Law Degree— Offering Endless Opportunities
Employers highly appreciate law degrees. Whether you are planning to use it in practice as a barrister or solicitor— or in other careers where law degrees are accepted — during the course you will learn and practise lots of beneficial skills, including organizational skills, research, presentation, problem-solving and critical thinking. Although, the workload for students can be quite demanding and tiring, the advantages of holding a law degree are wide-ranging.
Studying law allows developing a vast range of skills and explore different aspects of human life. It provides you with the opportunity to hone your mind, fortify your understanding and build your experience across the full range of social sciences and humanities. You will obtain both, breadth of knowledge and depth in the fields that interest you most.
Legal studies should, therefore, attract students who want to develop their practical problem-solving as well as abstract thinking. Pursuing law does not mean that you have to become a lawyer only; there are many other paths to choose and make your career in.
A law degree can provide you with the skills to be a thriving lawyer but also a successful politician, producer, manager, diplomat, journalist, or police officer. A law degree prepares you for almost any career that needs intellectual strength along with a practical approach to the world.
Why Study Law?
- Law is more than studying cases and laws.
- Law graduates gain both breadth and depth of legal knowledge.
- Law is as complex and multi-faceted as the scope of the human intellect, endeavour and emotion.
- Law students obtain essential skills, not just knowledge.
- Law degree trains students to talk about law in simple terms and effectively, without the stereotypes of legal language.
Without any doubt, the law is a bit challenging study field, but in the end, it is totally worth-attending, considering the perks it brings later. There are limitless job careers opportunities for law graduates ranging from being a lawyer to a TV presenter.
However, UK law graduates are likely to earn more as their valuable services are appreciated and much-needed. Many corporations hand over their operations to lawyers, while law professionals support many critical political processes.
To be successful at these roles, you should have an excellent higher education that assures potential employers; you have outstanding critical thinking and practical skills essential to push processes forward. All of the above is provided by a Law Degree programme.
Pursuing law in the United Kingdom is all about obtaining a deep understanding of core legal concepts and principles which lets you become a highly considered lawyer. Moreover, studying for law degree in the UK aims at preparing you with a wide range of essential knowledge and skills from different fields where law matters are attached.
Reasons Why Law Degree Seems to be Hard
Most of the time, even before you start your law school experience, you will probably hear that getting a law course is quite hard. But how difficult is it really, and what makes law degree harder than other undergraduate degrees?
In this article, we have shared some reasons why and how challenging it is to pursue a law degree—
The Case Approach of Teaching Can Be Provocative
In most of academic studies the lecturers explain to their students exactly what is needed to know for the exam. In law schools, however, the teaching is based on case study method— which means real legal cases are explored and discussed in class.
From such cases, you need to draw out the law and learn how to implement it to a fact prototype— this is the way you are assessed on an exam. It may seem difficult at the beginning, but after a while, you may get used to the case method.
Law School is a Heavy Workload
Earning a law degree is pretty challenging because you are supposed to do a lot of hard work. This work comprises mostly of studying and understanding complex law cases loaded with new-fangled legal terminology and unusual jargon.
In law schools, unlike other undergraduate degrees, you have to complete all the assigned readings on time, as planned in the syllabus or risk falling behind with lesser probability of catching up.
Probably There Can be Only One Exam for the Whole Semester
For most law graduates, it all comes down to just one exam at the end of the semester, which means all your eggs are in one basket. And the hardest part is, you don’t actually get feedback during the entire semester which would otherwise help you in preparing for exams, making it quite challenging to know whether you are on the right track or not. Feedbacks are vital in helping you prepare for all those crucial exams.
Law School is Fast-Paced
In law degree, many materials and topics are covered very fast. If you miss anything in lecture, you are probably going to miss the point on the test— so, the class itself needs a lot more focus and intensity than in any other undergraduate degree.
Even if law school degree can appear to be daunting, with a little hard work and dedication, you can be successful and thus enjoy the experience. Understanding what actually makes law degree hard and challenging is the first crucial step in securing your plan for success.
Similar to most undergraduate degrees, a law degree comes with mandatory core units, and further, the law graduates can choose their law specialization according to their interest and specific career path. The course comprises of a combination of lectures, seminars, presentations, group work, class debates, and mooting sessions to help law students to foster essential legal skills such as research and analysis, argument formation and public speaking.
