How To Apply To Law School

Hi, I'm Imran Bhatia. I'm due to start a training contract with the city firm next year and I'm a tutor at City Law Tutors in London. Applying to law school is really important because if you have done an undergraduate law degree, this will be your step on to do professional legal qualification such as the LPC if you wish to become a solicitor or the BPTC if you wish to become a barrister.

If you have not done an undergraduate law degree, then you will need to do the one-year GDL conversion course before doing one of the professional qualifications mentioned. To be able to apply, you will firstly need a strong academic result from your undergraduate degree preferably a 2-1 or a first. You will also need to be able to demonstrate perhaps on an application form, why you are interested in studying the course you are applying for and why a career ultimately as a barrister or solicitor interest you.

When choosing which law school to apply to, there are a number of facts to bear in mind. If you have already a solicitor's contract from a training firm or a pupillage from the barristers' chambers, they may specify which school they wish you to attend as they may have contributed to the formation of the program offered to a particular institution. If you are looking at a particular school yourself, there are a number of factors to bear in mind.

One of these is location. Make sure that the school is easily accessible as this will have a practical effect on your studies. Also look at the prestige of the school and the course you are applying to especially if you are looking at certain employers after you finish your course.

You want to make sure that the institution you have attended is prestigious enough by your potential future employers. Also look at the specific modules and subject offered, often known as the electives. This is really important because if you have an idea here as to which career area you wish to go into, then you want to make sure these both reflect your own interest and also the work of a potential employer that you may wish to apply to later on, so bear this in mind.

If you want to go visiting the schools yourself, speak to current pupils so you can gain an idea of what it's really like to study at these institutions. Make sure you keep it on the deadlines for the institutions and apply early. At the same time, look and see of there are any scholarships that you may be eligible for as these may also have their own deadlines.

So, preparation, organization and making sure you apply early and explore the options available to you are really important when looking to apply at a law school. .