Want to study Law?
Study Law?
Do you want to study law? You may be contemplating and considering the different pathways such as conversion or a Law Degree, then this page offers some advice about the best pathway to study law. Institutions have been taking on students to sell conversion and courses and the new SQE to train lawyers for a market that has become saturated. You must consider carefully the way you approach your career path. Reading the literature on some of these course providers may seem appealing but remember one thing they are a business first and then an institution second.
As a consequence, the law should appeal to anyone seeking to better their abstract reasoning and problem-solving abilities. It is easy to see why you do not have to be a lawyer just because you have a law degree; many individuals choose jobs other than law. A legal degree may equip you for practically any career that needs intellectual fortitude mixed with a pragmatic outlook on life. A legal degree may prepare you not just for a successful job as a lawyer, but also for a successful career as a politician, journalist, diplomat, or police officer.
So, why pursue a demanding 3-year law degree when you could pursue a less intense 3-year degree and then complete an intensive 1-year law conversion course or spend an equally intense 5-6 month period studying for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), allowing you to compete for the same jobs as those who pursued a law degree?
When put in these words, the choice may appear obvious: choose the less demanding option. A lot of people report that law firms prefer giving training contracts to non-law graduates. We do not agree. Although a legal degree comes with fewer lie-ins and mid-morning coffees, most law students manage to balance their social lives and extracurricular activities with the obligations of the course. Most significantly, we believe they are substantially better off as a result. Here are just a few of the benefits of studying law at university as your main degree:
Law students get a broad and deep understanding of the law
When students start to study law, a law conversion course generally study just seven basic courses, and those studying for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination will prepare only 'functional legal knowledge' applicable to client-based situations. Students with a bachelor's degree in law have the opportunity to pursue specialized areas of special interest beyond the core curriculum while also understanding the bigger picture: how the law fits together and interacts with other subjects such as politics, economics, history, criminology, and philosophy. If you ask the question: what makes a good lawyer? The responses, you would get include ones you would assume — intellect, perseverance, passion, and sustained effort — as well as one you may not expect – creativity. Thinking laterally around an issue yields creative arguments and the capacity to do so is generally linked to legal knowledge depth. A line of reasoning in a case involving commercial contracts could be influenced by what you learned 20 years ago in an Employment law class.
The extent of human endeavour, is as intricate as the law
Yes, you may view the marvels of the window-climbing burglar in his socks and the snail in a ginger beer bottle when you study law during the conversion course or SQE preparation course. You would miss out on understanding the meaning and roots of certain of our laws if you just took a conversion course or an SQE preparation course. The law touches every aspect of life, and a 3-year degree definitely gives you a better opportunity to sample the vast variety of concerns and possibilities that the law deals with.
There is more to studying law than recalling cases and legislation
What the creators of the PGDL and SQE have missed or at least it not showing in their course content is that children require years to develop communication abilities, acquiring not just the vocabulary but also the syntax, intonation, nuances, and structures of the language from their teachers and others. The same is true when it comes to knowing the law. Law is the language that society employs to establish relationships, clarify rights and duties, and govern inter-individual and inter-societal interactions. Law students acquire an interest in the topic through being exposed to a variety of authors and arguments, as well as by investigating social phenomena and other intellectual disciplines that are involved in legal issues. A legal degree teaches you how to study and comprehend primary materials, contextualize them, assess them, and come to your own conclusions. Developing these important skills and contextual awareness requires time – more time, we believe, than a one-year conversion course can possibly provide.
A law degree prepares students to speak about law
Law has a different vocabulary — a formal language – just as it necessitates a distinct method of thinking. Students study this language with their classmates, who are also grappling with its subtleties and patterns. They also learn from their lecturers, who often use basic vocabulary to describe complex issues, preparing law students to counsel customers who are not typically legal experts. The same is true when it comes to writing about law. Writing verbose and needlessly complicated opinions or other papers may make lawyers feel good about themselves, but they are of little service to clients. Legislation and contracts written in this manner may cause major issues. Again, developing these abilities needs time and exposure to a diverse variety of speakers and authors, and a 3-year law degree clearly provides much more than a conversion course or SQE preparation course when you study law.
Law students get skills as well as knowledge
Many law students engage in mooting contests to improve their oral advocacy abilities, or pro bono organizations to provide legal advice and help to actual individuals with real difficulties. Such abilities equip students for a variety of occupations in policy-related domains, including government, international organizations, the non-profit sector, and industry. Practicing law requires a variety of talents and is both academically and emotionally demanding. Here is a list of some of the skills we believe are most essential when you study law (whether conversion or 3 years) to have.
A hunger for information
Although the study of law is commonly seen as a dry topic, nothing could be farther from the truth. Law is a vast topic that has an impact on every part of our life. If you are interested in learning more about what is going on in the world, the law could be the degree for you.
Communication skillS which are exceptional
The study of law requires excellent writing and spoken communication. Written tests and coursework will account for a large portion of the 3-year degree. The law graduate will be forced to engage in group discussions and presentations. The graduate will be able to express arguments and ideas in a clear, logical, and compelling manner, whether they are talking vocally or in writing when you study law.
Independent Learners
Dedication is required while and when you study law. While law tutors will assist students and guide them, both 3-year law degree and conversion graduates must be able to push themselves to study, take the initiative when necessary, and have the ability to manage their time and meet deadlines.
Team players
While the graduate must be able to work alone, he or she must also be a team player. One of the wonderful aspects of the university is the opportunity to meet individuals from many walks of life all there to study law. Occasionally, your studies will need you to work in small or big groups alongside your classmates. The 3-year graduate has the ability to participate productively in such group activity in order to accomplish the objectives.
Researching skills
Contrary to what your friends and family may assume, nobody knows anything about the law the moment you enter law school. While you are not required to know everything, you are expected to understand how to get the necessary knowledge when you study law. As a result, legal research is critical. Because resources are increasingly digitized, having strong computer skills is a distinct advantage. From induction on, the 3-year graduate has received enough direction and instruction on how to perform good legal research.
Commercial awareness
When you study law it affords you a varied choice of professional opportunities, whether you have completed a 3-year law degree or a conversion course. Companies are increasingly looking for graduates who are commercially aware, whether you want to pursue a career in law or another profession. After all, law firms, like any other business, rely on the acquisition and retention of clients to make money. Employers need graduates who have a thorough understanding of how businesses function and the competition they face, as well as graduates who are creative and can see new market opportunities.