade criteria as well as your A-Level subject options first, these will help form a strong base for whatever you decide to pursue in the future. In some cases, these will impart a range of academic skills and competencies which will help you enter university with confidence. 

Then, especially if you have a certification, check over the course components.

Then consider whether the LLB is a better fit for your aspirations or whether a BA is a better fit. Differentiate between the different paths these lead to, and whether obtaining a qualifying legal practice degree is important to you. 

Finally, consider the extensions to the law that are available to you (for example, languages or a dual honours degree) and be sure that you want to study a law course alone rather than in conjunction with something else. Consider whether these will be valuable to your interests and future. 

After you’ve worked your way through all of this, you’ll be ready to submit a thoughtful and well-considered application to study law at university, and you’ll hopefully feel much more sure in your decision!