The well-rounded lawyer: Top UK law schools producing business-savvy graduates

What do former Goldman Sachs chief Lloyd Blankfein, Oracle CEO Safra Catz and Macquarie Group Ltd Managing Director Shemara Wikramanayake have in common? These famous individuals attended law school before working their way towards helming the top companies in the world today.

While law school is a training ground for those who want to advocate the equality and safety of people, they’re also known for equipping students with a variety of transferable skills. Negotiation, problem-solving and presenting are part of a lawyer’s arsenal of skills to navigate courtrooms, but they also take them far in the business world. Law school prepares students to learn how to gather data, form conclusions, build cogent arguments and make recommendations, all of which are highly valued in business roles too.

A UK law school can equip aspiring lawyers with the necessary skills to uphold the rule of law, advise multinationals and carve a name for themselves in the business realm. Here are four UK law schools that will serve as a launchpad for a thriving career in law or business:

University of Buckingham

Satisfied students and employable graduates — Buckingham Law School in England prides itself on these two key features. It’s unsurprising why. Students at this Top 30 law school have a supportive learning environment. An academic open-door policy ensures they can easily access their lecturers; small classes guarantee personalised attention; a commitment to the pursuit of truth and freedom of speech encourages students to develop their ideas and passions.

At Buckingham Law School, students can do all of the above in just two years, instead of the usual three. It’s an accelerated LLB Law degree that saves both time and money, ideal for those with strong work ethics. During the programme, students should be prepared to speak out in small group tutorials, are encouraged to share their knowledge with others and can expect to sharpen their skills in making cogent arguments — essential know-how for a successful career in law, business and beyond.

There is also a dedicated clinical legal education manager who connects students to practitioners who can help them expand their skillset. Upon completing their undergraduate degree, students can progress into the LLM in International and Commercial Law, an MPhil or a PhD programme with the university. The university is currently awarding automatic scholarships to EU undergraduate students for its Sept. 2021 and Jan. 2022 intakes, bringing their fees in line with local students.

University of Glasgow

Studying law at the University of Glasgow in Scotland entails studying at a top 100 university, according to the Times Higher Education (THE’s) World University Rankings 2021. The School of Law is also ranked 41st in THE’s 2020 subject rankings for law.

Students can choose from several programmes including Scots Law LLB and Common Law LLB, depending on the country you wish to practise law in. They also offer two fast-track undergraduate degrees: the Scots Law (Graduate Entry) LLB and Common Law (Graduate Entry) LLB.

Their joint LLB + LLM programme combines the two-year graduate entry LLB with one year of postgraduate study, and is particularly suitable for those who wish to practise law in a jurisdiction that requires three years study of the law for bar admission.

This is a diverse law school, with students from over 30 countries and staff from across the world. Academics here are leaders in their field, with diverse research interests ranging from the United Nations, international courts and tribunals, to copyright issues in the digital age. Under their tutelage, students are set for an enriching learning experience.

As a testament to their prowess, their graduates are now forging careers in a versatile range of industries, including the international courts, the European Commission, banking and finance, international law firms, governments and academic institutions around the world.

University of Southampton

The University of Southampton is ranked among the top 150 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021. Southampton Law School’s courses are academically rigorous, informed by the latest research and taught by leading academics. Curricula here has been designed to provide students with a strong foundation in core subjects coupled with opportunities to pursue optional modules.

Their academics work with leading law firms and other global organisations while the School also has strong links with many of the world’s top law firms. The School offers a number of undergraduate law programmes, including the LLB Bachelor of Laws, the LLB Accelerated Graduate Programme, the JD Pathway LLB Accelerated programme, the LLB European Legal Studies, LLB International Legal Studies, LLB Maritime Law and LLB Law with Psychology.

Students can also gain insight into European or international law by studying abroad. They have strong links with over 25 countries across Europe and further afield, while their LLB degree is accredited for practice in a wide variety of countries. Many of their former staff and students have gone on to gain top legal roles across the world.

University of Surrey

The University of Surrey’s School of Law has strong links with local, national and international legal communities. Their expertise lies in environmental law, legal philosophy, corporate and commercial law, anti-corruption law, criminal law, public law, European law and international law, as reflected in their course offerings.

Undergraduate students can choose from three programmes, including the Law LLB (Hons), Law with Criminology LLB (Hons) and Law with International Relations LLB (Hons). Through these programmes, students will learn how to debate the law, analyse its application and apply their understanding to national or international contexts.

Several factors make their law courses stand out. These include student-focused teaching approach, engaging tutorials and the opportunity for students to dive into areas that are of interest to them. Meanwhile, their esteemed faculty bring a global perspective to the School’s research and teaching. They include legal experts who hail from England, Wales, as well as the US, China, Poland, Venezuela, Italy, Hong Kong and Germany.

The School of Law also integrates pro bono opportunities into their course offerings. A variety of events, guest talks and workshops are organised throughout the academic year to enhance learning and networking opportunities.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International

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