Law

Why Study Law at Southampton

Southampton’s Law School holds sixth place for graduate employment prospects according to the Times Good University Guide 2025 and seventh in the Complete University Guide 2026, while accreditation from the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Bar Council allows graduates to begin practice immediately. Beyond rankings, the school emphasizes practical skills through events like the Clyde & Co Team Building Challenge and international mooting competitions, complemented by active student societies ranging from the traditional Law Society to specialized groups such as Lawyers without Borders and the Canadian Law Society.

International Legal Studies

The four-year LLB International Legal Studies includes a mandatory year abroad at partner institutions across Australia, Canada, China, India, Hong Kong, Japan, or Singapore, where students develop perspectives on global legal systems that multinational employers particularly value. While the first two years cover foundational qualifying subjects, unique practical opportunities throughout the program include observing High Court and Court of Appeal judges, handling real cases at the law clinic under practicing lawyers, and engaging with contemporary legal issues through research centers like the Stefan Cross Centre for Women, Equality and Law.

Traditional Law Degree

Recognized by both the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Bar Standards Board, the LLB Law provides qualifying education for those pursuing either advocacy or corporate practice, with teaching shaped by faculty who actively contribute to legal reforms nationally and internationally. The curriculum supports career development through placements, networking with law firms, and challenges like the Womble Bond Dickinson Team Building Challenge, while students refine advocacy skills through the Streetlaw programme, work at the Law Clinic, and shadow senior judges in their daily practice.

Law with Psychology

Among Britain’s few combined programs, LLB Law with Psychology merges complete qualifying legal education with psychological study, opening pathways in traditional practice and adjacent fields from family law to forensics. Psychology modules covering behavioral neuroscience, personality theories, clinical psychology, and developmental studies help students understand client motivations and witness behavior during litigation, while maintaining access to all law school resources including judicial observation, research groups at the Stefan Cross Centre, and clinical consultation work.

Commercial and Corporate Law

The LLM International Commercial and Corporate Law develops practical negotiation, litigation, and advisory skills within global trade contexts, drawing on faculty involvement in international legal reforms to integrate current cases from transnational corporate practice. Its flexibility allows individual pathways through insurance law, corporate governance, intellectual property in global contexts, and World Trade Organization law, while the LLM Challenge—a team competition analyzing contemporary legal issues—builds leadership and collaborative skills, with part-time formats available over two years or more.

Maritime Law at the University of Southampton

Specializing in marine insurance, admiralty law, and arbitration, the LLM Maritime Law benefits from Southampton’s port infrastructure, which hosts the Institute of Maritime Law, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute, and Lloyd’s Register’s research division. This network provides direct practitioner contact while the curriculum combines theoretical preparation in contract law, insurance, and dispute resolution with practical skills across international jurisdictions, positioning graduates for careers in shipping companies, insurance corporations, and international arbitration, with part-time study and individual CPD modules available.