Study Law: The Ultimate Guide (2026)

Have you considered studying law? Law is an intense and fascinating field that covers everything from civil disputes to international agreements. If you want to work in a field that challenges your intellect and has a direct impact on the world around you, you might enjoy a career in law.

Law is often considered an intellectually demanding career. It is based on the rules and regulations of a society, but is also constantly in question. Legal professionals work to understand, interpret, and apply existing laws to a variety of situations, while simultaneously challenging existing precedents and adapting to new developments to deliver the most judicial and beneficial results for those they serve.

Alongside medicine, law is one of the most challenging academic paths. Law students are held to incredibly high academic, professional, and ethical standards. They spend many years studying, and establishing a career in law requires not only successful completion of a law degree, but licensing exams and professional experience. Prospective law students need to be able to analyze complex concepts, comprehend dense texts, communicate clearly, and retain vast amounts of information.

Maybe you’re wondering how to get a law degree, or asking yourself: what can I do with a law degree? In this law degree guide, we’ll cover what a law degree entails, what kind of career paths it could open for you, and how to know if a law degree is the right choice for you.

What is a law degree?

What do you imagine when you think about law? Celebrity judges wielding a gavel on TV? Advertisements for personal injury lawyers? Or intense legal dramas where characters defy impossible odds to bring the truth to light? Maybe you know a lawyer or a judge, and imagine the cases they’ve discussed. Or your mind turns to famous court cases that dominated the news cycle, or landmark Supreme Court rulings that changed the course of history. Perhaps you think of specific legal specialties like human rights law, international tax law, or cybersecurity law. In short, law encompasses all these things and much more.

Law degrees train students to become practicing lawyers, barristers, or attorneys. They teach skills needed to understand legal precedents, interpret laws, defend cases, and prosecute crimes. Legal professionals are involved in a variety of situations where knowledge of the law is required. Studying law allows you to defend clients, prosecute criminals, protect the interests of individuals and corporations, negotiate on behalf of others, and set legal precedents that could ultimately change laws and regulations.

Legal professionals work in many capacities, including civil law, corporate law, criminal defense, and contract law. They utilize skills in analysis, reading comprehension, interpersonal communication, critical thinking, and persuasion. Law is a demanding and exciting field that helps society maintain law and order.

What’s the difference between law and regulation?

A common question that students might have when considering a law degree is the difference between a law and a regulation. While laws and regulations are both set in place to maintain civil and legal standards, there are key differences between the two that are essential for law students to understand.

In short, laws are broad principles that govern behavior and conduct within society. Laws are usually created by governing bodies like the legislative branch of a national government and are enforced through courts and other legal entities. Regulations explain the technicalities of the law and provide specific instructions on how to comply with the law. Regulations are typically developed by departments or agencies within a government and are enforced through administrative procedures.

For law students, understanding both laws and regulations, as well as the differences between the two, how they are enforced, and who is responsible for enforcement, are essential components of the law school curriculum. Law students will learn about laws and regulations that apply to specific law sectors, how these fit into the whole legal system, and applications of both laws and regulations in real-world situations.

And while all law students will learn about regulations in their studies, there are certain law sectors where regulations will feature more heavily in practice. These might include employment and labor law, environmental law, financial and tax law, healthcare law, privacy law, and technology and cybersecurity law.

What is the difference between a lawyer and an attorney?

The terms ‘lawyer’ and ‘attorney’ are often used interchangeably, but depending on practice, there can be significant distinctions between the two. In general, ‘lawyer’ is a catch-all term used to describe all individuals who have earned a law degree. However, since law is all about the details, it is important to understand how and when there is a difference.

Both lawyers and attorneys have earned a law degree, but the big difference between the two titles is that an attorney holds both a law degree and has been admitted to their jurisdiction’s bar association. Simply put, an attorney is a lawyer who is entitled to practice law by representing clients in court.

In contrast, a law school graduate who has not been admitted to the bar association can still work in legal professions, but will not be referred to as an attorney, and is not legally authorized to represent clients in court or be active in legal proceedings. Instead, lawyers who do not have bar admittance usually work in roles that involve consultation, advice, research, or negotiations.

