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Ask a current Law student

Hello,

I am a current year 2 Law student so if you have any questions about anything at all please let me know.

You may be someone looking at applying to university wanting advice, you may be an applicant this year with questions, you may want suggestions for reading to do before you start or you may be a current Law student with questions.

No matter what stage you are at I will try my best to provide you with an answer!

Charlie
Law LLB Student

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Reply 1
I am hoping to do law and French- I have picked: English Lit, Maths and French. Also I have chosen to do an EPQ. Do you think these are strong choices? And is an EPQ better than doing a fourth A Level?
Original post by Kayak1
I am hoping to do law and French- I have picked: English Lit, Maths and French. Also I have chosen to do an EPQ. Do you think these are strong choices? And is an EPQ better than doing a fourth A Level?


Hello,

The joy of law is that you don't really need any particular A Levels in order to study it. The ones you have chosen seem very appropriate and I would say will help develop the key skills you need to be a successful law student. Maths for instance will really help with the problem solving.

I honestly believe that an EPQ is better that a fourth A Level and when it comes to preparing for university an EPQ is actually better than an A Level. This is because the EPQ is very independent requiring you to teach yourself and independently research an area you are not familiar with. These are all the kinds of things which you will need to be able to do as a university student.

I hope this helps, if you have any further questions please do let me know.

Charlie
Law LLB Student
Reply 3
Original post by UoL Students
Hello,
The joy of law is that you don't really need any particular A Levels in order to study it. The ones you have chosen seem very appropriate and I would say will help develop the key skills you need to be a successful law student. Maths for instance will really help with the problem solving.
I honestly believe that an EPQ is better that a fourth A Level and when it comes to preparing for university an EPQ is actually better than an A Level. This is because the EPQ is very independent requiring you to teach yourself and independently research an area you are not familiar with. These are all the kinds of things which you will need to be able to do as a university student.
I hope this helps, if you have any further questions please do let me know.
Charlie
Law LLB Student


Thanks!
Original post by Kayak1
I am hoping to do law and French- I have picked: English Lit, Maths and French. Also I have chosen to do an EPQ. Do you think these are strong choices? And is an EPQ better than doing a fourth A Level?

You dont need either a 4th A level or an EPQ - no University will want or even 'prefer' this for LLB.
Remember - AAA will always look better than ABBBB, and that this could cost you a Uni place.
Stick to 3 A levels, and you are far more likely to actually achieve A/A* grades.

Also, be aware that any LLB 'with' another subject will mean you don't have the choice of all the Law units that are on offer to straight Law students because of subject timetable clashes. This can be frustrating/limiting. Its often better to do 'Law with Study Abroad' - you get to do the full Law degree, can have a year at a Uni in France, and Unis will all offer extra-curricular language classes you can do to keep your French up to speed - you don't need to do 'a degree' in it.
Original post by McGinger
You dont need either a 4th A level or an EPQ - no University will want or even 'prefer' this for LLB.
Remember - AAA will always look better than ABBBB, and that this could cost you a Uni place.
Stick to 3 A levels, and you are far more likely to actually achieve A/A* grades.
Also, be aware that any LLB 'with' another subject will mean you don't have the choice of all the Law units that are on offer to straight Law students because of subject timetable clashes. This can be frustrating/limiting. Its often better to do 'Law with Study Abroad' - you get to do the full Law degree, can have a year at a Uni in France, and Unis will all offer extra-curricular language classes you can do to keep your French up to speed - you don't need to do 'a degree' in it.


I agree you don't need to do either 4 A Levels or an EPQ but doing an EPQ can give you an advantage when starting your degree because it is very different to what you will be used to. It also provides you with something different to talk about.

Doing LLB with a language can be looked upon very well by employers but as suggested it does mean that you will be covering less law. As with all LLB degrees you will cover all the foundations of legal knowledge (FLK) which includes contract law, law of tort, constitutional and administration law, criminal law, land law, equity and trusts and EU law. This just means you will have less choice when it comes to optional modules. However, many students do straight law but not as many do law with French for instance. At the University of Leicester, law with a language automatically includes a year abroad as well.

I hope this helps you understand the options available to you. Ultimately pick what you want to do and what you will enjoy as this is your degree!

Charlie
Law LLB Student
Reply 6
Original post by McGinger
You dont need either a 4th A level or an EPQ - no University will want or even 'prefer' this for LLB.
Remember - AAA will always look better than ABBBB, and that this could cost you a Uni place.
Stick to 3 A levels, and you are far more likely to actually achieve A/A* grades.
Also, be aware that any LLB 'with' another subject will mean you don't have the choice of all the Law units that are on offer to straight Law students because of subject timetable clashes. This can be frustrating/limiting. Its often better to do 'Law with Study Abroad' - you get to do the full Law degree, can have a year at a Uni in France, and Unis will all offer extra-curricular language classes you can do to keep your French up to speed - you don't need to do 'a degree' in it.


