The legal profession is often seen as prestigious, but I’ve noticed that for international students, especially those from Asia, it’s far from their first-choice major. Why? For starters, law demands strong English proficiency and sharp logical thinking. Additionally, legal systems vary widely between countries, meaning a foreign law degree might not be directly applicable back home without further qualifications.
However, with Asia’s rapid economic growth and the surge in international trade, studying law abroad can open promising career doors. If you are interested in law or becoming a lawyer, it’s worth exploring all the options. After all, lawyers often earn substantial incomes! That said, most students have only a surface-level understanding of the legal field—beyond courtroom dramas, they’re often unsure what lawyers actually do day-to-day.
So, what are the different types of lawyers? What career paths are available? And should you study law in the UK or the US? Let’s break it down.
What Can You Do with a Law Degree?
While criminal lawyers handling high-profile cases often steal the spotlight, the legal field is vast and varied. Lawyers typically specialize in specific areas, such as:
- Labor Law
- Family Law
- Tax Law
- Business Law
- Human Rights Law
- Intellectual Property Law
- Maritime Law
For international students, unless they plan to immigrate to a Western country permanently, it’s wise to avoid overly narrow or localized fields. Instead, many focus on areas like international business law, international trade law, or intellectual property law. These specializations align well with careers in multinational corporations or global law firms.
For example, a Chinese student may specialize in intellectual property law. Given the economic ties between China and the US, there’s a growing demand for professionals who can navigate cross-border intellectual property issues.
Career Options for International Students Studying Law
Studying law abroad is an excellent way to understand international business, learn how global corporations operate, and gain professional skills that lead to well-paid careers. However, it’s important to note that a law degree alone doesn’t guarantee a job as a lawyer. In most countries, you’ll need to pass a specialized exam (like the Bar exam) and gain work experience to practice law.
Here are some common career paths:
a) Practicing Law in the US or UK
- Specialize in fields like environmental law, corporate law, or tax law.
- Join globally renowned law firms, serving large companies or organizations.
b) Working for Multinational Corporations
- Serve as a senior legal consultant, patent agent, or tax advisor.
- Handle corporate legal affairs, ensuring compliance with international regulations.
c) Returning to Your Home Country or Another Asian Market
- In Commonwealth countries (e.g., Singapore), UK law graduates can often practice locally after passing the Bar exam.
- For US law graduates, opportunities include advising companies on US law or helping home-country businesses expand into the US market. For instance, you might assist with mergers and acquisitions or ensure compliance with US regulations.
Of course, top-tier law firms and corporations prefer graduates from elite schools with significant experience.
Choosing Between the US and the UK for Studying Law
The paths to becoming a lawyer in the US and UK differ significantly. For international students, the UK is often the more straightforward option.
Key Differences:
- Time Commitment: In the UK, it takes 5–6 years (including undergraduate studies) to become a fully certified lawyer. In the US, it takes 7 years (4 years of undergraduate studies + 3 years of law school).
- Undergraduate Options: In the UK, you can study law at the undergraduate level. In the US, law is a postgraduate degree, so students typically major in fields like political science, sociology, or philosophy before attending law school.
- Legal Roles: The UK has two types of lawyers—solicitors (who handle legal advice and documentation) and barristers (who represent clients in court). In practice, most international students become “solicitors” because it’s easier to find employment. In the US, though, there is no such distinction: lawyers do it all.
Who Should Study Law in the US?
- Students planning to stay in the US after graduation.
- Undergraduates in the US with the academic ability to gain admission to top-ten law schools (e.g., Harvard or Yale).
- Students with an undergraduate law degree from their home country who wish to pursue a master’s in the US and pass a state Bar exam.
Course Structures of Law Degrees in the UK and US
The US
Since there’s no undergraduate law major, students typically major in social sciences or humanities (e.g., political science, philosophy) and take the LSAT (Law School Admission Test). This exam assesses reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and analytical skills. It’s a very difficult test, and to have a chance of entering a top-20 law school, you need to be in the top 10% of test takers.
Once in law school, the first-year curriculum consists of compulsory courses. For example, at Harvard Law School, all first-year students study civil procedure, constitutional law, contracts, criminal law, legislation and regulation, property, and torts. The next two years focus on a specific field, such as criminal justice, law and business, or law and government. During this time, students take internships at law firms, hoping to secure a job offer from the firm by graduation. After graduation, one must complete the final step to become a lawyer, which is taking the Bar exam in their state, before officially qualifying as a lawyer.
Most international students choose to take the exam in New York or California because these two states have many large companies and law firms. Competition for top law schools is extremely fierce, as top law firms only recruit from top schools. So, students from higher-ranked law schools have an advantage in job opportunities and salaries.
The UK
In the UK, you can study law at the undergraduate level. As with the US, being a lawyer is one of the highest-paying professions in the UK, with top lawyers earning up to £1 million annually. Compared to the US, the admission rate in the UK is slightly higher, with law schools at top universities like Cambridge and LSE having admission rates at around 20%. The course structure of UK law schools is also quite similar to the US.
Using the UCL (University College London) law program as an example: The first two years of courses are compulsory. The first year comprises five courses: law in context, contract law, criminal law, property law (part one), and public law. The second year has four courses: EU law, jurisprudence and legal theory, property law (part two), and tort law. The third year consists entirely of elective courses. Students choose four from over twenty available options, depending on their interests. Options include commercial law, company law, criminal litigation, criminology, environmental law, family law, intellectual property law, competition law, tax law, international public law, and more. Exams are conducted each year, and students must pass them to progress to the next year.
Some universities offer specialized courses to meet the needs of certain professions. For example, UCL offers a course called “Law and Another Legal System” where students can study abroad for a year. The University of Bristol provides a course called “Law and French/Spanish/German,” catering to students planning to practice in Europe.
However, you can’t just call yourself a lawyer after graduation. To obtain a solicitor’s license, after your undergraduate degree, you must undertake two years of internship at a law firm, followed by an exam. Likewise, to be certified as a barrister, after university, you must both pass the Bar exam and gain work experience. As in the US, the better the law school, the more advantages you have in finding internships and jobs.
Final Thoughts
Studying law abroad can be a rewarding path, but it requires careful planning. For international students, the UK offers a more streamlined route to qualification, while the US provides opportunities for those aiming to specialize or stay in the country long-term.
Ultimately, a law degree opens doors to diverse careers—from high-powered corporate roles to impactful work in human rights or environmental advocacy. However, success in this field demands more than just a degree; it requires strategic specialization, hands-on experience, and a clear vision for your future.
So, if your child is passionate about justice, enjoys problem-solving, and thrives under pressure, law could be the perfect fit. Just make sure they’re ready to put in the work—because the legal world rewards those who do.
Samidha Education Co., Ltd. 
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