Depending on the jurisdiction in which you practice, the terms for lawyers and attorneys may vary. For example, in some areas, attorneys may be referred to as advocates or barristers, though there are also some distinctions between the roles associated with these titles. Similarly, lawyers in the USA and solicitors in the UK hold similar positions within their respective legal systems.

What is the difference between an attorney and a judge?

Both attorneys and judges are legal professionals who have completed law school and, in most cases, have been accepted to their jurisdiction’s bar association. While there are ways to become a judge without having a law degree or a law license, in reality, most judges will have been practicing lawyers or worked as legal professionals in some capacity.

The big difference between an attorney and a judge is not education or experience, but rather the role they serve in the legal system. Attorneys represent and advise clients, while judges oversee trials and court proceedings, hear legal arguments and rule on verdicts, and determine how to sentence criminals.

Another way to look at the differences between attorneys and judges is that a judge is meant to apply the law impartially, whereas attorneys work to determine how laws can best serve their clients’ interests.

The responsibilities and scope of a judge’s position are often determined by the type of court and the jurisdiction that they serve. In the USA, district court judges preside over both civil and criminal cases, while appellate judges review rulings issued in lower courts. Judges can also differ in how they receive their position. For example, in the USA, judges can either be appointed or elected.

What is the difference between common law and civil law?

The legal systems of the world are usually divided into two distinct groups: civil and common law. The two systems differ in some important ways, including where the law comes from, how legal proceedings are conducted, the role of judges, and the level of flexibility within the law.

Civil law bases the law on concrete legal codes that have been put in place by legislative bodies. This is usually a constitution or similar document. Because the law is based on these written legal codes, civil law is a fairly rigid legal system, and judges are usually confined to applying existing law, rather than creating new precedents with their rulings.

Common law is a more flexible system. The law derives from case law and precedents, rather than a static legal code, and judges are an integral part of the development of law. Their rulings in cases form the basis for precedents, which are then applied to future legal decisions. Judges also have an active role in interpreting the law and precedents, which means that advocates and attorneys must work to provide evidence of these that proves their case.

Civil law

Civil law is the most prevalent law system in the world, with most of Asia, Europe, Central America, and South America using it as their legal basis. A large number of African countries also work on a civil-law system, though some countries operate in a common-law system.

Civil law can be further divided into national or regional variants, including French, German, and Scandinavian civil law. A few countries and regions utilize a mixed civil and common law system, including Louisiana, Quebec, Scotland, and South Africa.

Common law

The common law system originated in England and became the foundation for law systems in many former British colonies and Commonwealth countries, including Australia, Canada, much of the Caribbean, Ghana, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and the USA.

Other law systems

Finally, some countries or regions utilize systems that are not based on civil or common law. These systems are usually based on religion or customs and include systems like Canon Law or Islamic Law. In most cases, countries that use religious or customary law combine their system with civil or common law and typically apply religious or customary law to areas like family law, criminal law, personal law, or only to those who practice the religion.

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Which areas of law can you study?

Most law degree programs start with a general background aimed at understanding the foundations of the law and how to analyze and interpret laws, regulations, legal rulings, and legal precedents. Later, law students can focus on specific types of law or niche fields for their legal practice.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of legal specialties to choose from, but in general, law can be broken into two main categories: public and private law. These overarching categories can then be broken down further into subgroups, like civil, criminal, administrative, or constitutional law, or separated into specialties like family law, human rights law, EU law, or immigration law.

Here's a short breakdown of the two main categories and how to determine where specific specialties fit.

Public law

Public law governs the interactions and relationships between individuals and the state. Its purpose is to make sure that individuals are treated fairly and that the state operates legally and within the confines of human rights. Some of the main subcategories of public law include:

• Administrative law
• Constitutional law
• Criminal law
• Tax law

Private law

In contrast to public law, private law governs the interactions and relationships between private parties. This can be between an individual and an organization, like a corporation, or between two private organizations. Some of the main subcategories of private law include:

• Contract law
• Family law
• Property law
• Tort law

Here’s a breakdown of some other popular law specialties and why they might appeal to you.

If you want to challenge your problem-solving and analytical skills:

Corporate law 👔

Corporate lawyers work within the legal framework that governs business and corporations. They may be in-house counsel or represent organizations in cases related to business operations, management, or structure.

