Legal education in the United Kingdom
Legal education in the United Kingdom is divided between the common law system of England and Wales and Northern Ireland, and that of Scotland, which uses a hybrid of common law and civil law.
Dundee, Glasgow Law School and Strathclyde, in Scotland, are the only universities in the UK to offer a dual-qualifying degree. Dundee also offers a choice of either English/Northern Irish or Scots law separate LL.B. degrees. Aberdeen offers a "Law with English Law" course in which Scots Law and English Law is taught.
England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Requirements for becoming a lawyer in England and Wales and in Northern Ireland differ slightly depending on whether the individual plans to become a solicitor or barrister. All prospective lawyers must first however possess a qualifying law degree, or have completed a conversion course. A qualifying law degree in England and Wales must contain modules covering the following subject areas:Following graduation, the paths towards qualification as a solicitor or barrister diverge. Prospective solicitors must enroll with the Law Society of England and Wales as a student member and take a one-year course called the Legal Practice Course, usually followed by two years' apprenticeship, known as a training contract. Prospective barristers must first apply to join one of the four Inns of Court and then complete the one-year Bar Professional Training Course, followed by a year training in a set of barristers' chambers, known as pupillage.
Qualifying law degrees
England
- Anglia Ruskin University
- Arden University
- Aston University
- University of Bedfordshire
- University of Birmingham
- Birmingham City University
- University of Bolton
- Bournemouth University
- University of Bradford
- Bradford College
- Brunel University London
- University of Buckingham
- BPP Law School
- University of Brighton
- University of Bristol
- Bristol Law School, University of the West of England, Bristol
- Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge
- Canterbury Christ Church University
- University of Central Lancashire
- University of Chester
- Coventry University
- De Montfort University
- University of Derby
- Durham Law School at Durham University
- UEA Law School at the University of East Anglia
- School of Law and Social Sciences, University of East London
- Edge Hill University
- University of Essex
- University of Exeter
- University of Gloucestershire
- University of Greenwich
- University of Hertfordshire
- University of Huddersfield
- University of Hull
- Keele University
- University of Kent
- Kingston University
- Lancaster University
- University of Leeds
- Leeds Law School, Leeds Beckett University
- University of Leicester
- University of Lincoln
- University of Liverpool
- Liverpool John Moores University
- University of London:
- *Birkbeck, University of London
- *City Law School at the City, University of London
- *The Dickson Poon School of Law, King's College London
- *London School of Economics
- *Royal Holloway, University of London
- *Queen Mary, University of London
- *School of Oriental and African Studies
- *UCL Faculty of Laws, University College London
- *University of London International Programmes
- London Metropolitan University
- University of Manchester
- Manchester Law School at Manchester Metropolitan University
- Middlesex University
- Newcastle University
- New College of the Humanities
- University of Northampton
- Northumbria University*
- University of Nottingham
- Nottingham Law School at Nottingham Trent University
- Open University
- Oxford Brookes University
- Faculty of Law, University of Oxford
- Pearson College London
- Plymouth University
- University of Portsmouth
- University of Reading
- University of Salford
- University of Sheffield
- Sheffield Hallam University
- Southampton Solent University
- London South Bank University
- University of Southampton
- Staffordshire University
- University of Sunderland
- University of Surrey
- University of Sussex
- Teesside University
- University of Warwick
- University of West London
- University of Westminster
- University of Winchester
- University of Wolverhampton
- University of York
- York St John University
- University of Law
Northern Ireland
- Queen's University Belfast
- Ulster University
Scotland
- Dundee Law School at the University of Dundee
- Strathclyde Law School at the University of Strathclyde
Wales
- Aberystwyth University
- Bangor University
- Cardiff University
- University of South Wales
- Swansea University
Scotland
When the kingdoms of England and Scotland merged to form the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707, the terms of the 1706 Treaty of Union that led to the union guaranteed that Scotland's legal system would continue, separate from that of England and Wales.Scots law is founded upon Roman or civil law, although today it has evolved into a pluralistic system, using both civil and common law. As in England and Wales, lawyers in Scotland are divided into two groups: solicitors and advocates. Solicitors are members of the Law Society of Scotland, and are only entitled to practise in the lower courts of Scotland, while advocates are members of the Faculty of Advocates and are permitted to appear in the superior High Court of Justiciary and Court of Session. Membership of either body can be attained either by sitting that body's professional exams, or by obtaining exemption through the award of a qualifying law degree and successful completion of the Diploma in Legal Practice.
The Diploma in Legal Practice trains students on the practical elements of being a lawyer in Scotland, and consists of a broad range of compulsory modules.
After completion of the diploma, students wishing to become solicitors undertake a two-year traineeship with a law firm, before being admitted as full members of the Law Society. To become an advocate, students undertake a period of training of twenty-one months with a solicitor, before a further nine month unpaid traineeship with an experienced advocate, known as devilling.
Scottish solicitors and advocates are entitled to practise elsewhere in the European Union, provided that they satisfy the requirements of the relevant EU directives. However, to practise elsewhere in the United Kingdom, further courses and examinations are required.
Schools of law
The following institutions offer qualifying degrees of Bachelor of Laws. Those offering the Diploma in Legal Practice are marked with an asterisk :- University of Aberdeen School of Law*
- Abertay University
- Dundee Law School at the University of Dundee*
- Edinburgh Law School at the University of Edinburgh*
- Edinburgh Napier University
- University of Glasgow School of Law*
- Glasgow Caledonian University
- Robert Gordon University*
- University of Stirling
- Strathclyde Law School at the University of Strathclyde*
Alternatives to an (initial) law degree
Scots law regulations usually require a full LL.B qualification. It is possible to complete an honours degree in any other subject, whether in Scotland or elsewhere, and subsequently undertake a qualifying accelerated two-year LL.B. at several universities including Aberdeen, Caledonian, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Strathclyde and Stirling.