The United Kingdom boasts its many world-class public research institutions which have been educating individuals from all over the world for more than 500 years. Students with a law degree from a UK university are mostly sought and valued by large multinational companies. Over the years, law schools in the UK have earned a huge international reputation for providing the best legal education, training, and research.

Additionally, universities in the UK offer a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs specializing in different subject areas such as law and finance, comparative law, private and public law, European and international law, criminal justice, etc. Students may also have the opportunity to transfer to joint-degree programs and continue their legal education in international universities.

Here, we discuss the best law universities in the United Kingdom.

Top Law Universities in the United Kingdom

1. University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge has one of the best law schools in the UK. It is also the oldest and foremost public research university in the world. The 812-year-old institution ranks 3rd in the 2022 QS World University Rankings offering the highest standards of teaching and research at the global stage. The university has 31 colleges, six schools, and 150 faculties, and other institutions. The Faculty of Law in Cambridge is one of the oldest in the UK which, began operating in the thirteenth century. It provides an excellent quality of education and training for students undertaking legal studies. Annually, the university receives the top 1 spot of UK’s major academic league tables for performance level, subject rankings, research outputs, and students’ satisfaction.

Students for BA Tripos at the University of Cambridge will undertake a 4-year course focusing on technique, reasoning, and explanation of the principles of Law. They will experience intensive learning and understanding about the Law from a wide perspective including, some of its history. The Masters of Law degree at Cambridge is a one-year taught course of highly advanced legal studies at an international level. The university also offers other postgraduate degree programs in Law including, a Master’s Degree in Corporate Law (MCL), Postgraduate Research (MLitt / Ph.D.), MPhil in Criminology, and a Doctor of Laws (LLD).

2. University of Oxford

The University of Oxford is one of the finest and oldest universities in the world. Its exact date of establishment is unknown but, its operation started as early as 1096. It’s well-known for its outstanding world-class performance in teaching, research, and innovation. Its subjects in arts and humanities, engineering and technology, life sciences and medicine, natural sciences, social sciences, and management are among the top 10 in the world. In the 2022 QS World University Rankings, the University of Oxford places 2nd.

The Faculty of Law in Oxford offers two undergraduate programs including, BA Jurisprudence (3 years); and BA Law with Law Studies in Europe (3 years plus one year of study abroad). Students with at least one year of a university degree may choose to take BA in Jurisprudence with Senior Status.

Oxford’s Bachelor’s in Civil Law is the world’s top-leading and highly respected graduate-taught program since the sixteenth century. Other postgraduate law programs at Oxford include Magister Juris (MJur), Masters in Law and Finance (MSc), MPhil in Law, DPhil in Criminology, DPhil in Law, DPhil in Socio-Legal Studies, Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice, and MSt in International Human Right Law.

3. University College London

University College London (UCL) is the second-largest academic institution by student population in the UK. It was founded in 1826 as London University and became the first university to be established in London. UCL is among the top law schools in the UK and is one of the best universities in the world, offering the finest legal education to both international and domestic law students.

Additionally, it is a member of the elite Russell Group of research-intensive universities; and the League of Europen Research Universities. It currently holds 34 Noble Prizes and three Field Medals among its alumni, faculty, and staff. The university ranks 8th in the 2022 QS World University Rankings.

The UCL Faculty of Laws was established in 1826 and became one of the oldest law schools in the country. It is the first educational institution that offered legal education to women and admitted students regardless of religious beliefs, social status, and background. In 2018, the UCL Faculty of Laws ranked 8th by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for Law for its high-quality legal education and research. Mahatma Gandhi, a well-known Indian lawyer, and a spiritual leader is one of the notable alumni of the Faculty.

The Faculty offers Bachelor’s of Laws, Master’s of Laws, and MPhil/Ph.D. law programs. Students for the Bachelor’s of Laws will have the opportunity to transfer to a four-year Joint LLB/JD degree program. They may spend their third and fourth year at the University of Columbia in New York, or experience and study the legal systems of other countries (in Australia, Hong Kong, or Singapore). Graduate students for Masters of Laws at UCL may enroll full-time, part-time, or on a flexible basis. Alongside their standard LLM courses, UCL also offers specialization in maritime law, public law, international law, banking, and finance law.

4. London School of Economics and Political Science

Established in 1895, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is a major public research university specializing in social sciences, economics, politics, sociology, law, and anthropology. It became a member collegiate university of the University of London in 1900. Currently, the university holds 18 Nobel Prizes among its alumni and faculty; and is well-known as the only European university with the most number of graduates who became successful billionaires. The university currently ranks 49th in the 2022 QS World University Rankings.

LSE’s Faculty of Law is one of the best law schools in the United Kingdom. It became a top choice for students for its high-quality standards of legal education and research. The Faculty offers a standard Bachelor of Law degree and a Joint LLB/JD degree program where students can transfer and continue studying at Columbia University Law School for two years. Students with at least three years of work experience in law or post-degree legal profession may apply for a Masters of Law or an Executive LLM. Ph.D. courses are also available for those seeking to pursue an advanced level of legal education and research.

5. University of Glasgow

The University of Glasgow is one of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world. It was established in 1941 and became one of the first universities in the UK to teach law and medicine. The university is located in the vibrant city of Glasgow, Scotland, one of the largest cities in the UK and well-known for its tourist attractions. According to the 2022 QS World University Rankings, the University of Glasgow ranks in the top 73rd with overall academic and research excellence.

Since the early 15th century, the University of Glasow acquired recognition for its excellent service in preparing students for legal professions in the UK. In 2019, the University of Glasglow School of Law placed ninth in the academic league rankings from The Guardian. Additionally, students in this excellent law school in the United Kingdom are able to choose from a range of undergraduate law degree programs specializing in Scots Law and/or Common Law. Postgraduate taught-degree programs are also available which, include a Master of Law in many specialization subjects. Students may also pursue their LLM by Research, Master’s of Research, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees to obtain a Doctor of Law degree at an advanced level.

 

We hope this article on the best law universities in the UK was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Law Programs for International Students!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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