The Student Room Group

Law: Does your uni affect your employability?

I have heard a lot of people say that a Law degree from Oxbridge is of higher value than of the lower universities. Is this true? Would someone with a first in a lower university be valued the same as someone with a first from an Oxbridge university?

Thank you in advance!

Scroll to see replies

I’d say it depends on what area of law you want to specialise in. If you want to do legal aid work then I would say probably not but if you want to do private client or big business deals at a large City corporate firm then maybe. There is a lot of competition for trainee places these days so suppose it depends on what area you want to go into ultimately
Original post by joannea16
I’d say it depends on what area of law you want to specialise in. If you want to do legal aid work then I would say probably not but if you want to do private client or big business deals at a large City corporate firm then maybe. There is a lot of competition for trainee places these days so suppose it depends on what area you want to go into ultimately


When you say maybe for large City corporate firms, do you mean only Oxbridge or just the higher tier law universities such as LSE for example?
Original post by OutsidersLawUK
When you say maybe for large City corporate firms, do you mean only Oxbridge or just the higher tier law universities such as LSE for example?


The higher tier ones may be looked on more favourably but also a first is probably a must for the higher rated law firms as competition for training contracts is extremely competitive
LSE, UCL, KCL, Durham and Bristol. I’m aware they are all on varying levels but I’d like to know if they would provide me with a great education to go on to have a good career in law.
Original post by OutsidersLawUK
LSE, UCL, KCL, Durham and Bristol. I’m aware they are all on varying levels but I’d like to know if they would provide me with a great education to go on to have a good career in law.


Yes as far as the academic side goes.

Are you international i.e non UK non EU?

You may find the visa restrictions are gong to be pose a more significant problem to your legal career.
(edited 5 years ago)
Original post by 999tigger
Yes as far as the academic side goes.

Are you international i.e non UK non EU?

You may find the visa restrictions are gong to be pose a more significant problem to your legal career.


Nope, I’m from down south in England.
Original post by OutsidersLawUK
Nope, I’m from down south in England.

If you have a first from one of those unis, then you should be fine. Gets your foot in the door.
Why would you be calling yourself an outsider?
JSP has lots of experience in recruiting so maybe they will give you additional guidance.
Original post by 999tigger
If you have a first from one of those unis, then you should be fine. Gets your foot in the door.
Why would you be calling yourself an outsider?
JSP has lots of experience in recruiting so maybe they will give you additional guidance.


Can’t honestly answer that haha, just sort of came up with it. I guess because nobody in my family has gone to university was the original intent, but it is a bit of a silly name.
Original post by J-SP
This really isn’t as simple as is one degree rates higher than the next.

Oxbridge is over represented in trainee cohorts because:

1) they apply in higher numbers than other universities, which given the size of their universities is highly disproportionate

2) in vast majority of cases they have higher academic achievement pre university

3) they typically have more extra curricular activities, both pre university and the collegiate system helps foster it even more during uni

4) they tend to be more career focused, and even possibly so before university

5) it’s a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy - if there are more alumni in the profession, they are more likely to go back to the university and encourage future students to apply, and advise them on the best way to do it

6) there’s also better advice from careers service, academics and other students - being in a well informed network will help

Your employability will be driven by you though. As I have said before many times, I used to reject more Oxford/Cambridge students than any other university. However I used to recruit the most from those universities too.


That was really helpful, thank you so much for that. What are some of the extra curricular activities pre-university that they tend to have?
Original post by OutsidersLawUK
Can’t honestly answer that haha, just sort of came up with it. I guess because nobody in my family has gone to university was the original intent, but it is a bit of a silly name.

Was just curious as one group f people are international students who dont appreciate there are immigration restrictions.
I would be focusing on exams at the moment. best grades, best uni. Do you have offers?
I was wondering as to whether or not it would be worth reapplying the following year, once I would have physical A-Level grades rather than simple predicted grades due to all of my A-Levels being linear. From what you have said, it seems that it would be worth not reapplying and sticking to one of the offers I get, if I get any out of the other universities.
Original post by 999tigger
Was just curious as one group f people are international students who dont appreciate there are immigration restrictions.
I would be focusing on exams at the moment. best grades, best uni. Do you have offers?


