The Student Room Group

University options for Law: Did I pick the right choices?

Hi! As the title states, I've chosen the following Universities for Law and I'm just wondering what the general consensus around them are, which one is ultimately the 'best' and which ones may be weaker. To preface, my predictions are AAA and A in EPQ, so if there are any other Universities you think are more suitable please let me know.

- University of Exeter
- University of Manchester
- University of Kent
- University of Nottingham
- Queens University Belfast
(edited 2 months ago)
Reply 1
I would say Nottingham is the best regarded of those for Law, some might say Manchester, but it's none of the others.
Original post by Noradoodledoo
Hi! As the title states, I've chosen the following Universities for Law and I'm just wondering what the general consensus around them are, which one is ultimately the 'best' and which ones may be weaker. To preface, my predictions are AAA and A in EPQ, so if there are any other Universities you think are more suitable please let me know.
- University of Exeter
- University of Manchester
- University of Kent
- University of Nottingham
- Queens University Belfast

Those are all good choices. Please try not to fret too much about perceived rankings. The league tables are mostly nonsense, and a lot of legal organisations recruit university-blind.

QMB is interesting because it is small, offers financial benefits to some GB students, and provides a law degree recognised for professional qualification in Northern Ireland, England and Wales, and the Republic of Ireland.

Belfast is a great city. So is Manchester. I find Nottingham a dull city, but others like it. Exeter and Canterbury are quiet cities, but the universities are said to be fun.

Exeter gets some negative publicity for being socially stratified, but that might just be gossip.

Visit as many of your targets as you can and, if you obtain more than one offer, pick the one you like the most. Your predicted grades will probably bring you several offers, maybe even five.

Good luck!
Reply 3
Original post by Picnicl
I would say Nottingham is the best regarded of those for Law, some might say Manchester, but it's none of the others.

Thank you so much for the feedback! Would you consider Warwick better than Manchester by chance?
Reply 4
Original post by Stiffy Byng
Those are all good choices. Please try not to fret too much about perceived rankings. The league tables are mostly nonsense, and a lot of legal organisations recruit university-blind.
QMB is interesting because it is small, offers financial benefits to some GB students, and provides a law degree recognised for professional qualification in Northern Ireland, England and Wales, and the Republic of Ireland.
Belfast is a great city. So is Manchester. I find Nottingham a dull city, but others like it. Exeter and Canterbury are quiet cities, but the universities are said to be fun.
Exeter gets some negative publicity for being socially stratified, but that might just be gossip.
Visit as many of your targets as you can and, if you obtain more than one offer, pick the one you like the most. Your predicted grades will probably bring you several offers, maybe even five.
Good luck!

Hi Stiffy! Thank you so much for the reassurance it's definitely something that was weighing on my mind. I was gravitating more towards QMB as I've personally heard good things about it from people I know as well as Manchester for the same reason + Nottingham for its reputation. I'm quite nervous about this whole process but you've helped a lot! 😄
I really liked QMB when I visited it with my daughter. Belfast is cheap to live in and is now peaceful and safe.

But all of your choices are good.

Warwick is another good choice, I think. Have you a strong view on whether you prefer a big city, or a self contained campus, or whatever?
Reply 6
Original post by Noradoodledoo
Thank you so much for the feedback! Would you consider Warwick better than Manchester by chance?

Not for Law
Original post by Noradoodledoo
Hi! As the title states, I've chosen the following Universities for Law and I'm just wondering what the general consensus around them are, which one is ultimately the 'best' and which ones may be weaker. To preface, my predictions are AAA and A in EPQ, so if there are any other Universities you think are more suitable please let me know.
- University of Exeter
- University of Manchester
- University of Kent
- University of Nottingham
- Queens University Belfast

Hi,
I hope you are well!😊

It's exciting to see you are looking at Kent as one of your options!😊 All of your options look great! And your predicted grades look amazing too!😊 Although I'm a bit biased, because I've loved my time here at Kent, I thought I'd give you a few examples of what amazing things Law at Kent has to offer!

