Getting a law degree is the best way to become qualified for the most prestigious careers in the legal field, including as an attorney, judge, or prosecutor. However, if you are not ready or able to attend law school right after college, you still have other options. There are many Master of Law programs that don’t require an undergraduate degree in law. These degree programs are Master of Law degrees with the specialization of Master of Science.

Ever wondered what it is like to bag a degree in law without a master’s and coming from an accredited school? Are you seeking a law master’s without a law undergraduate? Are you a student trying to learn about a master of law without a law degree? Are you eager to know a master in law without a legal background? Are you interested in finding out more about llm for non-law graduates? Have you checked for an LLM degree for non-lawyers without getting anywhere? Have you surfed the internet for a law degree after a master’s and you still have no absolute answers? Worry not, the site will lay out the answers for you within a nick of time.

Can You Do an LLM Without a Law Degree

You don’t need to do the three-year law degree course (also known as the LLB) to become a successful lawyer. You can study for any undergraduate degree, such as English or engineering, and then convert that non-law degree by studying a one-year law conversion course.

Most law firms have a balanced intake of trainee solicitors from law and non-law backgrounds, recruiting roughly 50% from non-law degrees. Let’s be clear: you are at no disadvantage having studied for a non-law degree before beginning your legal training and qualifications. In fact, some law firms, such as intellectual property specialists Bristows, actively seek out those with a science or engineering background. Last year, the firm told us that 80% of its trainee solicitors had a non-law degree.

‘Firms don’t tend to give preference to law students—I often find that non-law graduates end up being more rounded and better educated lawyers,’ explains Sarah Clover, a professional negligence partner at international law firm Clyde & Co. ‘I would advise any student contemplating a career in law to think carefully about not studying law at university. You end up doing law for so many years as a professional, so I would advise choosing a university degree that you are genuinely interested in. I did a law degree, but looking back, I wish I’d studied history – a subject I loved at school. I found the academic study of law to be somewhat dry and only began to enjoy studying law in the context of actual practice where one could see its impact in real life.

Applying for an LLM without an LLB

As your undergraduate degree comes to an end, you might be tempted to prolong your days at university and avoid the real world by studying for a master’s degree. And what better master’s degree is there but the LLM? The LLM is a very in-depth look at a few areas of law, so you might be wondering whether or not you can study it without having done an LLB… The answer isn’t quite a simple yes or no, but we’re here to walk you through it.

What are the entry requirements for an LLM?

Entry requirements vary across law schools and are usually quite vague. Most universities don’t state that you need an LLB, but some knowledge of the law is required. How this is interpreted is really up to the university, but you’ll need to prove to them that you are academically capable of doing a master’s in law. If you’re just hoping to stumble onto the course and learn as you go, you’re probably not going to make it past the application process.

You’ll need to check the entry requirements for each LLM on our course search before you apply to find out if you’ll be accepted without an LLB, as some will specifically require it. Some courses even require that you have a BPTC or LPC.

What other qualifications can I get?

A BA in Law could give you enough experience and knowledge to do an LLM, although you won’t be qualified as a lawyer. But again, it’s up to the individual law school to decide if they will accept your undergraduate degree. It’ll help your application if you have an impressive transcript and relevant legal work experience. You should also be able to highlight particular areas of law you are interested in studying in your LLM and explain your past experience with it.

If you did a non-law degree but then completed the law conversion course, you are essentially at the same level as someone who has done the LLB. The fact that you managed to fit a three-year course into one year might actually put you in better stead when applying for an LLM, as you’ve proven that you’re able to keep up academically.

One other way you might arrive at an LLM is if you have experience in another field and want to take a look at the legal side of this area: for example, if you have studied medicine and would now like to study medical law.

How else can I prepare myself for an LLM?

Without having studied the LLB or GDL, you won’t have knowledge of all the different areas of law. This means you won’t really be able to make a fully informed decision when deciding how you’ll want to specialise in your LLM. It’s for this reason that universities state that you need significant legal knowledge.

There are other ways for you to gain this knowledge though, such as through legal work experience in a variety of areas. If you’ve done vacation schemes in many different law firms you could have enough experience to get you through.

You could also have worked your way up through a paralegal career, and thus have a lot of practical knowledge of the law without a degree.

Ultimately, it is possible to get onto an LLM without having done a law degree. It’s best to check with your university’s admissions before you get your heart set on it, but in the meantime, getting as much legal work experience as possible will only help your law career in the long run. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many reasons why a person may choose to pursue a master’s in law without having obtained a law degree. However, it is important to note that the path to earning a Master’s degree in law while lacking any formal training in the field can be quite challenging.

The first step is to determine whether or not you have the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in this program. If so, then it is time for you to research online programs that are available and find one that works best for your needs.