A Level Law: Is It Worth Taking for a Career in Law?

Many university courses require specific A Levels.

Maths needs Maths, for example. Law degrees are different. They do not expect applicants to have studied law before. Instead, they look for critical thinking, clear writing and strong analytical skills. Many schools do not offer Law at A Level, so guidance can be limited.

I did have the chance to take it, and this article sets out what the course involves and whether it is a useful route into a law degree.

What does the course involve

Although exam boards differ, the core content is similar.

Over two years, my three papers covered the legal system and criminal law, law making and tort, and the nature of law with a choice between contract or human rights. I chose contract, although students who picked human rights spoke highly of it.

The legal system introduces the roles of lawyers and judges.

Criminal law ranges from murder to burglary. Law making covers Parliament and other sources. Tort deals with disputes about land and interference, sometimes involving surprisingly mundane issues. The nature of law explores legal theory and moral questions. Contract focuses on agreements, obligations and remedies.

My experience: positives and negatives

I knew very little about law before starting my A Levels.

The course gave me a strong introduction and sparked my interest in legal developments. It also helped me in other subjects. Some content overlaps with politics and philosophy, and the critical thinking and essay writing skills transfer easily.

There are downsides. Some topics are less exciting than students expect.

If you choose law hoping to analyse dramatic criminal cases from day one, you may be disappointed when you find yourself memorising the process of jury selection. As with any subject, some areas will feel dry or challenging. Learning how to handle this is good preparation for university and work.

What do universities think

Universities do not require A Level Law. You can highlight skills from any subject in your UCAS statement, as long as you link them clearly to legal study.

Some students are warned that universities dislike A Level Law. This was not my experience. Having some legal knowledge can help at several stages of the application process. It can give you an interesting point to raise in an interview or strengthen your analytical skills in admissions tests.

In one of my interviews, I was asked about a topic I had never studied, which placed me at the same level as every other applicant. If A Level Law does not suit your strengths, you should not feel discouraged from studying law later.

Overall, my experience was positive. The course developed my enthusiasm for legal studies and encouraged me to explore topics independently. Each new area of law surprised me and pushed me to think critically. You do not need A Level Law to study law at university, and taking it does not commit you to a law degree.

There are many routes into the profession. This just happened to be the start of mine.

Useful techniques for current A Level Law students

Preparation

Final exams always feel far away, but keeping them in mind helps.

Create a case and statute diary as you learn each topic. Note the most relevant cases and the sections of statutes you need to remember. This makes revision easier and prevents a last-minute scramble.

Cases

Case summaries can be overwhelming at first.

While the facts matter, the ratio is what you must remember. In exams, you will not have time to write out full details. You will need to apply the legal principles to the scenario in front of you. Learn short, functional summaries of the facts and focus on understanding the judgement.

Participation

Many lessons involve discussion, debate and group work.

These activities help you remember content more effectively than passive note-taking. Even if you are not confident speaking in class, listening to others and working with classmates can make topics easier to recall in exams. Often, you remember a case because someone shared a strong opinion about it or because you researched it for a group task.