Intellectual property law 🖼️

This specialty deals with laws that regulate and protect intellectual creations, including artistic works, designs, inventions, symbols, and writing. IP lawyers may work in patent, copyright, or trademark cases.

International law 🌏

International law governs the ways that states and international organizations interact. This branch of law relies heavily on treaties and customary law, as well as certain laws created by international organizations, like the United Nations.

If you want to spend a lot of time in a courtroom:

Civil litigation 🧑🏼‍⚖️

Litigation is the technical term for taking legal action. It can include filing a suit or arguing a case in court. Civil litigation attorneys represent plaintiffs and defendants in non-criminal cases.

Criminal law 👮🏻‍♀️

Criminal law centers on the definition of criminal behavior and the punishments associated with crimes. Criminal lawyers may be involved in either the defense or prosecution of those accused with crimes.

Constitutional law 🏛️

This field of law deals with the government of states, specifically the structures, powers, and functions assigned to a government. Those who specialize in constitutional law might work in research and academia, or in policy and governance.

If you want to work with vulnerable people and groups:

Civil rights law 🏳️‍🌈

Civil rights are rights that protect the political and social freedoms of individuals, regardless of their characteristics or identities. Civil rights law is the sector that designs and oversees the laws and regulations that ensure those rights.

Family law 👨‍👩‍👧

This branch of the law deals with family and domestic relations. It is usually broken into three parts: child, financial, and matrimonial law. Family lawyers may handle a wide range of matters, from adoption to divorce.

Human rights law 🕊️

Human rights laws are domestic and international laws that outline and protect fundamental rights and freedoms that belong to every human. Human rights are not granted by a state or government, but are instead inherent to the human condition. Human rights law works to ensure that these rights are upheld and to prosecute violations of these rights.

If you excel at mathematics:

Finance law 🪙

Financial law governs all sectors that are involved in financial and economic activities, including banking, insurance, investment, and securities. Financial lawyers work to secure financial systems and maintain market stability.

Patent law 🔬

Patents are rights protecting inventions. They grant the inventor sole rights to make, use, and sell the invention for a set time. Patent law is a branch of intellectual property law, and patent lawyers help inventors apply for and secure the rights to their inventions and challenge violations of patents.

Tax law 🧾

Taxes are financial obligations levied on individuals and organizations by a state or government. Tax law deals with the establishment of laws and regulations around taxation, including the collection and management of taxes, as well as penalties for tax evasion or fraud.

If you have a background in STEM:

Environmental law 🏞️

Environmental law deals with the laws and regulations designed to manage human interaction with the natural environment. This includes areas like natural resources, wildlife, climate change, pollution, and environmental safety.

Healthcare law 🩺

Healthcare, or medical law, is a legal specialty that applies to healthcare and medical practice. It includes regulation of medical practitioners, patient rights, the responsibilities of healthcare professionals, malpractice, and medical ethics.

Technology law 🤖

This field of law is constantly changing because of technological advances. Technology lawyers will deal with a variety of legal issues including data protection, patent law, financial law, and cyberlaw.

If you want to work with famous people:

Contract law 🤝🏽

Contracts are essentially legally binding promises. Parties that enter into contracts agree to something and consent to legal repercussions if the agreement is broken. Contracts can be established between individuals or organizations.

Entertainment law 🎥

This law specialty focuses on the specific legal needs of the entertainment industry, including film and television, music, sports, and other media. Entertainment law will include everything from intellectual property law and employment law to contract and finance law.

Privacy law 🔒

Privacy law deals with individuals' rights to control the information that exists about them in public spaces. This can include data protection and usage, data collection, and authorization and disclosure.

Sports law ⚽

Sports law utilizes a variety of legal specialties to deal with the unique legal and regulatory needs of the sports industry. Sports lawyers might deal with issues surrounding contracts, intellectual property, employment, finances, or even antitrust.

If you don’t want to defend cases in court:

Compliance 🛑

Compliance law is a branch of law that stipulates how organizations should act and operate. Students who study compliance law might go on to serve as compliance officers, who ensure that a company is acting within the bounds of the laws and regulations, or work as risk managers who identify potential breaches and their consequences in compliance.

