Study Law in the UK: Entry Requirements, the LNAT and What to Expect

What grades do you need to study law in the UK?

Competition is intense. At Oxford, around 10% of applicants for the three-year Law course received an offer on average between 2023 and 2025. LSE reported 3,102 applications for 193 LLB places in 2025.

Law school requirements in the UK are different from the US, where law is a graduate degree taken after a bachelor's. In the UK you start at 18, so universities judge your potential from your grades, your personal statement and, often, the LNAT. Check exclusions too: King's College London, for example, does not accept A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills or Global Perspectives.

In Scotland, the LLB covers Scots law, which differs from the law of England and Wales, and an honours degree usually takes four years.

Which universities use the LNAT?

In recent cycles, the UK universities requiring the LNAT have been Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Glasgow, King's College London, LSE, Oxford, SOAS and UCL. A few universities outside the UK, including IE University in Spain, accept it under certain conditions.

The LNAT lasts 2 hours 15 minutes. Section A has 42 multiple-choice questions on 12 argumentative passages, with 95 minutes to answer them. Section B gives you 40 minutes to write one essay from a choice of three. It tests reasoning, not legal knowledge, so you prepare by reading opinion pieces critically and practising timed essays. The fee is £75 at UK and EU test centres and £120 elsewhere.

For 2027 entry, testing opened on 1 September 2026. LSE, UCL and King's need you to take it by 31 December 2026, Bristol and Durham by 13 January 2027, and most others by 25 January 2027, with booking closing on 20 January. Check every date on the official LNAT deadlines page, and see our LNAT guide for international students for preparation tips.

How do you qualify as a lawyer after the degree?

An LLB alone does not make you a lawyer. The next steps depend on where you want to practise:

• Solicitor in England and Wales: pass both parts of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE1 and SQE2), hold a degree in any subject, complete two years of qualifying work experience and meet the SRA's character and suitability requirements.
• Barrister in England and Wales: a law degree (or another degree plus a law conversion course) of at least a 2:2, a Bar training course after joining an Inn of Court, then pupillage, which usually lasts around 12 months.
• Solicitor in Scotland: an accredited LLB in Scots law, the one-year Diploma in Professional Legal Practice, then a two-year traineeship.

Studying law in the UK as an international student

Law studies in the UK suit students who enjoy close reading, writing and argument, and an English law degree is respected well beyond Britain. If you are still weighing the UK against other countries, our guide on how to study abroad compares the routes and timelines.

Budget carefully. LSE's overseas fee for its LLB is £37,500 a year for students starting in 2027/28, and fees change every year.

Your personal statement carries real weight in a subject this competitive, so read our guide to the UCAS personal statement changes before you start drafting.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need A-level Law to study law at a UK university?

No. UK universities do not ask for A-level Law, and taking it is neither an advantage nor a problem. What matters is top grades in demanding subjects that show you can read closely, analyse and write well, such as history, English literature, languages or mathematics.

When should I register for the LNAT?

Registration opens on 1 August and testing starts on 1 September for the following year's entry. If you apply to Oxford or Cambridge, register by 15 September and take the test by 15 October. For other universities, booking early in the autumn gives you a choice of dates and time to prepare.

Can a UK law degree help me practise in my home country?

Often, but rarely straight away. Many countries ask foreign law graduates to pass local exams, complete a conversion course or train under supervision first. Check your home country's bar or law society rules before you apply, so your degree supports the career you want.

Thinking about law but unsure whether the UK, Europe or the US fits your goals best? Our counsellors can help you weigh the routes, plan your LNAT preparation and build a strong application. Apply for a Strategy Call