London is a major center for legal education and practice. Students can study close to institutions and organizations such as the Royal Courts of Justice, the Inns of Court, Parliament, government departments, and offices of major global law firms.
For international students, London’s law schools combine academic study with access to a diverse city and legal community. Prospective students should compare programs, delivery formats, admissions requirements, and student support services before applying.
There are numerous law schools in the city. The list below highlights five top London law institutions with undergraduate, postgraduate, and research options.
Top Law Schools in London
1. London School of Economics and Political Science
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a specialist social science university. Its LSE Law School combines legal education and research with the broader social sciences.
The school offers an LLB program. At the postgraduate level, options include the LLM, MSc Law and Finance, Executive LLM, and PhD in Law.
LSE Law School states that its careers support includes an in-house careers consultant who helps students navigate career paths.
2. University College London
University College London, also known as UCL, reported a total student body of 51,793 in the 2024/25 academic year, with 52% of its students coming from overseas. Its Faculty of Laws describes its legal community as committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
The UCL Faculty of Laws states that it was the first law school in England to admit students regardless of religion and the first to admit women alongside men. Eliza Orme became the first woman in England to earn a law degree when she graduated from UCL Laws.
UCL Laws offers several undergraduate law programs. After successfully completing the first year of the LLB Law program, eligible students may apply to transfer to the four-year dual LLB/Juris Doctor program with Columbia University in New York. Students spend the first two years at UCL and the final two years at Columbia Law School.
Graduates who wish to continue their studies may apply for the Master of Laws, which can be completed in ten months of full-time study. UCL Laws also offers doctoral research opportunities.
3. King’s College London
The Dickson Poon School of Law at King’s College London is based in the East Wing of Somerset House. It is a short walk from the Royal Courts of Justice and the Inns of Court in the heart of legal London. King’s states that this location supports contacts with practitioners and policymakers, as well as engagement with the legal profession.
The school offers undergraduate, postgraduate taught, and doctoral programs. Its undergraduate routes include courses that students apply to through UCAS and options that LLB Law students can apply for after enrolling. For example, LLB Law students may apply during their second year to switch to the four-year Law with a Year Abroad program. The school also lists dual-degree and exchange options.
At the postgraduate level, King’s offers taught and research law programs. Delivery mode varies by course. Its portfolio includes on-campus programs and flexible distance, online, and blended study options.
- On-campus learning
- Blended distance learning with face-to-face interaction
- Online learning
The faculty also admits applicants to its Law Research MPhil/PhD. King’s states that the structure of the Law PhD is three years of full-time study, or the part-time equivalent, plus a 12-month writing-up year. Most full-time students submit their thesis toward the end of their fourth year.
4. Queen Mary University of London
The School of Law at Queen Mary University of London offers undergraduate LLB programs, postgraduate law programs, and PhD research opportunities. Its undergraduate law courses include study-abroad and placement options.
At the postgraduate level, Queen Mary lists LLM, PhD, and MSc programs. It also offers separate dual-LLM options with partner institutions in Paris and Singapore.
The Sorbonne–Queen Mary Double LLM provides an opportunity to study international and comparative business law in French and English at Queen Mary and Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. Queen Mary also offers the Commercial Law Dual LLM in London and Singapore, an intensive 16-month degree program.
5. SOAS University of London
The SOAS University of London College of Law focuses on legal systems and legal challenges in the Global South, alongside human rights, international law and institutions, environmental law, and international trade and commerce. Its teaching emphasizes Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
The college offers several study routes, including an LLB, combined-honors degrees, an LLM, and doctoral research programs. The LLB introduces the English legal system while also emphasizing global and comparative perspectives.
The SOAS LLM is open to applicants from different disciplines and is not restricted to applicants with a UK law degree or an international equivalent. For doctoral study, SOAS lists an MPhil/PhD in Law and a PhD in Law (+3 pathway). The +3 pathway normally involves three years of full-time research, or longer part-time study, and is intended for applicants proposing a significant and original research project.
Studying law in London can provide access to a major legal hub and opportunities to build practical knowledge through university programs, clinics, events, and professional connections. Consider these institutions as a starting point when comparing the programs that best match your academic and professional goals.
We hope this article on the best law schools in London was insightful. Feel free to check out the Available Courses for International Students and UK Study Guide to learn more about studying law abroad.