Employment law 👨‍🏭

Employment and labor law are legal specialties that regulate the interactions between employers and employees. This includes everything from contract law to discrimination law, as well as workplace safety, compliance, and human rights.

Real estate law 🏘️

Real estate lawyers work to ensure the smooth and legal transfer of properties from one party to another. They may also be involved in land usage and development. Real estate law might include specialties like contract law, financial law, environmental law, and antitrust law.

If you want an international focus:

Aviation law ✈️

Aviation law deals with all the laws and regulations surrounding air traffic, including the operation of aircraft to the establishment of businesses related to air travel.

EU law 🇪🇺

EU or European Union law is the law specialty that deals with the laws and regulations that govern the 27 EU member states. It includes treaties, legislations, international regulations, and many other legal issues.

International business law 💱

International business law governs all business operations that cross national borders. This might include international tax law, contract law, financial law, intellectual property law, and compliance.

Maritime law ⚓

This branch of law applies to all areas of business and operations that happen on international and national waters. Maritime law may also be called admiralty law and includes things like contract law, environmental law, transportation law, tax law, and human rights.

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How long does it take to get a law degree?

The length of time it takes to earn a law degree depends entirely on the type of law degree you pursue and where you study. In the USA, law degrees are usually graduate degrees completed after earning an undergraduate degree. In the UK and other countries, law degrees are earned at the undergraduate level. Several graduate-entry law degrees can be used to transition into law after you have completed another degree in a different subject.

Regardless of degree level, in most countries, completing the coursework to qualify as a legal professional takes about three to five years. After earning a law degree, most students will need to take a bar exam or other qualifying exam before they are able to obtain a license to practice law. And law licenses are usually subject to renewal throughout a law career. For example, if you have a license to practice law in one state, you will usually need to obtain a new license to practice law in another state.

Bachelor’s degrees in law

Outside of the USA, most law degree programs begin at the undergraduate level. A Bachelor of Laws (LLB) is the most common undergraduate law degree that leads to legal practice. In the UK and other countries, it is known as a qualifying law degree (QLD). LLB programs usually take three years to complete, after which graduates complete licensing exams and/or further training before beginning to practice law.

In the USA, law degrees are exclusively graduate-level, and there are no undergraduate-level degrees that qualify students to sit the bar exam or practice law. Some universities may offer pre-law programs that prepare students to enter law school and focus on subjects like history, political science, ethics, or philosophy, but majoring in these fields does not qualify graduates to practice law.

Graduate or postgraduate diplomas in law

Outside of the USA, some countries offer graduate diplomas in law (GDL) or postgraduate diplomas in law (PgDL). These are accelerated law programs designed for students who hold an undergraduate degree in another field and wish to pursue a career in law. Graduate and postgraduate diploma programs usually take one year to complete. They might be called conversion, intensive, or pathway programs depending on where they are offered.

Law school entry examinations

In some countries, students who wish to apply to law school will need to complete an entry examination. Here’s a breakdown of the medical school entry exams for select countries.

United Kingdom

Law school entry examinations are not usually required by universities or law schools in the UK, but students who want to study law at select universities might need to take the National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT).

USA and Canada

Law schools in both the USA and Canada usually require applicants to submit scores from the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). The LSAT assesses whether applicants are suited to law school by evaluating their critical thinking, problem-solving, reading comprehension, and persuasive writing skills.

Germany

Germany doesn’t require a specific law school entry examination. Instead, applicants to law studies will usually submit their secondary school certificate (Abitur). International students will usually need to include proof of German-language proficiency along with their secondary school qualifications. After completing their studies, law students in Germany must pass the Staatsexamen, complete two years of training, and then pass a second Staatsexamen before they are qualified to practice law.

Australia

Law degrees in Australia have different requirements for entrance exams based on whether the program is an undergraduate or graduate degree and where the degree is offered. For undergraduate law programs, some universities require students to take the Law Admission Test (LAT) or the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). For graduate-level programs, the LSAT is a common requirement.

Graduate degrees in law

In the USA, all law degrees that lead to legal practice are graduate degrees. Other countries, like Canada, Australia, and Hong Kong, offer a variety of both undergraduate- and graduate-level law degrees.

