Law is arguably one of the most popular, lucrative, and prestigious fields of higher education. As such, it requires a lot of commitment and research. Here are a few tidbits you might find helpful on your path to getting ready to apply to a Law course.

First thing you might want to consider is what you want to do with a law degree: do you want to actively practice law or is your interest in law a more academic matter? If you want to practice law, the most straightforward path for you might be to apply for a LLB (Legum Baccalaureus) degree course whereas a BA/BSc degree in Law might suffice if you want to pursue it only academically. There are also graduate courses for those who have not studied in undergrad among other ways to qualify to practice law in the UK, but let’s focus on the undergrad LLB courses for now.

To get into a LLB course, especially if in one of the more prestigious schools, you would need three A levels (or equivalent) of ABB. You typically do not have to have taken A level law, but please note that not all A level subjects might be accepted by all schools. Alternatively an average of 35 should be met if you are considering applying with an IB diploma. You will also likely need five GCSEs, three of which are English, science, and maths.

In addition to school grades, you might need to submit an English proficiency score, for example an IELTS score of 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each skill. Some schools may ask for a National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT) score. The LNAT is composed of a multiple choice part and an essay part. The essay is scored but sent to universities as a demonstration of your writing ability. LNAT scores cannot be transferred from one academic year to another, and the LNAT may only be taken once per academic year.

Finally, one very important aspect of your application is your personal statement. It must communicate why you wish to study law and why you are a good candidate for it. Extracurricular activities relating to law such as work experience or memberships in law-related clubs or societies are a good way of not only supporting your fitness as a future law professional but also trying out and seeing for yourself how well you might enjoy a life spent with the research and practice of law. In addition to detailing your interest and experience in your chosen field of study, you should make clear you are a well-rounded individual capable of analytical thinking and teamwork who has other interests and accomplishments. As with applications to other courses, extra-curricular activities and a good command of English play a role in helping you stand out from a pool of candidates.

These are some of the standard bare minimum criteria you would benefit from taking into consideration. For specifics, it would be best to check each school’s requirements on their websites.