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Choosing the right A-Levels for Law can be hard. You want to ensure you’re taking the suitable subjects to get into the university course of your dreams.

But simultaneously, you want to keep your options open if you change your mind. 

It’s no secret that Law is a popular degree choice. Every year thousands of students apply to study Law at UK universities, but only a fraction are accepted. 

That’s why we give our student on our Law summer schools 1:1 access to world-class tutors from prestigious universities such as Cambridge and Oxford. 

To provide them with guidance on their next steps in education. And to boost their chances of getting accepted at their dream university. 

We’ve also created an easy-to-use guide that takes all the guesswork out of choosing your A-Levels. Our guide contains information on which A-Levels are most likely to get you accepted, what grades you need for each one, and some of the Law courses available. 

Which A-Levels to Take If You Want To Study Law

To help understand what it takes to study Law in the UK at university, we’ve found 8 of the best UK universities for law and described their entry requirements. 

1. University of Oxford

For both BA in Jurisprudence and BA in Law with Law Studies in Europe, the University of Oxford requires AAA grades for A-levels. However, Oxford doesn’t require specific subjects for its undergraduate Law courses.

2. University of Cambridge

The A-Level requirement for Law at the University of Cambridge is A*AA.  

What A-Levels do the majority of Cambridge Law applicants take for the years 2017-2019? According to the University of Cambridge, 62% achieve at least A*A*A. 

86% of Successful applicants took at least one English A-Level, including any of the following:

  • Language
  • Language & Literature
  • Literature

Or at least History or a language-based subject.

The rest took Mathematics, and at least one of the subjects considered a “good choice combination,” such as:

  • Ancient History
  • Classical Civilisation
  • History of Art
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Religious Studies
  • Psychology
  • The Sciences (Biology, Chemistry or Physics)
  • Sociology
  • Politics
  • Geography
  • Further Mathematics
  • Economics
  • Law

Did any of the students who were successfully admitted into the Cambridge Law programme take Law at A-Level? Yes, 9% of them did. 

3. University College London (UCL)

The Law LLB course at UCL requires A-Level grades of A*AA. Does UCL require specific subjects? Nope. But at least two must be included in UCL’s preferred A-Level subjects. The list is long, but here are some of them:

  • Ancient History
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Economics
  • English Language
  • English Language and Literature
  • Geography A
  • Geography B
  • Government and Politics
  • History
  • Law
  • Mathematics
  • Philosophy
  • Physics

4. Durham University

The A-Level offer for Law LLB at Durham University is A*AA. No specific subjects are required. 

5. King’s College London

The required A-Level grade for Law LLB at King’s is A*AA. But it does accept A-Level grades at AAB, depending on the context of the application.

King’s College has no required or preferred A-Level Subjects. However, it does specify that the following subjects are not accepted as one of your A-Levels:

  • General Studies
  • Critical Thinking
  • Thinking Skills
  • Global Perspectives 

6. University of Glasgow

The University of Glasgow has two major undergraduate Law degrees you can choose from Common Law LLB and Scots Law LLB. What’s the difference? 

Glasgow’s Common Law is meant for students who want to practise Law in common law jurisdictions in countries such as:

  • England & Wales
  • Ireland
  • Northern Ireland
  • Canada
  • India

What if you want to practise Law in Scotland? Then the Scots Law LLB is the right course for you. Glasgow’s Scots Law is also a perfect starting point if you want the qualification to practise Law in many other jurisdictions worldwide, especially in:

  • England
  • Wales
  • Northern Ireland 

For both Common Law LLB and Scots Law LLB, Glasgow requires an A-Level grade of A*AA, with one subject being A-Level English. 

7. University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh offers 14 degrees in Law, with the major being Law (Ordinary and Honours) (LLB). The course is meant to prepare you for a legal career in Scotland. 

Other Edinburgh Law Degrees available are:

Each specific Law Degree combination may have its own A-Level requirements. But the typical standard A-Level requirement, especially for Law Ordinary and Honours, is A*AA – AAA, with A-Level English (English Literature or English Language.) 

