In the UK and the USA, law degreeprogrammes usually take three years tocomplete.
In the UK, these programmestypically include core subjects such ascriminal law, contract law, tort law, landlaw, equity and trusts, administrative lawand constitutional law.
In addition, students are often required to takecourses covering skills such as legal writingand legal research.
There is also a variety of optional (elective) courses available.
Since many law studentsgo on to become lawyers, students oftentake courses that will be useful to themduring their future careers.
Someonewishing to run a small partnership or towork alone as a sole practitioner in a smalltown may decide to take subjects such asfamily law, employment law and housinglaw.
Those wishing to work in a large lawpractice will consider subjects such ascompany law, commercial law andlitigation and arbitration.
Many universities also offer courses onlegal practice.
Courses like this givestudents the opportunity to experiencethe work of a lawyer before deciding on acareer in the law.
Another way of fi ndingout more about law in practice is to getinvolved with a voluntary advice centre orlaw clinic.
These clinics offer free legalassistance to the local community andprovide a useful introduction to some ofthe day-to-day work of a lawyer.
For students wishing to work in acommercial practice, knowledge of foreignlanguages is essential.
When law firms hirenew recruits, they generally look at fourthings: education, personality, workexperience and language ability.
SinceEnglish is the language of the internationallegal community, law firms increasinglyexpect graduates to have a goodcommand of English.