A-Level Law A "Soft Option"?
In an increasingly competitive world, how do today’s wannabe lawyers and business people get ahead of their peers? A new study shows that taking maths or chemistry rather than law or business-studies at A-level may be the answer. The study by the Policy Exchange suggests that top universities accept more students who have done traditional A-levels subjects such as maths and science rather than vocational subjects like law. Nothing like a classical education eh… "Pupils may be unknowingly ruining their …
In an increasingly competitive world, how do today’s wannabe lawyers and business people get ahead of their peers? A new study shows that taking maths or chemistry rather than law or business-studies at A-level may be the answer. The study by the Policy Exchange suggests that top universities accept more students who have done traditional A-levels subjects such as maths and science rather than vocational subjects like law. Nothing like a classical education eh…
"Pupils may be unknowingly ruining their chances of getting into a top university by choosing so-called ‘soft’ subjects, including Law, Media Studies and Psychology." It says on their website .
There is even a suggestion that some of the top universities have list of subjects that they think don’t make the grade:
"Cambridge University and the London School of Economics publish lists of ‘non-preferred’ subjects", it says, with law being one of them.
Other universities apparently follow the same practice but the study criticises the general lack of transparency on this front.
The findings have caused a certain degree of resentment amongst students for obvious reasons, as many dislike the suggetion that their chosen A-level subjects are seen as a soft option. But, in such a competitive environment, students want to make sure they get it right at every step… (Whilst we are on the subject of competition, headwinds etc check out this unfortunate US student who made 300 applications for one job offer, admittedly this is in the US but sobering nonetheless).
So, is law A-level a soft option or not?
Although many universities are not holding up their hands to this claim, according to The Lawyer Manchester University’s director of external relations at the college of law, Dinah Crystal, said: “We’ve found, from past experience, that students who take law at A-level and then go on to study law at degree level don’t do as well in their first year because they think they know it all already. Furthermore, experience indicates that some subjects are more suited than others for preparing students to undertake the study of law.”
Well some observers might disagree, but feel free to post your comments.
December 4, 2008
They didn’t have law as an a-level at my school but they did have business studies. It was always regarded as a lesser subject than the classic a-level subjects such as English, Maths or the sciences. I was specifically recommended against doing it for the sake of getting into a better university. In retrospect, I wish I had not even done law at uni as it is good to keep your education as broad as poss for as long as poss IMHO. Most jobs are pretty specialised these days, esp law so you have the rest of your life to narrow down your interests into your vocation. Be free.
December 4, 2008
Fair comment.
December 4, 2008
Seems like there is a whiff of intellectual snobbery in the air this morning.
December 4, 2008
No ***t 3 why do you think people go to uni and get the best grades possible. Clearly to appear superior to their peers when applying for jobs. It’s not snobbery, its the law of the jungle, capitalist competition, human nature. Live with it.
December 4, 2008
Universities, firms etc make the hoops. You have to jump through them if you want to be accepted. Law is probably a perfectly good A-level but if the legal establishment (university law departments and firms) don’t like it you are fighting an uphill struggle.
December 4, 2008
maths, chemistry + english literature…
all tradtional academic subjects..
A’ Level Law does seem a little tame.
but hey.
December 4, 2008
A’Level Law IS lame.
most proper schools dont even bother to offer it,
February 12, 2009
In fact all the data suggests that A Level law is a harder subject than a “traditional” subject such as English, whatever the academic snobs may think!
March 5, 2010
I don’t know what they mean about lack of transparency. My university, Lancaster, publishes its list of “less preferred” subjects for law on our website – we are quite open about this.
We do take Law A Level, by the way. Would I rather people didn’t do it? Well, yes – because it can make them complacent in the first year and also the approach to law is different at A Level and on degrees – in the former it is all about learning “this is the rule” while at university students have to realise that rules are often no more than arguable propositions, and the key thing is to understand how to make arguments about what the rules are and back these up with proper use of authority – juristic technique, in other words. More to the point, even where the “rule” seems clear, students need to learn to think about arguing that another rule should apply on the facts, or think about whether an alternative cause of action might be preferable – could you sue in tort instead of contract, for instance.
But it seems unfair to discriminate against those who choose Law A Level, specifically, since it seems to be as demanding as most other A Levels and it indicates an interest in and commitment to studying law – it must seem an extremely obvious choice to a 16 year old contemplating a law degree and not all will benefit from unbiased advice – if the school offers A Level Law it is hardly likely to tell its pupils to steer clear of the subject, is it?