law and a langauge | law course

Choosing a degree course can be, and more often than not is, a difficult task. Some people know exactly what they want to do, but many more are not sure exactly what courses they can do or want to do. The reasons I would advocate doing law and a language are as follows:
In an increasingly internationally-focused legal world_, those students who have undertaken a language alongside their degree are evermore in demand. Such students not only have an extra string to their bow but that string is an especially strong one.

Having undertaken an Erasmus year in 2007/08 I met a large number of students from other countries within the European Union that could speak not only one but often two or three other languages besides their mother-tongue. Speaking only one foreign language I often felt at a disadvantage.

Law graduates applying for a graduate position - be it a training contract, pupillage or something else - are very often of a similar calibre in terms of grades and experiences, i.e. mooting, work placements, negotiating…etc. A second and even third language, if you can manage it, is going to give you an edge over your colleagues. 

Having a second language also means a significantly larger job market in which to search for your ideal position. Although which countries law students can apply to is to a large extent governed by what professional qualifications are required to practice law in any chosen country, law students wanting to pursue a career in another field will gain great advantages in terms of available jobs just by speaking another language.
The advantages of having a second language don’t stop once a job has been found. Once you have managed to secure a position in your chosen field a language can very often be the determining factor in who gets what opportunities. The chances of secondment abroad are much higher if you speak another language, and it is during these periods that individuals will really be able to stand out from the crowd.

There are also benefits of learning another language at university. The greatest of these, in my opinion, is that it can provide a break from the study of law. As interesting as studying law is, it is very concentrated and focused and can sometimes be all-consuming. Learning a language at university provides a break from the intensity of law and also allows you to learn in a very different way.

Skills gained in learning a language can also often be applied to help with the law part of your degree. Undertaking a language at university may also provide students with an opportunity to spend a year abroad. This experience is invaluable in terms of improving your language but also in furthering your understanding of other cultures.

A year abroad studying is, again, often looked upon favourably by employers as shown in a recent survey by Roll on Friday (04.09.09) that suggests that for 2 year post qualified lawyers a language is the third most sought after feature of an applicant.

Finally, despite what lessons at school might have been like, studying a language at university level can actually be enjoyable and quite good fun. The European office at my university has linked me up with a French student in a tandem partner programme. This basically means that I help him to learn English and he helps me to learn French.

Discovering that the way I pronounced ‘merci beaucoup’ sounded like I was saying ‘thanks beautiful bum’ rather than ‘thank you very much’ caused much amusement (and embarrassment on my part).

English may be the most widely spoken language in the world but for the reasons outlined above it is well worth learning or continuing to study another language, as you never know when it might become useful.

By Tom Mountford
Graduate, University of Kent

19-09-2009