I've got involved in a few extracurriculars, such as being a Student Ambassador, and have joined a few societies during my time at Kent, so let me know if you would like any extra info on any of these🙂

Just a few things about Law at Kent:

There are several Law courses you can choose from, including Law and Criminology, Law and Politics, and Law (Integrated Master's in Solicitors’ Practice) to name just a few. Click here to find all of the available Law courses.

Law at Kent was ranked 27th out of 102 in The Times Good University Guide 2025.

Law at Kent was ranked 2nd for research quality in The Complete University Guide 2025.

Kent Law Clinic provides students with hands-on experience, where students work with academics, solicitors and barristers to provide free legal advice and representation to those unable to afford it. It allows students to experience Law in action, and put their skills into practice. Find out more about Kent Law Clinic here.

Kent Law School has a Moot court, which gives students a chance to take part in mock trials and appeal hearings in front of real lawyers and judges.

Kent Law School has a range of academics from lots of different fields, which means there are a range of modules for students to choose from. Kent Law School also has lots of links to industries too!

Kent Law School also offers a Lawyering Skills Programme which provides practical hands on learning for students to enhance their employability and prepare for a career in Law. These co-curricular activities give you the opportunity to build your confidence and to learn “by doing”. Some skills taught in the programme include- Client Interviewing, Mediation, and Negotiation among a few. Find out more about Kent's Lawyering Skills Programme here.

I hope this helps you with your decision! Kent has lots to offer for students studying Law🙂

If you have any questions about Kent Law School let us know, and we will be happy to help!😊

If you haven't visited Canterbury Campus or Kent Law School yet, Kent has an open day on January 18th, so we'd love to see you there if you haven't visited us already!🙂

Best wishes for all of your applications!
Josie
Uni of Kent Student Rep🎓️
(edited 1 month ago)
OP, it appears that some posters on TSR take university league tables seriously. Those tables are mostly flim flam, assembled on various spurious premises. They can make for an amusing parlour game, but have little real world significance.

It can be worth knowing if the people who volunteer opinions on university law departments have ever studied or taught law, or otherwise have some basis for their opinion.

I mainly practise law, but I've taught law at five universities in the UK and two in Ireland. I haven't taught at any of your choices, but they are all well regarded by law teachers and practising lawyers. If you ever apply for a training place at a law firm or barristers' chambers, the selection panel may not know the name of the university you studied at. University-blind recruitment is becoming widespread.

I am currently teaching an LLM candidate at a large and very well regarded university. The candidate has secured a training contract at a famous law firm. The candidate's first degree was awarded by a university widely regarded as very low quality.
Original post by University of Kent
Hi,
I hope you are well!😊
It's exciting to see you are looking at Kent as one of your options!😊 All of your options look great! And your predicted grades look amazing too!😊 Although I'm a bit biased, because I've loved my time here at Kent, I thought I'd give you a few examples of what amazing things Law at Kent has to offer!
I've got involved in a few extracurriculars, such as being a Student Ambassador, and have joined a few societies during my time at Kent, so let me know if you would like any extra info on any of these🙂
Just a few things about Law at Kent:

There are several Law courses you can choose from, including Law and Criminology, Law and Politics, and Law (Integrated Master's in Solicitors’ Practice) to name just a few. Click here to find all of the available Law courses.

Law at Kent was ranked 27th out of 102 in The Times Good University Guide 2025.

Law at Kent was ranked 2nd for research quality in The Complete University Guide 2025.

Kent Law Clinic provides students with hands-on experience, where students work with academics, solicitors and barristers to provide free legal advice and representation to those unable to afford it. It allows students to experience Law in action, and put their skills into practice. Find out more about Kent Law Clinic here.

Kent Law School has a Moot court, which gives students a chance to take part in mock trials and appeal hearings in front of real lawyers and judges.

Kent Law School has a range of academics from lots of different fields, which means there are a range of modules for students to choose from. Kent Law School also has lots of links to industries too!

Kent Law School also offers a Lawyering Skills Programme which provides practical hands on learning for students to enhance their employability and prepare for a career in Law. These co-curricular activities give you the opportunity to build your confidence and to learn “by doing”. Some skills taught in the programme include- Client Interviewing, Mediation, and Negotiation among a few. Find out more about Kent's Lawyering Skills Programme here.

