LLB Masters - is it needed ?

7

Hi
I’m currently studying law llb and want to be a family lawyer.
I was was wondering do you actually need to do masters and does it make you stand out more and give you a higher chance of employability , or is it a waste of time as I could be doing work experience in that year instead ?
Or is it a waste of time ?

Reply 1

Stiffy Byng

19

Original post

by Anonymouse12346

Hi
I’m currently studying law llb and want to be a family lawyer.
I was was wondering do you actually need to do masters and does it make you stand out more and give you a higher chance of employability , or is it a waste of time as I could be doing work experience in that year instead ?
Or is it a waste of time ?

It is not essential to have an LLM.

It is the norm, but still not formally required, for a candidate to have an LLM, BCL, or postgraduate qualification in a non-law subject if applying for a pupillage in a London commercial or Chancery chambers.

Reply 2

AMac86

11

Agree with Stiffy Byng above.

Certainly for the more general world of solicitor's training contracts, in my view a masters adds very little to the CV/Employability and in the vast majority of cases the year would be much better spent gaining practical legal work experience.

Reply 3

UniofLaw Student

Official Rep

11

Original post

by Anonymouse12346

Hi
I’m currently studying law llb and want to be a family lawyer.
I was was wondering do you actually need to do masters and does it make you stand out more and give you a higher chance of employability , or is it a waste of time as I could be doing work experience in that year instead ?
Or is it a waste of time ?

Hello,

It’s great that you’re already thinking ahead about your career in family law! A Master’s isn’t a requirement to become a family lawyer, and most students go straight into the SQE or the Bar course if they want to become a barrister.

Have you considered what your long-term goals are? If you’re interested in specialising in a niche area of family law or going into academia, an LLM could be useful. It can also help if you want to work internationally or in a highly competitive field where additional qualifications might set you apart. However, for most legal careers, employers tend to value practical experience over additional degrees.

Are you looking to boost your employability? If that’s your main concern, gaining work experience, such as vacation schemes, paralegal work, pro bono opportunities, or mini-pupillages, will often be more beneficial than an LLM. Family law, in particular, values client-facing experience, so volunteering with legal charities or organisations like Citizens Advice can be incredibly valuable.

Ultimately, it depends on what you want to get out of that extra year. If you’re passionate about a particular area of law and want to research it in depth, an LLM could be a great choice. But if your goal is to qualify and gain practical experience as soon as possible, focusing on work experience and training routes like the SQE or LPC (if you're aiming to be a solicitor) would be a better use of your time. Best of luck!

LLB Masters - is it needed ?

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