Law and Spanish

Law and Spanish is a combination that reflects how deeply interconnected legal practice has become with the Spanish-speaking world. Spain is a major European jurisdiction with its own rich legal tradition rooted in Roman and civil law. Latin America constitutes a vast and varied legal landscape that is increasingly significant in international commerce, investment, human rights, and regional governance.

A graduate who can navigate legal systems and operate fluently in Spanish occupies a genuinely distinctive position in the legal labour market.

At the University of Edinburgh, this four-year full-time programme gives you rigorous training in both disciplines. In the law component you will study the foundational areas of Scots law and broader legal principles, including contract, delict, public law, and jurisprudence, alongside opportunities to explore comparative and international law. The Spanish component takes you to an advanced level in the language, engaging with the literature, history, and culture of Spain and Latin America as well as the legal and political systems of key Spanish-speaking countries.

Edinburgh's law school is highly regarded, and the combination degree benefits from the university's strengths in both areas.

Career destinations for Law and Spanish graduates are well-defined and attractive. Solicitors and advocates working in international commercial law, human rights, or cross-border dispute resolution with a Spanish-speaking dimension are common outcomes. International organisations, NGOs, the civil service, and European and Latin American business all recruit graduates with this profile.

Legal translation and interpreting is a further option. Many graduates qualify in both Scotland and a Spanish-speaking jurisdiction over the course of their careers. Postgraduate study in international law, comparative law, or Latin American studies is a natural progression for those who want to specialise.