Fair enough. I am currently in Year 12, so I would be applying later this year. I am on track to do really well in my A-Levels so I want to get as much information and look around the universities early. Thank you for your help!
Original post by OutsidersLawUK
I have heard a lot of people say that a Law degree from Oxbridge is of higher value than of the lower universities. Is this true? Would someone with a first in a lower university be valued the same as someone with a first from an Oxbridge university?

Thank you in advance!


The aim of the game is for someone to look at your uni and degree, and for them to say "ahh, that's an excellent one" or "that's a very good one". They're not going to care about a minute difference between the unis in the excellent or very good class for the simple reason that someone might choose Bristol over KCL in order to be family, friends, for a scholarship, because they like Bristolian accents.

The employer is not going to think that because you went to Bristol you're not as smart as someone who went to KCL -- they're simply going to mentally place the degree in the very good category, and then go on to look at your grades, experiences and personal traits. The issue is where the employer places your uni in the "ahh, a bit rough!" category, although there are people who will choose RHUL and Liverpool over KCL for a plethora of reasons. If you're KCL quality going to RHUL, it should be no bother getting a decent first and rebutting the so-soness of the institution. Quite common, especially fo people who go to the bar, to further rebut this by taking an Oxbridge postgrad in law.
Original post by OutsidersLawUK
Fair enough. I am currently in Year 12, so I would be applying later this year. I am on track to do really well in my A-Levels so I want to get as much information and look around the universities early. Thank you for your help!


If you have the grades, then get into one of the elites, then any actual advantage you will be assured of. It also has to do with other factors as well including being bright in the first place. The uni grade is what matters most. Once you are in then degree starts to mater less and less and your value goes to what you can do, working relationships and your ability/ potential to earn fees..
Original post by J-SP
It doesn’t really matter what it is. What matters is that you have taken responsibility for things or made a commitment to something outside of your studies.

Studying is primarily an individual pursuit. Extra curriculars often show the skills needed to work with others, but mainly show things like whether you like keeping yourself busy, like responsibility and achieving things outside of academia.

Firms don’t tend to care what the activities are though - Sports, Arts, Drama, Volunteering, Politics etc - it really doesn’t matter.


That is good to hear. I am a member of a History reading club thing at the minute and I head a Political and Historical Law society at my school in which we look at laws and analyse them based on historical and political context. Would these be useful beyond university then?
Reply 16
I don't think it will drastically have an impact. however some employers have their preferences I guess.
Original post by 999tigger
If you have the grades, then get into one of the elites, then any actual advantage you will be assured of. It also has to do with other factors as well including being bright in the first place. The uni grade is what matters most. Once you are in then degree starts to mater less and less and your value goes to what you can do, working relationships and your ability/ potential to earn fees..


Only problem is that I am weighed down by my average GCSE grades which is a shame because I am on track to get at least A*AAB, with the possibility for higher grades. That is why I am looking away from Oxbridge as I am fully aware of how much my application will be affected. I do have extenuating circumstances for my GCSEs but I doubt they would be taken into account much.
Original post by OutsidersLawUK
Only problem is that I am weighed down by my average GCSE grades which is a shame because I am on track to get at least A*AAB, with the possibility for higher grades. That is why I am looking away from Oxbridge as I am fully aware of how much my application will be affected. I do have extenuating circumstances for my GCSEs but I doubt they would be taken into account much.


Your reference can mention plus they have ext circ forms. Cambridge have much more generous GCSE requirements than Oxford. If you are applying t other elites, then they will also have their own entry requirements. They are competitive.
Original post by J-SP
Useful? Only really to you.

But they show responsibility and commitment outside of studying your A-levels. These are all good things and would just add more flavour and depth to a future application. It also depends what you achieve in these roles though.

However, for many applicants they do so much more at university that their school stuff just becomes no more than a sentence.


I see, so I take it I should spend some time at University and ensure I have a number of activities to talk about. I am looking to make sure that I am a very competitive candidate for jobs so this was very helpful

Thank you.

Quick Reply