Number of UK Law Students Increases, Although Job Market Remains Bleak

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Summary: Across the United Kingdom, the number of law students has increased, although the job market is still uncertain.

According to LegalCheek.com, the number of students taking law degree courses increased by 18% in only two years, data from the clearinghouse for university applications in the United Kingdom show.

  

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Over 3,000 new jobs were reported in the United States in February.

Admission numbers also show an increase in female students, which reflects an increase in female attorneys in the profession as well. In 2012, women made up around 62.5% of undergraduates, but last year the percentage increased to 65%.

Roughly 23,695 students were working on their university law degrees last year, compared with around 20,070 students in 2012. The numbers were revealed by the University and Colleges Admissions Service.

What should you do when the job market slows down?

The drastic increase in such a short time period will increase concerns that legal job prospects will be damaged, and that law schools are exploiting students for high tuition fees. One legal profession commentator said, “These figures yet again highlight the lazy habit of university vice-chancellors to take money off students for what are really cheap and cheerful courses to run.”

Last year, jobless claims hit a seven year low.

Many graduates never intend to practice law, or became discouraged while taking courses. In 2013, for which the most recent statistics are available, there were 6,175 students enrolled in the Legal Practice Course.

Professor Nigel Savage, the former president of the University of Law, criticized top undergraduate law faculties for encouraging too many students to study law and for teaching outdated courses. He said, “Many haven’t updated their syllabuses for years. It makes you wonder what they are preparing these students for.”

Source: LegalCheek.com

Photo credit: Daily Mail