UK Law School Rankings: The Best Universities For Law

First things first 

It is important not to look at university rankings blindly. You should also look at what type of Law degrees each university provides. For example, if you wish to do the LPC after university, you need to make sure that you are pursuing a qualifying Law degree (LLB). In a qualifying Law degree, there are seven compulsory modules you must complete/pass. 

Also, almost all universities offer the opportunity to do a joint degree where you can study Law with another subject, with only some doing certain degrees (like Law with Criminology). Many universities also offer the opportunity to study abroad for a year. In both of these instances, to graduate with a qualifying Law degree, you will probably be doing a four-year degree to cover all the compulsory modules.

It is not necessary to do a qualifying Law degree and you can research options that are more to your liking:

Find out more about the different types of Law degrees you can do here

This ranking is based on the Times World University Rankings for 2023:

1. University of Cambridge

At Cambridge, students are taught by lecturers who are experts in the legal field and are often world-leading researchers. What is also great is that around 75% of applicants are typically offered an admissions interview.

Moreover, the university’s law society holds events throughout the year attended by lawyers and legal professionals, such as Judge and Baroness Hale. The admissions process involves grade requirements, a personal statement, an exam designed by Cambridge and interviews.

Find out more about what studying at the University of Cambridge is like.

2. University of Oxford

Studying for a Law degree at Oxford takes place over three years, with exams in the first and last year. The admissions process involves grade requirements, a personal statement, the LNAT exam and an interview.

The university offers a more intimate style of teaching with tutorials (classes) as small as 2-4 students, mostly studying only two subjects at a given time. The university’s law society provides privileged opportunities, with high-value alumni and contributors.

Find out more about what studying at Oxford Law School is like.

When it comes to employability, it is reported that Oxbridge students are favoured in law firms. Moreover, as mentioned, you will find that professors and teachers at Oxbridge are some of the greatest pioneers in the legal world.

3. London School of Economics and Political Science

LSE is reputable for its quality of legal research. They also teach modules to help students develop their skills like problem-solving through research. Also, teaching is usually not scheduled after noon on Wednesdays to allow students to attend sports and other extra-curricular activities. 

As a member of the law society, you have an opportunity to join the Bar and Chambers subcommittee, participate in voluntary work with Lawyers Without Borders and even contribute to one of the first-ever student-run Law Journals. 

Find out more about what studying at LSE is like.

4. University College London

The cohort of students studying law at UCL seems to be very diverse, with over half being female and/or international students. They also reportedly have over 99% of students achieving a 2:1.

Read ‘Diaries of a UCL [Law] Student’.

Find out more about what studying at UCL is like.

5. University of Edinburgh 

This university offers quite a unique studying experience with the opportunity to study LLB Global Law, providing you with the skills required to succeed in a globally oriented legal career. It is also beneficial that university fees in Scotland are subsidised.

Find out more about what studying at the University of Edinburgh is like.

6. King’s College London

Similar to UCL, KCL has a very diverse Law cohort. Moreover, it is reported that 92% of students believe ideas and concepts are explored in-depth and 87% believe staff make the subject(s) interesting.

Find out more about what studying at KCL is like.

7. University of Nottingham

After graduating at Nottingham, 1 in 4 students are employed as legal associate professionals. Overall, the university ranks high for student and teaching satisfaction.

Find out more about what studying at the University of Nottingham is like.

8. Durham University

It is reported that after studying at the university, 97% of students are employed or continue in further education. Also, job areas like legal associate professionals, sales, marketing, business, finance, etc, are the top areas for Durham graduates. 

Find out more about what studying at Durham University is like.

9. University of Essex 

In 2021, Times Higher Education ranked Essex 3rd in the UK for research power in Law.

Notably, the requirements for the university are much lower than higher performing Law schools (BBB), but approximately the same number of students achieve a 2:1 or higher. 

Find out more about what studying at the University of Essex is like.

10. University of Leeds

After graduating, it is reported that 97% of Leeds Law students are employed or in further education, with 58% employed in a role where their degree is essential or beneficial.

Find out more about what studying at the University of Leeds is like.

As mentioned, rankings for law schools will look very similar or different on different sites. This is mainly because the rankings are based on different things including student satisfaction, research, quality of teaching, etc. 

To make the best decision you should:

• Find out the experience of students from the university
• Attend law fairs and open days and see the school and faculty in person
• Research the type of modules you would enjoy learning 
• Try to get a better idea of what area of work you want to do 
• Get some legal work experience to help you decide if law is the right career path for you