Reading Law at Uni

[Aurea]

Hi

My son is very keen to study Law and is predicted straight A's in his Highers (we live in Scotland).

He would like to apply for Edinburgh and Glasgow Law schools, but also Durham. He understands about the difference between Scots and English Law and may want to work in London ultimately anyway. He's also applying for Oxford, but that's a bit of a long shot.

In your opinion, is a Law degree at Durham worth the cost of having to pay 3 years worth of fees, over a 4 year course at Edinburgh or Glasgow with no fees? Also, does anyone have a preference between Edinburgh or Glasgow for Law?

TIA!

He might be better off doing a non-law degree in Scotland and then the GDL and LPC in England if he wants to practice Law in England and Wales.

I agree with the above advice. He’d also be able to apply to St Andrews too which would be another shot at a top top uni without having to pay fees. Plus in some respects he may be more likely to get into Oxford for a subject that isn’t law. (of course dependent on what he’d pick) Bear in mind the extra costs of the GDL route and the changes that are coming.

Now, if he would rather law. I would say that LSE law would be worth the fees and cost of London. Durham vs Edinburgh, then probably not. (IMO!) But Durham vs Glasgow? yes, it could well be worth the costs.

Ultimately, it’s what and where he would fancy studying. I can’t comment on the chances in regard to practicing in Scottish or English/Welsh law.

It probably comes down to employment prospects and which area of law he wishes to go into upon graduation. Are there better prospects in Scotland or not? One would assume there are far fewer barristers but what about solicitors and in-house lawyers? I would try and do some research.

The GDL is around £10,000 (in London) if you are not sponsored and you have to live there too, its expensive. People going down the Barristers route rarely get much of a scholarship towards the GDL. It is all a bit of a lottery regarding jobs but he could apply to English and Scottish universities and see how he gets on. However, Oxbridge undoubtedly opens doors.

At Glasgow he can study a Common Law LLB or Scots Law LLB. In Edinburgh as an undergraduate I think they only offer Scots Law. The university’s would be able to offer guidance but if your DC is thinking of practicing outside Scotland then Scot’s Law is probably not suitable.

Strathclyde does a combined English and Scots LLB.

Thank you for your input and advice.

Yes, I agree it might be sensible to do another subject first, then a conversion course. However....

He's really set his heart on Law. He talks about aspects of Law all the time, reads books on the subject, enters Law essay competitions, goes to court in his spare time and has done two lots of work experience for Law firms. He definitely wants to do a degree in Law! BTW he goes to a Scottish state school and all this is done off his own bat.

Thanks once again.

I did a qualifying law degree LLB rather than other subject then the conversion. If he is really interested in law I can recommend it, I loved it, and then did the lpc and qualified a few years later. Best advice is for him to try and get some work placements even at this stage. It is so competitive and can be tricky getting a pupillage or training contract without any experience. Even doing some cab advice work will count for a lot.

Dundee Uni used to do the English LLB as well as the Scottish degree- might be worth enquiring about the fees for this route.

The cost of the GDL would still be less than three years of tuition fees at Durham. Both Glasgow and Edinburgh have excellent programmes, and are internationally recognised as such.

Also, the GDL might not even exist by the time your son finishes his degree...depends if the SRA goes ahead with their mad scheme to get rid of the currently qualifying pathways (www.legalcheek.com/2018/02/decision-to-approve-or-reject-solicitor-super-exam-delayed/).

You don’t have to pay university fees up front. You do have to pay the GDL up front and live somewhere whilst you do it.

You don’t need loads of work experience before university but you need intern schemes or mini pupillages whilst at university. Many will not look at you until you are 2nd year. Universities provide a huge array of opportunities to develop interests which relevant to your area of law. Law is very broad and not all criminal.

Where he goes really depends on what he thinks his future career will be. If he wants the court route, is he interested in being a barrister? (Not sure about this is Scotland and relevant training). Or a small town solicitor in Scotland? Or a corporate solicitor? London or Scotland? Or a local authority/in house legal adviser? Saving the university fees would be great but not at the expense of your dream job. If he could get to Oxford or Cambridge, that would be the best route for anything.