2-year law degree programs UK|Top Schools to Consider

Searching for 2-year law degree programs UK? Do you want to be called a Legal Practitioner even after having your first degree in a non-related course?

Or having to read Law as a childhood dream? Don’t fret. We have got you covered.

Adding Law to your portfolio is an excellent way to be ahead in your career line, even if it is not in a related field.

A two-year degree in Bachelor of Law will do University Graduates of any UK university a lot of Good, especially those who majored in Criminology, psychology, or Political Science.

Students from Foreign fields also can enlist as a Juris Doctor (JD).

Candidates who want to enroll in the UK Universities for a 2-year Degree In Law (JD/LLB), known as Graduate Entry Law or Senior Status Law.

Upon graduation, students will be certified as a Juris Doctor (JD), equivalent to the UK Bachelor of Law (LLB), by the University attended.

This article aims to inform students interested in having a career path in Law after doing their undergraduate degree in other fields.

Accelerated LLB helps the students to fast-track their Course and wrap in two years what Bachelor of Law offers in three years. It cuts across all core modules and Fundamentals of Law.

Having a JD (Juris Doctor) degree does not absolve students from taking on professional Qualifying Exams;  for instance, After a JD/LLB,  taking on Legal Practising Course (LPC) to be a solicitor or the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) to be a certified barrister.

This program is recognized the same way the LLB(Hons) is cognizant. The program is only intended to speed up the time for the Course, not that both degrees are different; there is no dichotomy between these degrees.

JD (Doctor of Jurisprudence or Juris Doctor) is used to certify law students who do the 2-year law degree programs UK.

Furthermore, for such students to practice law, they have to undergo Qualifying Bar Exams to enable them to practice in the Legal Sphere.

Is There Any Difference Between an Undergraduate Law Degree and Juris Doctor in the UK?

No, the difference is in the duration, what is taught in LLB for 3-years is compressed to 2-years, and it is done by devoting extra weekdays to school.

It is more intensive and challenging as the duration is a year shorter than the undergraduate law course. Both degrees are equivalent to each other.

Also, LLB is for students who are just starting their Law Careers, while JD is for those who already have a degree.

Candidates at the Graduate Entry-level have the liberty to choose their preferred option in the type of Law they want to study.

Professional Accreditation

The Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) is supervised intensely by the solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) and the Bar Standard Boards (BSB).

JD is only open to those who have completed their undergraduate degree (honors) in other fields of study.

Career Path in Juris Doctor (JD)

People who desire to practice Law with a 2-year degree program.

Entry Requirements among universities vary. However, they do have basic/standard requirements for all Universities, which will be mentioned in this article;

  •  Candidates must have obtained an undergraduate degree from any field of study, whether related to Law or not. Any Bachelor’s Degree is sufficient.

    JD in the UK is not open to those who want to study Law without a postgraduate degree.

  •  It is not compulsory to have an undergraduate degree in any field related to Law.

  •  Students will have to sit for and pass the Law School Admission Test(LSAT).

  •  Aspirants must have a satisfactory score determined by the College of Law applied to be considered for a postGraduate Degree in Doctor of Jurisprudence.

  • Students can apply to more than one college, subject to each school’s criteria.

Categories of Courses that can be Studied in Juris Doctor.

 Students are at liberty to choose their Specialisation or choice of Course instead of a JD; although it does not take preference alone to study a preferred course, students must also consider the requirement.

JD intends to provide full knowledge about Law. Hence, Students must be aware that General courses will be added to their syllabus alongside the core modules in their Area of Specialisation.

Law Schools In the UK award PG students a Juris Doctor (JD).

 1 Nottingham university:

is ranked 60th place on the world table of the best school for Law. It is one of the choicest Universities in the UK.  

Key Information

Entry: A-level BBB

IB:29

BTEC: DDM

Pass diploma: with 60 credits, 45 at level three, including 24 distinctions.

Duration: 2 years.

Students must pass the English language as a course with a minimum of credit and must be able to speak English.

IELTS: 6:5.

 They offer courses like Law of Torts, Public Law, Land Law, Criminal Law, Contract Law, International Law, and EU law.

Candidates who have a preferred option here could consider Nottingham University.

 Tuition fee: home; £9,250

International students:£20,000.

2 university of Leicester

Leicester University is home to students who desire to do Law as a career and already have a degree. The accelerated Law degree is envisioned to make her students cultivate legal reasoning and problem-solving expertise while learning to apply the Law studied.

