The Best A Level Combination for Law

If you are interested in studying law at University then you’ll already be considering the best combination of subjects to study at A level. As students will be aware, there is a wide range of available subjects from which to choose. But what are the best A Levels for law?

Courses to Take

Law degrees are highly academic, with a great deal of focus on essay work. Consequently, it is a good choice to select courses that will both prepare you for this and allow you to demonstrate your skills in this aspect. Subjects that are primarily based around essay writing, such as History, English Literature, Psychology or Sociology are good choices in this regard as they are well suited in terms of progression and many are considered to be ’prestigious’ courses, widely accepted by the majority of Universities.

Some students choose to round out their courses with, a science or mathematics based subject, as this can demonstrate to universities that not only have you demonstrated your roundedness as a candidate, but that you also have the ability to succeed in a variety of subjects. ‘Hard science’ courses, such as Biology or Physics are well received by Universities.

Many students start by taking on 4 AS levels, before dropping one when proceeding to A2 level.  For example, a student might take English Literature, History, Psychology and Physics and then go onto drop Physics.

Courses to Avoid

While we would normally advise students to choose subjects that they are interested in and that they are comfortable with, these are not always compatible with what the University prefers. Courses such as Critical thinking or General Studies can help with preparing yourself for the course, but will most likely not be accepted by many Universities. It therefore should be considered a supplementary A level, rather than one to rely on.

To ensure that you select subjects from the Universities approved list, make sure that you contact their admissions departments, as they will be able to give you the most up to date advice on what the preferred combination is.

Should I study A level Law?

This is a difficult decision, as many of the best universities prefer you to have taken this as an option, if offered, while others prefer students to have achieved grades in others. The best course of action is to contact the universities directly prior to applying and to ensure that your Law A level is backed up by at least 2 strong subjects.

What if I don’t have the option to study x course at my College or School?

If you feel that a particular course is of real importance to you, but it is not offered or cannot be timetabled by your school, then you have the option of studying via distance learning, which can allow students to take additional subjects. This can offer several advantages, for example allowing students a ‘Back up’ A level, or to add a valuable course that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to study.

Thinking of a career in Law? Check out our tips on how to become a lawyer. Or see what Oxford College’s online Law A Level has to offer.

Image Credit – Gavel