If you are considering studying for a master's degree in law, then it’s likely that you are well aware of the long road to qualifying as a legal professional.
If you have already completed an undergraduate degree in the subject, then congratulations, you are already well on your way. If you don’t have a background in law, then you will be glad to hear that a potential graduate degree provides a great avenue to transition into your dream career in law!
It also provides a great stepping stone that will make you a more attractive applicant in the eyes of potential employers, especially if you manage to secure a place studying at one of the elite universities here in the UK.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the options you have for studying for a master's and their distinct features, as well as the opportunities that surface as a result.
The Advantage of Graduating With a Masters in Law
🧠 Broaden your Knowledge
🧑⚖️ Specialisation
🧳 Employment Prospects
Before we start listing off the options that are offered at masters level across the UK, it’s important that we are all on the same page when it comes to the benefits that come as a result of all the hard work you’ll be putting in.
Most people decide to further their education with a master's (LLM) for the opportunity to enhance their expertise in a particular legal area, that they are particularly interested in or see themselves working in once they graduate. This specialised knowledge will help you stand out from law firms when looking for job opportunities.
This also allows you to deepen your understanding and expand your knowledge of topics that you will have covered as an undergraduate, only in more detail.
For example, individuals aiming to become barristers or those already practising may find value in pursuing a master's focused on rights or international property law.
As LLM programs continue to evolve to meet the demands of an evolving jobs market, you’ll find your resume being lifted to the top of the stack of applications and hopefully secure more interviews as a result! This indicates that obtaining an LLM could improve your prospects of securing a training contract or pupillage.
One of the other reasons that you might hear getting thrown around when you ask law lecturers or professionals is the advantage that comes with expanding your network. All of those students that you collaborate with while completing assignments or getting to know over your years of study will also enter careers in law, expanding your connections within the legal community.
As we touched on in the introduction, masters from many of the law schools across the UK cater to individuals with both non-legal backgrounds, so there's no need for prior legal qualifications to begin your studies.
You just have to keep your head down and make sure that you have a 2:1 or 2:2 in a qualifying undergraduate degree and you’ll be good to go!
If you are looking to study an undergraduate law course in the UK, you might want to consider familiarising yourself with the different options that are available to you.
Cambridge University Masters Law
If you are setting your sights on studying for a master's degree, you might as well keep that same ambition and go for one of the top schools here in the UK.
What better accolade to add to your resume than having a master's degree from Cambridge University? The school is well known all across the world for its School of Law, which is consistently ranked as one of the best. All of the advantages we listed earlier will only be amplified by studying at such an elite master's course.
The Master of Law (LLM) program that is on offer at the university is extremely popular for aspiring legal professionals, drawing in students from near and far.
Okay, so about the course, the master’s degree is taught over the course of nine months, commencing in October and concluding by the end of June so you don’t have to worry about getting billed with two years of study like in many other courses across the UK. It caters to those seeking advanced legal studies after completing their first law degree, including aspiring academics and legal practitioners.
If you are looking for some choice so that you can steer your education on the right path, then this might just be the option you’ve been waiting for, as it allows you to select four courses from a wide range of options.
If you are still on the fence about pursuing a master's here, seeing where the course ranks among other elite options might help you make your decision.
In the 2023 Times Higher Education rankings, the Faculty ranked third globally, surpassing institutions like Yale University and establishing itself as the best law school in the UK and Europe.
You can safely say that this highlights the Faculty’s dedication to excellence in everything from research to teaching in the lecture halls.
By making it out the other end of the tunnel with an LLM from Cambridge, you will not only have the legal knowledge but also the skills to apply complex analytical thinking and evaluate legal arguments across different areas of law.
Studying law in the UK catapults you into a prestigious league of legal minds, arming you with the skills to conquer your career's toughest battles.
Master of Law Oxford University
If studying a master's at Cambridge ticked all of your boxes, then it is highly likely that the degrees offered at the University of Oxford will too!
You’re bound to find an option that suits your preferred career path seeing as the Faculty of Law offers a variety of postgraduate law programs, including the known Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) and Magister Juris (MJur) degrees.