Juris Doctor (JD)

In the USA, the Juris Doctor (JD) is the most common law degree. This is a three-year graduate degree offered at law schools and in universities with a law school or law faculty. The JD is considered a professional doctorate and is intended to qualify students to practice law. While the JD is primarily a US law degree, the qualification is also offered in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. China and the UK also offer some JD programs, but they are not a typical route to graduate law degrees.

Master of Laws (LLM)

A Master of Laws (LLM) is a graduate law degree for individuals who have already completed a qualifying law degree like an LLB or a JD. LLMs are designed to allow for students to establish a law specialty and typically take one year to complete. They are offered at universities and law schools.

Master of Legal Studies (MLS)

Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degrees are law degrees that do not qualify students to practice law. Instead, they are designed for students from other disciplines who want to expand their knowledge and understanding of the law. MLS degrees are common graduate degrees for individuals in fields like business, criminal justice, finance, healthcare, human resources, and management. MLS programs vary in length and can be completed as full- or part-time programs.

Doctoral-level law degrees

Because law degrees like LLBs and JDs are designed to lead to professional practice, there is usually no need for lawyers to complete doctoral-level degrees for legal practice. Instead, legal professionals usually pursue doctoral degrees to advance their careers into academia or scholarship.

Doctor of Judicial Science (SJD)

Doctor of Judicial Science (SJD) degrees are terminal law degrees that are the equivalent of a PhD. These degrees are focused on legal research and mainly prepare students for careers as academics, though SJDs might also pursue positions in research or policy. Most law professors in the USA will have an SJD.

You need to hold a law degree before pursuing an SJD, and most SJD programs take three or more years to complete because students must complete original research and a dissertation. SJDs are most common in the USA.

PhD in Law

Like an SJD, a PhD in Law is a terminal law degree aimed at students who wish to pursue academic or scholarly careers. The main difference between an SJD and a PhD in Law is that the SJD is specialized towards legal scholarship, whereas the PhD in Law will usually be more interdisciplinary.

PhDs in Law usually require students to hold a law degree, though some students may come from law-adjacent fields like policy or government. Like most PhD programs, a PhD in Law usually takes between three and seven years to complete. Students complete original research and write a dissertation. PhD in Law programs are commonly found at universities and law schools around the world, but are more common outside the USA.

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Why study law abroad?

There are many great reasons to study abroad. So why study law abroad? Here are some reasons why a law degree abroad might enhance both your education and your future career.

Access the best education

Whether it’s the chance to study under top legal scholars, a vast legal library, a highly engaged alumni network, or strong placement rates, studying at a top law school can set you up for success. In some cases, accessing the best law school might mean studying abroad. One thing to note: you’ll need to research whether the law degree you earn abroad will qualify you to practice law in your career destination, whether that’s your home country or not.

Gain specific expertise

If you already have a law specialty in mind, you may want to find a law school where that subject is part of the curriculum, or where there are faculty experienced in your chosen specialty. Or you might look to a law school in a country or region where your specialty is particularly relevant and you’ll have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience. For example, if you want to pursue a career in entertainment law, you might look at law schools in California.

Boost career prospects

A law school that has a strong alumni network or connections to top law firms or businesses can give you a head start in job market. And, depending on the field of law or sector you wish to work in, international experience might be a major bonus for employers. Whether it’s knowledge of international law, language skills, or experience in cross-cultural communication, studying abroad can help you stand out when looking for law careers.

Start practicing earlier

In some countries, like the USA, law degrees are offered only after you’ve completed an undergraduate degree. That means that it can take at least seven years to enter legal practice. Earning an LLB, on the other hand, usually takes three years of undergraduate study (four years if it’s an honours program), after which you’ll be ready to take your qualification exams and start practicing law.

Hone soft skills

Studying abroad is a great way to get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. You can use this to build up valuable soft skills like interpersonal communication, problem solving, and self-reliance, all of which will serve you well in a legal career.

