Wanting to study law but have some questions please help!!
Hi all I'm wanting to study law, but haven't done it at A-Level so I have some questions about kind of the overall aspects of studying it.
Firstly, I was wondering what is the route like to become a solicitor? I want to go to university for Law and preferrably would want to do a masters to advance myself in something like Media Law, Privacy and Defamation. But once university is over what's the official route then to be able to practice? I've read online but it seems inconsistent. What courses do I have to take after? What work experience? etc.
Secondly, what should I look for in a degree? I really like the look of Cardiff Uni esp as it's a Welsh uni, RG, and interesting modules, but what is important here for my future? What should it offer? Also, I was wondering what's Cardiff like for rankings? It seems in the UK its place varies so much, then when you look at it on world ranking its very far out (150th) in rankings then sometimes closer.
Any advice is seriously appreciated!!! Thank you
Firstly, I was wondering what is the route like to become a solicitor? I want to go to university for Law and preferrably would want to do a masters to advance myself in something like Media Law, Privacy and Defamation. But once university is over what's the official route then to be able to practice? I've read online but it seems inconsistent. What courses do I have to take after? What work experience? etc.
Secondly, what should I look for in a degree? I really like the look of Cardiff Uni esp as it's a Welsh uni, RG, and interesting modules, but what is important here for my future? What should it offer? Also, I was wondering what's Cardiff like for rankings? It seems in the UK its place varies so much, then when you look at it on world ranking its very far out (150th) in rankings then sometimes closer.
Any advice is seriously appreciated!!! Thank you
Original post by noodlestopshop_
Hi all I'm wanting to study law, but haven't done it at A-Level so I have some questions about kind of the overall aspects of studying it.
Firstly, I was wondering what is the route like to become a solicitor? I want to go to university for Law and preferrably would want to do a masters to advance myself in something like Media Law, Privacy and Defamation. But once university is over what's the official route then to be able to practice? I've read online but it seems inconsistent. What courses do I have to take after? What work experience? etc.
Secondly, what should I look for in a degree? I really like the look of Cardiff Uni esp as it's a Welsh uni, RG, and interesting modules, but what is important here for my future? What should it offer? Also, I was wondering what's Cardiff like for rankings? It seems in the UK its place varies so much, then when you look at it on world ranking its very far out (150th) in rankings then sometimes closer.
Any advice is seriously appreciated!!! Thank you
Firstly, I was wondering what is the route like to become a solicitor? I want to go to university for Law and preferrably would want to do a masters to advance myself in something like Media Law, Privacy and Defamation. But once university is over what's the official route then to be able to practice? I've read online but it seems inconsistent. What courses do I have to take after? What work experience? etc.
Secondly, what should I look for in a degree? I really like the look of Cardiff Uni esp as it's a Welsh uni, RG, and interesting modules, but what is important here for my future? What should it offer? Also, I was wondering what's Cardiff like for rankings? It seems in the UK its place varies so much, then when you look at it on world ranking its very far out (150th) in rankings then sometimes closer.
Any advice is seriously appreciated!!! Thank you
I’m a fellow A level student who isn’t studying law currently, but is an aspiring law student, so I can answer some of your questions!
