# What can you do with a Law degree?

> Source: https://coursetojob.co.uk/courses/law/ — updated 2026-09-25. Published by CourseToJob (independent; not affiliated with UCAS, HESA or GOV.UK).

**Quick answer:** A Law degree commonly leads to roles such as paralegal, legal assistant and compliance assistant. Five years after graduating, Law graduates had median earnings of £33,300 (middle half: £25,300–£45,400), and 87.5% were in sustained work or further study (DfE LEO, 2023–24 tax year). The largest employer sector for Law graduates is professional, scientific and technical services (44% of those in work).

A UK law degree is academic study of legal systems. Qualifying as a solicitor or barrister needs further training.

## What jobs can you get with a Law degree?

- **Paralegal**: Prepares bundles, chases disclosure, and drafts under a qualified lawyer’s supervision. Skills often asked for: file management, legal research, client care.
- **Legal assistant**. Skills often asked for: diaries, correspondence, billing support.
- **Compliance assistant**. Skills often asked for: policy logs, KYC support, issue tracking.
- **Contract administrator**. Skills often asked for: version control of contracts, deadlines, stakeholder notes.

## Where do Law graduates work?

Law graduates in UK employment five years after graduating, by industry (DfE LEO industry data, tax year 2023–24; shares calculated by CourseToJob from DfE's rounded counts).

| Industry | Share of graduates in work | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 44% | £34,800 |
| Public administration and defence | 11.7% | £34,400 |
| Finance and insurance | 6.4% | £39,200 |
| Administrative and support services | 6.2% | £30,400 |
| Education | 6.1% | £30,400 |
| Health and social work | 5.1% | £28,200 |
| Information and communication | 4.3% | £39,500 |
| Wholesale and retail | 3.8% | £27,800 |

## How much do Law graduates earn?

UK-domiciled first-degree graduates in Law (CAH16-01-01). Source: DfE LEO CAH level 3 subject data, tax year 2023–24 (https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-catalogue/data-set/d8bc2906-419e-40ef-ad8e-9b2ccd3997dc). Each row is a different graduating cohort.

| Years after graduating | Graduated | Median earnings | Middle half | In work or further study | All-graduate median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021/2022 | £23,800 | £19,800–£28,900 | 90.9% | £26,400 |
| 3 | 2019/2020 | £27,800 | £22,700–£34,800 | 89% | £30,000 |
| 5 | 2017/2018 | £33,300 | £25,300–£45,400 | 87.5% | £33,700 |
| 10 | 2012/2013 | £43,900 | £29,600–£66,600 | 85.8% | — |

## Which universities have the highest-earning Law graduates?

Median earnings five years after graduating, universities with at least 50 graduates measured (DfE LEO provider-level data, 2023–24). Not a quality ranking.

| University | Median earnings | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| [University of Cambridge](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-cambridge/) | £77,000 | 110 |
| [London School of Economics](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/lse/) | £68,800 | 65 |
| [University of Oxford](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-oxford/) | £62,900 | 140 |
| [University College London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/ucl/) | £62,600 | 65 |
| [King's College London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/kings-college-london/) | £59,800 | 75 |
| [Durham University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/durham-university/) | £58,400 | 105 |
| [University of Bristol](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-bristol/) | £51,100 | 220 |
| [University of Nottingham](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-nottingham/) | £48,300 | 150 |
| [University of Edinburgh](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-edinburgh/) | £46,800 | 150 |
| [University of Warwick](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-warwick/) | £46,500 | 145 |

## Is Law the right degree for you?

You may enjoy it if:
- You like close reading of statutes and cases.
- You can write a structured argument under time pressure.
- You are interested in procedure as much as the headline issue.

It may not suit you if:
- You assumed the LLB alone lets you practise.
- You dislike dense, technical writing.
- You want a course with little independent reading.

## Interview questions for Law graduate roles

Paralegal and legal-assistant interviews usually test accuracy, confidentiality, and whether you can follow an instruction, not whether you can give legal advice. These prompts are editorial illustrations.

- You are asked to summarise a 20-page contract into half a page. How do you decide what stays in? (What it tests: Judgement about material terms versus colour, and that you check with the supervising solicitor.)
- A client asks you, in passing, whether they will win. What do you say? (What it tests: You do not give reserved legal advice from an unadmitted seat.)
- You spot a date in a bundle that does not match the index. What do you do? (What it tests: Attention to detail and raising errors early rather than hoping nobody notices.)
- How would you keep client papers confidential in an open-plan office? (What it tests: Practical data-protection habits, not a memorised statute number.)
- Walk us through how you would track several filing deadlines in one week. (What it tests: Organisation under time pressure, which paralegal seats live on.)

## Frequently asked questions

### What jobs can you do with a Law degree?

Common starting roles include paralegal, legal assistant, compliance assistant and contract administrator. Five years after graduating, the most common sectors for Law graduates in work were professional, scientific and technical services (44%), public administration and defence (11.7%) and finance and insurance (6.4%). These are examples, not guaranteed jobs: your experience, location and further training matter.

### How much do Law graduates earn in the UK?

DfE Longitudinal Education Outcomes data for the 2023–24 tax year shows median earnings for UK-domiciled Law graduates of £23,800 one year after graduating, £27,800 three years after graduating, £33,300 five years after graduating and £43,900 ten years after graduating. Each figure describes a different graduating cohort, not one person's pay rise, and it is gross pay for those in sustained employment, not a starting salary offer.

### Is a Law degree worth it?

It depends on what you want to do. On the official data, 87.5% of Law graduates were in sustained employment or further study five years after graduating, with median earnings of £33,300. For comparison, the median across all first-degree graduates of GB higher education institutions was £33,700 at the same point. That places Law 79 of 146 subject groups by five-year median earnings. Earnings are only one factor: enjoyment of the subject, accreditation and the route into your target job matter too.

### Which universities have the highest-earning Law graduates?

Among universities in our index with at least 50 graduates measured, the highest five-year median earnings for Law were at University of Cambridge (£77,000), London School of Economics (£68,800) and University of Oxford (£62,900). These figures reflect entry grades, subject mix and where graduates work, so they are not a measure of teaching quality.

### Can international students study Law in the UK?

Yes, most UK universities accept international applicants, but entry requirements, recognised qualifications, English-language evidence and overseas tuition fees depend on the university and programme. Check the university course page and international admissions team, then check visa requirements on GOV.UK.


Apply for undergraduate courses on UCAS: https://www.ucas.com/explore/search/courses?query=Law