- What is Law?
- Why study Law? What can I do afterwards?
- Will I enjoy Law?
- Why study Law at Queen Mary?
Contrary to the impression you might have from TV adverts and news items, law is not just about people suing their local council after falling over a badly-sited bollard, or attempting to extract financial redress from their old school for an inferiority complex resulting from humiliation on the hockey pitch. Nor is it all high profile libel cases involving well-known popular authors and politicians, or wigs, judges and the drama of the courtroom. But it is a fascinating subject covering literally the whole range of human activity. Think about it - virtually everything you do is subject to some law. What's more, as the English legal system is based on precedent, it's constantly evolving, so there's little chance of boredom.
As a lawyer your client could be someone accused of a crime, a disgruntled wife (or husband) in a matrimonial dispute, an insolvent company, or a campaigner challenging the government. You'll need to understand the law of contract, criminal law, land law, tort (civil wrongs such as libel), constitutional law, property law... plus jurisprudence (which, in case you are wondering, is the philosophy and theory of law and legal systems). Criminology is the study of crime and punishment: why people do it and what should happen to them. Then there's human rights law, EU law, commercial law and all sorts of other specialist areas.
A law degree is about analysis, attention to detail, argument and communication. It's also about reading what are called primary sources: cases, Acts of parliament, EU legislation and so on. Law is fascinating, relevant and demanding, and gives you an excellent foundation for a legal career - plus plenty of others. At the very least, having a law degree might make someone think twice about suing you!
A law degree is very highly-regarded by employers generally - not just in the legal profession - because it provides a very different approach to problem-solving and analysis. Law also has social, political and economic significance, which means you'll develop the ability to see the 'bigger picture' and make connections between the seemingly unrelated: very useful.
Law is a rigorous academic subject that will give you some excellent attributes:
- precision - there's no room for vagueness in legal argument; you'll be the sort of person who gets straight to the point - accurately
- clarity of thought - in expression and argument
- the ability to place an argument in its context
- persuasiveness - law is about getting a point of view across
- communications skills - if you cannot make yourself understood, both verbally and in writing, you won't get far in the legal profession
- presentation skills - you'll have to write and speak fluently and effectively.
As for careers, around 60 per cent of Queen Mary's law graduates go on to further legal training in the profession. Although fledgling barristers are only slightly better off than students, solicitors are rewarded from an early stage. A trainee in a major City firm may receive up to £30,000, rising rapidly to £45,-£50,000 pa. Others go into corporate law, the Civil Service and local government. Some go onto postgraduate study.
But a law career isn't compulsory, and our students go into all sorts of non-law fields too - accountancy, banking and finance, management consultancy, public administration and the civil service are particularly popular. One recent graduate is now in public relations, one is a police officer and another two went into the television industry.
YES - if you:
- enjoy argument for its own sake (and like to win)
- are genuinely interested in people
- like the challenge of a really knotty problem
- don't like waffle
- are really quite intelligent
- like to see fairness and justice.
- are inclined towards logical thinking
- are good at paying attention to detail
- would like to be able to master a detailed brief at short notice
- Highly rated for academic research, student satisfaction and teaching
- Academics recognised as leading authorities in their areas of expertise
- Blackboard (WebCT) (a ‘virtual learning environment’) used for all courses, providing access to digital material and on-line discussion forums
- Prestigious University of London [new window] degree
- The only University of London law school set on a campus[new window], with some award-winning student accommodation
- A commitment to supporting individual students – through personal tutors, student advisers and (for international students) an Overseas Student Advisor
- Opportunities for mooting and pro bono work
- Strong links with the legal profession
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