In the first year, it covers the basics of the English Legal system. In year 2, you will be taught to broaden your view of what was learned in year 1.

Key Information

Entry Requirements:

Leicester university requires that candidates have a minimum of a 2:2 and a CGPA within the range of B+ to B-,

 Leicester does not require you to sit for the LSAT(law school admission test).

 English proficiency is highly considered as applicants must have a minimum of 6.5 in IELTS. Alternatively, the English Language Teaching Unit will help improve students’ English learning to the school’s acceptable standard.

Duration: 2 years

Tuition fee: £9,250

International students:£17,000

UCAS: M103

3 University of Northampton

The University of Northampton must modify and cause a change in students and ensure that the time spent at the university is of significant impact to them and to the outside world at large. Furthermore, the University is ranked 101 by the Times University Guide, thereby making Law very comfortable and mind-ensuring to read here in Northampton.

Northampton offers a Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) to students who want to study Law at a postgraduate level.

Key Requirement:

Entry: BBC

BTEC: DDM

Access course: 45 levels, 3 or more credits.

IELTS: 6.0

UCSA: M101

Duration: 2 years

Tuition:

Home: £9,250

International students: £15,000

4 University of Plymouth

At Plymouth, students uncover new passions and dive into making the World a better place starting from their school.

Plymouth holds a good record of training Law students who are quickly employed in the Legal World.

Key information:

Entry: Bachelor’s Degree with a 2:1 (honors) in an undergraduate degree. Closely related fields with Law are an advantage.

English proficiency:

IELT: 6:5

Candidates who do not satisfy the requisite English Proficiency might enroll in pre-sessional English training sessions.

Duration: 2 years

Tuition fee:

Home: £8300

International students:£15,700

Plymouth runs a scholarship scheme that reduces the tuition fee for both home and international postgraduate students.

5 University of Derby

The University of Derby is one of the top schools in the UK that allows postgraduate students to explore and study Law in-depth with a 2-year accelerated Bachelor’s Degree in Law, also called Doctor of Jurisprudence.

Postgraduate students who study Law stand a higher chance in the corporate world. Derby is a standpoint for excellence in its practice of Law.

Key information:

Entry: Bachelor’s Degree with Upper Second class (honors) in an undergraduate degree. Closely related fields with Law are a benefit.

A-level: ABB

GCSE: credit

English proficiency:

IELT: 6:5

Candidates who do not satisfy the requisite English Proficiency might enroll in pre-sessional English training sessions. Duration: 2 years

Tuition fee:

Home: £9,250

International students:£14,500

6 Leeds trinity university

Particularly for Law, Trinity university has a strong preference, and this is why its acceptance rate is low at 34%. The school helps her students acquire the legal mindset needed.

Key information:

Entry: Bachelor’s Degree with a 2:1 (honours) in an undergraduate degree. Closely related fields with Law are an advantage.

English proficiency: Grade 4 or a credit.

IELT: 6:0

A pre-class English training class is available for students who do not meet the required English Proficiency.

Duration: 2 years

Tuition fee:

Home: £9,250

International students:£12,000

7 Staffordshire University

Staffordshire University is domiciled to both home and international students.

Key information

The minimum prerequisite to study Law at Staffordshire University as a postgraduate is to have an upper 2:1 (honours).

A-level: AAA, AAB.

Tuition fee:

JD; £11,100.

Fees are subject to change based on the policy of the Government.

8 Northumbria University

Northumbria University has specific prerequisites for its postgraduate students to convert to Law.

Key information

A-Level: ABB

BTEC: DDM

IB: 31

Access:pass a diploma (60 credits) with at least 30 distinctions at level 30English proficiency is a requirement to be considered.

2:1 upper (honours) is the minimum for the undergraduate degree.

IELTS:7.0

Tuition fee:£19,000

9 University of Hertfordshire

The University of Hertfordshire accommodates both home and international postgraduate students who want a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree. They also help students transform their passion into innovation that the legal World thrives in.

The acceptance rate is 70% which means that 70 out of 100 persons will be accepted when they apply. This makes it easier to gain admission to study one’s choice of Law in the 2-year program.

The Postgraduate Bar Practice program cut across the vocational fundamentals of training for Lawyers (Barrister) (previously the BPTC). Its creative design focuses on helping you to handle both a physical and digital practice.

Key information

(second class honours); a critical prerequisite for postgraduate students is to have a second class upper in any field, and an added advantage is when the Course of study is close to Law.

IELTS: 6.5

Pre-sessional English classes are held for students who do not meet up with English proficiency.