The route to becoming a solicitor in the UK is changing from the LPC to the SQE. Since you will not have started your degree before 2021, you will need to go down the SQE route. The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) has two stages to it, SQE1 and SQE2. These are both academic exams (I think SQE2 has a practical component) based in different areas of law. I’m still trying to fully understand the SQE myself, so my best advice is to look on the SRA website of the ULaw website as a more thorough explanation of the content. The SQE has a pass rate of 50%, so it is very different to the LPC. You don’t actually need a qualifying law degree to sit the SQE, so if you want to study something else at undergrad, you would still be able to sit it without doing a conversion degree - however this is not usually advised. Since the SQE is an examination of legal knowledge and skills, it’s advised that you have read law in some capacity, whether for your LLB or through a conversion, as you likely will struggle if you haven’t. Since your plan is to study law at undergrad, this won’t be an issue. In addition to the SQE you will also need qualifying work experience. Now this is where the element of training contracts comes in; training contracts are 2 year contracts with a law firm, in which you will be paid a salary to work as a trainee and you will usually go through 4 six month long seats in different areas of practice. Your SQE fees will also be paid for along with any preparation courses that your provider wants you to attend. Most people will try and opt for training contracts simply for the opportunity and the experience. You can self fund the SQE and any courses you want to take in preparation, but it is expensive. Alternatively, some people work in-house in legal positions, so they’re employers may fund their SQE for them. I’m not too sure about this route though, so you might want to do some more research into it. If you want to do an LLM, I’ve seen people say that it’s better to do this before starting a training contract or the SQE, as you probably won’t want to undertake any more study after qualifying (this is also my goal too). While it is useful to have work experience before university, it’s not necessary. As long as you’re applying to opportunities throughout your 3 years of study, gaining a graduate role shouldn’t be too much of a struggle, but then again it’s dependent on you as a person. Some people have lots of experience and internships, but don’t gain a TC and others have none but do. I would say the thing to focus on most other than opportunities is networking, as having useful contacts in the industry will help you navigate your own path.
Cardiff is actually a great university for law! I wouldn’t read too hard into what rankings a university is - in general, if it’s a Russell Group then it will probably give you lots of opportunities. That’s not to say that non-Russell Group universities don’t, every university is unique. Typically, top city firms will hire more from Oxbridge and the rest of the Russell Group, but in my experience, it’s not actually due to them being selective, but more so who’s applying. After speaking to the graduate recruitment team in a silver circle firm, I’ve learned that what tends to happen is that they receive a higher volume of applications from Russell Group universities, so naturally they will be more likely to have a majority of Russell Group trainees than non-Russell Group trainees. If there are 25 trainee positions and 60 Russell Group students apply, but only 15 non-Russell Group students apply, what’s more likely to happen is that they will have a larger proportion of Russell Group trainees, simply because more applied. I say this to not discourage you from choosing non-Russell Group universities, as not attending a higher ranked university will not be the end of your career in law. Sometimes it isn’t about where you go, but what you do. If you are looking to take an LLB course, all universities across England and Wales (can’t speak for NI and Scotland) will have the same compulsory modules, even if they are worded differently. In terms of what you should be looking for, you should be looking for a course that suits you. The necessary content will be covered anyway, so you should focus on the optional modules a university has, assessment and learning styles, examination methods and opportunities within that university for you specifically. For example, I’m very interested in health law and commercial law, so I have been looking at universities that have modules such as company law, intellectual property, international trade and medical law, so I can narrow down my interests while studying. There is no right or wrong degree to pick, because right and wrong will be subjective to you. Since your interested in media law, privacy and defamation, I would look at universities that have modules relating to cyber laws and dispute resolution. World ranking don’t really matter too much, it should be UK ranking that you focus on if at all.
I hope this has been useful and good luck on your journey - from a fellow aspiring solicitor!
Original post by bibachu
I’m a fellow A level student who isn’t studying law currently, but is an aspiring law student, so I can answer some of your questions!
