Why study a Law Degree?

• What is going to motivate you for the next 3 -4 years of your life and what are you going to enjoy studying? If you get this part wrong there is a good chance that you will not make it through your course.
• What do you think will build on your strengths and abilities and what do you think you will do well in? Will you be suited to the intellectual demands that this course will make?
• Is there a career implication to your choice? Most students will choose Law because they are interested in pursuing a career in the legal professions and a qualifying Law degree allows you to get going with this kind of career more quickly.

If Law ticks all these boxes you have already made a great start.

One of the best things about a Law degree is that not only will it provide you with access to a diverse range of legal careers it will also give you an excellent springboard to a wide range of other professions. You should remember that getting into the profession is very challenging and many students need to consider other options. However, more than half of all the graduate jobs out there do not require any particular degree background and a good Law degree will allow you to present a lot of important skills to future employers.

What kind of skills will I develop on a Law Degree?

• Through your analysis of case studies and other work on your course you will become highly skilled in researching and then assimilating large amounts of information and complex data. These are important skills in a vast range of professions in commerce and industry.
• You will develop very strong oral and written communications skills – needed by all employers these days.
• You will learn to approach tasks in a clear, reasoned and logical way
• You will also become an effective problem solver, have empathy and understanding for the needs of your clients and become commercially aware

Whilst it is a tough subject to get into and you are going to need three good ‘A’ levels to have a chance of getting on a good course, it is widely available at a large number of universities and can be studied in combination with a large number of other subjects. Take a look at some of the many combinations that available on the UCAS website. How about Law and Management or Languages, ICT or Politics, Journalism or Social Anthropology?

Law is a very highly regarded and respected undergraduate qualification. The subject matter represents an essential part of everyday life and will provide great stimulus for those who are keen to know more about the legal framework in which we all live. It is a demanding course and training places for solicitors and barristers are highly competitive. However, for those with the right aptitudes and motivation, the rewards can be great, both in terms of salaries and personal development.

Coventry University Careers Centre

05-01-2010