A Levels for law – a flexible choice

4. They're longstanding, main stream subjects. They'd be fine.

6. No, although (can't find the reference) i have read that the 3 most popular A levels for successful Russell Group applicants are History, English Literature and Maths.

7. I think one would be a good choice - it helps you understand how a language it put together and they are considered challenging subjects. My understanding of how English is put together was learnt almost entirely from Latin and French.

What subject combinations are you thinking about doing? The answer will help us advise you as to whether they are a good mix for Law, especially if you also tell us your strengths and weaknesses. For example, it is a very good idea to take English Lit or History, but only if you think you can achieve top grades in those subjects. It would be ok to choose Law A level as long as your other A levels were more academic ones (Law is not seen as that academic compared to traditional A level subjects which is why it is not generally rated that highly). Computer Science seems a bit risky to me, but Economics is not risky as it is a highly regarded subject.

Applicants are definitely asked about their A Level choices during the interview. I think that giving an intelligent answer how their choice is beneficial for both a degree and a career in law carries more weight than the exact choice of subjects.

Why do these youths focus on facilitating subjects which fully mean nothing for law and not preferred? Universities like Oxford, Leeds and LSE have preferred subjects lists for Law. If your subjects are on there, you’re fine. Facilitating means nothing here, facilitating literally means flexible. It’s for students who don’t know what to pick but want to open up the most doors for university and so choose these flexible/facilitating subjects. Anyone who tells you you need facilitating subjects for law is stupid. Preferred subjects. These are still academic subjects but much wider, like psychology, sociology, geography, economics, language literature subjects like Arabic Literature.

There is no "perfect prep" for law at uni, including A-Level law. That's why the perennial advice is to study somewhat academic subjects you enjoy, so you get the required grades (e.g. A*AA/AAA/AAB). If there were a perfect combo, unis would ask for it or give some indication that it existed.

Myths and misinformation continue to circulate even on TSR.

Can anybody shine more light onto questions (7) and (8)?

Ditto for the broader question 8 - your A-level subjects don't generally matter. Saying "x, y and z" are the best prepartion perpetuates the myth that universities prefer applicants with x, y and z. They don't.

IF you are telling the truth, then it means that A Levels for the purpose of a law degree are just pure credentialism because the degree course does not build on the skills and knowledge contained in the A Levels. Therefore a law degree will actually be no more difficult for a person with good GCSE grades and no A Levels than for a person with 3 A* grade A Levels.

I don't think this is the case in reality as I find it difficult to believe that all A Levels are equal preparation for law degree in terms of skills and knowledge.

Is there a reason why a much higher proportion of law students have A Levels in English literature and history than further mathematics and electronics? Foreign languages are more common than physics and chemistry.

For the simple reason someone studying humanities at A-level is more likely to want to study a humanity at university. Whereas someone study electronics and FM is more likely to want to study a science...