The route to becoming a solicitor in the UK is changing from the LPC to the SQE. Since you will not have started your degree before 2021, you will need to go down the SQE route. The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) has two stages to it, SQE1 and SQE2. These are both academic exams (I think SQE2 has a practical component) based in different areas of law. I’m still trying to fully understand the SQE myself, so my best advice is to look on the SRA website of the ULaw website as a more thorough explanation of the content. The SQE has a pass rate of 50%, so it is very different to the LPC. You don’t actually need a qualifying law degree to sit the SQE, so if you want to study something else at undergrad, you would still be able to sit it without doing a conversion degree - however this is not usually advised. Since the SQE is an examination of legal knowledge and skills, it’s advised that you have read law in some capacity, whether for your LLB or through a conversion, as you likely will struggle if you haven’t. Since your plan is to study law at undergrad, this won’t be an issue. In addition to the SQE you will also need qualifying work experience. Now this is where the element of training contracts comes in; training contracts are 2 year contracts with a law firm, in which you will be paid a salary to work as a trainee and you will usually go through 4 six month long seats in different areas of practice. Your SQE fees will also be paid for along with any preparation courses that your provider wants you to attend. Most people will try and opt for training contracts simply for the opportunity and the experience. You can self fund the SQE and any courses you want to take in preparation, but it is expensive. Alternatively, some people work in-house in legal positions, so they’re employers may fund their SQE for them. I’m not too sure about this route though, so you might want to do some more research into it. If you want to do an LLM, I’ve seen people say that it’s better to do this before starting a training contract or the SQE, as you probably won’t want to undertake any more study after qualifying (this is also my goal too). While it is useful to have work experience before university, it’s not necessary. As long as you’re applying to opportunities throughout your 3 years of study, gaining a graduate role shouldn’t be too much of a struggle, but then again it’s dependent on you as a person. Some people have lots of experience and internships, but don’t gain a TC and others have none but do. I would say the thing to focus on most other than opportunities is networking, as having useful contacts in the industry will help you navigate your own path.
Cardiff is actually a great university for law! I wouldn’t read too hard into what rankings a university is - in general, if it’s a Russell Group then it will probably give you lots of opportunities. That’s not to say that non-Russell Group universities don’t, every university is unique. Typically, top city firms will hire more from Oxbridge and the rest of the Russell Group, but in my experience, it’s not actually due to them being selective, but more so who’s applying. After speaking to the graduate recruitment team in a silver circle firm, I’ve learned that what tends to happen is that they receive a higher volume of applications from Russell Group universities, so naturally they will be more likely to have a majority of Russell Group trainees than non-Russell Group trainees. If there are 25 trainee positions and 60 Russell Group students apply, but only 15 non-Russell Group students apply, what’s more likely to happen is that they will have a larger proportion of Russell Group trainees, simply because more applied. I say this to not discourage you from choosing non-Russell Group universities, as not attending a higher ranked university will not be the end of your career in law. Sometimes it isn’t about where you go, but what you do. If you are looking to take an LLB course, all universities across England and Wales (can’t speak for NI and Scotland) will have the same compulsory modules, even if they are worded differently. In terms of what you should be looking for, you should be looking for a course that suits you. The necessary content will be covered anyway, so you should focus on the optional modules a university has, assessment and learning styles, examination methods and opportunities within that university for you specifically. For example, I’m very interested in health law and commercial law, so I have been looking at universities that have modules such as company law, intellectual property, international trade and medical law, so I can narrow down my interests while studying. There is no right or wrong degree to pick, because right and wrong will be subjective to you. Since your interested in media law, privacy and defamation, I would look at universities that have modules relating to cyber laws and dispute resolution. World ranking don’t really matter too much, it should be UK ranking that you focus on if at all.
I hope this has been useful and good luck on your journey - from a fellow aspiring solicitor!
The route to becoming a solicitor in the UK is changing from the LPC to the SQE. Since you will not have started your degree before 2021, you will need to go down the SQE route. The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) has two stages to it, SQE1 and SQE2. These are both academic exams (I think SQE2 has a practical component) based in different areas of law. I’m still trying to fully understand the SQE myself, so my best advice is to look on the SRA website of the ULaw website as a more thorough explanation of the content. The SQE has a pass rate of 50%, so it is very different to the LPC. You don’t actually need a qualifying law degree to sit the SQE, so if you want to study something else at undergrad, you would still be able to sit it without doing a conversion degree - however this is not usually advised. Since the SQE is an examination of legal knowledge and skills, it’s advised that you have read law in some capacity, whether for your LLB or through a conversion, as you likely will struggle if you haven’t. Since your plan is to study law at undergrad, this won’t be an issue. In addition to the SQE you will also need qualifying work experience. Now this is where the element of training contracts comes in; training contracts are 2 year contracts with a law firm, in which you will be paid a salary to work as a trainee and you will usually go through 4 six month long seats in different areas of practice. Your SQE fees will also be paid for along with any preparation courses that your provider wants you to attend. Most people will try and opt for training contracts simply for the opportunity and the experience. You can self fund the SQE and any courses you want to take in preparation, but it is expensive. Alternatively, some people work in-house in legal positions, so they’re employers may fund their SQE for them. I’m not too sure about this route though, so you might want to do some more research into it. If you want to do an LLM, I’ve seen people say that it’s better to do this before starting a training contract or the SQE, as you probably won’t want to undertake any more study after qualifying (this is also my goal too). While it is useful to have work experience before university, it’s not necessary. As long as you’re applying to opportunities throughout your 3 years of study, gaining a graduate role shouldn’t be too much of a struggle, but then again it’s dependent on you as a person. Some people have lots of experience and internships, but don’t gain a TC and others have none but do. I would say the thing to focus on most other than opportunities is networking, as having useful contacts in the industry will help you navigate your own path.
