Law is another one of the most popular and sought-after career pathways for graduates to take after finishing university. 

Although it is a career that is very rewarding and gives you the opportunity to earn a high salary, it does also require a specific skillset and commitment to be successful. It is also a job that you will need to train and work towards for several years, which may sound discouraging but will be worth it in the end!  

Qualities employers will be looking for in their candidates are strong academic grades, good communication skills, motivation, resilience, and confidence. If you’re an international student considering a law career in the UK, then you’re at an advantage; English law is often the first type chosen for matters pertaining to international business, and oversees several commercial arrangements made between different countries.  

WHY A CAREER IN LAW? 

A career in law has many benefits that other jobs may not have. It is a career path that leaves a lot of options and is broad in the various roles available in it. But apart from the career benefits, there are so many great things about doing law! For example, you can make a real difference in other people’s lives, and directly make an impact on issues in society like discrimination and human rights. You’ll be helping other people too, and have your work help those who don’t have your skills.  

Not to mention, with a law degree, international students will gain the experience and qualifications that enable them to boost their employability when looking for jobs in the UK. The skills you develop mean that you can interpret and analyse information, and develop logical thinking and communication competently and with self-assurance.  

Solicitor 

A solicitor is one of the most well-known careers that international graduates know of. It is a type of lawyer that offers accurate and tailored advice for clients on legal matters. The support you'll provide will normally be centred around commercial or personal problems. Your clients won’t always be individual people, but sometimes groups, companies, or organisations.  

As a solicitor, you can choose to specialise in a specific area and offer legal advice to clients on a range of issues. Your area of specialisation can be employment, immigration, tax, social welfare, human rights, property and several more. As you can imagine, the work you do as a solicitor will hugely impact others and you'll be able to see the benefits of your work directly. This makes this career path a very rewarding and satisfying one, since you get to see first-hand the results of your efforts.  

Some responsibilities you'll have as a solicitor are meeting and liaising with clients, drafting papers and documents, attending meetings, acting on behalf of clients in disputes, and negotiating to come to agreements.  

Ultimate Earning Potential for International Students in the UK 

Top 10 Employers  

1. Citi 
2. Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman 
3. Legal & General Investment Management 
4. Financial Conduct Authority 
5. Dentons 
6. Allen & Overy 
7. Bindmans 
8. Lloyds Banking Group 
9. Zeidler Legal Process Outsourcing 
10. Penningtons Manches Cooper 

TOP EMPLOYERS and WHAT THEY WANT 

Top employers in any sector are always looking for similar qualities in their candidates, time management, strong communication skills and problem-solving abilities. However, there are more specific skills that every job requires, that you may not have at first. But remember that everybody else is in the same boat as you, and you'll learn more about your role once you start and receive training.  

In international graduates – or graduates in general, taking initiative and being bold will always impress your employers. Anyone can have a degree, and most people do nowadays which is why it’s so much more competitive when you're out looking for jobs. What will make you stand out is all the other factors that make you unique as an individual and as a graduate. So, talk about your previous work experience, your voluntary work, the things you’ve learnt from them and why you're passionate about them. If you find yourself struggling to fill out your CV, that’s alright because you can still talk about your time in education, like a project at school and the skills you developed during it.  

In conclusion, a career path with law is a popular route to take for many international graduates looking to work in the UK. It is a career that implements many qualities and skillsets that you would need to apply for such roles, but also helps you acquire just as many benefits. Any career in law will most likely be hard and challenging at times, but it is a sector that makes real world differences in many people’s lives all the time, and will undoubtedly bring many rewards your way.