Law offers several different subjects to choose from as specialization. Here are some of the best specializations offering rewarding career opportunities in the law sector—
- Criminal Law
- Immigration Law
- Property Law
- Intellectual Property Law
- Commercial Law or Business Law
- Employment and Labour Law
- Environmental Law
- Family Law
- International Law
- Tax Law
You can make pursuing a law degree easy and engaging by choosing your future practice area or law specialization more confidently—
- The first important step to shape a rewarding law specialization is to identify your options and research what working in that needs and demands.
- Next, you need to understand what you like and want from a practical viewpoint.
- Evaluate the available course options by choosing a range of electives in your first two years for making a well-informed decision.
Benefits of Pursuing a Law Degree, and Skills You’ll Gain
One of the main reasons law graduates are so popular among all types of employers is the variety of skills and knowledge the law degree course develops. The advantages of a law degree include bringing on your research skills, analytical skills, presentation skills, transferable skills, time management – fostered in lectures and in mooting (it refers to the fake courtroom debate competitions) – and most importantly— organisational skills.
The law degree significantly helps in developing your critical thinking, an analytical approach to problem solving, adeptness to extract the most relevant information from long paragraphs and texts, confidence and organisation.
The law degree offers you the capability to see the wood for the trees. All you need is the skill to filter down important information— you will be given a lot to read, and you should recognize the essential bits from this.
Career Options for Law Graduates
The most obvious career path after completing a law degree is to become a lawyer. The word ‘lawyer’ is a practical umbrella term for anyone practising law. Majority of the lawyers in the UK choose to work as either a self-employed barrister or as a solicitor in a law firm. The type of work lawyers performs – and the salaries they earn – differs massively. Lawyers generally major in one legal area such as tax law, employment or family.
Below are some of the jobs you can look for with a law degree in the UK—
- Advocate
- Barrister
- Detective
- Entrepreneur
- Law academic
- Law Journalist
- Politician
- Professional law counselling
- Solicitor
Overlapping skills between law degree and other degrees
Some skills overlap with a law degree and other degrees, such as critical thinking, research, communication, analytical skills, etc. There are also distinct skills that are emphasised and developed through a law degree program.
While a law degree and degrees in business or hospitality management may seem quite distinct, there are some similarities in career options due to overlapping skills and knowledge areas. Here are some potential similarities.
Analytical Skills: Both law and business/hospitality management require strong analytical skills. Lawyers analyse legal documents, statutes, and case law to provide legal advice, while business/hospitality professionals analyse market trends, financial data, and consumer behaviour to make strategic decisions.
Problem-Solving Abilities: Professionals in both fields need to be adept at identifying problems and finding effective solutions. Lawyers solve legal disputes and navigate complex regulations, while business/hospitality managers address operational challenges and develop strategies to enhance profitability and customer satisfaction.
Communication Skills: Effective communication is essential in law and business/hospitality management. Lawyers must articulate legal arguments persuasively in court or written documents, while business/hospitality professionals must communicate clearly with clients, employees, and stakeholders to achieve organisational goals.
Negotiation Skills: Negotiation skills are valuable in both fields. Lawyers negotiate settlements, contracts, and plea bargains on behalf of their clients, while business/hospitality managers negotiate deals with suppliers, vendors, and partners to secure favourable terms and agreements.
Leadership Abilities: Leadership qualities are important for success in both law and business/hospitality management. Lawyers often lead legal teams or advocacy efforts, while business/hospitality managers lead departments, projects, or entire organisations, guiding teams toward common objectives.
Client/ Customer Relationship Management: Both professions involve managing relationships with clients or customers. Lawyers build rapport with clients, providing legal advice and representing their interests, while business/hospitality professionals focus on delivering exceptional customer service and cultivating loyalty.
Ethical Consideration: Both law and business/hospitality management require adherence to ethical standards and professional conduct. Lawyers must uphold ethical obligations to clients and the legal system, while business/hospitality professionals must navigate ethical dilemmas related to corporate social responsibility, fair business practices, and customer well-being.
Research Skills: Research skills are vital in both fields. Lawyers conduct legal research to support their arguments and make informed decisions, while business/hospitality professionals research market trends, competitive intelligence, and industry best practices to inform strategic planning and decision-making.
These interdisciplinary connections illustrate the breadth of knowledge and skills required in legal studies and highlight the importance of integrating perspectives from various fields to address contemporary legal challenges effectively.
While these similarities exist, it’s important to recognise that each field also has its unique characteristics and career paths. Individuals pursuing a law degree will typically specialize in legal practice, advocacy, or policy-making, whereas those with degrees in business or hospitality management may pursue careers in areas such as entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, operations management, event planning, or hospitality services. Ultimately, the best fit for an individual will depend on their interests, skills, and career aspirations.