Getting to university and making the right decisions

So what should I think about first?

So you have decided on a career in law! Great choice, it has to be said, but prepare yourself for some hard work, both at the academic stage with a degree and also at the vocational stage with the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and training contract for Solicitors or Bar Vocation Course (BVC) and pupilage/tenancy for Barristers.

At this stage it is worth mentioning that you do not have to complete a law degree to become a Barrister or Solicitor; you could in fact study another subject at degree level and then undertake a law conversion course, the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).

However, this route will not be covered in any detail here except to say it would be important to consider the financing of the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).

So what should I be looking for?

When choosing a university it is important to consider many factors. This is somewhere where you will live, study and perhaps work for at least three years so pick carefully! With law degrees in particular, it is very important to also consider the reputation of the law school.

League tables receive mixed reviews in that some take them as gospel, others with a massive pinch of salt! To my mind they are just a small part of how recruiters perceive your education but they are worth considering.

Where should I apply to for law?

My advice would be to apply to the best institutions you can manage with your (predicted) grades. Obviously other factors such as geography come into play, i.e. it would be no good looking at Durham if you are from Wiltshire and only want to be a few hours from home – so perhaps try Bristol, Reading or a London institution.

It is also important to be realistic with your choices; don’t waste spaces on your UCAS form trying for places that require AAA when you are unlikely to achieve that. There are plenty of universities that will accept grades more in the B-C range.

Aside from reputation, the structure of the degree can also be worth considering. Ensure your course will give you a Qualifying Law Degree, meaning that it covers the seven foundation modules as required by the Law Society, namely Contract, Tort, Public (Constitutional and Administrative), Equity and Trusts, Criminal, Land and EU.

The order in which these are taught is not particularly important and in any case is often very similar from place to place. However, in my experience what can vary considerably is the way optional modules are offered. Some institutions spread these out over a few years, whereas some save all or most until the third year. It might be worth looking into this as you may wish to specialise early, i.e. by taking Family Law as soon as possible.

Most of the law courses I have come across have some sort of introductory module/s in the first year which can be a very useful foundation for your studies. As such, I didn’t find there was a need for any background reading before the commencement of a law degree, just a look of hard work since!

What happens if I don't get what I was predicted?

I will close by elaborating on my own story briefly. It is by no means a model way of embarking on a legal career but I hope it is illuminating in some way. During the 2006-07 UCAS process I applied to Clare College Cambridge, Bristol, Cardiff, Leicester and Southampton and received offers from all with the exception of Cambridge (rejected after interviews).

Based on location (I’m from Dorset) and reputation I put Bristol as my firm choice and Cardiff as my insurance. However I took on too much with four A levels (History, Maths, Chemistry, English Literature) and just missed out on meeting Bristol and Cardiff’s grade requirements.

I went through Clearing and was made a second offer by Leicester, which I happily accepted. Now in my final year at university I have not looked back and am very pleased with how things have progressed as I have thrown myself into all that university has to offer.

I hope this has been helpful in imparting some guidance regarding the application process and best of luck for your university career!

Emma Norman

President of the Student Law Society

University of Leicester

22-09-2009