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Is it hard to get a job with a law degree?

I'm in Y13 and have all my 5 uni offers to study psychology in september. however recently i've realised im not sure if psychology is the pathway for me, considering how extensive and competitive it is to get a job within clinical psych which is the area i wanted to go

im now considering switching to law after i get my results or in september after im at uni... please can people give their opinions on law llb as a degree choice as some people around me have said i wont get a job after it?
preferably i would like to go into either corporate or criminal law and i understand that an undergrad wont be enough on its own, but is it really as difficult to get a high paying job with a law degree as some people have said?

ive heard mixed things from everyone, some people are telling me its a good idea and others are saying not to so any help would be appreciated. thank you!!

Reply 1

cksiu

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by ruby_23x

I'm in Y13 and have all my 5 uni offers to study psychology in september. however recently i've realised im not sure if psychology is the pathway for me, considering how extensive and competitive it is to get a job within clinical psych which is the area i wanted to go
im now considering switching to law after i get my results or in september after im at uni... please can people give their opinions on law llb as a degree choice as some people around me have said i wont get a job after it?
preferably i would like to go into either corporate or criminal law and i understand that an undergrad wont be enough on its own, but is it really as difficult to get a high paying job with a law degree as some people have said?
ive heard mixed things from everyone, some people are telling me its a good idea and others are saying not to so any help would be appreciated. thank you!!

Individual quality counts more than subject of the degree in the job market, except you are doing medicine or healthcare (physiotherapy, nursing).

Think seriously where your passion is, psychology or law. It may be a bit late for switching to law for 2025 entry. Psychology and law are competitive, most of the reasonably respected unis had closed their doors to applications at the moment.

If you really want to shift, you may try Clearing. Some RG unis were available on 2024 Results Day but no guarantee for this year. Or you may do senior LLB after graduated from psychology

Reply 2

Stiffy Byng

A graduate with a law degree can try for any job that any other graduate can try for which does not require specialist qualifications, but in order to practise as a solicitor or a barrister it is necessary to obtain further qualifications and undertake professional training. Entry into the legal profession is very competitive.

Why do you want to work in the law?

This may be of interest -

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7561316

Reply 3

UoL Students

Official Rep

Original post by ruby_23x

I'm in Y13 and have all my 5 uni offers to study psychology in september. however recently i've realised im not sure if psychology is the pathway for me, considering how extensive and competitive it is to get a job within clinical psych which is the area i wanted to go
im now considering switching to law after i get my results or in september after im at uni... please can people give their opinions on law llb as a degree choice as some people around me have said i wont get a job after it?
preferably i would like to go into either corporate or criminal law and i understand that an undergrad wont be enough on its own, but is it really as difficult to get a high paying job with a law degree as some people have said?
ive heard mixed things from everyone, some people are telling me its a good idea and others are saying not to so any help would be appreciated. thank you!!

Hello,
It is understandable that you may be confused because it really does depend. Firstly, if you want to study psychology or another subject but then go into a legal career then you can always do a law conversion course rather than a full law degree.

A Law LLB degree is highly respected by many employers in all different industries because of the transferable skills you develop from a law degree. Therefore, generally, it tends not to be extremely difficult to get a job with a law degree. However, when it comes to legal jobs as a solicitor or a barrister then things change. It can be extremely difficult to become a solicitor or barrister because of how competitive it is. This is particularly the case with commercial and criminal law being some of the most popular areas. Criminal law in particular is known to not pay very well and is probably the hardest area of law to get into.

Therefore, in summary, a law degree is highly likely to get you jobs, even high-paying jobs, somewhere but if you are specifically looking for a job in law then it is highly competitive and so I cannot say with any certainty that you would get a job in the industry after.

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

Charlie
Law LLB Student

Reply 4

UniofLaw Student

Official Rep

Original post by ruby_23x

I'm in Y13 and have all my 5 uni offers to study psychology in september. however recently i've realised im not sure if psychology is the pathway for me, considering how extensive and competitive it is to get a job within clinical psych which is the area i wanted to go
im now considering switching to law after i get my results or in september after im at uni... please can people give their opinions on law llb as a degree choice as some people around me have said i wont get a job after it?
preferably i would like to go into either corporate or criminal law and i understand that an undergrad wont be enough on its own, but is it really as difficult to get a high paying job with a law degree as some people have said?
ive heard mixed things from everyone, some people are telling me its a good idea and others are saying not to so any help would be appreciated. thank you!!

Hey!

It’s great that you’re thinking carefully about your options before committing to a degree, and it’s completely okay to be unsure at this stage.

A Law LLB is a well-respected degree that opens up a lot of doors—not just in law but also in areas like business, finance, and government. That being said, if you want to become a solicitor or barrister, the pathway is competitive and requires further study (SQE for solicitors, Bar Course for barristers). Getting a training contract or pupillage can be challenging, but it’s definitely possible with strong academics, work experience, and networking.

If you’re considering corporate law, firms invest heavily in training solicitors, and many offer vacation schemes and training contracts to students during or after their degree. Big City law firms are competitive, but they also tend to offer very high salaries, and there’s a structured route to qualification.

For criminal law, it’s a different landscape. It’s incredibly rewarding, but salaries tend to be lower, especially in legal aid work. If this is your passion, getting experience through pro bono work, mini pupillages, or paralegal roles will be really valuable.

Overall, law is competitive, but so is psychology—and unlike clinical psychology (which has very few funded places), law firms actively recruit graduates. The key is to start building experience early, through legal work experience, networking, and commercial awareness. If you’re genuinely interested in law, it can be a great choice, but it’s important to enjoy the subject and not just see it as a backup.

If you’re unsure, maybe look at doing a Law & Psychology joint honours degree (some universities offer this), or consider starting psychology and switching if needed. You could also do a Law conversion (PGDL) after your undergrad if you decide on law later.

Hope that helps, and good luck with your decision!

Reply 5

lawofducks123

Lots of lawyers didn't do law degrees, so it is worth considering whether it might suit you best to do the degree you have applied for and if getting a job in that industry is challenging looking into law as a route, though the law job market is very competitive for high paid roles. However, I am not expert so it might be worth speaking to a career advisor if your school has one or maybe your tutor or something!