I don’t necessarily want to become a lawyer, I am interested in law and think it would be a useful degree to have. As for French - I would like to do a year abroad in France as part of my degree. Do you know any unis that offer this? Thanks
Original post by Kayak1
I don’t necessarily want to become a lawyer, I am interested in law and think it would be a useful degree to have. As for French - I would like to do a year abroad in France as part of my degree. Do you know any unis that offer this? Thanks


Law is a very useful degree to have even if you don't want to go into Law. It is highly respected by employers and you learn so many transferable skills which makes it excellent value for money.

At Leicester Law School we offer various Law degrees including a Matriese programme which is English and French Law as well as well as law with a modern language. You can follow this link to see the courses available and what we cover as well as the entry requirements- https://le.ac.uk/study/law?utm_source=google-search&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=ug-2025-main-cycle&utm_content=subject_law&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA1eO7BhATEiwAm0Ee-PydPQQ383qN6FP2L-AqbjIEX4DNEzlpRDfJiUawJtjdsNbP9fEgWRoCCrgQAvD_BwE

The majority of degrees at Leicester also come with an optional year abroad or summer abroad. We have partner unicorns in every continent apart from Antarctica so there is lots of choice.

I hope this helps and if you have any further questions please do let me know.

Charlie
Law LLB Student
Reply 8
Original post by UoL Students
Law is a very useful degree to have even if you don't want to go into Law. It is highly respected by employers and you learn so many transferable skills which makes it excellent value for money.
At Leicester Law School we offer various Law degrees including a Matriese programme which is English and French Law as well as well as law with a modern language. You can follow this link to see the courses available and what we cover as well as the entry requirements- https://le.ac.uk/study/law?utm_source=google-search&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=ug-2025-main-cycle&utm_content=subject_law&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA1eO7BhATEiwAm0Ee-PydPQQ383qN6FP2L-AqbjIEX4DNEzlpRDfJiUawJtjdsNbP9fEgWRoCCrgQAvD_BwE
The majority of degrees at Leicester also come with an optional year abroad or summer abroad. We have partner unicorns in every continent apart from Antarctica so there is lots of choice.
I hope this helps and if you have any further questions please do let me know.
Charlie
Law LLB Student


Thanks I will definitely look into this degree
Original post by Kayak1
Thanks I will definitely look into this degree


That's great to hear, if you have any questions about Leicester as a city or a university please let me know.

Charlie
Law LLB Student
Original post by Kayak1
I don’t necessarily want to become a lawyer, I am interested in law and think it would be a useful degree to have. As for French - I would like to do a year abroad in France as part of my degree. Do you know any unis that offer this? Thanks

Two examples - and there are plenty of others
Bristol - LLB Law with Study Abroad | Study at Bristol | University of Bristol - Paris, Bordeaux, Toulouse etc
Sheffield - Study abroad | Law | The University of Sheffield- Paris and Lyon
Original post by UoL Students
Hello,
I am a current year 2 Law student so if you have any questions about anything at all please let me know.
You may be someone looking at applying to university wanting advice, you may be an applicant this year with questions, you may want suggestions for reading to do before you start or you may be a current Law student with questions.
No matter what stage you are at I will try my best to provide you with an answer!
Charlie
Law LLB Student

Hi, I'm trying to decide whether law is right for me. What sort of skills/character do you need to be a law student? and how much reading do you think you get per day or week? thanks
Original post by esingh125
Hi, I'm trying to decide whether law is right for me. What sort of skills/character do you need to be a law student? and how much reading do you think you get per day or week? thanks

Hello,

Law is a perfect subject for anyone unsure about what else to study because it is a highly respected degree by all employers both inside and outside the legal industry. It is a hard degree but it is a very rewarding degree. Law is suitable for people who enjoy the social sciences or learning about things which have an impact on everyone in everyday life. For instance, both when you walk into a shop and when you buy an item there are a number of laws which are present in the background.

The ideal characteristics for a law student would be someone who likes a challenge and problem-solving. They ought to enjoy reading as there is a lot of reading (more about this below). They must also have an interest in the law and how they impact our day to day lives. This is also a desirable subject if you enjoy helping people whether that is through legal advice or campaigning and protests for instance.

The workload of a law degree is high, comparable to medicine I would say, and just to put it in context, at the University of Leicester Law along with medicine, engineering and a couple of other subjects do not get reading weeks due to the amount of content we must learn. We are expected to spend 300 hours per module per year including lectures, tutorials, assessments and independent study. You can expect to study either four full-year modules who some full-year modules along with some half-year modules. For me, the amount of reading can really vary depending on the area of law, but at University we tend to complete a topic within two weeks and so on average the reading per topic can vary from 50 to 150 pages for the textbooks on top of case reports and journal articles. This may sound a lot, and it is, but it is entirely doable.

Ultimately, regardless of what subject you may want to study at degree level, you must enjoy it else otherwise you will find it very difficult to put in the hours and find the motivation.

I hope this helps, if you have any further questions at all please do let me know.

