What can you do with a Law Degree?
“Law is the system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties.”
Adhering to the law of a nation is crucial. The set of rules will decide what is right from wrong for the purpose of ensuring peace and security of a society.
A law degree is highly sought after and is a gateway to many career paths. Other than becoming a lawyer, a degree in law makes individuals desirable candidates for various other fields such as academia, commerce, social work, politics and more. For some, the aim of studying law is to uphold justice, however, it is not only for lawyers or action taken in courtrooms. It focuses on the protection of life, and graduates are capable of doing so by engaging in multitudes of professions.
Let’s take a look at a few career paths open to law graduates :
- Arbitrator
- Barrister
- Paralegal
- Legal Secretary
- Chartered Legal Executive
- Patent Attorney
- Attorney-General’s Chambers
Other jobs where a Law Degree is useful :
- Chartered Accountant
- Data Analyst
- Human Resource Officer
- Lecturer
- Civil service administrator
- Advocate
Why study Law in the UK?
Moreover, the majority of the UK law degrees allow students the opportunity to take a professional placement at a firm for one year or engage in overseas study.
In addition, all LLB Programs in British universities are accredited by the Law Society of England and Wales as well as the Bar Council of England and Wales as qualifying law.
Further, apart from the knowledge acquired, students will learn many transferable skills. Students will have a strong command of language,sharpened mindsets ,enhanced critical-thinking skills and negotiation skills.
Law Degrees available in the UK :
- LLB – Bachelor of Law.
- Graduate LLB – Fast track LLB leading to a postgraduate degree in law.
- LLM – Master of Law.
- GDL –Graduate Diploma in Law.
- LPC – Law Practice Course.
- QLTS – Qualified Lawyer Transfer Scheme.
If you are interested to know more about studying Law in the UK, do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Pathway for Malaysians to become Lawyers with a UK Degree
Step 1 : Complete a recognized Pre-University, Diploma or Foundation Course
Students who have completed SPM/IGCSE can proceed to complete Pre-University courses required to obtain a degree in Law. UEC students can directly proceed to a Bachelor’s degree in Law. There are few possible pathways which are recognized by the Legal Profession Qualifying Board of Malaysia ;
- A-Level
- STPM
- Foundation in Law
- Diploma in Law
Step 2 : Complete a recognized Law Degree
Upon successful completion of step 1, students can proceed to a Law degree. However, it is important to ensure that the law degree is from an institution recognized by the Legal Profession Qualifying Board of Malaysia in order to gain entry into the legal profession in Malaysia.
Therefore, students who wish to study in the UK are required to obtain degrees from the following bodies or institutions ;
- Inner Temple
- Middle Temple
- Gray’s Inn
- Lincoln’s Inn
- The Law Society
- Solicitors Regulation Authority
In general, there are 2 types of Law degrees that students can pursue :
- 3 year Law Degree allows students to gain the necessary knowledge and skills about being a qualified lawyer. LLB degrees (Bachelor of Law) are usually 3 year degrees in the UK.
- 4 year Law Degrees includes an additional year where it provides students professional experience.
Students who have completed a Diploma in Law can proceed to the 2nd year of a Law degree based on the necessary requirements.
Step 3 : Complete CLP or BPTC Law Examination
In order to qualify as a Solicitor or an Advocate in Malaysia, that is, to be a practicing lawyer, a law degree is not sufficient. It is mandatory to complete and pass either the Certificate of Legal Practice (CLP) or Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC).
A. What is Certificate of Legal Practice (CLP)?
CLP is conducted by the Legal Profession Qualifying Board of Malaysia. It is a professional Law exam for those who wish to become practicing lawyers in Malaysia. It consists of 5 compulsory papers.
Entry requirements to qualify for the CLP exams are as follows :
- Minimum 3C’s at SPM/O/level/UEC (Students who have a UEC are required to have a minimum of 3C’s in SPM or O/Level)
- Minimum 2E’s at STPM/A/Level (Students who have a UEC are required to have a minimum of 2E’s in STPM or A/Level)
- Recognized Law degree minimum of 3 academic years and minimum of 12 law subjects with passes in 6 core subjects.