I hope this helps you with your decision! Kent has lots to offer for students studying Law🙂
If you have any questions about Kent Law School let us know, and we will be happy to help!😊
If you haven't visited Canterbury Campus or Kent Law School yet, Kent has an open day on January 18th, so we'd love to see you there if you haven't visited us already!🙂
Best wishes for all of your applications!
Josie
Uni of Kent Student Rep🎓️

Hi Josie thank you for the response! I'll certainly be attending the open day, as I already have been looking at online tours! :smile:
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by Stiffy Byng
I really liked QMB when I visited it with my daughter. Belfast is cheap to live in and is now peaceful and safe.
But all of your choices are good.
Warwick is another good choice, I think. Have you a strong view on whether you prefer a big city, or a self contained campus, or whatever?
I've just checked out the campuses themselves to see if they're liveable rather than looking around at the cities-- though I have been to Belfast and Manchester. Unfortunately, due to my own living circumstances, I've chosen the Universities based on how far away they were from my current residence + reputation as I believed they'd give me better career prospects and capabilities of moving out, hence looking at Degree Apprenticeships which I could move out for too. I'm not incredibly fussy and I could probably adapt either way! 🙂

(edited 1 month ago)
I really appreciate your perspective, as I've personally been told that if I didn't aim for the "Top 5" I'd be doing myself a misjustice and not get employed, so I've been quite anxious about my chosen options. I'm aware that at some firms they do "blind interviews" during Apprenticeship interviews and I was just wondering if it would be similar in that sense?
Original post by Noradoodledoo
I really appreciate your perspective, as I've personally been told that if I didn't aim for the "Top 5" I'd be doing myself a misjustice and not get employed, so I've been quite anxious about my chosen options. I'm aware that at some firms they do "blind interviews" during Apprenticeship interviews and I was just wondering if it would be similar in that sense?


There is much mythology about university standings. The reality is that employers hire people, not universities. It is true that graduates of a few well known universities tend to do well in selection processes for jobs in the law and other professions. This is because of the quality of those graduates, and the quality of the education provided by those universities. The most competitive universities have the most resources. They can attract the best scholars at every level from undergraduate to Vice-Chancellor. The most academically capable sixth formers flock to those universities.

Consider, for example, at the top of the tree, Oxford and Cambridge. An undergraduate at one of those universities may be able to live in his or her college at a subsidised rent for three years and need not worry about finding a flat or commuting across a city. The college provides three meals a day at subsidised prices. The university city has dozens of libraries, all open to the undergraduate, including libraries which have a copy of every single book published in the UK, as well as originals and copies of historic texts, Shakespeare First Folios, generations of Doctoral theses, and so on. The undergraduate is taught in groups of one to four by established scholars at the top of their field, or by young scholars who may be rising stars. The undergraduates have frequent access to the academic staff. They don't just see them at a distance in a vast lecture theatre, or at an office hour once a week. There are a thousand and one societies, lots of bars and restaurants, and so on, all no more than a few minutes walk or cycle away.

Is it any wonder that many a graduate of one of those universities will impress a selection panel in a smart law firm, a barristers' chambers, an investment bank, the Foreign Office, the BBC, or whatever? This is not to say that a graduate of a university with fewer resources will not also be an outstanding applicant, and the days when you had to go to a small group of universities to do well in certain jobs have gone. But, at the same time, the relative advantages of going to some universities persist, for reasons to do with quality, not to do with the colour of the tie.

By the way, did you make a positive decision not to apply to Oxford? With a prediction of three As you could have had a shot. But worry not, you have listed good universities and you could probably thrive at any of them.

There are advantages in going to a place such as, for example, Manchester. Big city, vibrant student scene. Industrial history all around, great countryside nearby. Strong scholarship in the university. A very urban vibe.

Or Kent, for example: a fun campus near a beautiful Cathedral city in the garden of England, with an energetic law school, and not far from London if you fancy some big city time. If you plan to become a lawyer, you may be living and working in a big city in the UK or overseas anyway, so maybe spend your undergraduate years somewhere smaller. There are arguments back and forth about the various options.

