The Top-5 Universities to Study Law in the UK

Whether they work on domestic cases, corporate lawsuits or international policy, lawyers are integral to society and will have an impact on everyone’s lives at some point. If you see yourself taking to the stand as a lawyer, prosecuting the guilty and protecting the innocent, make sure to read on and learn more about the top 5 universities to study law in the UK. 

University of Oxford 

Unsurprisingly, the University of Oxford has been ranked the best university in both the UK and the world to study law. With an 800+ year history, Oxford University School of Law has produced some of the most notable alumni globally, including Tony Blair, 9 Lord Chief Justices, 22 Law Lords and several Heads of State across the world.  

With both 3 and 4-year courses available, students can specialise in different areas of law, including territorial laws for example: EU, French, German, Italian and Spanish law.  

All candidates must take the National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT) as part of their application. 

University of Cambridge 

Another unsurprising contender on this list is the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1209 and granted a Royal Charter in 1231 by Henry III, the University of Cambridge is one of the most prestigious universities to study law. With options to study the historical foundations of the British Constitution, landlord and tenant law, personal information law and animal rights law, the UoC’s law programme consists of a contemporary syllabus. 

With 8 applications per place and 246 places available, law at Cambridge is one of the most competitive courses to get on in the UK.  

Like its rival, Oxford, applicants are required to take the National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT) as part of their application 

University College London 

The three-year law programme at UCL combines theory and research with practical application and skills-based training. You will be encouraged to develop a critical understanding of how the law works and how it can be changed. You will be taught by distinguished academics who are cutting-edge researchers in their fields, together with, for example, visiting academics and practitioners. Their knowledge of law and their significant experience and influence will enrich your learning 

Students may also have the opportunity, after year two, to extend their studies by a year and spend part of their degree studying abroad in the USA, Australia, Hong Kong or Singapore.  

Candidates will be assessed through their UCAS applications, the National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT) and, in the case of laws with language programmes, an interview. You are required to take the LNAT as soon as possible after submitting your UCAS application and no later than 20 January in the year in which you are applying. Applicants must link LNAT registration details to UCL. 

London School of Economics (LSE) 

LSE Law School is one of the world’s top law schools with an international reputation for the quality of its teaching and legal research. 

In the 2021 QS World University Rankings for Law and Legal Studies, LSE Law was ranked 6th (out of 300 worldwide), and 1st in London. The LSE law student body is one of the most cosmopolitan in the world with over 60% international students. You will therefore be joining a cosmopolitan, elite and highly employable band of students should you join the LSE LLB student body. 

The Double Degree Programme is open to LLB students at LSE who are in their second year of study. It is during their second year that students apply to participate in the programme. LSE students spend their first two years at LSE, during which they must complete the Law Society/ Bar Council core or ‘foundation’ subjects if they intend to secure a ‘qualifying’ degree for professional exemption purposes in England and Wales. If admitted to the double degree programme, LSE students then transfer to Columbia Law School for two years, the first of which shall if successfully completed based on the requirements of both LSE and Columbia Law School, satisfy the requirements of their third year at LSE. 

University of Glasgow 

The University of Glasgow offers undergraduate students a variety of choices when it comes to law, including a degree in Scottish Law. Its Common Law Degree is designed for students who plan to practise law in common law jurisdictions in countries such as England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Canada, and India. It is not suitable for those who may wish to enter the legal profession in Scotland. The Common Law curriculum offers intellectual depth and has a range of flexible options. 

Throughout your degree at the University of Glasgow, there is an opportunity to study a language and law at a partner university abroad. Countries include France, Germany, Italy and Spain.  

The University of Glasgow also offers a two-year Common Law LLB (accelerated) degree in which graduates in other disciplines can obtain a common law degree in two years, rather than four.  

If you would like to learn more about law courses available in the UK, contact our friendly advisors today on +44 (0)23 9283 9210.