Law Degree Entry Requirements

The entry requirements for any course differ depending on where you apply. Not all universities favour the same things from applicants either. Some prefer students with work experience in the sector they are applying for, some prefer those with the highest UCAS tariff points, while others prefer those with the highest grades in specific qualifications.

What is a Law degree?

A law degree is the study of different aspects of the legal and judicial systems. Of course, what you will actually experience in a law degree all comes down to what kind of law you choose to study and where you choose to study it.

Generally, law courses will focus on different modules. You will focus on areas such as criminal law, law of torts, contract law, equity, trusts, administrative law and land law, among others.

It has been known for a law degree to be paired with other subjects too. For those looking to specialise in criminal law, it is common to also study a criminology degree as part of your course; while other subjects such as politics and accounting and finance may also be common.

Law degree entry requirements

The university entry requirements for a law degree vary depending on where you apply. As this is a popular and somewhat long degree, you will generally need high grades to study this course.

The most common entry requirements for a law degree are:

Not all universities will accept the same qualifications either. This means that you may find qualifications such as T Levels and BTECs are not accepted for a law degree. Make sure you check your university’s admissions policy before applying.

A Levels

A Levels are accepted by every college, university and law school in the UK. You must have at least two A Levels, preferably in English and maths. Other subjects may be accepted, but you will need to have at least one of the previous two.

BTECs

A BTEC is the second most widely accepted qualification type in the UK. Not all universities will accept a BTEC as part of their admissions criteria, and those that do may have specific subjects that you will need to have studied beforehand. However, you may be able to apply with a BTEC and an A Level instead.

GCSEs

You will need to have five GCSEs, graded C/4 or higher. Your GCSEs will need to include English, maths, and science-based subjects.

IELTS

The IELTS is a qualification designed purely for international students. You will likely need to have both your overall score and your individual section scores available when applying. Some law schools may prioritise your specific section score over your overall score, but it will depend on where you apply. Generally, you will need to have a 7.0 or higher.

International Baccalaureate

As with the IELTS, the International Baccalaureate is only for international students. To study a law degree, you must have a 6,6,5 or a 6,6,6 at Higher Level. English is the most required area for those with an IELTS, meaning you will need a grade 4 at Higher Level and a grade 5 at Standard Level.

LNAT

The LNAT is an exam specifically for law students. Not all universities or law schools will necessarily need to sit the LNAT. However, some universities do.

For 2023 study, the universities that require the LNAT are:

• Durham University
• King’s College, London (KCL)
• London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
• SOAS University of London
• University College London (UCL)
• University of Bristol
• University of Cambridge
• University of Glasgow
• University of Nottingham
• University of Oxford

The scores you need will vary depending on where you apply. Not all Russell Group Universities will necessarily ask for the LNAT when applying, however.

What is the best university to study a Law degree?

Generally, it is best to study law courses at an actual law school. Of course, this is not the case for everyone. However, these are specific institutions set up to teach only one subject.

Despite this, the decision is really up to you. The best universities are almost always the one that best caters to your needs and wants. You need to decide what you need from a university. Do you prefer courses taught by those with industry experience? Do you prefer a university with good industry ties? Or do you prefer a university with the best nightlife? Only you can choose where the best place to study is.

How to write a Law personal statement

Your law personal statement should reflect you, your hobbies and interests, and your love of law. This can be tough to summarise in 4,000 characters, especially if you are trying to link them all together.

When discussing law, speak about what made you interested in the subject. This may be a family member working in the sector, a book you read, or a film or TV show that sparked an interest. Whatever the reason, no matter how seemingly small or tenuous, make sure you mention it.

You will also need to speak about yourself too. When doing this, mention the things you are interested in and your personal and academic achievements. These things make you stand out and show the university why you are such a welcome addition to their student community.

What jobs can you get with a Law degree?

It’s not all legal work that you can ding with a law degree. On the contrary, law being such a wide and varied subject means that you can find plenty of different jobs and careers in various sectors and industries.

The most common jobs to find with a law degree are:

• Arbitrator
• Barrister
• Civil Service administrator
• Company secretary
• Detective
• Mediator
• Paralegal
• Patent attorney
• Quantity surveyor
• Solicitor
• Stockbroker
• Tax adviser

It is also possible to become a teacher or lecturer. To do this, you will need to have either a PGCE degree or a Masters in Education.

Can you find Law courses in Clearing?

Law is a very popular course. As a result, you will find that some universities will offer Clearing law courses at university.

However, dropping into Clearing does not mean that they are bad or lower subjects. Sometimes universities see that they have not had as high a turnout as they expected and may even find that they set their entry requirements too high.