The Common Law degree is designed for students who plan to practise law in common law jurisdictions in countries such as England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Canada and India. It is not suitable for those who may wish to enter the legal profession in Scotland. The Common Law curriculum offers intellectual depth and has a range of flexible options.

• The programme is a foundational training in law and satisfies the Bar Standard Board requirements for the academic stage of legal training. It is not an approved pathway to legal practice in Scotland.
• The programme is particularly suitable for students coming from Common law countries such as Canada, and it is a recognised degree in jurisdictions such as India and Northern Ireland.
• This flexible degree offers courses that put an emphasis on developing the key skills required by employers.
• The programme provides you with a sound general foundation for a range of careers, such as the civil service, local government, journalism, industry and commerce, international institutions, administration, banking, insurance, social work and the police service.
• On successful completion of the LLB you will have the opportunity to combine your qualification with one of our specialised or general LLM (Master of Laws) degrees.

Which law degree is right for me?

The School of Law offers:

• Scots Law LLB: If you intend to practice in Scotland as a solicitor or advocate you should apply for the Scots Law LLB.
• Common Law LLB: If you intend to practice law in a Common Law jurisdiction such as England & Wales, Northern Ireland, Canada, or India you should apply for the Common Law LLB.

Why study Law?

Law is a subject that is relevant to everyone because it affects all our daily lives. It is an academic discipline that attracts students who are interested in how society is regulated, what the aims of regulation should be and how successful it is in achieving them.

The University of Glasgow prides itself on developing world changers and a knowledge and understanding of law and legal systems is one of the important ways in which people can seek to make a difference. This might be through changes to legal policy or practice, or in helping people to solve everyday problems or avoid future disputes.

CAREER PROSPECTS

The flexibility of the LLB (Common law) at Glasgow, together with the emphasis on developing the key skills required by employers and the opportunities available to study abroad and to take part in placement opportunities, means that the degree provides a sound general foundation for a range of careers. These include the civil service, local government, journalism, industry and commerce, international institutions, administration, banking, insurance, social work and the police service.

For those seeking to work as a lawyer in England and Wales, the LLB (Common law) will provide an invaluable foundation in the academic study of law.

If you intend to become a barrister in England and Wales, the LLB (Common Law) satisfies the Bar Standards Board requirements regarding the academic component of training based on a law degree. After completing our degree, you would then undertake the ‘vocational stage’ of training, which requires completion of a postgraduate Bar course. The final step in qualifying as a barrister involves a period of full-time training for one year (‘pupillage’).