Excelling on the LLB

Aug 03, 2020

Written By Raphael Jucobin

The LLB is the primary undergraduate law degree in the UK, lasting from three to six years, which then leads to a course specialising in the legal profession you’d like to go into and then training contract as a graduate. It has a reputation for being a challenging degree, which does have some truth to it, so here are some of our best tips for getting the most out of your time on the course and performing as best as you can.

Leave yourself enough time to do the reading

On an LLB course, you’ll be set large amounts of papers to cover, so it’s important that you give yourself enough time to complete them. The workload can be high as you’ll be set various assignments to complete at the same time. The notes you make are known as case ‘briefs’, in which you’ll be expected to summarise the main legal points of the case you’ve been assigned to look at, whether it pertains to a compulsory or elective module.

Being able to effectively condense texts down to their important elements, as well as analysing and referring back to different cases on the go, will be a crucial part of any future work you do in the legal world. These will be important in your preparation for tutorials, ensuring that you can answer questions put to you by your professor as well as clearing up any doubts on the content.

Ultimately, being organised is a crucial aspect of keeping on track in a law degree, and will ensure that you excel in terms of learning.

Ever considered studying law online?

There are so many study mode options available to aspiring lawyers now. But which one is right for you? Find out with Arden University's handy decision-making tool.

START NOW

Make sure you get some work experience

Many law students take up a vacation scheme from the summer of their second year - this is a short placement in a law firm designed to give you insight into the legal profession whilst working on a range of real projects. Not only does this allow you to put into practice what you’ve been learning in lectures, but it could also help you get a foot in the door for your future career, with many firms hiring mainly from previous vacation scheme intakes.

Head on over to our dedicated section on these placements to find out more.

Outside of vacation schemes, there are other ways of getting legal work experience during your degree, such as shadowing a legal professional. Alternatively, a part-time job alongside your studies might be more suited to you, in which case you can consult your university’s careers services for local opportunities.

Take up an extracurricular activity

Having an activity outside of your legal studies will help to give you some variation in your training, while developing a range of skills and showing to future employers that you have other interests outside of Law. This can include mooting or debating student societies, or any other interest in which you might develop skills such as teamwork and communication.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help!

In a course as intensive as Law, professors will know that you won’t always be completely up to date with the content - you should reach out to them if you’re struggling with keeping up. Likewise, despite the competitive environment that a law degree fosters, you should speak with your coursemates and discuss issues with them as well. For instance, you could form a study group with peers, while also supporting them to create a less stressful climate.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the specifics of an LLB degree, check out our other advice articles as well as listings for opportunities!

LLB