Good luck!
This may be quite stupid but for the better half of a Year I wasn't actually aware of my grades and assumed they were lower than they actually were, so aiming for Oxbridge wasn't something I thought I could even do. It was actually during my UCAS meeting that I found out my actual predictions and sadly by that point it was too late anyway. Of course I've considered waiting for the next application window but due to my living circumstances staying at my current residence for another year isn't something I can do. It's definitely made me sad to give up such an opportunity but that's life I guess.

Thank you once again for all your help! Hoping to actually get offers before I decide haha :smile:
Original post by Noradoodledoo
Hi Josie thank you for the response! I'll certainly be attending the open day, as I already have been looking at online tours! :smile:

Hi,
You're welcome!😊
Let us know if you have any questions about studying at Kent 🙂
We hope to see you at the upcoming open day!🙂

Best wishes,
Josie
Uni of Kent Student Rep🎓️
Original post by Noradoodledoo
This may be quite stupid but for the better half of a Year I wasn't actually aware of my grades and assumed they were lower than they actually were, so aiming for Oxbridge wasn't something I thought I could even do. It was actually during my UCAS meeting that I found out my actual predictions and sadly by that point it was too late anyway. Of course I've considered waiting for the next application window but due to my living circumstances staying at my current residence for another year isn't something I can do. It's definitely made me sad to give up such an opportunity but that's life I guess.
Thank you once again for all your help! Hoping to actually get offers before I decide haha :smile:

Is there any chance you could move out, if you are having severe difficulties at home? Live with a friend or relative? Try to get a job during a gap year? Once at university, there are sometimes facilities to assist students who are estranged from their homes.
Original post by Noradoodledoo
Hi! As the title states, I've chosen the following Universities for Law and I'm just wondering what the general consensus around them are, which one is ultimately the 'best' and which ones may be weaker. To preface, my predictions are AAA and A in EPQ, so if there are any other Universities you think are more suitable please let me know.
- University of Exeter
- University of Manchester
- University of Kent
- University of Nottingham
- Queens University Belfast

Hi Noradoodledoo,

I'm glad to hear that you are considering Exeter! I am currently in my second year here, studying Law and French Law, so I hope that I can provide you with some good insight into Law at Exeter.

First and foremost, the standard LLB course in Exeter lasts for 3 years, and covers crucial areas of law such as Contract, Land, and Criminal Law, though many other areas are also covered. This is a very flexible degree in itself, as your final year is entirely optional, with room for an optional module in your second year. Equally, should you apply for the standard LLB, there is room once you're here to move onto the LLB course with industry experience (4 years). There is also LLB Law with European Study (4 years), the LLB / Master 1 Law and French Law (4 years) and LLB / JD Law with the Chinese University of Hong Kong (4 years) - all offer a year abroad. Alternatively, there is the BBL Law and Business course on our Penryn Campus (3 years). You can view all of our law courses here: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/law/

I'd also recommend looking at the optional modules that we offer, to see if Law at Exeter is for you. These are the modules offered this year, and will largely remain the same, but please do note that modules are subject to change each year, so new ones may come up: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/studyinformation/modules/?prog=law

In terms of rankings, we are 14th overall and 18th for Law in the Complete University Guide 2025, with an overall score of 92% for law.

We have a moot court in the Amory building, where you can practise your legal skills in mock trials and negotiations competitions which run throughout the year.

We have many law-related societies, each of which will provide you with the opportunities to network and build upon your academic and legal skills. You can view the full list of societies here: https://my.exeterguild.com/

The law school runs several Law Careers Fairs throughout the year, where you can meet representatives from Magic Circle law firms as well as some local firms.

Exeter is a quiet city, but there is a lovely mix of busyness and greenery. I would recommend coming along to an open day to have a look around and ask the law lecturers, who are also leading academics and researchers, any questions. You can find out more here: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/visit/

I hope this answers some of your question, but if you need to ask anything else, please don't hesitate to get in touch!

All the best,

Grace
University of Exeter Student Ambassador

Quick Reply