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Higher education

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Typical A levels for law

140 replies

Come · 08/08/2024 15:20

Am I wrong in thinking that for law specifically that there's no need for any specific A-levels apart from one essay subject?

OP posts:
ComfyBoobs · 09/08/2024 16:36

skippy67 · 08/08/2024 16:15

Interesting. DS got offered a training contract right after the vacation scheme without numeracy qualification other than his maths gcse😅

Obviously I am not saying that we require maths. Lots of our trainees don’t have that in their background.

But there are relatively few applicants who do have maths/economics at A level or degree level and they offer something different and important which is of genuine value to the firm.

When there are 80 applicants for each place, candidates need to stand out. Someone with maths/economics/science somewhere in their background is better placed than the equivalent person with history/English/RS/geography - they are ten a penny.

ComfyBoobs · 09/08/2024 16:42

My ideal combo as a recruiter would be:

  1. English or history
  2. A language
  3. Maths/economics

… this is obviously just a part of the picture.

They will also need good work experience, things on their cv which demonstrate strong commercial nous, work ethic and a history of get-up-and-go, leadership skills etc on top of interviewing extremely well and scoring highly in our various assessments.

Noras · 10/08/2024 00:42

BeEasyonYourself · 08/08/2024 16:32

In my experience (I'm in-house, commercial) I don't have any involvement in figures. It's all dealt with by the business. But it may be different in private practice

When you are at court juggling offers and counter offers then yes a good head for numbers is required. That’s part of the job.

On a large personal injury claim there are lots of aspects to the schedule of loss and unless things have changed, specific calculations/ deductions for the housing costs/ loss of earnings less accelerated receipts, wheelchair calculations etc.
Everything was about multipliers or years purchase and then added to that would be interest. Ultimately that might be drafted or checked by a KC but it’s your case and you need to carry it. When you are making an offer of say 3.2 million you need to be able to check your figures.

Also much of my time was spent reading forensic accounting reports and able to grapple with profit and loss accounts etc of a business owner to assess loss. The claimant might be say an orthodontist with complex set of business account or a musician etc or someone with multiple businesses that alleged were hugely impacted by the injury and not some other matter. I would not have wanted to do that job unless I positively enjoyed number crunching. To do a good job on it you needed to be able to extract the parts of the accounts not backed up by evidence ( if defendant). Although you might work with your own forensic accountant you do so as a team.
Every day larger claims involves a decent level of maths and an ability to work out accounts.

Also those large claims involved lots of biology eg a head injury when the claimant had pre existing mental health issues eg was on lithium. You might have to assess burns where the persons was trapped in the car or be conversant with malignant hypertension. I can talk easily about leg injuries and bone infections or coccyx injuries.

Frankly I would not say great essay writing skills are a requirement of a job. Maybe they might help someone doing a law degree but people converting from say, medicine managed.

An ability to be able to adapt, learn and be able to cope out of your comfort zone is good which is why a varied CV is good.

Delphigirl · 10/08/2024 15:30

I did physics chemistry and biology and became an intellectual property/it/telecoms lawyer

Delphigirl · 10/08/2024 15:34

To be honest the correct advice is “do whatever academic subjects you will get a stars in” because great a level results will get you into a good uni. Once there, do the academic subject you are most likely to enjoy and get a first in. Because ultimately that’s what matters most for forging a career in law, a consistent high-achieving academic background.

Delphigirl · 10/08/2024 15:36

ComfyBoobs · 09/08/2024 16:42

My ideal combo as a recruiter would be:

  1. English or history
  2. A language
  3. Maths/economics

… this is obviously just a part of the picture.

They will also need good work experience, things on their cv which demonstrate strong commercial nous, work ethic and a history of get-up-and-go, leadership skills etc on top of interviewing extremely well and scoring highly in our various assessments.

That’s interesting.

Delphigirl · 10/08/2024 15:40

@comfyboobs my DH and I met at a magic circle and I used to select trainees there (v small committee) but that was a while ago. My 1st three kids not interested in law. Youngest (4th) I think would be great. A levels Geog, Spanish and economics, going to do a degree in Arabic&Middle East studies (integrated masters). Would that combo /background be of particular interest these days? She would be fluent in Spanish and v proficient in Arabic by the time she got there.

shesacomplicatedlady · 10/08/2024 15:46

@Noras can you please give me more info on this accounts exam? Thank you

Delphigirl · 10/08/2024 15:49

@shesacomplicatedlady im not sure if the bar have to do it but as part of becoming a solicitor one has to do accounts exams (as solicitors manage client money which barristers do not). It is pretty basic and anyone with a 789 at gcse maths would not have any difficulty.

It needs less maths that is required if advising on personal injury damages or analysing company accounts or possibly even complex financial remedy cases I’d say

TizerorFizz · 10/08/2024 18:41

No maths for bar course. However even as a family barrister, DD deals with money - divorce money cases!

There’s a reason why I posted Cambridge suggest maths is good for law! Zillions take maths A level. Far more than MFLs. The aim is to get into the degree course. So do 2 from the Cambridge primary list and 1 from the second list. Then apply for the best unis for law.

ElizaMulvil · 10/08/2024 19:04

Relative did Theatre Studies, English Language, Psychology A levels.

Career advisers said definitely no go for Oxbridge but Cambridge begged to differ and accepted her. Presumably the interviews/essays etc went well.
Did philosophy degree and then Law Conversion, Bar.