B. What is Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)?
Students can take the BPTC in the UK instead of CLP examination. This is highly recommended for UEC students due to the requirements by CLP. Those who complete this examination will be admitted as barristers in England and Wales, and as Advocates and Solicitors in Malaysia.
Entry Requirements to apply for BPTC examination
- Bachelor of Laws with a minimum lower-second class honours
- Non-English speakers – IELTS 7.5
- Member of an Inns Court
- Pass the Bar Code Aptitude Test (BCAT)
Students can learn the BPTC at the following locations in England and Wales :
- BPP Law School
- Cardiff Law School
- City Law School
- The University of Law
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- The University of Northumbria at Newcastle
- Nottingham Trent University
- University of the West of England Bristol
Step 4 : Complete Pupilage (Chambering)
Pupilage, also known as Chambering is a 9 – 12 month period of time where graduates work for a law firm in the form of an internship. This is required to allow graduates to gain experience by working with senior lawyers to comprehend the daily tasks as a solicitor or advocate before being called to the Malaysian Bar where graduates will be admitted and enrolled as official advocates and solicitors.
If you are interested to know more about studying Law in the UK, do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Top Universities to study Law in the UK (Recognised in Malaysia)
As mentioned above, it is required by the LPQB for students to obtain a qualification recognized by a number of bodies and institutions in the UK in order to enter the legal profession in Malaysia.
The following universities are all recognized by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and students graduating from these universities would have to apply to sit and pass the CLP examination if they intend to become solicitors and advocates in Malaysia.
Study Law at University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is the oldest in the UK and is consistently ranked in the Top 10 of the world’s best universities. The institution is ranked 1st in the UK and 4th in the world. The faculty of Law is ranked 2nd in the world based on 2019’s QS world University’s world subject rankings.
Program | Duration | Indicative Annual Fee (2020) |
BA in Jurisprudence [Equivalent to LLB] | 3 Years (Full time) or 4 Years with year abroad | £27,285 |
Program | Duration | Indicative Annual Fee (2020) |
Bachelor of Civil Law | 10 months | £35,510 |
If you would like to know more about studying Law at University of Oxford, do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Study Law at Queen's University Belfast
Queen’s is a public research university. Law has been studied and taught since 1845 and has been growing continuously. There are over 800 undergraduate students, 250 postgraduates and over 80 PhD students enrolled in the School.
The School of Law at Queen’s is a leading Law school ranked in the Top 101-150 universities in the world for Law in 2019.
They focus on interacting with a wide community who has an interest in the study of law locally, nationally and globally. In addition to Law, there are 300 other academic programs to choose from at the institution with subjects ranked in the Top 200,
Program | Duration | Indicative Annual Fee (2020) |
LLB Law | 3 Years (Full time) | £16,900 |
Law with Politics (LLB with honours) | 3 Years (Full time) | £16,900 |
Common & Civil Law with French law (LLB Honours) | 3 Years (Full time) | £16,900 |
Common & Civil Law with Hispanic Studies (LLB Honors) | 3 Years (Full time) | £16,900 |
Study Law at Queen’s University Belfast
Queen’s is a public research university. Law has been studied and taught since 1845 and has been growing continuously. There are over 800 undergraduate students, 250 postgraduates and over 80 PhD students enrolled in the School.
The School of Law at Queen’s is a leading Law school ranked in the Top 101-150 universities in the world for Law in 2019.
They focus on interacting with a wide community who has an interest in the study of law locally, nationally and globally. In addition to Law, there are 300 other academic programs to choose from at the institution with subjects ranked in the Top 200,
Program | Duration | Indicative Annual Fee (2020) |
LLB Law | 3 Years (Full time) | £16,900 |
Law with Politics (LLB with honours) | 3 Years (Full time) | £16,900 |
Common & Civil Law with French law (LLB Honours) | 3 Years (Full time) | £16,900 |
Common & Civil Law with Hispanic Studies (LLB Honors) | 3 Years (Full time) | £16,900 |
If you would like to know more about studying Law at Queen’s University Belfast, do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Study Law at University of Hull
The University of Hull is a public research university established in 1927 as University College Hull. It is England’s 14th oldest university. Hull is ranked 54th in the UK. The university has been growing steadily, with over 16,000 students.
