Just how much do you need to know about Law for the interviews?

How much knowledge of Law do they expect you to already have when going for an Oxbridge Law interview? I am assuming you will be expected to know some of the raw basics, but surely nothing too specialised or detailed?

Thanks

:tsr2:

Reply 1

jhendo

I was questioned on both a case report and a theoretical situation. I started answering using basic legal ideas that i know and they told me to stop. They said to say what I think and to justify it, not to use actual legal theory. So i dont think you need any to actually answer the interview questions. Learning some basic law though would probably help you to come up with some ideas however. I was rejected though, so take what i say with a pinch of salt.

Reply 2

superdillon

7

seaspray

How much knowledge of Law do they expect you to already have when going for an Oxbridge Law interview? I am assuming you will be expected to know some of the raw basics, but surely nothing too specialised or detailed?

For oxbridge interviews you really don't need to know that much law. I would say that you need a basic understanding of the English Legal System and Constitutional law (for the latter what you probably already know is enough).
For the sort of "Law" questions that you are given in an interview, although they are generally based upon for example Criminal law or contract law, you do not need to know the relevant statutes or cases to answer the questions.
For example if the interviewer describes a scenario and says "Did Mr X steal from Mrs Y?". Rather than saying "Well the definition of theft which can be found in section 1 of the Theft Act...." you make up your own definition of theft and apply it to the facts. The the interviewer may changes the facts slightly and you need to keep going back to your originial definition of theft and altering it if you need to (i.e. if it is incomplete) and explaining why.

If you answered the above question by reciting the definition of theft in the theft act then their next question could be more difficult as you have suggested to them that you know more in this area and they will contrinue to test you in it.

There is another side to Oxbridge interviews and that involves the interviewer getting to know you, they will be interested in your academic performance to date and what you enjoy doing and why. When asking "law" questions they are testing your ability to analyse and form arguments. Content is not really the issue unless you were particularly absurd.

It is good to be informed about the law. Knowing things like who is the current Lord Chancellor (and what signifcant changes have been made to his office recently) could be helpful but not compulsory.

Reply 3

Lewisy-boy

11

Yea I agree with your bit about questions ... thats what they do, give you a fact set, ask your opinion ... then change it and ask again... etc etc

Reply 4

hannah_111

I would say not much! I read loads of law books before my Oxford interview but the case that was discussed in the interview was one on American gun law! So my preperation was not needed....but obviously any preperation in relation to law that you actually do cannot be a disadvantage, especially as it is the subject you will be studying! But Oxford don't want to test how much you know but rather how you think! Hope it goes well for you! :biggrin:

Reply 5

smoothie

9

superdillon

For oxbridge interviews you really don't need to know that much law. I would say that you need a basic understanding of the English Legal System and Constitutional law (for the latter what you probably already know is enough).
For the sort of "Law" questions that you are given in an interview, although they are generally based upon for example Criminal law or contract law, you do not need to know the relevant statutes or cases to answer the questions.
For example if the interviewer describes a scenario and says "Did Mr X steal from Mrs Y?". Rather than saying "Well the definition of theft which can be found in section 1 of the Theft Act...." you make up your own definition of theft and apply it to the facts. The the interviewer may changes the facts slightly and you need to keep going back to your originial definition of theft and altering it if you need to (i.e. if it is incomplete) and explaining why.

If you answered the above question by reciting the definition of theft in the theft act then their next question could be more difficult as you have suggested to them that you know more in this area and they will contrinue to test you in it.

There is another side to Oxbridge interviews and that involves the interviewer getting to know you, they will be interested in your academic performance to date and what you enjoy doing and why. When asking "law" questions they are testing your ability to analyse and form arguments. Content is not really the issue unless you were particularly absurd.

It is good to be informed about the law. Knowing things like who is the current Lord Chancellor (and what signifcant changes have been made to his office recently) could be helpful but not compulsory.

Hi, do you have a link info on the lord chancellor and these changes? Have googled but it's all a bit confusing!

Thanks x

Reply 6

superdillon

7

smoothie

Hi, do you have a link info on the lord chancellor and these changes? Have googled but it's all a bit confusing!

Thanks x

The following site is a good introduction on this issue, it details perhaps all I know and I have just finished my first year in which I studied constitutional law. It should be quite easy to understand for you however:
http://www.parliament.uk/works/lords.cfm

It covers the "Role of the House of Lords" and the "Organisation of the House of Lords". In the "Organisation of the House of Lords" you should find material relating to the changes of the Lord Chancellors office, see in particular the 3 bullet points.

Hope that helps.

Reply 7

Happy1

14

I wasnt asked anything about law at my Cambridge interview...

At Downing college I was asked questions on my views and i had to back up my arguements (something about selling organs)

At Robinson I was asked about my A levels, and was asked a load of logic questions... very clearly designed to test logic and reason

Just how much do you need to know about Law for the interviews?

Related discussions

Articles for you