Seems to be coping OK. Indeed looking back subject choices were good at A level and degree level.

ElizaMulvil · 10/08/2024 19:07

I think they did forensic accountancy as part of the Bar course.

Come · 10/08/2024 19:30

I assume FM is redundant/not necessary at all

OP posts:
eurochick · 10/08/2024 19:30

I did the Bar quals years ago and back then you did have to do an accounting element during pupillage or the early years of practice.

TizerorFizz · 10/08/2024 19:39

@eurochick You obviously have to understand tax and vat because you are self employed but no exams during pupilage. DD has a specialist bar accountant. For work, she hasn’t done a course but learns as she goes along plus accountants assist. Obviously the commercial bar might well be different and there are MLaw courses to enhance commercial understanding,

Xenia · 10/08/2024 22:40

I am a solicitor (English lit, History and German A levels) with 4 solicitor children (21 of whom qualified this year - they did history, geography (and one did economics and the other classical civilisation). However any good subjects in which you can get high grades are fine for law. Do bear in mind a lot of the job is words and writing letters and contracts and opinions which is why essay subjects like history and English lit have often been recommended for law. I have marked law A level back in the day and I am afraid most people doing it were not really particularly good and plenty of the best most academic schools don't offer it so I would avoid it if you possibly can as an A level if you want to be a lawyer.

Maths is fine too. I liked maths but only did it up to sixth form. I don't use very much maths other than adding up and a bit on tax and accounts. I had to do an accounts course as a trainee (and also some tax comes into law exams but you definitely don't need a maths A level to do it).

Investinmyself · 10/08/2024 23:03

Some universities ask for an essay subject but other than that I’d choose what subjects likely to do best in.
I did law, history and French and have a law degree. DD is studying law in September and did RS, politics, History. Lawyers with stem background stand out and are in demand.
At end of day grades matter you are looking at AAA minimum plus decent lnat pass for a top 10 university for law. They need to pick according to their strengths.

DazedandConfused1234 · 10/08/2024 23:14

I did Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry, a Biochemistry degree and the one year conversion course - then the CPE, but now the GDL, I think. I don't feel this has held me back in any way, but maybe has made the limited Maths you have to do as a lawyer a bit easier.

Lots of people study other subjects at Uni amd convert to Law professionally. It takes an extra year, but law firms seem happy to take Law and Non-Law graduates. I say this in case studying another subject might be appealing.

stronglatte · 10/08/2024 23:22

Facilitating subjects are key for any RG uni ( lists avail on google ) which will put you on the right path for law but you don't need a law degree just a upper second on any discipline . Law firms actively recruit non law graduates . However you need a decent degree from a good uni, have actively demonstrated you have work experience/ internships ..

hampsteadmum · 10/08/2024 23:22

My DD studies law at Cambridge. She did History, Politics and a Language.

ComfyBoobs · 12/08/2024 18:14

Delphigirl · 10/08/2024 15:40

@comfyboobs my DH and I met at a magic circle and I used to select trainees there (v small committee) but that was a while ago. My 1st three kids not interested in law. Youngest (4th) I think would be great. A levels Geog, Spanish and economics, going to do a degree in Arabic&Middle East studies (integrated masters). Would that combo /background be of particular interest these days? She would be fluent in Spanish and v proficient in Arabic by the time she got there.

@Delphigirl yes, that combo (assuming strong results) would tick the numeracy box and those languages would further distinguish her. We have relatively few Spanish speakers, Arabic fewer still, and so we would definitely take a close look at her.

Delphigirl · 12/08/2024 18:21

That’s really interesting, thanks @ComfyBoobs !

pivoinerose · 12/08/2024 22:25

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

pivoinerose · 12/08/2024 22:58

ComfyBoobs · 09/08/2024 16:36

Obviously I am not saying that we require maths. Lots of our trainees don’t have that in their background.

But there are relatively few applicants who do have maths/economics at A level or degree level and they offer something different and important which is of genuine value to the firm.

When there are 80 applicants for each place, candidates need to stand out. Someone with maths/economics/science somewhere in their background is better placed than the equivalent person with history/English/RS/geography - they are ten a penny.

You shouldn't be selecting by A level subject in a good firm, you should be selecting on merit. It's that which makes applicants stand out, not what subjects they opted for in Y11.

All three of my Oxford graduate DC did exactly the ten a penny combo you are dismissive of but fortunately the Magic Circle firms which recruited two saw past their History/ English/ Geography A levels and took them on (as trainees and subsequently as associates). The other DC somehow managed to get pupillage and subsequently a tenancy at a good London set and despite her ten a penny History/ English/ RS combo seems to be doing really quite well.

mimbleandlittlemy · 13/08/2024 10:56

stronglatte · 10/08/2024 23:22

Facilitating subjects are key for any RG uni ( lists avail on google ) which will put you on the right path for law but you don't need a law degree just a upper second on any discipline . Law firms actively recruit non law graduates . However you need a decent degree from a good uni, have actively demonstrated you have work experience/ internships ..

Facilitating subjects were scrapped by RG in 2019.

In a statement published on its website, the Russell Group said facilitating subjects had become viewed by some as “the only subjects pupils should consider to get into a Russell Group university, or that you must take them for any degree”. “This has never been the case,” the group said.

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