Why Law in the U.K.?
Equipped with a rich heritage of constitutionalism and legal development, the United Kingdom has often been regarded as the the foundation of legal systems in the world. From Common Law to the Procedure Established by law, some of the most crucial legal concepts used in the world today owe their origin to the the United Kingdom.
Undergraduate law degrees either in the form of an LLB or a B.A. in Law equip a law graduate with the all the ground information necessary to understand the nuances of the law. Post the undergraduate degree, a student is usually expected to undergo a solicitor’s or a barrister’s training program at designated schools or Inns to ensure a law graduate is ready to face the real world of law.
Post Graduate programs usually span a period of a year and are mostly comprised of international students looking for further their skills and knowledge bases. Like most post graduate programs, law is equally if not more rigorous a course, when it comes to research and coursework submissions.
A law degree from the UK commands respect, sanctity, and an assumption of thorough academic orientation hugely sought after by employers of all variations alike.
In an increasingly globalised legal world, English law is the first choice for international business – more and more of the world’s most important legal issues are dealt with under its governance.
An English law degree can be the basis for a legal career all over the world. Students from The University of Law have used their qualifications to further their careers in jurisdictions such as Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Nigeria and Singapore. This means, for many international students coming to The University of Law, they have a choice of where to continue their legal career, be that in the UK, in their home jurisdiction or elsewhere around the globe.
International commerce is increasingly global – more and more often organisations are entering into large commercial arrangements outside their own countries. These commercial arrangements can (in many cases) be subject to whichever legal system the parties choose, regardless of where the actual contract takes place.
English law is used to govern many of these international commercial arrangements – this due to a number of factors:
• English law is seen as predictable and transparent;
• The English court system is respected throughout the world; and
• London is seen as the preferred seat for arbitration.
These factors, added to others such as access to world-class legal advice and a legal system that is flexible and supports the needs of commerce, means that English law is the law that is chosen to govern many international commercial arrangements.
As such English law is not only used in England and Wales but is used all over the world. Indeed, some of the world’s largest law firms, such as Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance and Linklaters, have their headquarters in England (as well as numerous overseas offices) and will base much of their advice on English law.
In addition, given the use of English law as the basis of many large transactions, commercial lawyers who are qualified to practise in their own jurisdictions also need to understand English legal concepts as the transactions they work on are increasingly subject (in whole or part) to English law.
In essence, English law is one of the UK’s greatest exports. The study of English law is therefore not only essential for people wishing to practise in England and Wales, but also for individuals looking for an international legal career.