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Law at Keele

Flexibility with Professional Recognition

Innovative, unique and internationally recognised - Law at Keele stands out from the crowd


School of Law

Careers Information

Whichever pathway you choose to study at Keele Law School, you will benefit from an excellent inter-disciplinary legal education, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in a broad range of careers. Keele University has one of the best graduate employment records in the UK with over 80% of its graduates securing employment or embarking on further study within the first year. Those who take one of the ‘qualifying law degree’ routes, will be able to progress to the professional stages of legal qualification with a law degree giving them interdisciplinary skills and perspectives that will be distinctive in the legal marketplace.

On the other hand, those students who ultimately decide to pursue a career outside legal practice will find their legal knowledge and their analytical, research and debating skills sought after in a variety of contexts. In addition to these options, as a result of their immersion within a vibrant research-active culture within the Law School many of our students progress to post-graduate education (taught and research degrees) both at Keele and at other prestigious institutions in the UK and internationally. Generally, more than ten percent of our Law graduates go on to study for a higher degree.

Students within the School of Law also benefit from the expertise of a member of staff within the University’s Career Service with specialist responsibility for Law and there is also a member of academic staff with particular responsibility for careers liaison and advice within the Law School itself. Students are encouraged to make full use of the careers workshops, which are offered throughout the year, by the Careers Service, the Law School and the Student Law Society in combination with LPC/BPTC providers, legal profession and speakers from other professions and industries.

Here is the Keele Law School graduate roadmap to help you develop distinctive attributes.

Legal Profession

The Law School at Keele offers a number of interdisciplinary pathways leading to a qualifying law degree (subject to module passes), including Single Honours Law, Law and Politics and Law and Criminology. Those students who wish to pursue a career as a solicitor will have the advantage of the guaranteed places scheme with the ‘excellent’ LPC delivered by Staffordshire University, which guarantees a place on the course to Keele Graduates. Staffordshire University also offers a ‘Blending Learning’ pathway which is delivered in partnership with Keele. A similar guaranteed places scheme is offered by the College of Law which guarantees UK Law graduates a place on the College of Law's Legal Practice Course, subject to obtaining a second or first class degree, selecting the College of Law has their first choice and joining their Junior Lawyers Association. Those who wish to practise at the Bar are also exempted from the Common Professional Examination, subject to module passes. The Law School ensures that students have the best possible preparation for the competitive legal job marketplace, giving them the opportunity to build on their academic work and professional skills activities (mooting, client interviewing etc.) with the opportunity to meet with leading members of the profession to learn more about the realities of the profession.

We have strong links with the national and regional legal profession, including the former President of the Law Society, Fiona Woolf CBE, Sir Peter Coulson (High Court Judge) and Michael Mansfield QC (both Keele graduates) and members of academic staff with past and ongoing experience of practice including two judges. As one of our alumni, Boyd Morwood, made clear to a meeting of the Middle and Inner Temples; “Keele is a good example of a Law School that is making great strides in engaging with the professions”.

A number of the academic prizes offered to students are sponsored by law firms and firms also assist in the organisation and judging of the client interviewing and mooting competitions. The research activities of many of the staff within the Law School also focus on issues relating to the legal profession, thus helping our students achieve a unique insight into legal practice – this ranges from Chairing the Sentencing Advisory Panel to work on diversity with the Legal Services Board and the Ministry of Justice. Our links with the Bar were strengthened by the appointment in November 2010 of our Head of School, Dr Andrew Francis, as one of the first five Academic Fellows of the Inner Temple.

The School ensures that our students have an informed understanding of the profession’s expectations from the start of their first year with presentations from practitioners in core modules through to work in elective modules such as ‘Lawyers in Society’, ‘Law and Ethics’ and ‘Law in Action’. This is enhanced through co-curricular activities such as mooting, client interviewing and networking opportunities and skills sessions with firms. Over the last few years there have been a series of careers related talks and activities within the Law School, including presentations from Boyd Morwood (Keele graduate and barrister with Hardwicke Chambers London) and Chris Wiggin and Raymond Southern (Keele graduates and partners with Berrymans Lace Mawer). In December 2010, Pinsent Masons hosted a networking event for our students in London and representatives from firms including Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Knights LLP and Higgs & Sons have all visited Keele to speak to students within the last two years. Past students are encouraged to keep in touch with the University through the Alumni Office, and they form an important way in which we maintain our links with the legal profession.

Keele alumni include:

  • High profile graduates such as Fiona Woolf CBE, Judge Peter Coulson and Michael Mansfield QC

  • Graduates at partnership level in firms such as Lovells, Pinsent Masons, Berrymans Lace Mawer, Steptoe & Johnson, Nabarro LLP.

  • Graduates within the last ten years now occupy Associate positions in firms such as Streathers LLP, Freshfields and Hill Dickinson.
  • More recently, despite the difficult recruitment market Keele students have secured training contracts with Berwin Leighton Paisner and DLA Piper, and tenancy at One Essex Court in London.
  • Our graduates are also to be found in medium sized firms all over the country, in addition to those making significant contributions to public life such as David Edmonds Chair of the Legal Services Board.

Please read this Alumni employability leaflet for examples of Keele Law School Alumni and see the variety of career opportunities available.

Other Careers

The flexibility of the dual honours programme offered at Keele Law School means that our students move into a far broader range of careers than would typically be found at most University Law Schools. Students benefit from engaging with the specialist advice and support of the University Careers Service, which organises speakers and presentations from a range of different employment sectors. Thus, our graduates work in a range of fields including management, accountancy, teaching and the police service.

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