Cardiff is actually a great university for law! I wouldn’t read too hard into what rankings a university is - in general, if it’s a Russell Group then it will probably give you lots of opportunities. That’s not to say that non-Russell Group universities don’t, every university is unique. Typically, top city firms will hire more from Oxbridge and the rest of the Russell Group, but in my experience, it’s not actually due to them being selective, but more so who’s applying. After speaking to the graduate recruitment team in a silver circle firm, I’ve learned that what tends to happen is that they receive a higher volume of applications from Russell Group universities, so naturally they will be more likely to have a majority of Russell Group trainees than non-Russell Group trainees. If there are 25 trainee positions and 60 Russell Group students apply, but only 15 non-Russell Group students apply, what’s more likely to happen is that they will have a larger proportion of Russell Group trainees, simply because more applied. I say this to not discourage you from choosing non-Russell Group universities, as not attending a higher ranked university will not be the end of your career in law. Sometimes it isn’t about where you go, but what you do. If you are looking to take an LLB course, all universities across England and Wales (can’t speak for NI and Scotland) will have the same compulsory modules, even if they are worded differently. In terms of what you should be looking for, you should be looking for a course that suits you. The necessary content will be covered anyway, so you should focus on the optional modules a university has, assessment and learning styles, examination methods and opportunities within that university for you specifically. For example, I’m very interested in health law and commercial law, so I have been looking at universities that have modules such as company law, intellectual property, international trade and medical law, so I can narrow down my interests while studying. There is no right or wrong degree to pick, because right and wrong will be subjective to you. Since your interested in media law, privacy and defamation, I would look at universities that have modules relating to cyber laws and dispute resolution. World ranking don’t really matter too much, it should be UK ranking that you focus on if at all.
I hope this has been useful and good luck on your journey - from a fellow aspiring solicitor!
Wow - thank you so much, I really appreciate all the information!
I have just a few more questions if that's ok.
Firstly, out of curiosity, if you're in year 13 and have applied to university, which have you applied to or plan to apply to?
Secondly, do the training contracts go after the undergrad is complete or do you complete them as somewhat of a part-time job? Also, do you take the SQE before the training contract, after or during?
For experience while studying the undergrad, what sort of things can you do? For example, do law firms often offer experiences/temporary jobs to students still actively studying for say just summer time?
Thank you so much again
Original post by noodlestopshop_
Wow - thank you so much, I really appreciate all the information!
I have just a few more questions if that's ok.
Firstly, out of curiosity, if you're in year 13 and have applied to university, which have you applied to or plan to apply to?
Secondly, do the training contracts go after the undergrad is complete or do you complete them as somewhat of a part-time job? Also, do you take the SQE before the training contract, after or during?
For experience while studying the undergrad, what sort of things can you do? For example, do law firms often offer experiences/temporary jobs to students still actively studying for say just summer time?
Thank you so much again
I have just a few more questions if that's ok.
Firstly, out of curiosity, if you're in year 13 and have applied to university, which have you applied to or plan to apply to?
Secondly, do the training contracts go after the undergrad is complete or do you complete them as somewhat of a part-time job? Also, do you take the SQE before the training contract, after or during?
