What GCSEs Do You Need to Become a Lawyer?

The good news is that there is no ‘correct’ path to becoming a lawyer. It takes a great deal of work to qualify, but lawyers come from a range of academic backgrounds. In fact, you don’t even need to study Law at university to enter the profession! 

However, if you’re thinking of pursuing a career in the exciting world of law, then it definitely pays to take GCSE subjects that allow you to develop your analytical and communication skills. The more confident you become in these areas, the smoother your pathway to becoming a lawyer will be.

Core GCSEs for Law

You do not need any specific GCSEs to pursue a legal career. In many cases, it pays to explore a broad range of interests. Having worked in schools and universities, I have seen many former students become solicitors, barristers and paralegals after studying subjects as varied as Chemistry, Geography and Drama. 

However, even though your subject choice is not an issue, your grades matter greatly! You will typically need a minimum of five GCSEs (at Grade 4 or above) to be accepted onto any law course, either at university or college, including Maths and English. If you don’t study law at uni or sixth form, these grades are also needed for the professional skills qualifications required to transition into a legal career. The best advice is: whatever GCSEs you are sitting, do as well as you possibly can. 

In terms of developing an appropriate skill set, some of the most useful GCSEs include:

GCSE English Language and Literature

The most important skills for any aspiring lawyer include research, analysis, and excellent communication. GCSE English Language and Literature will help you to develop all of these qualities and more. Both Language and Literature courses will teach you to analyse fiction and non-fiction texts, and you will learn to consider the audience, form and purpose of a piece of writing. There is also the writing element of the Language course, which can help develop your ability to convey complex information clearly and precisely, as well as to write for a specific audience and with a specific intention. The best lawyers are masters of rhetoric and persuasion, and studying English is the best way to pick up these vital skills.

GCSE Maths 

You might not think it, but GCSE Mathematics is brilliant for prospective lawyers. Studying maths will help you to develop important problem-solving and data analysis skills, and it will also help you to become more confident at interpreting and presenting statistics — a crucial aspect of the legal profession. In addition, a good grounding in Maths can also help hone your attention to detail. 

Optional GCSEs for aspiring lawyers

The following optional GCSEs can definitely help you to develop useful transferable skills.

GCSE Law

It may seem obvious, but GCSE Law (or a related subject, such as GCSE Government and Politics) can be a really useful introduction to legal systems and concepts. Don’t worry if your school does not offer GCSE Law — it isn’t a requirement — but it will give you a good foundation for further study and help you to know whether you enjoy studying it. 

GCSEs in Modern Foreign Languages

Learning a new language can open all kinds of doors in life, and will be invaluable in any career, but it can be especially useful for aspiring lawyers. Law is a competitive field in a global landscape, so a firm grasp of a foreign language such as GCSE Spanish, GCSE French or GCSE Mandarin could well give you the edge over your competitors. Better yet, it will help you to work with a more diverse range of clients or even enter the world of International Law. 

GCSE History

Essay-based subjects such as History will help you to fine-tune your essay-writing and data analysis skills. History will also give you a better understanding of how to interpret different sources and consider events from different perspectives.  

Beyond GCSEs – what’s next?

If you are thinking of entering law via university, then choosing the most appropriate A Levels is very important. 

There are two main options for studying law at university: doing it as an undergraduate course (usually a three-year course from 18) or completing another degree first and then doing a postgraduate course (usually one year). Both pathways are equally valid (although the postgraduate route is more expensive). 

If you do want to pursue law as an undergraduate, here are (according to UCAS) some recommended A Levels that universities may look for:

• A Level English Language

• A Level English Literature

• A Level Maths

• A Level History

• A Level Science

If your undergraduate degree is not in Law, you can take a Law Conversion Course after you complete your degree to transition into a legal career.

Of course, you do not need to study A Levels or at university to work in the law. It’s possible to become a solicitor, paralegal, or chartered legal executive by completing an apprenticeship, which involves a combination of on-the-job learning, classroom study, and completing the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

The importance of work experience 

Any legal profession values a diverse academic skill set, but you can also distinguish yourself from the competition (and showcase your enthusiasm!) by doing work experience at a legal firm. You can find work experience while at college or sixth form through extracurricular programmes such as The Sutton Trust’s Pathways to Law, or by exploring opportunities through university careers advisors or The Law Society. You can also simply reach out to a local firm by yourself.

Work experience can be deeply rewarding. It will give you a valuable insight into life as a lawyer by allowing you to shadow a professional, meet team members and even participate in the administrative work of the firm. More importantly, it’s a helpful way to begin networking. 

Remember that you can also visit courts of law to witness hearings and tribunals. This is part of the principle of open justice in the UK: when the law is in the interests of the public, it should be open and transparent.  

Frequently asked questions

What grades do you need to get into Law?

You will need a minimum of five GCSEs (Grades 4-9). These can be any GCSEs, but colleges and universities in the UK usually prioritise English and mathematics. 

If you wish to take Law at undergraduate level, different universities will have different entry requirements, but these typically range from ABB-A*AA (or approximately 128-152 UCAS points).

Can you become a Lawyer with no GCSEs?

Unfortunately not. You will need at least five GCSEs (Grades 4-9) to meet the requirements for any route into Law.

Is seven GCSEs enough to become a Lawyer?

Absolutely. Five of them must be Grade 4-9, but they can be any combination of subjects.

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Sources  

UCAS Law degree information

The Law Society

The Sutton Trust - Pathways to Law

Gov.uk - Observing a hearing or tribunal

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