The future career in the UK

In the UK law degree programmes usually take 3 years to complete. These programmes typically include core subjects such as criminal law, contract law, tort law, land law, equity and trusts, administrative law and constitutional law.

First of all it is criminal law. This course presents the basic concepts of criminal law, which concerning crimes and their punishments. Crimes against persons, property, and public administration are covered, with special emphasis placed upon the law of homicide.

The second subject is tort law. Topics covered include liability for intentional and negligently caused injuries to person and property; strict liability; vicarious liability; ultra-hazardous activities; products liability; nuisance; invasion of privacy; defamation; the impact of insurance and risk distribution upon liability; accident compensation plans; damages; losses.

The third subject is constitutional law. This course covers the general principles of federal constitutional law, including government authority and its distribution under the constitution; the judicial function in constitutional cases; powers delegated to the national government and the reserved powers of the states in areas of federal authority; intergovernmental relations; rights, privileges, and immunities under the constitution; national citizenship; the contract clause; the federal constitution and the amendments thereto.

The fourth subject is contract law. This course covers the fundamental principles governing the formation, interpretation, performance and enforcement of contracts. In addition, special attention is given to the requirements of offer and acceptance, consideration, formal requirements, public policy, and the problems of choosing a remedy in case of a breach.

In addition, students are often required t take courses covering skills such as legal writing and legal research. This course is designed to acquaint students with the nature of legal research. Special attention is given to the mechanics of legal research, the techniques of writing memoranda and briefs.

There is also a variety of optional courses available. Students often take courses that will be useful to them during their future careers. Someone wishing to run a small partnership or to work alone as a sole practitioner in a small town may decide to take subjects such as family law, employment law, housing law. Those wishing to work in a large law practice will consider subjects such as company law, commercial law and litigation and arbitration.

Many universities also offer courses on legal practice. Courses like this give students the opportunity to an experience the work of a lawyer before deciding on a career in the law. Another way of finding out more about law I practice is to get involved with a voluntary advice centre or law clinic. These clinics offer free legal assistance to the local community and provide a useful introduction to some of the day-today work of a lawyer.

For students wishing to work in a commercial in practice, knowledge of foreign language is essential. Since English is the language of the international legal community, law firms increasingly expect graduates to have a good command of English.