The United Kingdom boasts many world-class public research institutions that have been educating individuals worldwide for over 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 country have earned a humongous international reputation for providing the best legal education, training, and research.
Additionally, institutions 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 can also 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 Schools in the United Kingdom
1. University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge has one of the best law schools in the UK and is also the oldest and foremost public research university in the world. The 812-year-old institution ranks second in the 2024 QS World University Rankings and offers the highest standards of teaching and research on the global stage. The university has 31 colleges, six schools, over 100 faculties, and other institutions.
The Faculty of Law in Cambridge is one of the oldest in the UK, having begun 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 spot in the country’s central academic league tables for performance level, subject rankings, research outputs, and student satisfaction.
BA Tripos students will undertake a four-year course focusing on technique, reasoning, and explaining the principles of law. They will experience intensive learning and understanding of the law from a comprehensive perspective, including some of its history. The Master of Law degree at Cambridge is a nine-month course taught in highly advanced legal studies at an international level. The university also offers other postgraduate degree programs in law, including a Master’s in Corporate Law (MCL) and a Doctorate in Law (Ph.D./MLitt).
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 teaching, research, and innovation performance. In the 2024 QS World University Rankings, the University of Oxford places third.
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. The Faculty of Law offers two undergraduate programs: BA Jurisprudence (three years) and BA Law with Law Studies in Europe (three years plus one year of study abroad). Students with at least one year of university degree may choose to take a BA in Jurisprudence with Senior Status.
Oxford’s Bachelor’s in Civil Law has been 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 Legal Research.
3. University College London
University College London is the UK’s second-largest academic institution in terms of student population. It was founded in 1826 as London University and became the first established in the capital. UCL is among the top law schools in the country, offering the finest legal education to 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.
The school holds 34 Nobel Prizes and three field medals among its alums, faculty, and staff. It 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 was the first educational institution to offer legal education to women and admit students regardless of religious beliefs, social status, and background. The faculty offers Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws, MSc Law and Finance, and MPhil/Ph.D. law programs.
The bachelor’s students can transfer to a two-year joint Dual LLB/Juris Doctor (JD) degree program with Columbia University. They may spend their third and fourth year in New York or experience and study the legal systems of other countries (in Australia, Hong Kong, or Singapore). Meanwhile, graduate students for the master’s degree at UCL may enroll full-time, part-time, or on a flexible basis. In addition to its standard LLM courses, it offers specialization in maritime law, public law, international law, banking, and finance law.
In 2018, the UCL Faculty of Laws ranked eighth in 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 spiritual leader, is one of the faculty’s notable alumni.
4. London School of Economics and Political Science
Established in 1895, the London School of Economics and Political Science is a major public research university specializing in social sciences, economics, politics, sociology, law, and anthropology. It became a member of the University of London’s collegiate university in 1900. The institution has over 15 Nobel Prizes among its alumni and faculty and is well-known as the only European university with the most graduates who became successful billionaires. It currently ranks 45th in the 2024 QS World University Rankings.
LSE’s Law School is among the best in the United Kingdom. It became a top choice for students for its high-quality legal education and research standards. The faculty offers a standard LLB degree for students to choose four classes from the school’s extensive catalog. In their third year, they must complete one required Jurisprudence course and add three extra electives.
On the other hand, students with at least three years of work experience in law or post-degree legal profession may apply for a Master 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 institutions in the English-speaking world. Established in 1941, it became one of the first universities in the United Kingdom to teach law and medicine. It’s located in the vibrant city of Glasgow, Scotland, one of the largest cities and well-known for its tourist attractions.
According to the 2024 QS World University Rankings, the school ranks 76th overall in academic and research excellence. Since the early 15th century, it has been recognized for its exceptional service in preparing students for legal professions in the UK. Last 2019, its School of Law placed ninth in The Guardian’s academic league rankings.
Additionally, students in this excellent law school in the United Kingdom can choose from various undergraduate law degree programs specializing in international law, human rights, and more. Postgraduate taught-degree programs are also available, including a Master of Law in many specialization subjects. Students may also pursue their LLM by Research and Doctor of Philosophy degrees to obtain a degree at an advanced level.
Studying in a law school in the United Kingdom offers a comprehensive legal education, providing students with a strong foundation in legal practical skills and knowledge necessary for the legal profession. That’s why, if you’re interested in pursuing a career in law, consider the universities above and choose wherever you feel comfortable!
We hope this article on the best law universities in the United Kingdom was helpful. Make sure also to check out the Study in the UK Page and the Open Courses in the UK for more information about studying in this country!
