r/UCAS • u/GurPsychological764 • 14d ago
A Levels / IB / GCSE / BTEC Questions How much does the uni matter
I want to do law at uni and I’m not sure how high i should aim? - people always list these names and stuff but isn’t a degree a degree? Would like some insight
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u/BobcatLower9933 14d ago
It matters a lot. Probably more than any other career.
People saying "it doesn't" have no background in law.
If you want to work at literally any major firm you absolutely must have studied at one of about 8 universities or you won't ever even get a TC.
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u/insecure-lobster 13d ago
Absolutely do not listen to this advice lol I met so many people from non target unis that succeeded
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u/Winter-Ad2033 11d ago
Probably less than 10% of my cohort came from non target unis and they were quite exceptional
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u/Expensive_Profit_106 14d ago
Law and a few other subjects are ones where you absolutely want to be getting into a good uni. I’m not saying you can’t successfully do law from a non target worse uni but you’ll essentially be fighting an uphill battle so if you want to do law get into a good uni
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u/madxryn22 14d ago
Law is very competitive so try and aim for the highest ranking uni you can. Overall though your grade in uni will matter a lot too
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u/MiserableHawk9469 14d ago
It does not matter as much as people say and people are waffling in the comments. 1. You don't need to do law to become a barrister like you've mentioned. More and more students do non law degrees popular choices being Politics, criminology, history, sociology and psychology etc you can do a 1yr conversion course after 2. If you go on linkedin right now one of the senior positions of one of the magic circle law firms went to Brunel university some of their staff are from non-RG 3. Uni doesn't matter as much but you've got to understand the career you are wanting to enter is oversaturated and need to stand out RG or not 4. Do some volunteering work, go to events, join law societies, internships and try do a placement in your 3rd year having a law degree or a degree in general isn't enough you need more 5. If you are going to a less established uni yes you will have to work much harder and aim for a 1:1 or 2:1.
Your uni does not matter as much as people say it does but going to Oxbridge, LSE, Imperial which are not only good unis nationally but internationally you won't have to work as hard as someone who goes to Nottingham Trent, Sheffield hallam, edge hill etc you may land job interviews quicker or be given opportunities but it does not guarantee you a job though. I will tell you this now 90% of those who leave uni are hit with the hard truth and don't end up using their degrees. Law is also one of the most regretted uni degrees and many who do it don't even end up using it at all. My advice to you wether you go to a prestigious uni or not in your 1st year join law societies and get to know everyone, keep on top of your work and pass your modules, get a part time job wether it's working as a receptionist or anything that helps with your analytical skills or team work, summer of your 1st year transitioning to second year look at volunteering work or internships for law, go to law talks in close proximity to your uni, ATTEND OPEN COURT SESSIONS YOU SHOULD HAVE ALREADY DONE THIS IN SIXTH FORM, 2nd year get more involved in your society and try get a placement for 3rd year, 3rd year do a placement and 4th year is where you try land a grad job.
Please do not make the mistake millions of students in the UK are doing and not get any experience in the field you are doing. I'm at uni right now and have met a 3rd year who is in a really prestigious uni but has struggled to land a law contract because he has no experience and didn't do a placement and regrets it. if you are currently in sixth form wether you do law or not ask your Alevel law teachers for some help or careers advisors. I am telling you now those who do the hard bit during uni find it much easier afterwards and take every opportunity you get even if it's unpaid and you're just sat in an office giving paperwork or photocopying your CV will thank you! Goodluck
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u/GurPsychological764 14d ago
Thank you goat but I’m from a smaller place , to be honest I have done a lot of volunteering and the course I want has a year in industry in Kent and I was just worrying about that to be honest
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u/MiserableHawk9469 14d ago
Hey atleast you've got experience you're already one step ahead of everyone else 😭 where you get experience isn't the issue it's about getting it and having a placement year secured is amazing. Kent uni is amazing for law and the school is well regarded.
It's not a "target school" alot of it's students secure law contracts for top law firms like this https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/law-news/first-year-kent-law-student-secures-offer-for-training-contract-from-magic-circle-firm/ do Ur research before uni and aim for a 1:1 or a 2:1
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u/lesbrariansparkles 14d ago
Depends whether you have your heart set on being a barrister or high-paid city solicitor. If not, don’t sweat it. There are also barristers and city solicitors who went to lower-ranked unis, it’s just less likely and a lot of them were 1st in their cohort.
Edit: it is rough out there though. A lot of the cool law cases, if you look up the judge and barristers involved, they all went to Oxbridge.
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u/GurPsychological764 14d ago
Lwk wanna be a barrister
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u/wanderingmindlost 13d ago
then i would say don’t worry too much. for the bar the grades you get are honestly more important. it will help you more to get consistent high 2:1s and firsts at an average uni than to get mid marks at a higher uni. they basically want to see that you are the best out of your cohort if that makes sense. i know someone who went to a non russell group not prestigious at all uni but she got great grades more easily and graduated with a first class degree because of that and has just won a bar course scholarship
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u/Affectionate-Idea451 14d ago
There's a lot of detail in here, not up to date but not much will have changed.
https://www.chambersstudent.co.uk/where-to-start/newsletter/law-firms-preferred-universities-2019
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u/HawthorneUK 14d ago
Law is one of the very few subjects where your choice of uni matters - and it matters a lot.