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Careers in law

You might be wondering: What can I do with a law degree? Here are some potential job titles for law degree graduates:

• Arbitrator
• Associate attorney
• Attorney
• Attorney general
• Banking lawyer
• Barrister
• Civil service administrator
• Compliance officer
• Contract attorney
• Corporate lawyer
• General counsel
• Government lawyer
• Human resources manager
• Judge
• Judicial assistant
• Law clerk
• Law firm administrator
• Law lecturer
• Law librarian
• Law professor
• Lawyer
• Legal aid
• Legal consultant
• Legal executive
• Legal journalist
• Legal researcher
• Legal secretary
• Legislative assistant
• Managing attorney
• Mediator
• Paralegal
• Patent attorney
• Policy analyst
• Political affairs officer
• Public prosecutor
• Real estate lawyer
• Solicitor

Because law includes so many specialties and sub-specialties, studying law opens a wide range of career possibilities. Not only are there multiple roles within legal practice, but law professionals will find career opportunities in a variety of settings outside of law firms and courts. You could find yourself working in education, government, journalism, medicine, research, and everything in between.

What are the salaries for graduates with a law degree?

Salaries for law graduates will vary wildly depending on where you practice law and the type of law you practice. For example, in the USA, the largest, top law firms – known as Big Law - offer salaries that far outstrip other law firms. Below are some salary ranges for popular law graduate careers.

Private practice (First-year associate: Big Law) 🌆

Private practice (First-year associate: general) 🏢

Public interest/public service ⛲

Law clerk ✍🏽

Paralegal 🗂️

Legal researcher 💻

Law librarian 📚

Law professor 🧑🏽‍🏫

Judge 👩‍⚖️

Judicial clerk 📓

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Tips for choosing a law degree

Law degrees are challenging degrees, and students prepare for years to apply to law school. Choosing the right degree program and the right law school can be a deciding factor when it comes to succeeding in law school and progressing to a career as an attorney.

If you’re planning to become a legal professional, here are some questions to ask yourself that might help you pick the right degree program.

• Why am I interested in studying law?
• What kind of impact do I want to make with my law degree?
• Do I have any experience in a legal setting, like shadowing a law professional or interning at a law firm?
• Do I enjoy or excel at studying subjects like history, politics, philosophy, or psychology?
• Do I have strong analytical, reading comprehension, and research skills?
• Do I have strong study skills and discipline?
• How do I feel about conflict?
• Do I enjoy research, rhetoric, or public speaking?
• Am I calm under pressure or when challenged?
• Am I self-motivated?
• Am I prepared to study for 5 to 7 years?
• Will I need to take out student loans to study law?
• Do I need to travel or relocate to study law?
• Do I have a strong moral compass?
• How do I respond to ethical dilemmas?
• Can I handle the stress of making decisions that will impact the lives of others?
• What are the key components of the first year of law studies?
• What can I do with a law degree after graduation?
• Do I understand the role and responsibilities of different legal professionals, like paralegals, attorneys, clerks, and judges?
• Am I prepared to continue learning and training throughout my career?
• Do I have a specialty in mind for my career?
• Will the degree offered by this program be recognized by the bar association or law licensing organizations in the country where I want to work?

It is a good idea to talk to a current law student at the school you’re considering to understand what it is really like to study law. You might also talk to practicing legal professionals or people who are working in law fields to learn more about the necessary qualifications and career paths.

Reflect on your own goals and priorities before you start looking for a program. Law can be a prestigious career path that offers high salaries and a great deal of respect. But it is also demanding, stressful, and can require long hours.

Law professionals spend their careers learning about, interpreting, and applying the law to various situations. In some cases, you may find it challenging to meet the demands of your clients while upholding judicial, ethical, or moral standards. Working in law will certainly challenge your intellect, and it may also challenge your identity.

Helpful advice from law graduates

We talked to a law graduate to see what he thought about his program and if he had any advice to share with you.

“I believe the great thing about studying law is that it doesn't confine you to a single, rigid path. Instead, it offers the flexibility to choose and even combine various specialties and sub-specialties. For example, I can start with Regulatory Law, later specialize in IT Law, and then focus on Penal Law. Ultimately, I can choose to combine all three to specialize in Digital Criminal Law. The options are endless because human activity is in a constant state of innovation and evolution.” - Adrian, Bachelor in Law and Political Science

What questions should you ask a university to find the right law program?

