Law is a challenging field of study, but the opportunities it provides a student after graduation make it worth the hard work. The career of a law graduate is full of opportunities that range from being a commercial lawyer to a criminal lawyer.
The average salary of a law graduate in the UK is £25,000 per year and to become a lawyer in the UK, a candidate needs to possess excellent critical thinking capability as well as practical abilities that help them stand out.
There are various types of law degrees that help students gain a deep understanding of the core legal principles and concepts that can enable them to become highly regarded lawyers. Learn more below and arrange a free consultation with SI-UK HongKong to begin your application.
Type of Law Degrees in the UK
The two most common law degrees available in the UK are Bachelor of Law (LLB) and Master of Laws (LLM). Aside from these, other law degrees to study in the UK are:
Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)
A Graduate Diploma in Law is a 1-year full-time law conversion course that provides students with up to date knowledge that is required to become a lawyer.
The course is specifically designed for students who have completed their undergraduate degree in another subject and now want to change their career track. A GDL combines three years' worth of knowledge into one.
Law Practice Course (LPC)
A Law Practice Course is the final vocational stage of training that a student will need to complete to become a qualified solicitor. With a prime focus on future employability, an LPC provides students with the required professional skills that are in demand amongst employers.
Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)
The Bar Professional Training Course is a postgraduate programme that allows law graduates to practise as barristers in Wales and England. To study a BPTC, students will need to complete a bachelor's degree in law from a recognised UK university with no less than lower second-class (2:2) honours.
Popular Type of Law Degrees Specialisations
Law courses available in the UK are offered across different specialisations that students can choose according to their career goals.
The most popular types of law specialisations available in the UK are admiralty law, business law, constitutional law, criminal law, environmental law, health care law, intellectual property law, corporate law, commercial law and company law.
- Admiralty law: Also known as maritime law, admiralty law governs nautical issues as well as part-time maritime disputes. Admiralty law consists of both maritime activities and domestic law.
- Business law: Business lawyers help in settling commercial disputes of private entities as well as help in the regulation of commercial transactions. Business law is also known as company law and is one of the most popular type of law degrees specialisation in the UK.
- Constitutional law: Constitutional law defines the powers, roles, as well as structure of various entities within the state, parliament, executive, judiciary or legislature. With this specialisation, students will learn about first amendment law, how to delineate the relationships between the judicials, legislative, as well as the government executive branches for interpreting the constitution.
- Criminal law: Also known as defence lawyers, criminal lawyers specialise in defending entities, organisations or individuals who are accused of committing a crime.
- Environmental law: Environmental law is a collective term that encompasses the multiple aspects of the law that provides protection to the environment. Its focus is on the management of specific natural resources, such as minerals, forests, or fisheries.
- Health care law: Health law deals with the various aspects of health care, which also includes the rights of patients as well as the practices of caregivers.
- Intellectual property law: Intellectual property law deals with the laws related to protecting and enforcing the rights of owners and creators of intellectual property such as inventions, music, writing, designs or other works.
- Corporate law: Corporate law is the body of law that governs the relations, rights and conduct of organisations, and businesses.
- Commercial law: Commercial law applies to the rights, relations as well as to conduct of business and persons who are engaged in merchandising, commerce, trade, and sales.
Study Law in the UK
If you want to learn more about the various types of law degrees in the UK, book your free consultation with SI-UK Hong Kong today.
