Law with a Year in Industry

Law is the framework through which societies organise themselves, resolve disputes, and define the limits of power. Studying it at degree level is not primarily about learning rules: it is about developing the ability to interpret complex texts, construct rigorous arguments, identify where principles conflict, and understand how legal systems reflect and shape the societies they govern. English and European law together provide an extraordinarily rich subject, encompassing private law, criminal law, constitutional principles, human rights, and the evolving frameworks of international and European legal order.

At Royal Holloway, this four-year full-time LLB includes a year in industry, which gives you a sustained period of practical legal experience alongside the academic study of justice, equity, and equality. You will study the core areas of English law alongside European and comparative dimensions, developing both doctrinal knowledge and the capacity for critical legal analysis. The year in industry allows you to apply your legal understanding in a real professional setting, whether that is in a law firm, a business legal department, a public body, or another organisation where legal thinking matters.

A year abroad is also part of the programme, adding an international dimension to your legal education.

Law graduates pursue careers in solicitor and barrister training, in-house legal roles, the civil service, policy, finance, and commercial management. The analytical and written skills developed during a law degree are valued well beyond the legal profession, and many graduates work in roles where legal knowledge is relevant but not the core function. Those who intend to qualify as solicitors in England and Wales typically complete the Solicitors Qualifying Examination after graduating, while those pursuing the Bar complete the Bar Practice Course and pupillage.