Any law academics around? Doing a law degree with A-level law

[FKAT]

DS16 currently looking at A-levels. He wants to study law at university and is set on doing A-level law. We're now aware that some law degree guidelines advise against A-level law. Just wanted to ask if anyone has any experience of law degree admissions and whether it would be a disadvantage to do it at a-level?

At present he is exploring doing 4 A-Levels FYI.

Would also be useful to understand what GCSE grades are considered / expected.

I can only speak for DS's experience but he had offers from four RG Unis with A Level Law. No unis we looked at said anything about A level Law being liked or disliked. Grades were more important than subjects. He's currently in yr 3 of his Law degree at his first choice RG uni.

Apologies for gatecrashing, but DD also interested in law - where would you say the best unis are for law degrees & is there any value in opting for a degree apprenticeship in law over straight uni course?

I don't think that law is a bad A level to take I think it is just better if it is taken alongside other more traditionally academic A levels such as History, English lit, Math, etc.

GCSE grades for Law A level or a law degree?
If university then it will depend which one. What are his predictions?

Barrister here - not academic but experienced in law... the problem with A level law is that the first year of a degree repeats a lot of the a level but the a level can be more simplified than degree. So I believe it's more a question of it not being necessary to do a level law and it can be a bit boring / more confusing in first year for those who have it.

I think the bigger issue is getting good enough grades and being interested in your a levels can help get better grades so my advice is always choose what makes you happy!

Top universities for Law will be Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Kings, LSE, Durham, Bristol... There will be lots of other universities that are very good though.

I agree with @Mooselooseinmyhoose it is more that the content is a simplified version of what you learn in the first year so you have to relearn and digest the same material in a slightly different and more complicated way. It always has been so they do recommend doing and learning about other subjects

There is no need for four A Levels. Law A Level will be fine. The important thing is that he achieves top grades. He will be competing for jobs with people with all 8/9s at GCSEs and all As or A stars at A level.

Really .. eek my daughter has 7s & 8s at gcse- predicted a's at a level - will that not be enough?!

It will be fine to get onto a law degree. Getting a job is very competitive. Those getting the highest paying jobs will have outstanding academics.

So a degree apprenticeship might be better?

No, they're few and far between and unless you live in london where there are more firms then you'll struggle to find a law degree apprenticeship. I suspect they're even more competitive than the traditional route.

7s are fine As at A level are fine. But be aware that everyone will have those grades or above.

Thanks for responses. He is predicted a mix of 7s/8s (they don't predict 9s but I would put money on him getting Maths/Sciences given his test results so far).