LLB Bachelor of Laws

This LLB Bachelor of Law degree gives you a unique opportunity to explore the law from a social science perspective – looking at its impact on society, politics, economics and business.

As one of the UK’s leading legal research institutions, our academics are actively contributing to the development of law globally. So, you’ll be learning from world-leading researchers.

This law degree covers all the skills and knowledge needed to progress to the first stage of the Solicitors’ Qualifying Exam (SQE). But equally, you’ll gain highly transferable skills for a career in accounting, banking, politics, government or education.

You’ll be studying close to London’s historic legal district and many eminent law firms – with regular events organised by our Law Society and the Inns of Court. In fact, you’ll never get bored with a packed programme of extra-curricular activities, including mooting competitions, social events and presentations from practising lawyers.

Alongside the LLB degree, we also offer a double degree LLB/JD (juris doctor) programme with Columbia University Law School. You can apply for this programme during your second year. However, we wouldn’t recommend applying to LSE solely for entry to the double degree programme as we can’t guarantee you a place.

Our LLB Bachelors of Law programme is accredited by the Bar Standards Board for the purpose of a qualifying law degree. The process to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales is via the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).

The SQE assessment has two stages, with the first being focused on legal knowledge, broadly similar to that supplied in law degrees at present, and the second on practical vocational skills. While a law degree or diploma will no longer be necessary to the process of qualifying, a law degree is likely to remain the most effective and reputable way of acquiring the knowledge that is required by the SRA to complete the first stage of the SQE.

Please refer to our website and www.sra.org.uk/sra/policy/sqe for further information and updates.

If you wish to gain further insight into law, we suggest that you look at one or more of the following books:

• T Bingham The Rule of Law (Allen Lane, 2010)
• S Chakrabarti On Liberty (Allen Lane, 2014)
• C Gearty On Fantasy Island: Britain, Europe, and human rights (Oxford University Press, 2016)
• H Kennedy Eve was Framed: women and British justice (Vintage, 1993)
• N Lacey Women, Crime, and Character: from Moll Flanders to Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Oxford University Press, 2008)
• P Sands East West Street: on the origins of genocide and crimes against humanity (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2016)

All applicants must sit the Law National Admissions Test (LNAT). For entry in September 2025 (or deferred entry in September 2026) the LNAT can be taken between 1 September 2024 and 31 December 2024.
You may submit your application to LSE through UCAS before or after you take the test, however to guarantee fair and equal consideration of all applications you must sit your LNAT test by 31 December 2024. Please ensure that you select LSE when you register your LNAT account so that we're able to retrieve your LNAT result in a timely manner.

Test centres are available throughout the UK and overseas. LSE only uses the multiple-choice score it its assessment of applicants; the essay is not considered for most applicants. If you are an applicant who would have otherwise been identified as having to sit the UGGA, the selector may wish to consider your essay.

Find out more about the LNAT

LSE’s Law School is ranked in the top five law schools worldwide (Complete University Guide 2024).

The Law School is one of the largest departments at LSE, bringing together students, alumni and staff from all over the world. As a department, we’ve played a significant role in policy debates, policymaking, teaching and research globally.

Our academics have been trailblazers in exploring new fields of study. Many important subjects were first taught and examined systematically at our Law School. We pioneered the study of banking law, taxation law, civil litigation, company law, labour law, family law, aspects of welfare law and studies of the legal system and profession. We strive to challenge existing ways of thinking and understand the causes of different events and issues.

We offer an LLB undergraduate programme alongside taught postgraduate programmes and research opportunities. Students learn in a lively, inclusive and truly international community – with regular events, public lectures and extracurricular activities, including dedicated law societies, mooting competitions and an annual weekend away.

Our goal is to support students, academics and alumni to achieve their full potential in everything they do.

Learn more about our programmes and our history – spanning more than 100 years of teaching and research.

LSE Law School

We consider each application carefully, taking into account all the details you’ve included on your UCAS form, such as:

• academic achievement, including predicted and achieved grades (also see specific information about this programme in the "entry requirements" above)
• subjects and subject combinations (also see specific information about this programme in the "entry requirements" above)
• your personal statement
• your teacher’s reference
• educational circumstances

You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency, although this is not needed at the application stage. See our English language requirements page.

We’re looking for students who demonstrate:

• logical thinking and the ability to follow complex lines of reasoning
• high levels of accuracy and attention to detail
• great communication skills
• an ability to think independently and ask incisive questions
• self-motivation and a willingness to work hard.

You’ll complete at least one assessment for each course per term. These assessments do not count towards your grade but they will help you develop your skills in formulating legal arguments and prepare you for the end-of-year exams.

Assessments for individual courses can change from year to year. Read about the current formative assessment for each course in the relevant course guide.

Your final degree award will be based on your performance in the second and third years. Some optional courses in the last two years are assessed by essay.

You must pass each set of yearly examinations to progress to the next stage of the degree. There is also the option to complete a dissertation (a research-based extended essay) in your final year.

Find out more about LSE’s teaching and assessment methods.

This is a qualifying degree, meaning you can go straight from graduating to taking the LPC (Legal Practice Course), and recent leavers have secured training contracts at world renowned law firms, whilst others have been taken on as analysts and consultants. Others still have used the legal and social insights gained in their degree to set up their own NGOs or start their own businesses.

The analytical, critical and communication skills and legal and social insights gained within the LLB provide an excellent foundation for many careers and can be applied to a wide range of industries. Recent graduates have gone into fields as diverse as law and legal services, accountancy, banking and finance, government and politics, consulting, tax, charity and development, and education and academia.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

Professional training

The Bar
A student with a law degree from LSE will normally be eligible to be considered for a place on the Bar Professional Training Course. You should check the position personally by obtaining the relevant regulations from: The Bar Council, 289-293 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7HZ or barcouncil.org.uk

To enrol for the Bar Professional Training Course, you normally need at least a lower second class honours degree.

The profession of solicitor
See the "accreditations" tab on top of this page.

From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.

Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.

See LSE Careers for further details.