Is law a good career in UK?

Asked by: Prof. Emery Batz  |  Last update: August 9, 2022
Score: 4.4/5 (38 votes)

Career prospects
Law is a well respected degree but its graduate prospects are not as good as universities like to make out. Law firms and chambers have been reducing the number of training contracts and pupillages, with some firms cancelling their next trainee intake.

Is there a demand for lawyers in the UK?

Numbers show a Clear Increase in Demand

The Law Society's Annual Statistics Report of 2019 indicates that there are now over 31,000 registered in-house lawyers in the UK. It also states that this trend is being reproduced as well in Asia and Australia.

Are lawyers well paid in the UK?

A Lawyer in the UK earns an average of £68,700 gross per year, which is about £4,030 net per month. The starting salary of a Lawyer in the UK is around £25,000 gross per year. The highest salary of a Lawyer in the UK can reach and exceed £200,000 gross per year.

Is becoming a lawyer in the UK worth it?

Advantages of becoming a solicitor. Respected Occupation. The role of a solicitor is highly valued and respected in the UK, and it can also be highly rewarding by working to achieve a successful outcome for your client or community. Excellent career progression.

Is it hard to get a job in law UK?

Yes, legal employment after graduating is difficult and competitive. But there are thousands of opportunities out there across the country. It really depends on what might interest you in law and also where you want to work geographically though.

UCL Faculty of Laws: Why a law degree will help your career

23 related questions found

Which field of law pays the most UK?

A simple rule of thumb is that corporate and commercial law fields pay well, personal service law fields pay not so well. Corporate and commercial solicitors can be earning £100k and upwards, personal service law fields (aka high street solicitors) earn up to around £50k in most cases.

Is law a good career for the future?

Law as a profession is in great demand these days. Due to the changing social and economic circumstances and the ever-increasing regulatory role being undertaken by the government there is a rising demand for the lawyers. Besides being financially lucrative, Law is an adventurous and exciting career option.

Are lawyers happy UK?

Out of 274 occupations surveyed by the government, 'solicitor' is in the top 50 most satisfying. An attempt by the Cabinet Office to quantify happiness among professionals has delivered a boost to solicitors, who it turns out are quite happy.

Is studying law hard in UK?

Law ranks as a prestigious degree. There isn't an easier place to study Law, all universities have the same level of difficulty for students looking to study their degree.

What area of law is most in demand UK?

  • Family law. Recent statistics show that 43% of marriages in the UK end in divorce, meaning that family lawyers are a necessity for many. ...
  • Employment law. As long as people are continuing to work, there will always be a need for employment lawyers. ...
  • Technology law. ...
  • Environmental law.

Which type of law pays the most?

Some of the highest-paid lawyers are:
  • Medical Lawyers – Average $138,431. Medical lawyers make one of the highest median wages in the legal field. ...
  • Intellectual Property Attorneys – Average $128,913. ...
  • Trial Attorneys – Average $97,158. ...
  • Tax Attorneys – Average $101,204. ...
  • Corporate Lawyers – $116,361.

What is the highest paid job in the UK?

According to Glassdoor salary data, the highest paying jobs in the UK are:
  • Chief Financial Officer.
  • Executive Director.
  • Chief Technology Officer.
  • Senior Leader.
  • Chief Operating Officer.
  • Chief Executive Officer.
  • Medical Manager.
  • Director.

Which area of law pays the most?

Highest paid lawyers: salary by practice area
  • Tax attorney (tax law): $122,000.
  • Corporate lawyer: $115,000.
  • Employment lawyer: $87,000.
  • Real Estate attorney: $86,000.
  • Divorce attorney: $84,000.
  • Immigration attorney: $84,000.
  • Estate attorney: $83,000.
  • Public Defender: $63,000.

How many lawyers are unemployed UK?

The figures show that there were 37,000 law grads in 2018, of whom 17,500 responded to the HESA survey. Eight-hundred-and-ninety-five said they were unemployed — around 5%.

Is a career in law worth it?

The highest 10% of lawyers earned median annual earnings of more than $208,000 in 2019. Some law school graduates forgo serving as a lawyer in order to have more work-life balance. There are many jobs you can do with a law degree and legal-related roles where having a J.D. may be an asset.

Why is London good for law?

London is prime location for law firms

Being so close to the environment they want to start their career in provides motivation and means they can visualise their future career – not to mention the tangible benefits of being within commuting distance of firms where they might want to do a work placement.

Is studying law boring?

Is law boring? “Yes,” says Minor. “The qualifying law degree modules are dryish, with the exception of maybe criminal and property. There is so much reading.

How much does LLB cost in UK?

Cost of Studying LLB in UK

Tuition fees for this course can easily range from £40,000 to £75,000 (₹53 lakhs – ₹75 lakhs) with the upper limit going as high as £109,000 (INR 1 crore approx.) according to the university, course demand, and reputation, university location, etc.

How long is LLB in UK?

Full-time three year LLB.

Is law a stressful career?

The Stress

Deadlines, billing pressures, client demands, long hours, changing laws, and other demands all combine to make the practice of law one of the most stressful jobs out there. Throw in rising business pressures, evolving legal technologies, and climbing law school debt and it's no wonder lawyers are stressed.

Is law a hard degree?

Law School is a Heavy Workload

Earning a law degree is pretty challenging because you are supposed to do a lot of hard work. This work comprises mostly of studying and understanding complex law cases loaded with new-fangled legal terminology and unusual jargon.

Are lawyers rich?

Most lawyers earn more of a solid middle-class income," says Devereux. You probably will be carrying a large amount of student loan debt from law school, which is not at all ideal when you're just starting out in your career. "Make sure you only become a lawyer if you actually want to work as a lawyer.

Is law a high paying career?

Many top law firms are paying the highest salaries to their employees in India. The tier I law firms pay[2] 10-17 lakhs per annum for a fresh graduate and if a fresher can glorify him in the firm , the salary would range from around 80 lakhs to 1 Crore.

Which law is best to study?

Here are 16 fruitful, promising areas of law for you to consider.
  1. Complex Litigation. This is an area of law that demands a lot of patience and incredible attention to detail. ...
  2. Corporate Law. ...
  3. Tax Law. ...
  4. Intellectual Property. ...
  5. Blockchain. ...
  6. Healthcare. ...
  7. Environmental. ...
  8. Criminal.

How powerful is a law degree?

Even law professors earn a great salary, earning between $105,000 and $200,000 a year. So, if you want to get a degree that gives you the opportunity for incredible earning potential straight out of college, then a law degree is a solid choice. It's not an easy one, but the reward at the end makes it worth it.