lancaster vs leicester for law - please help

Hi, if you're aiming for a competitive legal career, Lancaster might give you a slight edge. For student experience/nightlife, Leicester is better and is connected (closer to London, Birmingham, etc.). In addition, if you firm Lancaster (ABB offer), you could look into nearby Manchester (30-40 mins by train) for nightlife. Living in Leicester, finding safe accommodation like secure student halls is also very important.

Hey, thanks for your response. I think I’m going to firm Lancaster then because at the end of the day it’s about my career (even though I want to have lots of fun too)

I'm conflicted. I have an offer from Lancaster for AAB (ABB if i firm it) and from Leicester for AAB, both for LLB Law. I've been struggling to decide which one to firm. From my research, Lancaster seems to be a very boring town and dead nightlife (seems to only have one club and its ran by the student union) but is a top 10 UK University. Leicester is less prestigious but seems to be more fun, has a city campus, decent nightlife but is ranked as one of the most unsafe cities in the UK. I've also seen many stories of students saying how on edge they always felt in Leicester, being held at knife point etc.
I want to have a very good education but I also want to have fun (especially as someone who hasn't gone out much before I want to have a good uni nightlife without having to travel far) and have a good array of shops available to me.

I'm conflicted. I have an offer from Lancaster for AAB (ABB if i firm it) and from Leicester for AAB, both for LLB Law. I've been struggling to decide which one to firm. From my research, Lancaster seems to be a very boring town and dead nightlife (seems to only have one club and its ran by the student union) but is a top 10 UK University. Leicester is less prestigious but seems to be more fun, has a city campus, decent nightlife but is ranked as one of the most unsafe cities in the UK. I've also seen many stories of students saying how on edge they always felt in Leicester, being held at knife point etc.
I want to have a very good education but I also want to have fun (especially as someone who hasn't gone out much before I want to have a good uni nightlife without having to travel far) and have a good array of shops available to me.

I'm conflicted. I have an offer from Lancaster for AAB (ABB if i firm it) and from Leicester for AAB, both for LLB Law. I've been struggling to decide which one to firm. From my research, Lancaster seems to be a very boring town and dead nightlife (seems to only have one club and its ran by the student union) but is a top 10 UK University. Leicester is less prestigious but seems to be more fun, has a city campus, decent nightlife but is ranked as one of the most unsafe cities in the UK. I've also seen many stories of students saying how on edge they always felt in Leicester, being held at knife point etc.
I want to have a very good education but I also want to have fun (especially as someone who hasn't gone out much before I want to have a good uni nightlife without having to travel far) and have a good array of shops available to me.

I'm conflicted. I have an offer from Lancaster for AAB (ABB if i firm it) and from Leicester for AAB, both for LLB Law. I've been struggling to decide which one to firm. From my research, Lancaster seems to be a very boring town and dead nightlife (seems to only have one club and its ran by the student union) but is a top 10 UK University. Leicester is less prestigious but seems to be more fun, has a city campus, decent nightlife but is ranked as one of the most unsafe cities in the UK. I've also seen many stories of students saying how on edge they always felt in Leicester, being held at knife point etc.
I want to have a very good education but I also want to have fun (especially as someone who hasn't gone out much before I want to have a good uni nightlife without having to travel far) and have a good array of shops available to me.

I'm conflicted. I have an offer from Lancaster for AAB (ABB if i firm it) and from Leicester for AAB, both for LLB Law. I've been struggling to decide which one to firm. From my research, Lancaster seems to be a very boring town and dead nightlife (seems to only have one club and its ran by the student union) but is a top 10 UK University. Leicester is less prestigious but seems to be more fun, has a city campus, decent nightlife but is ranked as one of the most unsafe cities in the UK. I've also seen many stories of students saying how on edge they always felt in Leicester, being held at knife point etc.
I want to have a very good education but I also want to have fun (especially as someone who hasn't gone out much before I want to have a good uni nightlife without having to travel far) and have a good array of shops available to me.

Hi @anonymous #1
Firstly congratulations on your offers, I'm sure you'll enjoy uni whatever you choose! Lancaster is a small town, we do have 2 nightclubs that are very popular among the students and tend to sell out. Additionally if you want a city night out feel, Manchester is a direct train, only about an hour and lots of students have gone out to Manchester for clubbing, getting the first train back home.
Societies also do bar crawls around campus and town, there's quite a few bar and pubs to go to.
We have 24/7 security on campus and town feels quite safe too. I have enjoyed it here at Lancaster and have had no problems.
Hope that helps,
Rachel - Lancaster Uni Student Ambassador

Hi @anonymous #1 👋
Many congratulations on your offers! I can see you've received some responses already, but I thought I'd highlight a few things about our course and student life which might help you make an informed decision.
Leicester’s Law School is committed to offering the best in undergraduate LLB and postgraduate LLM courses. A law degree from Leicester will equip you with a solid grounding in the foundations of legal knowledge. Based on some of the rankings, we’re listed amongst the Top 20 Best Universities for Law according to The Guardian, and Best 30 according to Times Higher Education 2024. To hear from one of our Law students about the learning experience, click here 📚️
Also, our legal competitions are designed to enhance employability skills 💼 Plus, you can gain practical skills through an award-winning Pro Bono society which offers hundreds of volunteer roles across an extensive range of free legal advice and support projects. By working alongside legal professionals, you can advise real clients and support the local community.
Leicester has a solid reputation within the legal profession. Our annual Law Fair attracts leading employers - all five Magic Circle firms have visited Leicester to recruit our students. The full range of legal employers visit Leicester to recruit students from the Law School ⭐️ For more information about our Law School, click here.
As a current student, I’d highly recommend Leicester – it’s the ideal place to thrive both academically and socially. There's a vibrant nightlife with bars, clubs, and regular Students’ Union events at our O2 Academy on campus. Leicester is a multicultural, affordable city known for its food scene, rich history, great shopping, and relaxing green spaces like Victoria Park right by campus. Whether you're seeking excitement or relaxation, this city offers a balanced experience ✨
I hope this helps! Wishing you the very best of luck in your journey ahead ☺️
Siya
Business and Management BA

Hello,
Thank you for your response. This is the first I've heard about magic circle firms recruiting at Leicester. That's amazing. I also love the diversity at Leicester and I do think I'd have a great time their socially. My main concerns were with the academics and you have solved that so thank you.
What would you say about safety at Leicester?