The minimum A-Level requirement is ABB.

If you have combined English at B, then you’re also eligible for application. And suppose you have an A (or 7) for English Language and English Literature at GCSE. In that case, that’s accepted in place of A-Level English.

8. Queen Mary University of London

The Queen Mary University of London offers several Law courses:

Queen Mary requires A-Level grades at A*AA, excluding Critical Thinking and General Studies. 

Entry Requirements For A Law Degree

Aside from getting excellent GCSEs for Law degrees and top A-Level grades, what other entry requirements do you need for a Law Degree?

1. Personal Statement

Your personal statement is one of the most critical parts of your UCAS application. Law schools want to see that you have a genuine interest in the subject and are articulate and intelligent.

They will seek evidence that you sincerely did your personal research to determine if Law is something you can get behind. Examples include work experience placements, summer internships, or Law summer schools. 

It is also important to demonstrate your extra-curricular activities, such as volunteering, participating in debate societies or playing musical instruments.

Do you need help crafting your personal statement? We got you covered. Read this article to gain valuable tips on how to write a competitive personal statement for Law.

2. LNAT

The LNAT is an aptitude test required by some law schools in the UK, such as Oxford, Cambridge and University College London. The test comprises two sections – multiple choice and essay. 

The multiple choice section tests your ability to read and comprehend complex texts, while the essay section assesses your ability to argue a point of view. You will have 95 minutes to complete the multiple-choice section and 40 minutes for the essay.

3. Interview

Some universities, such as the University of Oxford, invite shortlisted applicants for an interview.

This is your opportunity to demonstrate your enthusiasm and commitment to the subject and your analytical and problem-solving skills. Remember to be prepared to discuss your personal statement and any work experience placements that you have undertaken.

The interview is not about proving existing knowledge of Law. But instead, to show one’s ability to think on the spot and formulate arguments.

4. Written Work

Some law schools may require you to submit a piece of written work as part of your application. This could be an essay you have written for another course or a legal research proposal. 

For the University of Cambridge, you may be requested to submit an example or two of your written work from a related A-Level/IB (or equivalent) course. This is to assess your writing skills and your ability to communicate complex ideas.

Do you need tips on choosing which IB subjects to study in preparation for Law?

Graduate Destinations

The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) “What do graduates do?” survey 2021/22 reports that:

  • 44.6% of Law graduates have been working full-time within 15 months after graduation
  • 9.2% began working part-time
  • 15.7% started working while studying
  • And 12.9% proceeded to further study

Of those employed, 42.8% work as 

  • Legal
  • Social
  • and Welfare professionals

Learn more about different career options after studying Law at university, our guide helps detail the different career options Let’s take a look at some of the Graduate Outcomes of the Top UK universities in the UK:

University of Cambridge Law Graduate Outcome

40% of Cambridge Law graduates became Legal professionals within 15 months after graduation. 

Professions other Law Cambridge graduates entered into include:

  • 20% in Business and Public Service
  • 5% in Management
  • 5% in Natural and Social Science
  • 5% Information Technology

Let’s look at some of the Graduate Destinations of other Top Law schools in the UK.

University College London (UCL) Law Graduate Outcome

According to Discover Uni, 85% of UCL Law Graduates proceeded to work or study further within 15 months after graduation. Those employed earned average entry-level salaries of £42,500.

An impressive 80% of those working are engaged in high-skilled professions. 40% of which are legal professionals.

Durham Law Graduate Outcome

For Durham Law graduates batch 2019, 79% are employed or enrolled in further study within 15 months after graduation. Of those employed, 88% are employed in high-skilled professions, with an average salary of £33,000. 

There you have it! If you’re looking to become a lawyer, the good news is that there are plenty of A-Level combinations to choose from. As you’ve seen, many universities rdo not have required or preferred subjects. 

However, some do require A-Level English. So it’s best to include that in your A-Level subjects. Another useful subject to have is History because it’ll give you a better understanding of how legal systems came to be.

Remember to choose from a wide variety of subjects for your A-Level combination to keep your options open. We at Immerse Education wish you the best of luck!

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