Law

Law at the School of Oriental and African Studies offers something distinctive: a legal education rooted in the context of the Global South, non-Western legal traditions, and the history and politics of international law as it has developed in relation to colonialism, decolonisation, and the contemporary global order. SOAS approaches law not simply as a set of technical rules but as a social and political phenomenon shaped by history, power, and the perspectives of the communities it affects. For students who wish to understand law in its broadest sense, including international law, human rights, and the legal systems of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, this is an unparalleled environment.

This three-year full-time programme includes a foundation year, providing the academic preparation needed before the main degree begins. You will study the core subjects of English law, including constitutional law, contract, tort, criminal law, and equity, alongside the international and comparative dimensions of law that SOAS emphasises. The entry requirement for this programme is AAB.

You will develop skills in legal reasoning, statutory interpretation, case analysis, and the construction of legal arguments, while also engaging with critical and sociolegal perspectives that examine how law operates in the world.

The breadth of SOAS's expertise means you will encounter perspectives on law that are rarely available in a conventional UK law school, from Islamic law and customary legal systems to international development law and human rights in postcolonial contexts.

Graduates go on to careers in law (including routes to qualification as solicitors or barristers through further professional training), international organisations, human rights advocacy, the civil service, journalism, and a wide range of roles in the public and voluntary sectors. Postgraduate study in law, international relations, or human rights is a common next step.