Choosing to attend law school is a huge commitment and requires great discipline to get through the rigorous program. For students looking to study law abroad, specifically in the UK, there is no shortage of quality schools that offer a variety of field options.
For that reason, London is an ideal place for quality and cost-efficient degree programs. With various internationally recognized universities located in the center of the British legal systems, students have the option to get their LLB, LLM, PhD, and other degree certifications.
Studying in London makes for a one-of-a-kind learning opportunity for students looking to immerse themselves in a highly competitive field. Although law isn’t the easiest degree to attain, it is a rewarding one that will teach versatile skillsets like research, critical thinking, and methods to digest complex information.
A law degree is not only for aspiring lawyers, but also for those looking to explore other career paths, including becoming a law enforcement officer, policy analyst, or mediator.
This list is ranked by where each London-based school appears on the Complete University Guide UK law school rankings.
Here are the 10 best law schools located in London, UK.
10. University of Westminster, London
Known for its cutting-edge research, the University of Westminster Law School offers a variety of programs for part-time and full-time law students.
With the city of London right at the school’s doorstep, students are surrounded by prominent landmarks, including the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Justice, and the Court of Appeal.
The University is a leading provider of legal education with LLB, LLM, PhD, MPhil, DProf, and MRes programs. Students have access to various research centers and groups in their specialized fields, from European law to International Law and Human Rights.
Three staff members were named and awarded as the Oxford University Law Teacher of the Year, including 2016 recipient Lisa Webley. The accomplished professor has been the University’s Faculty Research Director for Social Sciences and Humanities since 2013 and has conducted research for notable entities like the Law Society of England and Wales, the European Commission, and many others.
9. London South Bank University
Through London South Bank University’s law programs, students walk away with a versatile set of analytical and communication skills that prepares them for a career in legalities. Every course taught in the School of Law and Social Sciences is developed with two main focuses: social justice and global responsibility.
Ranked 12th in the UK for Teaching Quality in Law, London South Bank University challenges students to a non-traditional route in their studies.
Students looking into alternative legal professions have the option to join the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) program, a more flexible training and learning program.
By placing social justice on the forefront, the University has invited several influential leaders to speak to their law students, including Colombian human rights activist and lawyer Adil Melendez Marquez.
8. City, University of London
City, University of London was first established in 1894, becoming the first Law School in the UK to teach all stages of legal education. This research-driven University centers its academia around business, professions, and industry while providing students access to over 50 research centers across its five schools.
With over 2500 students undergoing the prestigious programs, students have endless opportunities to exercise their skills by partaking in mooting and advocacy competitions and working at the school’s law clinic. The law clinic is designed as a free legal advice center for members of the public.
As one of London’s best law schools, City, University of London has developed a professional training course to help qualified students take the Bar of England and Wales.
7. Brunel University London
Brunel University London Law School is an established public research university, providing students with the knowledgeable tools to examine local to global, economic, and social issues.
The Law School has its own building on campus with designated research spaces, a moot court, and a dedicated law section in the library with a designated librarian.
Students continue to build their skills through the program by participating in extended programs, including the Athens Refugee program and the University’s Law Lives.
Through these extended learning opportunities, students continue to build, develop, and strengthen their skills through various workshops and other pro bono activities.
Alumni from Brunel University London have pursued prestigious careers, including Sewar Alrashdan, who became a Judge at Amman Magistrate Court in Jordan and was also nominated to participate in the MENA Women Judges program.
6. SOAS University of London
When SOAS University of London was first founded in 1916, they centered their academia around African Studies. Fast forward to the modern-day, the School of Law now offers students the option to pursue BA, LLM, LLMA, and PhD programs emphasizing in the legal systems of Asia, Africa, and the Near and Middle East law.
The SOAS School of Law is conveniently located in the Paul Webley Wing in the North Block of the Senate House, a prominent landmark in London and a center that holds many political debates and events.
Students are taught by a roster of incredible leaders, including Professor Lynn Welchman, the newly appointed UN’s Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic.
Notable SOAS alumni include former President of Ghana John Atta Mills, British-Iranian civil rights activist Ghoncheh Ghavami, and Prince El Hassan bin Talal.
5. University of Roehampton
Students who desire to study Human Rights, Criminal, and International Commercial Law, will be challenged by the curriculum at the University of Roehampton in London. The public University opened its Law School in 2015 and continues to receive recognition as one of the best law schools in London by providing their students a “law in practice” environment and academic atmosphere.
With five program offerings, graduates from the School of Law have gone on to work for the United Nations, the Ministry of Justice, and multinational organizations focusing on trade matters.
As a graduate of the University, students will have access to lifelong career support and career mentoring programs through Roehampton Connect and the Alumni Network Group.
4. Queen Mary University of London
The Queen Mary University of London School of Law offers over 20 LLM law master’s programs with diverse subjects from Criminal Justice to Media and Telecommunications Law. With undergraduate, post-graduate, and research degrees available, the school offers one-year to three-year full-time or six-year part-time options.
The faculty roster at the Law School consists of credible professors who advise high-profiles associated with the World Bank and the UN.
Students gain knowledge in international relations through the BeSpoke Programmes, a program designed by the school to assist organizations in creating research-driven and impactful earning programs.
Past projects include the Thai Judges Training Project, a program designed to strengthen UK-Thai relations, which successfully hosted 35 Thai judges for a two-week training in UK employment laws.
3. King’s College London
King’s College London’s Dickson Poon School of Law offers its students a well-rounded practice-based education and is home to one of the largest communities of doctoral researchers.
For students looking to pursue an LLM, King’s College offers nine specialized pathways and a fully online program in International Corporate & Commercial Law, International Financial & Commercial Law, and International Tax Law.
In 2021, the University was ranked second out of 154 UK universities in People & Planet University League for its commitment to environmental and social sustainability.
The law curriculum includes a series of lectures, small group teachings and provides students with access to the four-story Maughan Library and a personal tutor.
The Professional Law Institute is the newest addition to the program, providing students with on-hands experience working with qualified lawyers through the King’s Legal Clinic, a free legal advice resource for the public.
2. London School of Economics and Political Science
LSE has many prestigious accolades under its belt, including being ranked 2nd in the world for social sciences and management in the 2021 OS World University Rankings for its law program. They were also ranked 9th globally and 1st in London in 2018.
Founded in 1895, the school pioneered the study of banking law, taxation law, and other disciplinary fields. The University continues to uphold its reputation as a research-driven university, making it a reputable source for journalists and breaking news.
CNN interviewed LSE’s Professor Conor Gearty amidst the growing protests in America. At the same time, Professor Tony Travers made a New York Times feature to speak on the UK’s shortage of gas after shifting to Brexit.
The University campus is also adjacent to the Royal Court of Justice and Lincoln’s Inn – one of the four Inns of Court to which barristers of England and Wales belong.
1. University College London
The University College London has a very selective process. According to the 2019-2020 admissions report, only 154 students out of 3,108 applications were admitted to this highly competitive law program.
UCL’s undergraduate programs comply with the Common Protocol on the Academic Stage of Training, making graduating students eligible to become solicitors or barristers. Through the Dual LLB/JD degree path, students will have the opportunity to get their UCL Bachelor of Laws honors degree and a Juris Doctor degree from Columbia University in New York.
Students attend a series of weekly lectures, discussions, and debates throughout the various law programs that will equip them with unique knowledge about international laws.
To one’s great surprise, Gandhi studied law at UCL in 1888 and passed the bar in 1891. Although his career as a lawyer was short-lived, the prestigious academia prepared him for the knowledge he would later bestow onto the world.