What can you do with a law degree?

Your studies will provide a broad range of skills of value to employers, including:

• developing critical thinking and making ethical judgements
• problem-solving and flexibility
• verbal questioning, reasoning and negotiation
• written communication through report writing
• teamwork and leadership skills through group projects and work experience
• resilience and ability to reflect on experiences and challenges
• planning and project management through independent research tasks
• collecting and organising varied source material through seminar work and independent assignments
• evaluating and interpreting complex information (and explaining this to others)
• time management through juggling different module assessment requirements and work-based learning alongside studies
• attention to detail through preparing assignments and participating in pro-bono work/work experience
• orally communicating concisely and clearly.

There are two main routes to practice law professionally: a Legal Practice Course (LPC) postgraduate qualification for solicitors and the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) for barristers. In order to undertake either course you must have an undergraduate Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) or have completed the postgraduate Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).

Currently if you go down the LPC pathway, when you complete the course you then apply for a paid training contact with a law firm. 
However the LPC is due to be phased out by a new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) (from September 2021 provisionally). So this will become an alternative pathway.

Training barristers undertake pupillage training after the BPTC course, usually for a year. The BPTC course is being replaced with new flexible training pathways (provisionally from Sept 2020)

Gaining your LLB Law degree can offer many different career paths beyond becoming a barrister or solicitor. You could use your diverse legal knowledge to engage with the public, through Citizens Advice, the media or welfare sector. Data scientists and forensic computer analysts share the key skills that Law graduates possess, as attention to detail and analysis of complex information are paramount. HR is also a valid path for those interested in expanding their knowledge of employment law.

Since specific career paths may be less obvious it is important to use your research skills to explore the range of opportunities and to consider your personal interests, motivations, values and strengths.

Researching your career options

Given the diversity of career options open to law graduates, it is important to research and explore these fully so that you can make informed decisions about your future.

• Prospects
• LPC – Legal Practice Course
• BPTC - Bar Professional Training Course
• The Law Society

Employment Opportunities

Below is a snapshot of what some of University of Plymouth law graduates told us they were doing 15 months after graduation. For some graduates, these jobs serve as ‘stepping-stones’ to professional posts by providing relevant workplace experience.

• Graduate Management Trainee
• Law Tutor
• Lecturer
• Civil Litigation Paralegal
• Legal Assistant
• Legal Intern
• Paralegal
• Clinical Application Analyst Coordinator/Principal Trainer
• Insurance Broker
• Senior Sales and Events Executive 
• Banking Litigation Paralegal
• Business Development Executive
  
• Civil Litigation Paralegal
• Police Officer
• Stalking Advocacy Caseworker
  

Employers

• Black Country Women's Aid
• Bright Solicitors
• Charles French and CO Ltd
• Competition and Markets Authority
• CST Law (Credit Style Limited)
• Insight Law
• Landi English
• Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
• Serious Fraud Office
• Shakespeare Martineau Solicitors
• South Devon College
• The Family Law Company
• The Wellcome Sanger Institute
• Whittit Insurance
• Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP
  

*Data is from the Graduate Outcomes Surveys of 2017/18 and 2018/19. Graduates were surveyed 15 months after graduating. Data displayed is for 59 UK-domiciled, first degree, full-time graduates who are working, studying or looking for work.

Some of the careers chosen by law graduates will require or benefit from further study, so this should be considered carefully. The University of Plymouth offers the following postgraduate study options that could be of interest:

• MSc Criminology
• MA International Relations: Global Security and Development

You should consider the financial implications of further study as well as selecting a programme that suits your interests, learning style and future career direction. The following websites are a good starting point for exploring postgraduate options, but you may also benefit from talking to a Careers Consultant about your individual situation.

Some useful websites to help you find a suitable post-graduate programme:

• Find a Masters 
• Find a PhD 
• Prospects 

It is also worth investigating what further study options the University has to offer as you may find the perfect course for yourself in an institution you already know. There are also sometimes financial benefits of staying on such as a fee discount to Alumni, find out your funding options here.

Accessing support from the Careers Service couldn’t be easier, come along to the Careers Service Helpdesk in the Student Hub or access 24/7 online resources.

There is a wide range of support available from skills workshops to events, placements and internships advice, 1-2-1 appointments and help getting started with LinkedIn.

Our bite-sized Skills Workshops can give your career the boost it needs. Choose from a range of topics:

• effective career planning
• job hunting techniques
• finding part-time work
• CVs and interviews
• mastering LinkedIn
• and more.

Workshops are delivered by the careers service, however they are also an opportunity to learn from your peers, share experiences and ask questions. Visit myCareer to see the full range of activities and to book your place.

Build your network and job sector knowledge using LinkedIn alumni’s tool. This will allow you to see the career journeys of graduates from your programme, the qualifications they completed, the skills they developed and employers they worked for. You can then ‘connect’ with people of interest.

• search LinkedIn for ‘University of Plymouth’
• click on ‘Alumni’
• filter the results by subject, sector, company or location.

For more information about the alumni tool click on LinkedIn alumni tool guide. If you are looking for help to set up or learn how to make the most of your LinkedIn profile, click on the LinkedIn guide for students or come to one of our workshops.

Gaining work experience

Undertaking work experience in your first and second years will help you stand out from the crowd when the time comes for you to complete applications for graduate employment and further study. Work experience develops valuable skills and qualities that employers are looking for and is essential for many roles. It can also help you to confirm or rule out particular career choices. Furthermore, experience in the workplace can bring you into contact with people who may be able to assist you at the beginning of your career.   

You have plenty of options open to you. You could work part-time around your studies, undertake volunteering or approach organisations directly to negotiate short periods of work experience. Some organisations offer paid internships over the summer or of one year’s duration. 

The University of Plymouth Students’ Union offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities.

Plymouth Law Clinic

The Law Clinic can be an invaluable way for Law students to gain experience while studying. You can gain insight into law in practice by managing real cases in real settings. The best ways to get involved with the clinic are through an assessed module or by volunteering. Find out more.

Clubs and societies

Engaging in a sport or society shows employers you are engaged and seek out opportunities, it also helps you improve your teamwork, communication and negotiation skills. Committee members can develop leadership, diplomacy and organisational skills and will gain experience of meetings, handling funds, and society promotion.  

You may choose to join a society that is specifically linked to law or take the opportunity to explore the huge range of clubs, societies and sports, all of which can help you to broaden your horizons and explore new interests.   

Tutor and academic support

Your tutor and other academic staff are an excellent source of support for your career development. They will have experience and contacts across industry and academia, so do approach them for advice and insights into careers you are considering. Your tutor will ultimately be writing references for your employment or further study applications, therefore establishing a positive relationship with this person is invaluable.