Hello @anonymous #1
Congratulations on your offers - you should be very proud of yourself! As a current law student at Leicester, hopefully I can provide you with a useful insight to help decide.
I can see that you are looking for a well-rounded university experience, excelling at your law course but also getting a exciting and sociable university experience so I will split my answer into a law-related insight and then a general university insight.
Law
Lectures at the University of Leicester Law School are really informative and engaging. Lecturers are lovely and clearly want you to do well. This is reflected in their 'Office Hours' which are time slots that lecturers have dedicated to students coming to ask questions to improve their subject understanding.
One thing I like about the course is that third year is entirely formed of optional modules. I really liked this as I was not too sure what area of law I wanted to go into in my first year as I was still exploring whereas in my third year, I am now confident I want to go into commercial law. This has enabled me to tailor all my third year modules around my career aspirations.
Leicester is also a well-respected university and we have top law firms engage with our Law School. Some examples of firms that have gotten involved with Leicester this year include A&O Shearman, White & Case, DLA Piper, Travers & Smith, Herbert Smith Freehills, Linklaters and many more! We also have events with various chambers and alternative careers for those that are interested in becoming a barrister or exploring a variety of careers.
Personally, I would consider Leicester prestigious and as a Leicester student I have been able to obtain a vacation scheme this summer at a Magic Circle law firm. However, an important aspect to note, is that the prestigiousness and ranking of universities is arguably no longer a factor for those looking for a career in law. Majority of firms now recruit cv-blind and the institution you study at makes little difference to your employability. Instead, graduate recruitment are focusing on the individual and the skills/experiences they have. My advice to decide between Leicester and Lancaster is to see which university has more things that you would get involved with (law and non-law related) as that is what will make you stand out as an applicant.
Each Thursday, the Career Tutors within the Law School host a 'Career and Employability Workshop'. These differ each week but always involve professionals from different occupations and areas of law coming in to provide an insight to students.
Within Leicester University Law Society, there are many competitions ran each year and these are a great way to develop skills such as public speaking, thinking of your feet, legal knowledge etc as well as having work experience as the prize. Competitions that took place this year include mooting, negotiations, mock trials, client interviewing and speech/debate competitions. Once you have experience competing, there is an opportunity to become the students that organise the competitions. For example, this year I was the Mock Trial Officers which involved organising our Criminal Mock Trials and a new competition, Employment Mock Tribunal!
We also have the University of Leicester Legal Advice Clinic where students provide free legal advice to members of the public under the supervision of a solicitor. I have gotten the chance to work on many different areas of law from family law, immigration law, business law (e.g. intellectual property), housing law and employment law. This is great experience as you get to learn about the law in a more practical manner rather than just academically.
General Life at University
I completely understand that safety is an important factor to consider, I feel the exact same! However, I have never felt unsafe in my entire time at Leicester or ever heard any horror stories from other students. There is 24/7 security at university managed accommodation and on campus. This is not something we are just told by the university - I frequently see them walking around throughout the day and when I am walking back from the library/a night out. Additionally, the university encourage all students and staff to download an app called 'SafeZone'. On the app, you can press a button if you are ever in need of first aid or security. Once you press the button, security can see your location and will be there as soon as they can. I don't know anyone that has ever used the app however it is a good thing to have on your phone just incase! For second and third year housing, students tend to live in an area called Clarendon Park. It is quite popular amongst students because it known to be a nice and safe area!
In you are interested in nightlife there are several places to go. Every Wednesday is the 'student night' called LetsDisko (they have an Instagram account if you want to find out more) which takes place in the O2 Academy, located on campus. There are different themes each night (ShrekDisko, 80s v 90s, Abba vs Queen, One Direction) and students often go with friends or with their societies! Admittedly, other than Wednesday, students don't go out much more during the weekdays. On the weekends, students tend to go into the city centre, namely Mosh or Walkabout. Nottingham is also only a 25/30 minute train away so sometimes students enjoy a night out there.
In terms of having a good array of shops, I was actually shocked when I saw how big Leicester Highcross Shopping Centre was. This is the main shopping centre in the city centre. There is also Haymarket Shopping Centre which has a Primark. These are both in the city centre which are in walking distance from campus. If you are bringing a car (or make a friend with a car!) there is also Fosse Park Shopping Centre which is quite popular. Having lots of shops nearby also means that it is much easier to get a part-time job. I worked in Primark for my first year!
I really hope that this has been a somewhat useful answer. If you have any other questions about anything to do with studying at Leicester, please don't hesitate to ask! It is best to find out as much information as possible and then make the decision that is best for you 😄
Claire
Law LLB Student

Hi,
Thank you for response. I have been looking at the Lancaster accommodation and noticed that the pictures online of the en-suites only display a wet room style shower (I would prefer showers with doors due to water getting everywhere). Are these pictures outdated?
Also, which college would you say has the best/most modern en-suite accommodation?