We asked the same student above if there were any questions he asked or wished he had asked during the research and application process to determine which program was right for them. Here are some helpful questions he thinks you should be asking universities before you apply:

• If you’re studying law abroad, ask about degree compatibility between countries. Will this degree be transferable to your home country? To another country? How international is this law field?
• What are the components of this degree, and how is the course structured? If you are considering a graduate program, you probably already know what you need your degree to teach you, but the way it is taught and how you will learn are important.

What should you look for in a university or law school?

Who will be teaching the courses?

The course instructors are one of the most important components of a law program. Who is teaching, what experience they have, and how long they have been teaching will determine how you experience the coursework and will impact what and how you learn.

Additionally, law is a field where networking is very important. When it comes to finding positions in law firms, hiring managers will often look at who taught you. They may have studied with the same law professors or be familiar with their work. Studying with instructors and law professors who are aligned with the sector you are pursuing and who are knowledgeable and respected in that field will be beneficial.

How respected is the school?

While prestige isn’t the only thing that matters in a law degree, it is an important factor to consider. Just as it’s important that your instructors and law professors are well-respected and accomplished in their fields, it is important that the school you choose has a good reputation and is respected in the profession.

That’s not to say that schools with less prestige offer bad degrees, but law firms and companies will look at the school that you chose and consider the competition. A lot of the prestige of a university or law school will come down to who is teaching the law programs, but law professionals will also be familiar with many schools and programs and will know which schools have a reputation for graduating successful candidates who are prepared for the challenges of a law career. Consider the reputation of the school, the alumni that are associated with it, and the professors and instructors that lead the program when you are selecting a school.

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Types of accreditation and licensing for law degrees

Accreditation and licensing are essential components of legal education. In most countries, law students need to have a degree from an accredited program and will be required to pass a bar exam or other qualifying exam before they can practice law.

Most countries have their own accreditation and licensing organizations for law degrees and legal professionals. See the list below for the accreditation and licensing organizations in some selected countries:

The United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, law schools are regulated and accredited by a variety of different organizations, depending on whether students are pursuing careers as solicitors or barristers, and where in the constituent UK the school is located.

• Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA): This organization oversees and regulates solicitors in England and Wales. It also accredits QLDs and administers the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), which replaced the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) to become the centralized qualification for practicing solicitors in England and Wales.
• Bar Standards Board (BSB): The BSB operates similarly to the SRA for the training and accreditation of barristers in England and Wales. The bar exam in England and Wales has been replaced by the Bar Training Course (BTC) (formerly the Bar Vocational Course (BVC) or Bar Practice Course (BPC), and the BSB oversees and assesses certain qualifications.
• Foundations of Legal Knowledge: In addition to being accredited by either the SRA or the BSB, law programs in the UK must meet standards of teaching and learning of the ‘foundations of legal knowledge,’ which include criminal, EU, contract, tort, property, and public law, as well as equity and trusts. These foundations were set by both the SRA and BSB.
• Law Society of Scotland: This organization accredits law schools and law programs in Scotland, including the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice (DPLP), which is similar to the BTC in England and Wales.
• Faculty of Advocates: In Scotland, barristers are more commonly known as advocates, and the Faculty of Advocates accredits LLB programs for aspiring advocates.
• Council of Legal Education (NI): this organization admits law degree programs to the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS), which provides the PGDip in Professional Legal Studies, which is similar to the BTC in England/Wales and the DPLP in Scotland.
• Law Society of Northern Ireland (LSNI): This is the professional organization for solicitors in Northern Ireland. It sets standards for law schools, law programs, and vocational training of legal professionals.

The United States of America

In the USA, law licenses are granted by individual state bar associations. Before a graduate can receive their law license, they need to graduate from an accredited program and pass the bar exam in the jurisdiction in which they wish to practice law.

• The American Bar Association (ABA): This is the main accreditation body of law schools and programs in the USA, as well as the primary professional organization for lawyers, attorneys, judges, and law students in the USA. The ABA also outlines ethical codes for law professionals and provides continuing education and resources.
• National Conference of Bar Examiners: This organization works to develop exams that qualify students to their jurisdiction’s bar association, including the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), which has been adopted by the majority of US States.
• US Department of Education: This is the main government department that oversees all levels of education in the USA. The US Department of Education recognizes the ABA’s accreditation of law schools and law programs.

