Advice on applying for law at Oxford

Hi, I’m a current year 12 student who wants to study law at Oxford. Does anyone have any advice that can help me, especially since it’s hard to get work experience in lockdown, I’d really appreciate any advice!

Hi, I’m a current offer holder for Cambridge law.

My advice is to read some books- What About Law?, Is Eating People Wrong? and The Secret Barrister are perhaps a decent starting point.

If you have any questions at all let me know

Thankyou! I had no clue what books to read for law so this is so helpful! Do you have any advice on how to make a personal statement good enough to be picked for an interview at Oxbridge? That’s the part I’m most worried about !

My advice on that front would be this: you can’t fake genuine interest. I know it sounds obvious, but in order to be able to talk convincingly in your PS about why you are interested in law, you need to actually be interested in it. That will only come once you have really immersed yourself in it over a period of time. There are no shortcuts sadly! The books listed above are a great place to start, and crime also ends up being an area people read up on before applying because most are familiar with the basics, and there is plenty of press coverage on criminal cases. Is there a particular area of the law you are already interested in now?

Thankyou! I had no clue what books to read for law so this is so helpful! Do you have any advice on how to make a personal statement good enough to be picked for an interview at Oxbridge? That’s the part I’m most worried about !

Hi yes, firstly I would focus primarily on supercurricular activities in your PS, eg activities specifically to do with law. This includes going to public lectures, visiting crown courts, reading books, wider reading in general (eg you could decide to research a case), perhaps writing a legal article too. That’s not an exhaustive list but you should mention doing these and reflect meaningfully on these experiences and explain how they furthered your interest in law

Hi yes, firstly I would focus primarily on supercurricular activities in your PS, eg activities specifically to do with law. This includes going to public lectures, visiting crown courts, reading books, wider reading in general (eg you could decide to research a case), perhaps writing a legal article too. That’s not an exhaustive list but you should mention doing these and reflect meaningfully on these experiences and explain how they furthered your interest in law

I’ve got a place on the bar mock trials for next year ( cancelled this year so they are next year now instead), and I’ve entered 3 essay competitions for law so hopefully that can help me !

Sounds like you’re doing all the right things already, well done. Worth noting that Twitter is a good (and free) way of staying up to date with current legal issues, particularly in crime. Human rights etc is not so much my bag but if you want guidance / essay advice on any criminal issues, feel free to drop me a PM.