Nottingham Law - no longer an LNAT uni but still rated

[Tennisnut1971]

DS wants to read law and become a barrister. He has read the 2019 report often quoted about preferred unis, namely this:

https://www.chambersstudent.co.uk/where-to-start/newsletter/law-firms-preferred-universities-2019

The trouble is that report dates from 2019 - when Nottingham was an LNAT uni (it stopped requiring it in 2023 he says). He has been told (by teacher and careers) that people still focus on Nottingham because of that report - whereas, in actuality, it is way out date nowadays and Nottingham is therefore punching above its weight and trading (to a certain extent) off past academic rigour.

any thoughts? When will the report be updated - it is 6 years out of date!

He is thinking of applying to Oxbridge, Durham and Leeds but needs other options. We can’t afford London or Bristol

PS he is (I think) an international student as we been out of UK for 4 years 😢

Nottingham has always been very well regarded for law, well before invention of lnat (I’m a solicitor 25 years PQE with a law degree)
It’s still very popular. Seen several posts of kids applying this year with the predicted grades being offered criminology instead due to how oversubscribed it is.
Whilst the table is useful i’d also point out the universities at the top are typically those with highest percentage of privately educated students. Corporate and bar still have high percentage of privately educated people entering.
https://www.legalcheek.com/2020/03/private-school-kids-continue-to-dominate-corporate-law/amp/
Why don’t they update? I’d suspect that despite all the initiatives and occasional firm now saying they recruit blind the stats are similar, not a good look for diversity.
The legal apprenticeship route that even city firms were offering did attract wider demographic but is under threat from government removing funding.

If he’s aiming for bar then the stats are much more likely to be successful if he has a first class degree.
https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/static/de2150b0-756d-4158-a5002fa899915507/Pupillage-Gateway-Report-2024.pdf
Lots of barristers are none law degree and then postgraduate conversion route.
I appreciate it’s harder as overseas but I’d try and visit open days as it’s important where he chooses is a good fit for him to thrive and get best degree classification.
Definitely choose some none lnat to apply to, high predicted grades don’t always mean they will ace lnat multiple choice and essay.
In terms of league tables for law I’d look at complete university guide and Times and disregard Guardian.

Warwick, York, Manchester, Exeter?