For experience while studying the undergrad, what sort of things can you do? For example, do law firms often offer experiences/temporary jobs to students still actively studying for say just summer time?
Thank you so much again
No worries!
I’m not in Year 13, I’m in Year 12 but I’m planning to apply to Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, York and one of Bristol or Nottingham.
Training contracts go after undergrad as they are full time jobs. Usually, people won’t have taken the SQE before doing a training contract, but if a candidate has opted to self fund the SQE and passed it, I believe they can still apply for training contracts, they just won’t have the benefits of exams and courses being paid for them, since they’ve already done it. That training contract would just act as their qualifying work experience.
There are lots of opportunities that you can get involved with in university. I’d suggest starting out with joining your university’s law society, as events they hold will be the most relevant to your career. Other than this, law firms do offer first year insight schemes and internships, usually held during term breaks. You might have heard of spring week, which is basically a week for university students to gain work experience in a commercial industry they are interested in. This applies for things like finance, tech, consulting and law. Firms might offer part time jobs, but with this, it’s more likely to be regional or high street firms, as big companies will want full time employees more often than not. I wouldn’t worry too much about specifically gaining a legal position. My goal is to gain work as a receptionist to help me get used to an office environment, but any job you get is fine, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your studies and you make it relevant on your applications. I’ve seen someone get into Oxford for PPE and they wrote about their part-time job in McDonald’s, so having the ability to link your outside experience back to whatever it is you’re applying to is something all recruiters look for in a candidate. It’s good to also gain legal and non legal work experience, as it shows that you are engaging with other areas. Again, your university law society will likely make you aware of all these upcoming opportunities, so I wouldn’t worry about that too much.
Original post by noodlestopshop_
Hi all I'm wanting to study law, but haven't done it at A-Level so I have some questions about kind of the overall aspects of studying it.
Firstly, I was wondering what is the route like to become a solicitor? I want to go to university for Law and preferrably would want to do a masters to advance myself in something like Media Law, Privacy and Defamation. But once university is over what's the official route then to be able to practice? I've read online but it seems inconsistent. What courses do I have to take after? What work experience? etc.
Secondly, what should I look for in a degree? I really like the look of Cardiff Uni esp as it's a Welsh uni, RG, and interesting modules, but what is important here for my future? What should it offer? Also, I was wondering what's Cardiff like for rankings? It seems in the UK its place varies so much, then when you look at it on world ranking its very far out (150th) in rankings then sometimes closer.
Any advice is seriously appreciated!!! Thank you
Firstly, I was wondering what is the route like to become a solicitor? I want to go to university for Law and preferrably would want to do a masters to advance myself in something like Media Law, Privacy and Defamation. But once university is over what's the official route then to be able to practice? I've read online but it seems inconsistent. What courses do I have to take after? What work experience? etc.
Secondly, what should I look for in a degree? I really like the look of Cardiff Uni esp as it's a Welsh uni, RG, and interesting modules, but what is important here for my future? What should it offer? Also, I was wondering what's Cardiff like for rankings? It seems in the UK its place varies so much, then when you look at it on world ranking its very far out (150th) in rankings then sometimes closer.
Any advice is seriously appreciated!!! Thank you
Hi there! When it comes to university rankings, they usually don't matter too much in the grand scheme of things. They are useful to gain an understanding and basis of what universities to apply for - but as you said - they tend to fluctuate often. Plus, there are considerations in league tables that don't really matter as a law student, such as research quality, or entry requirements. I would say that international league tables don't matter too much either unless you're planning on going international. There are many great universities - including the ones you've said you're interested in - that wouldn't be too high on these tables, but are great places to study nevertheless!
In addition to course content - I think that networking and career support is really important. Here in Cardiff we have a student led organisation - Law Society - which hosts networking events with firms and do workshops for CVs and interviews. But the university's career service is good too - they host employment fairs which are quite helpful and do things such as 1:1 appointments for your CV.
Having said all this, I'm not a law student myself. We do have law students on a platform called Unibuddy, where you can chat to them directly about any questions you had about the degree.
I hope this helps!
~ Fatiha, Cardiff University Student Rep
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