GCSE: minimum is a Grade C

10 Birmingham University

This university offers diverse law courses at the postgraduate level, and the requirements are favorable for both home and international students. The university is ranked among the top 100 in the world. Birmingham’s law school offers a unique experience that causes its students to stand out in the Legal World.

Key information:

Entry: Bachelor’s Degree with Second class (lower) in undergraduate degree is minimum.

Closely related fields with Law are a benefit.

A-level: AAA

GCSE: credit

English proficiency: a piece of evidence that students can speak English.

TOEFL, Cambridge O’level English Language.

IELT: 6.0

English Proficiency:

Duration: 2 years

Tuition fee: £24,000

11 Anglia Ruskin university

The students of Anglia Ruskin University prepare their Law postgraduate students for international careers and commercial contracts.

Key information:

Entry: Bachelor’s Degree with First class or Upper Second class (honors) in an undergraduate degree. Closely related fields with Law are a benefit.

  • A-level: ABB
  • GCSE: credit
  • English proficiency:
  • IELT: 6:5
  • Pre-sessional English training classes are available for students who do not meet the required English Proficiency.
  • Duration: 2 years
  • Tuition fee:
  • Home: £14000
  • Courses offered in the 2-year program.

The following courses are offered as Post Graduate Courses in place of a Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD). Their requirements slightly differ from one another.

JD is equivalent to an undergraduate degree (LLB).

1 Contract Law

2 Constitutional Law

3 courtroom procedures

4 Criminal law

5 Civil Law

6 Property and Real Estate Law

7 Public Law

8 Business Law

9 International Law,

Juris Doctor career benefit.

A doctor of Jurisprudence degree is given preeminence in the legal World such that they can get to any height in the Legal World.

1 Networking Opportunities:

JD gives students a lifetime opportunity of learning how to write, process, and analyse information. JD also provides Lawyers with Job Security.

Access to other people within the legal World.

2 Assistance to Client:

JD offers Legal practitioners to extend a hand of help to their clients in terms of legal and financial transactions.

3 Academic:

With a JD, one can decide to be academic, to impact people in the Legal World with skill and knowledge.

4 Consultants:

With a JD, one could choose to be a consultant to different business firms and legal corporations.

FAQs on 2-year Law Degree Programs UK

1. Can a JD practice Law in the UK?

Yes, when students write the Bar Qualifying Examination and pass it, he is eligible to practice law in the courtroom.

2. What is the Difference between LLB and JD?

 The difference is that JD is an accelerated Bachelor of Law, and it only takes 2 years. The modules are taught on extra weekdays, which helps it be compressed into two days, While LLB takes 3 years.

JD is dedicated to those who can give extra time during the week.

JD is not for undergraduates, and it is for those who previously have an undergraduate degree and wish to study Law. At the same time, LLB is for those who study Law at the undergraduate level. This means that undergraduates cannot be given JD as a certificate; instead, undergraduates have a Bachelor of Law.

JD is equivalent to LLB. There is no other difference than what is listed above.

Law students who study Law during their undergraduate degree may intend not to practice Law and use it as a portfolio to pursue other careers like criminology, Economics, or even political science.

3. When was JD Created?

When there was a desire to better the training of lawyers in the mid-nineteenth century, the JD was founded. It continued slowly in the 20th century. Before then,

Students would only need a diploma or a degree less than an undergraduate degree to enter Law school. This caused a revolution in UK universities, and they were slowly implemented.

In 1902, the University of Chicago Law School was the first to provide a JD.JD originated from the USA.

The JD remains a very professional degree, and it remains noble.

4 What is the Difference between LLM and JD?

LLM is a degree taken after one has finished LLB (undergraduate degree). It can also be taken after JD (Doctor of Jurisprudence).

LLM is a more advanced class in Law.

 LLM means Masters in Law. It is research-oriented. While JD is for students with undergraduate degrees, students must have completed the 3-year Bachelor’s Degree.

JD is the first level taken by students with Bachelor’s degrees towards practicing Law as a career before they are expected to write Bar Qualifying exams like BSB and SRA.

5 How Much is the Tuition Fee?

Tuition fee varies among Universities as well as home students don’t pay the same as international students.

For international students, the fee is higher than for the Home Students. Home students pay about £9,250 while international students pay a minimum of £9,000 to £25,000 yearly. This is why international students should seek scholarships that will aid them in applying for a JD or LLB. Please share your thoughts about the 2-year law degree programs UK below.

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