Study law abroad

An in-depth guide to studying law as an international student.

Explore law programs abroad

Law degrees abroad

Law degrees are sought after by many international students with a legal career in mind. The completion of a law degree abroad doesn’t certify you to work in the legal profession, however it’s a great first step towards it.

If you want to qualify as a lawyer in a specific country, it is important to research the exact steps you need to take as the process varies.

Law program structure

In the US and Canada you must hold a bachelor’s degree before going on to study a postgraduate degree specifically in law, at Juris Doctor (J.D) degree level.

A bachelor’s degree in law will take you around three years to complete, which is the same as a liberal arts degree in the US.

A law master’s will then take an additional year to complete following a bachelor’s. However to study for a J.D in the USA will take as long as three years.

Law program structure

In the US and Canada you must hold a bachelor’s degree before going on to study a postgraduate degree specifically in law, at Juris Doctor (J.D) degree level.

A bachelor’s degree in law will take you around three years to complete, which is the same as a liberal arts degree in the US.

A law master’s will then take an additional year to complete following a bachelor’s. However to study for a J.D in the USA will take as long as three years.

Types of law degrees

Across Europe, master’s (LLM) and bachelor’s (LLB) focusing on European Law are available at many universities. This focus on law is then relevant in member states of the EU.

Why study law abroad

A law degree shows a student’s ability to think critically, research, debate, and analyze. It also enables students to study a wide range of social science and humanity issues in one degree.

There are some added reasons to study law that come from the decision to study abroad:

Undergraduate law degrees
Not all countries offer law degrees at a bachelor’s level
Shorter degrees
Some countries, such as the UK, offer a bachelor’s of law (LLB) in as little as three years
Improve your English
widen your career opportunities by improving your skills in one of the most widely spoken languages

Where to study law abroad

For many overseas students, the decision of where to study is led in part by their career goals. If you want to study for a degree in law simply because it interests you, then an undergraduate level may be all you want. However, if you are more career led you’ll have to consider the exact steps for achieving your goals.

Best countries to study law

Many English speaking countries are considered the best to study law in, because they have a long history based around UK ‘common law’. It provides an internationally renowned basis for a career in law relevant to many countries and areas.

- UK
- USA
- Canada
- Ireland
- Cyprus
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Fiji
- Italy
- Finland
- Belgium

Best universities to study law

There are particular universities around the world that are highly regarded for their law teaching. These universities usually have higher entry requirements and can be difficult to get into.

For Canada and the USA, law schools are the best option for studying for your J.D. The schools may be independent, or part of a larger university. They will often be accredited by an official law body, with specialist teaching staff and researchers.

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How to study law abroad

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Law study abroad programs

Undergraduate and postgraduate level law degrees can be studied as a country-specific program, or many universities now offer international law programs. At all levels of study you can specialize in certain areas or types of law.

Common types of law to study include:

Environmental law
Business law
Criminal law
Family law

Law undergraduate programs

Law graduate programs

Entry requirements to study law abroad

In some countries such as the UK, New Zealand and Australia, you can begin studying law straight after the end of secondary education, and this applies for study abroad students too. As it is a popular and demanding subject, academic entry requirements can be high.

The US and Canada don’t offer law programs at an undergraduate level unlike other English speaking countries. In the US and Canada all students are required to hold a bachelor’s degree before entry to law school to gain a J.D. degree. Your bachelor’s or major for applying to law school can usually be in any subject that interests you, but some subjects such a philosophy or history are more closely linked to law than others.

Future law careers

The UK offers one of the shortest paths to becoming a lawyer. Your undergraduate degree in law (LLB) will typically take three years, followed by a one year Legal Practice Course. You can then apply for a training contract with a law firm. This last stage of your training is typically two years.

Other careers that may stem from studying law include:

Paralegal
Barrister
Detective

Having legal knowledge can also benefit a range of other career areas, including:

Human resources
Compliance
Police
Business
Property

Study law abroad

Explore law programs abroad

Bachelor's programs inlaw

Master's programs inlaw

PhD programs inlaw

Law degrees abroad

Law program structure

Types of law degrees

Why study law abroad

Where to study law abroad

Best countries to study law

Best universities to study law

How to study law abroad

University & program search

Application guidance

Visa & travel advice

Law study abroad programs

Law undergraduate programs

Law graduate programs

Entry requirements to study law abroad

Other humanities & law degrees

Future law careers

Bachelor's programs in
law

Master's programs in
law

PhD programs in
law