Germany

The German Accreditation Council (Akkreditierungsrat) accredits higher education institutions and authorizes agencies that accredit higher education programs, including law degrees. There are several accreditation agencies that are approved by the GAC and are used by some of the most prominent law programs in Germany.

• Agency for Quality Assurance by Accreditation of Study Programs (AHPGS): This German accreditation agency focuses on health and social science programs, including law degrees. It bases its accreditation criteria on the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG).
• Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA): This accreditation agency operates internationally to assess and accredit higher education programs, mainly those offering degrees in business administration, economics, law, and management.
• Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK): KMK is the German organization responsible for coordinating and creating educational policies on the national level. It also promotes quality standards and works to establish standards for comparison and recognition of educational qualifications.

Australia

Like the USA, law degrees in Australia are accredited on a state or territory level, while being overseen by a national agency as well as the Law Council of Australia.

• Law Council of Australia (LCA): This organization represents all the law societies and bar associations in Australia. It sets standards for professional conduct and ethics, regulates legal education, and oversees the admission of lawyers into the legal profession in Australia.
• Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB): Each Australian state or territory has its own LPAB, which assesses applicants, accredits law programs and legal training, and maintains records of practicing legal professionals. LPABs are also responsible for assessing and accepting the qualifications of students who have earned their degrees outside of Australia.
• Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA): This is Australia’s main national quality assurance and regulation organization for higher education institutions. The work to align HEIs with the Higher Education Standards Framework. TESQA oversees all HEIs and programs in Australia, including law schools and law degrees.

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Popular universities to study law

Africa

University of Cape Town

Location: Cape Town, South Africa

University of Johannesburg

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

University of Pretoria

Location: Pretoria, South Africa

Asia

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Location: Hong Kong

Chulalongkorn University

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Diponegoro University

Location: Semarang, Indonesia

National Tsing Hua University

Location: Hsinchu, Taiwan

National University of Singapore

Location: Singapore

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Location: Shanghai, China

Universitas Gadja

Location: Yogyakarta, Indonesia

The University of Hong Kong

Location: Hong Kong

The University of Tokyo

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Waseda University

Location: Shinjuku, Japan

Wuhan University

Location: Wuhan, China

Europe

Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna

Location: Bologna, Italy

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Location: Berlin, Germany

KU Leuven

Location: Leuven, Belgium

Leiden University

Location: Leiden, Netherlands

London School of Economics and Political Science

Location: London, UK

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Location: Munich, Germany

Queen Mary University of London

Location: London, UK

University of Cambridge

Location: Cambridge, UK

University of Helsinki

Location: Helsinki, Finland

University of Oxford

Location: Oxford, UK

Middle East

Ajman University

Location: Ajman, UAE

Al Buraimi University College

Location: Oman

Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Location: Jerusalem, Israel

Kuwait University

Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait

North America

Columbia University

Location: New York City, USA

Cornell University

Location: Ithaca, USA

Duke University

Location: Durham, USA

Stanford University

Location: Stanford, USA

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)

Location: Mexico City, Mexico

Université de Montréal

Location: Montréal, Canada

University of Alberta

Location: Edmonton, Canada

University of California, Los Angeles

Location: Los Angeles, USA

University of Guelph

Location: Guelph, Canada

University of Pennsylvania

Location: Philadelphia, USA

University of Virginia

Location: Charlottesville, USA

Yale University

Location: New Haven, USA

Oceania

Australian National University

Location: Canberra, Australia

Monash University

Location: Melbourne, Australia

University of Canterbury

Location: Christchurch, New Zealand

University of Melbourne

Location: Melbourne, Australia

University of New South Wales (UNSW)

Location: Kensington, Australia

University of Queensland

Location: Brisbane, Australia

University of Sydney

Location: Sydney, Australia

University of Technology Sydney

Location: Sydney, Australia

University of Western Australia

Location: Perth, Australia

Victoria University of Wellington

Location: Wellington, New Zealand

South America

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Location: Santiago, Chile

Universidad Austral

Location: Pilar, Argentina

Universidad de Chile

Location: Santiago, Chile

Universidad de los Andes

Location: Bogotá, Colombia

University of Buenos Aires (UBA)

Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

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