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Law and accountancy courses at uni. I’m confused!

32 replies

sociableintrovert123 · 10/04/2026 17:32

My DS is only in S4 and has expressed an interest in studying law or possibly accountancy. I know I’m being a bit thick but what degree would he start looking into for these?
Is it an LLB for law? Would common law mean if he gets in and passes he could potentially practise law anywhere? Can you only practise law in Scotland if you study Scots law at uni? Also I’m presuming he needs at least 5 As at higher to get in however when I looked at Stirling uni I think, the entrance requirements are only something like AABBB. Is this true or does he need to aim for 5As?
For accountancy is it an ACCA? I’ve seen accountancy offered at places like the University of the west of Scotland so I’m presuming it’s not the same course as ones like Glasgow or Edinburgh offer.
Sorry loads of questions. I’ve looked online and on the uni websites but I’m still not really sure.

OP posts:
sociableintrovert123 · 11/04/2026 20:34

Thanks everyone. Useful to know. What degree would be useful? Business? Economics? Finance? Maths? I don’t even know why I’m suggesting maths-there’s absolutely no way he’ll do maths at uni!

OP posts:
Nimonion · 11/04/2026 20:55

You can train as an accountant with absolutely anything. He should do whatever he’s interested in as he will get the best grades that way.

DistractMe · 12/04/2026 06:53

sociableintrovert123 · 11/04/2026 20:34

Thanks everyone. Useful to know. What degree would be useful? Business? Economics? Finance? Maths? I don’t even know why I’m suggesting maths-there’s absolutely no way he’ll do maths at uni!

Anything he is interested in. My degree was Philosophy.

Rhumba · 12/04/2026 08:33

You can study a duel degree inScots and English law at some universities ( I know Aberdeen and Dundee offer it) so he would have for years to decide in he wants to work in Scotland or England.

NoelEdmondsHairGel · 12/04/2026 08:37

StrictlyCoffee · 11/04/2026 17:23

AI has a LONG way to go to replace lawyers given the drivel I have to battle my way through on a daily basis

OP’s son is in S4 so around 15? It’ll be another 7+ or so years before he’ll land in a law firm. That is a long time in the world of AI.

I already find it better than associates in many respects and my firm is looking to take fewer trainees in the future.

StrictlyCoffee · 13/04/2026 20:12

NoelEdmondsHairGel · 12/04/2026 08:37

OP’s son is in S4 so around 15? It’ll be another 7+ or so years before he’ll land in a law firm. That is a long time in the world of AI.

I already find it better than associates in many respects and my firm is looking to take fewer trainees in the future.

Amazing succession planning

StrictlyCoffee · 13/04/2026 20:15

EnglishRain · 11/04/2026 20:15

Another accountant saying don’t do accountancy…the best accountants I know didn’t (I appreciate may sound judgemental, but it’s true! I work in industry and I find the people who studied it at uni are better at working in practice or in a financial accounting role if in industry).

Lots of graduate schemes will put you through your accountancy exams with no relevant degree needed. Some even refuse to let you have the exemptions an accounting degree allows (it depends what body you are studying with and what degree you did at which uni) these days, so apart from a bit of extra confidence you know what you’re doing there isn’t a serious advantage.

More senior roles in finance are harder to replace with AI but the more junior ones will start disappearing pretty quickly I expect. No idea on that side for law, but definitely worth considering what is more future proof.

Who’s going to do the senior roles in future without any juniors doing junior roles now?

Seems a lot of senior people in firms are just thinking short term on how to line their pockets just now than the longer term future of their firms

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