With such a ginormous reputation around the globe, these courses also come with a competitive admissions process, seeing as they attract students from further afield who are looking to take the next step after completing their initial law degree.
If you spend any amount of time looking at the university website, you’ll see that there is quite a selection of courses available; whether you are interested in corporate law, human rights, environmental law, or other specialised areas there are plenty of opportunities to enhance your knowledge.
Another option that might tickle your fancy is the BCL graduate course, which is tailored for students coming from common law backgrounds.
It’s always reassuring to see the accomplishments of the institution you intend on studying at, so you’ll be glad to hear that the Faculty of Law at the University consistently ranks as one of the top institutions globally for law education. This is a great indication of the learning experience offered at the master's level and the faculty’s dedication to excellence in research.
When you consider the high standard of education and the close interaction between students and leading scholars that call Oxford home it’s tough to leave the university off your list of master's applications!
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Law Masters LSE
Moving on to another option that law students across the UK and beyond set their sights on each year when looking to equip themselves with the necessary skills for a successful law career, the London School of Economics and Political Science.
What stands out about the Master of Laws (LLM) program offered at LSE is its comparative and interdisciplinary approach to learning. It is considered one of the best programs in the UK and worldwide delivered by a law school so if that doesn’t warrant a place on your application form then we’re not sure what will!
The master's course ensures top-notch education that is provided by leading academics who come from all sorts of legal backgrounds. So you can rest assured that any questions you have at any stage throughout your studies will be easily answered by a capable team of educators.
In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) LSE secured the top spot in the UK overall, a testament to its research achievements and teaching quality.
By integrating perspectives from a range of disciplines and legal systems, the program equips students with knowledge applicable across different legal contexts. One thing that should always be part of your search criteria when selecting a master's is the opportunity to specialise in an area you intend to pursue after the course.
At LSE, you’ll be able to choose from an array of modules covering areas such as arbitration, human rights, international law, corporate law, commercial law, and financial law, so you can bank on developing the necessary skills for a variety of career paths throughout your time studying.
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King's College London (KCL)
There are few stamps that provide the level of reassurance of having a track record of success dating back as far back as 1829.
King College London is one law school that will almost make up your mind for you with its notable alumni, 12 of which were Nobel Prize winners!
If you want your master's degree to carry that extra bit of weight, then KCL seems like a no-brainer!
The Master of Laws (LLM) program here is highly esteemed worldwide and stands out for its teaching methods, global perspectives, and expertise you can rely on when studying at the law school.
Again, with your search criteria in mind, you’re sure to be drawn to the flexibility of the specialisations that are offered within the master's course.
Students have the option to pursue a general LLM degree or concentrate on a specific subject area, allowing them to take ownership of where they want their learning to take them, even having their chosen area of expertise noted on their degree certificate upon graduation.
The Dickson Poon School of Law at King’s College London is known far and wide for its education.
In the 2020 QS World University Rankings by Subject, the School climbed to the top, ranking fourth among law schools in the UK.
This is a great indication of the standard of learning you can expect while studying for a master's degree here, seeing as these rankings consider factors like reputation, employer perception, and research impact. It also means that you’ll likely have an easier time securing employment after all of the hard work is done!
The cherry on the cake would be connections that the KCL has fostered within institutions across legal sectors, helping students create networks of their own and establish contacts with potential employers that can boost their future career opportunities!
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Pursuing Your Masters Here in the UK
Most of us who have aspirations of going the extra mile and studying for a master's in the subject of law do so with the UK’s universities in mind.
Having taken a look at the master's offerings across the UK, and the weight that some of the institutions hold, it’s no wonder why there is such an attraction among aspiring law students like yourself!
It seems pretty clear that studying for a master's course in any of the programs discussed will help you sharpen your abilities and gain a competitive edge in the legal field. These programs present a chance to learn from professors, interact with a diverse group of legal scholars, and expand your professional connections along the way.
When you close your eyes and imagine the legal career you dream of, whether that's practising law, entering academia, or working with major organisations, obtaining a master's degree in the UK will unlock all kinds of exciting opportunities and empower you to make a meaningful impact in your career!
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