Spotlight on Law

Studying Law

The rule of law is the cornerstone of any just and fair society, and to be administered correctly it requires skilled and knowledgeable legal professionals. Studying Law offers the opportunity to develop a range of skills and explore many aspects of human life. It offers students the chance to sharpen their minds, strengthen their understanding and deepen their experience across the full range of humanities and social sciences.

Law graduates have career prospects both within and outside of the legal profession. At Lincoln, our Law School's connections with legal practice provide opportunities to engage with practising solicitors and other professionals. Some graduates may pursue qualifcations to become barristers or solicitors, while others might progress to Master’s study and even research careers in the field of law.

Getting Started

The general term Lawyer refers to anyone who is qualified to give legal advice as a licensed legal practitioner, this includes solicitors and barristers. These roles are often those pursued by students interested in studying law.

Becoming a lawyer through the a university route requires you to complete a qualifying law degree (LLB) before taking the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), which is set to replace the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and Legal Practice Course (LPC) for all new entrants from September 2021 onwards.

To become a barrister in England and Wales you need to complete at least three stages or components of training. These include the academic component (a law degree), a vocational component (a Bar course, traditionally the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)), and pupillage also known as the work-based learning component. After completing all training components you are ready to apply for tenancy as a self-employed barrister in chambers or go into practice as an employed barrister.

Our Programmes

LLB (Hons) programmes at Lincoln have been developed to advance students' understanding of the changing and dynamic nature of law and how it operates in practice. There is the chance to gain important practical legal skills, such as mooting, and to take part in the Lincoln Law Clinic, a pro bono law clinic which handles real cases.

Explore Our Moot Court

The Moot court is used by Lincoln Law School and is a mock-court environment which students can use as part of their studies. The Moot Court features judges bench, a witness stand, clerks desk, as well as prosecution and defence solicitors benches to simulate the environment of a working court room. The Moot Court allows students to explore the key principles of modern legal practice in a variety of courtroom roles.

Professional Practice

At Lincoln, we aim to produce independent, enquiring, and knowledgeable law graduates. Students are encouraged to develop practical legal skills by entering competitions in mooting and negotiation, and these skills are practised extensively in seminars and through the student-run Law Society. In addition, there is a University pro bono law clinic, where students can give legal advice to real people in real situations, under supervision.