Solicitor/Barrister with Science Degree

It is possible to do a law conversion course after a science degree and was wondering which out of biology and chemistry would be the best degree to do for this. Which would give the best chance of becoming a good barrister and does anybody know anyone who has gone through this process?

Reply 1

stratomaster

Whats the point in doing that? just do a law degree

Reply 2

Theorist

10

I'd say Chemistry - but only because it's more respected than Biology. Chemists have good analytical thinking qualities.

However, both degrees don't really prepare you for careers as a barrister as such. There's not as much factual learning, reading and essays as there would be in a Law degree or job.

Reply 3

fonzievision

14

If you want to be a barrister/solicitor why are you considering a science course? You seem to know what you want, why not just start focusing yourself on law from the beginning?

Also, if you want to be a barrister, bettter get going to one of the country's top 5 universities. There aren't many people in chambers outside those.. and Oxbridge still takes the lead by a league. King's is close behind I hear.

Reply 4

CityMonkey

11

I know someone who did maths at Durham and is currently on a law conversion course. AFAIK, after law grads, science grads are very carefully looked at by law firms to train up as lawyers, basically because their analytic/logic/arguement skills are so highly sharpened up during their degres. However, if you haven't yet started university, it does beg the question that if you want to be a barrister, why aren't you doing a law degree? Or are you choosing it as a "back up" (can't see that being too wise)?

Reply 5

ChemistBoy

16

stratomaster

Whats the point in doing that? just do a law degree

IP? Big money in Intellectual Property and almost all lawyers in that area have a technical background.

I often question what the point of a law degree is myself. You only save yourself 1 year of training and you don't have the specialist knowledge that a science graduate has, for instance. Law deals with all sorts of problems including technical ones and having a technical background can help you find a rather lucrative niche if you want one and it doesn't disadvantage you in practicing in the mainstream professional areas either.

Reply 6

superdillon

7

There are many important reasons that students choose to do a non-law undergraduate degree rather than an undergraduate law degree.
Upon qualifying, Law firms and barristers chambers take an equal number of people on from those who have taken either of these routes.

Some people want to practice Law but they want to do another degree that they have really enjoyed at undergraduate level, common examples include: history. English, Philosopohy or even the sciences.

Employers of graduates from a non-law background, contrary to as suggested above would:

1) not value a Chemistry degree above a Biology degree.
2) not think that doing a non-law undergraduate course, such as English, means that you are not really committed to practicing law. It is quite handy to have done a degree in English as if you later think that Law is not for you, you may be better placed to launch into that alterative career path of journalism that you had in mind.

Science subjects are good subjects to have done but so to are subjects like History, Philosophy, International Relations as these all have transferrable skills that are commonly used by practitioners in the Law field.

Reply 7

JrW

14

FightNight

It is possible to do a law conversion course after a science degree and was wondering which out of biology and chemistry would be the best degree to do for this. Which would give the best chance of becoming a good barrister and does anybody know anyone who has gone through this process?

Sure it's possible, but do whatever you enjoy. Barristers tend to have done a law degree (there are always exceptions though) but lots of solicitors have non-law backgrounds. If you want to be a good barrister get a law degree from a top university, join the law society, moot, moot, moot, join the union (if at ox/cam), then do the Oxford BCL...realistically, though, I doubt you would stand much chance at becoming a 'good' barrister with a chemistry/biology degree (unless you want to go into IP where it may be useful).

Solicitor/Barrister with Science Degree

Related discussions

Articles for you