The school of law is a part of the Faculty of Business, Law and Politics, therefore, students can engage in double degrees. Law has been taught at Hull since 1927 where all LLB programs are inclusive of the foundations of legal knowledge which is required when students choose to go into legal practice.
There are many opportunities at Hull which will enable students to enhance their study experiences. As a result, students have the chance to provide legal advice to real clients through Law clinics and Legal Advice Centers. Hull has an active Law Society which encourages students to take part in negotiations and client interview competitions.
Program | Duration | Indicative Annual Fee (2020) |
LLB Law (Honours) | 3 Years (Full time) | £14,500 |
LLB Law and Legislative Studies | 4 Years (Full time) | £14,500 |
LLB Law with Business Management | 3 Years (Full time) | £14,500 |
LLB Law with Politics | 3 Years (Full time) | £14,500 |
If you would like to know more about studying Law at University of hull, do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
University of West of England Bristol (UWE)
UWE is a public research university ranked 67th in the Uk. (link). Bristol Law School is a leading UK provider of legal education. They have been involved in legal education for over 40 years and provides high quality Law courses in a supportive environment. They recently opened a new £55 million Law School with the purpose of providing students the best possible environment to study in.
Furthermore, UWE has a Business and Law Clinic that provides pro bono advice to individuals and businesses across the South West area. This is a great opportunity for students to gain first-hand experience in the legal sector while studying.
Undergraduate with Foundation year
Program | Duration | Indicative Annual Fee (2020) |
BA in Business and Law (Honors) | 4 Years (Full time) | £13500 |
BA in Criminology and Law (Honors) | 4 Years (Full time) | £13500 |
LLB (Honors) with Foundation Year | 4 Years (Full time) | £13500 |
LLB (Honors) Law with Business (with Foundation Year) | 4 Years (Full time) | Not yet published |
Undergraduate (No foundation year)
Program | Duration | Indicative Annual Fee (2020) |
BA Honors Business and Law | 3 Years (Full time) | £13500 |
BA Honors Criminology and Law | 3 Years (Full time) | £13500 |
LLB (Honors) Law | 3 Years (Full time) | £13500 |
LLB (Honors) Law with Business | 3 Years (Full time) | £13500 |
If you would like to know more about studying Law at UWE, do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
De Monfort University
De Montfort is a public research university established in 1992 and located in Leicester.
The institution offers fully qualifying degrees in law which aids students to lead a successful legal career. They are currently ranked 72 in the UK.
Leicester De Montfort Law School offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate Law courses and has an excellent reputation in teaching. Most importantly, undergraduate law students are given the opportunity to engage in real trial experience before a sitting judge supported by advocacy trainers.
Law students also have the chance to undertake pro bono activities such as working in DMU Legal Advice Centre or Street Law.
To further enhance the learning and experience, DMU Law Society offers extra-curricular activities such as career events, trips to law fairs and visit Royal Courts of Justice.
Program | Duration | Indicative Annual Fee (2020) |
LLB Law (Honors) | 3 Years (Full time) | £13,750 |
LLB Business Law (Honors) | 3 Years (Full time) | £13,750 |
LLB Law and Criminal Justice (Honors) | 3 Years (Full time) | £13,750 |
Law, Human Rights and Social Justice LLB (Hons) | 3 Years (Full time) | £13,750 |
BA Business Management and Law (Honors) | 3 Years (Full time) | £13,750 |
BA Law and Economics (Honors) | 3 Years (Full time) | £13,750 |
If you would like to know more about studying Law at De Montfort University, do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Read more about the Top reasons to study in the UK 2020
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About Post Author
Yellani Rasaputhra
I am a student from Monash University, Malaysia. Currently studying Bachelor of Business and Commerce majoring in International Business and Marketing. I like to spend my time painting and swimming.