Charlie
Law LLB Student
Original post by UoL Students
Hello,
Law is a perfect subject for anyone unsure about what else to study because it is a highly respected degree by all employers both inside and outside the legal industry. It is a hard degree but it is a very rewarding degree. Law is suitable for people who enjoy the social sciences or learning about things which have an impact on everyone in everyday life. For instance, both when you walk into a shop and when you buy an item there are a number of laws which are present in the background.
The ideal characteristics for a law student would be someone who likes a challenge and problem-solving. They ought to enjoy reading as there is a lot of reading (more about this below). They must also have an interest in the law and how they impact our day to day lives. This is also a desirable subject if you enjoy helping people whether that is through legal advice or campaigning and protests for instance.
The workload of a law degree is high, comparable to medicine I would say, and just to put it in context, at the University of Leicester Law along with medicine, engineering and a couple of other subjects do not get reading weeks due to the amount of content we must learn. We are expected to spend 300 hours per module per year including lectures, tutorials, assessments and independent study. You can expect to study either four full-year modules who some full-year modules along with some half-year modules. For me, the amount of reading can really vary depending on the area of law, but at University we tend to complete a topic within two weeks and so on average the reading per topic can vary from 50 to 150 pages for the textbooks on top of case reports and journal articles. This may sound a lot, and it is, but it is entirely doable.
Ultimately, regardless of what subject you may want to study at degree level, you must enjoy it else otherwise you will find it very difficult to put in the hours and find the motivation.
I hope this helps, if you have any further questions at all please do let me know.
Charlie
Law LLB Student

Thanks for that, very helpful. Do you have any recommendations for reading, podcasts, videos etc that I could use to see if I enjoy reading and understanding the law/what its like studying the law?
Reply 14
Original post by UoL Students
Hello,
I am a current year 2 Law student so if you have any questions about anything at all please let me know.
You may be someone looking at applying to university wanting advice, you may be an applicant this year with questions, you may want suggestions for reading to do before you start or you may be a current Law student with questions.
No matter what stage you are at I will try my best to provide you with an answer!
Charlie
Law LLB Student

Hi Charlie : )

I am in Y13 at the moment and hoping to start my law degree after A levels this year (assuming I meet my offer conditions and don't fail my A levels!). Questions:

How was the workload when you first started your degree? Did you have support when applying to mini-pupillages/internships? Also, how do you balance your academic studies with mooting/debating/subject-related extra-curriculars? And of course, any reading suggestions for Y13 summer? (I loved Eve Was Framed and Is Eating People Wrong).

Thank you!
Original post by Kayak1
I am hoping to do law and French- I have picked: English Lit, Maths and French. Also I have chosen to do an EPQ. Do you think these are strong choices? And is an EPQ better than doing a fourth A Level?

Doing law with a language is really good because a lot of firms have roles with a preference for people who can speak German or French.
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by Academic007
Doing law with a language is really good because a lot of firms have roles with a preference for people who can speak German or French.

What is your source for this statement.
Original post by esingh125
Thanks for that, very helpful. Do you have any recommendations for reading, podcasts, videos etc that I could use to see if I enjoy reading and understanding the law/what its like studying the law?

BBC podcasts - easy to listen to : BBC Radio 4 - The Law Show - Available now
Useful *free* Moocs :
From Crime to Punishment - Online Course - FutureLearn
Jurisprudence Course: The Philosophy of Law - Online Law Courses - FutureLearn
Inside the UK Supreme Court - Online Law Course - FutureLearn
Original post by esingh125
Thanks for that, very helpful. Do you have any recommendations for reading, podcasts, videos etc that I could use to see if I enjoy reading and understanding the law/what its like studying the law?

Hello,

That is not a problem. Some of the resources which I myself have used and I would recommend include the Law in Action podcast and the secret barrister's blog. Also, visit your local crown and magistrates court at some point to see if the law interests you. Below are some of the books I would recommend as well:

1.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (a fictional book which shows the need for lawyers to stick up for people's rights and be there for people who need the support the most).

2.

The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How it's Broken.

3.

Fake Law by The Secret Barrister

4.

Nothing But The Truth by The Secret Barrister

5.

Rough Justice by Wendy Joseph KC

6.

Law: A Very Short Introduction by Raymond Wacks

7.

Letters to a Law Student by McBride is also very good as although it writes a lot about how to be a successful law student, the first part of the book is about whether law is right for you.

If you then do decide to study law these books are also very good to prepare you:

1.

Letters to a Law Student by McBride

2.

Glanville Williams: Learning the Law by ATH Smith

3.

The Successful Law Student by Newbery-Jones and Moore

4.

The Rule of Law by Tom Bingham

The University of Leicester website also provides further resources relevant to law which I would recommend you take a look at: https://le.ac.uk/law/study/undergraduate/offer-holder-info/preparing-to-study-law

I hope this helps, if you have any further questions please do let me know.

Charlie
Law LLB Student
Original post by Academic007
Doing law with a language is really good because a lot of firms have roles with a preference for people who can speak German or French.

Yes, this is definitely true and with the majority of students doing straight Law, this gives you an edge.

Charlie
Law LLB Student

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