Allen & Overy

Paul Hill

Why should you choose a career in law? This deceptively tricky (albeit predictable) question is one which anybody looking to embark upon a career in law is likely to have thrust upon them on numerous occasions. Avoiding a clichéd response can prove difficult. Providing the robust, clear and well thought out answer (which you will have no doubt prepared) may be made easier having studied a law degree.

I found that the range of options afforded to me at university helped develop a wider understanding and appreciation of the law and allowed me to focus on areas that were of real interest.  A law degree provides opportunities to study different subjects beyond the core modules required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority which are not as accessible to non-law students.  For me, the variety provided by my degree subjects proved invaluable in choosing the type of law, and type of law firm, which was right for me.

A law degree is the obvious gateway to the legal profession. Logic dictates that as a law student, you will be far more exposed to the opportunities of a career in law (career fairs, firm presentations, legal seminars) and are consequently more likely to explore, or at least consider, that path earlier and in more detail. This exposure should ultimately help provide a clearer idea of whether the legal profession is for you. Personally this was the case and I left university with the clear idea that I wanted to become a solicitor and that I wanted to pursue such a career in commercial law.

In short, a law degree will provide you with the essential skills required to be solicitor and it can help develop the personal conviction that you are entering into the right profession. However, practice is different to academia and despite a career in the legal profession being the logical next step following a law degree, I would encourage anyone who is considering a legal career to take up opportunities for legal work experience.