lawyer

Potential careers

For those doing a qualifying law degree, pursuing postgraduate study to become a solicitor via the Legal Practice Course (LPC) is a popular option. A small number choose to start training to become a barrister via the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC). Taught Masters degrees are also a popular option with most courses reflecting a continued interest in the legal field eg International Law, Intellectual Property, European and International Business Law.

Although a large number of graduates go on to further study, many choose to enter employment. Some are employed as paralegals, legal assistants or in other associate legal roles to gain experience but others choose to pursue careers in quite different areas. Examples range from accountancy and financial management, banking and pensions administration through to retail management, recruitment consultancy and the Armed Forces. Those who combined their law degree with a language may choose careers which use their language skills for instance, in international business, translation or education abroad.

LLB Law and Criminology

The LPC is a popular option for Law and Criminology graduates with a qualifying law degree, although a greater proportion choose to undertake Masters courses such as Biotechnological Law and Ethics, International Criminology, International Law and European Law.

Others find work both in the legal profession, e.g. as paralegals, as well as in a range of other jobs where their degree subject is likely to have relevance such as work in prisons, probation services or the police, either as an officer or in research. Others choose to work in areas which deal with financial crime in banks or with the Financial Ombudsman, for example. Some graduates choose to work in areas not commonly associated with their degree, using their transferable skills to work in areas as diverse as chartered accountancy, sales, marketing and teaching English as a foreign language.

BA Social Policy and Criminology

Not all students studying in the Law School undertake qualifying law degrees. Those doing BA Social Policy and Criminology tend to move into careers associated with their degree such as housing officer, welfare support worker, debt adviser, youth work, schools project work or working for a relevant charity in outreach or fundraising. Others will opt to go into postgraduate study relating to their degree. As with all law graduates, some social policy and criminology graduates go into careers where they are using their personal attributes and transferable skills rather than their discipline-specific knowledge. Such graduates choose careers ranging from business and finance through to IT and local government administration.

A number of Law graduates from all courses are also working in non-graduate positions six months after graduation, mainly in administrative, retail and customer service roles, developing further skills and experience in preparation for their graduate career.

Masters students

Possession of a postgraduate Masters may increase your chances of getting into a related field as it can demonstrate commitment and genuine interest. Many employers will still seek relevant work experience to complement your academic achievements. A Masters degree also increases a graduate’s likelihood of progressing into research programmes or positions in universities or research institutes.