[RobertWhite]

In terms of what employers value and difficulty is Law thought of highly?

Obviously each degrees to its own specificity, I'm talking in general here.

[SpicyStrawberry]

Depends on the job, if you have a law degree you wouldn't be very useful if you applied for a job as an engineer. Respect is a very difficult thing to quantify, it varies depending on several factors. Law is very oversubscribed, but is hard to get into and generally people hold it in high regard.

[Meat is Murder]

I think the type of degree is of secondary importance to the institution you get it from. You can do Law at many second rate uni's. Any core subject will herald respect: Science, Maths, English, Law, Engineering, Economics etc...

[Imcomingforyou]

English, History... hmm maybe Sociology, Politics, International Relations, Economics.

[im TSR]

Law undergrad degree is not even required to be a lawyer.
Look at the stats from the top law firms; routinely they have 50% non-law degree acceptance rates.

The traditional technical subjects: maths, natural sciences, engineering.
The traditional arts/social sciences: history, politics, economics. Etc!

[RobertWhite]

(Original post by im TSR)
Law undergrad degree is not even required to be a lawyer.
Look at the stats from the top law firms; routinely they have 50% non-law degree acceptance rates.

The traditional technical subjects: maths, natural sciences, engineering.
The traditional arts/social sciences: history, politics, economics. Etc!

Thanks - I know 50% of acceptances aren't from a Law degree. I ask because I've been given the opportunity to study law and really want to make sure employers value it. I currently study psychology and although employers value it - the kind of occupations I'm interested in (law, business and accountancy) may value law more and so give me an edge over some of the competition.

My Dad who owns a business was not sure at first but did agree it might give me an edge in certain cases. I dread the circumstance when an employer realises I'm a respectably intelligent person, have got involved in lots of things and see I'm a nice guy don't pick me because someone else is but studied a slightly more transferable/useful degree.

[hannah60000]

I've heard that law is a good degree for transferable skills because of the difficulty, research and analysis skills you develop along the course, so is generally seen as another respected and good degree in the same light as History, Philosophy, Maths, etc...

Therefore I doubt you'll be doing yourself a disservice by completing one and that it would hold you back in "law, business and accountancy".

Then again you could also do further research, email firms or companies you are looking to work for in the near future. Good Luck!

[Namige]

Maths is far more respected than law.


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[RobertWhite]

(Original post by hannah60000)
I've heard that law is a good degree for transferable skills because of the difficulty, research and analysis skills you develop along the course, so is generally seen as another respected and good degree in the same light as History, Philosophy, Maths, etc...

Therefore I doubt you'll be doing yourself a disservice by completing one and that it would hold you back in "law, business and accountancy".

Then again you could also do further research, email firms or companies you are looking to work for in the near future. Good Luck!

Good

[RobertWhite]

(Original post by Namige)
Maths is far more respected than law.


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

Thanks for your opinion.

Can't help but think you're a neg fisher though by the way you said that. Any explanation to why you think employers value maths more?

[RobertWhite]

(Original post by bramz19)
None.

That's what I wanted to hear

[cyfer]

A lot, in my opinion.

[.ACS.]

Quick question, what happened to you studying Economics? Also where have you been given the chance to study Law?

[BO'H]

respect by whom?

for what?

law is a tough degree to do well in but personally i regard a 17/18 year old who can't think of something more interesting than law to spend 3 years studying with thorough contempt. when i was a solicitor i also felt that non-law graduates made better trainees.

[RobertWhite]

(Original post by .ACS.)
Quick question, what happened to you studying Economics? Also where have you been given the chance to study Law?

I fought hard to study economics a few months ago but Southampton wouldn't budge on me needing maths A level. It is annoying because I could have studied it over summer to the required degree, I'm quite sure. I decided not to pursue this to another university because of the higher fees and the fact I'd already laid a deposit down for a house and had made good friends.

I've been offered to study Law at Southampton who were quite keen to have me. I'm perfectly happy with this as I just don't believe Psychology was for me and am looking to maximise my employability for my occupational interests.

[RobertWhite]

(Original post by BO'H)
respect by whom?

for what?

law is a tough degree to do well in but personally i regard a 17/18 year old who can't think of something more interesting than law to spend 3 years studying with thorough contempt. when i was a solicitor i also felt that non-law graduates made better trainees.

I specified if you read under the title, to what employers value. Surely as a solicitor a degree in law would have been attractive to you? There are many degrees which can be considered dull, surely you realise this is quite subjective.

[Brit_Miller]

(Original post by RobertWhite)
Thanks for your opinion.

Can't help but think you're a neg fisher though by the way you said that. Any explanation to why you think employers value maths more?

Proves your logic skills and problem solving abilities as well as it being one of the 'tougher' degrees - it's one of the most valued degrees there is, I think.

[RobertWhite]

(Original post by Brit_Miller)
Proves your logic skills and problem solving abilities as well as it being one of the 'tougher' degrees - it's one of the most valued degrees there is, I think.

I agree, I think a maths degree is a really good one to have. Many degrees, including Law, prove logic skills, not as much as maths, but I would argue Law teaches problem-solving in a more applicable way than maths... It's certainly a good degree in its sector, such as in finance or similar if you're looking at business. I would however, argue it's not the best degree to have for positions such as management, HR, or the more people side of things as I don't believe much team work is involved in a maths degree? Aside from that, maths and law are quite different degrees and maths is by no means 'far more' respectable.

I did hear someone say maths graduates are not sought after by employers outside the mathematical side of occupations... not sure how true this is though as a degree in maths would certainly prove your intellect.

[BO'H]

(Original post by RobertWhite)
I specified if you read under the title, to what employers value. Surely as a solicitor a degree in law would have been attractive to you? There are many degrees which can be considered dull, surely you realise this is quite subjective.

i appreciate that this may come across as heresy on tsr where people are obsessed with putting unis and degrees in little boxes which can be ranked but my own view (based on having worked in law firms for 18 years and been involved in considering recruits) is that in the real world people have their own personal prejudices and there's no point sweating whether uni a is 3 places higher than uni b in the latest rankings or which degree opens more doors. 'employers' as a class can't be shown to value certain subjects more than others. individual hr managers might - but you'll never find out. without knowing your specific career goals - and if you have those at 18 you are one sad mutha - it's impossible to comment on how a lawdegree from soton might be perceived (although it certainly used to have a good rep in shipping/maritime law). just go to a good uni and get a 2:1 or a first in an 'academic' subject. end of.

edit: (1) i wouldn't say that law teaches problem solving; you get facts and apply the law, but that is a different skill.

(2) in my experience law grads over intellectualised client problems and were often unable to comprehend that law is a service industry, that no one is going to pay for 20 hours of time spent researching a £1000 dispute and that law firms are businesses which are about generating the most fees for the least effort. experience of client facing customer service was much more useful in trainees than a law degree

[BO'H]

following on from that post - and as an example of why you shouldn't spend too much time trying to second guess recruitment -i got one of the vac schemes i did at a law firm because i'd played lacrosse at school (as did the person who recruited for vac schemes) and i got my articles becasue my cv mentioned my leeds utd season ticket (at the interview the only thing highlighted on my cv and all we talked about was leeds utd)