Dear customer,

Welcome to the August edition of ICON+’s University Access Newsletter. You are receiving this e-newsletter because you inquired about our test prep and/or admissions consulting services.

This month, we focus on how to get into law school in the UK.

Does a career in law interest you?  If so, are you able to perform well under pressure and in high stress environments? Are you a confident communicator and public speaker? Are you prepared to work ruthlessly and sacrifice some aspects of work-life balance? Are you an analytical, creative and critical thinker? Do you enjoy reading extensively?

These are the questions you must ask yourself if you are a prospective law student and contemplating a career in law. Getting a degree in and working in law are certainly not easy. However if you answered “yes” to all the above questions, you are well suited to pursue higher education in law.

For many international students, the UK is a very popular option for university - especially in the field of law. Law in the UK is unique in that it is a three year undergraduate degree. However, it is offered at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. If, for example, you have already attained a good bachelor’s degree, you are eligible to apply for a one year law conversion course in the UK; you can convert your undergraduate degree in any subject into a degree in law. Access to this type of program is very competitive as well as very demanding, as students must essentially cram three years of law into one year. Undergraduate entry to law programs is by far the most popular option of the two educational pathways mentioned above.

What to do during your JC/A-level years

For a successful application to UK law courses, preparation is key! Furthermore, preparation starts when you’re still in school. The subjects you choose for your last two years are not that important; it is the grades you acquire that really matters. For the best law programs in the UK, you need to be aiming for at least three A’s at A-level.  Choose the subjects you enjoy most as these are the ones you will tend to achieve the highest marks for. Unfortunately, many schools in the UK do not count General Paper or Project Work as core A-level subjects.

Fantastic grades are just one aspect of getting into law courses in the UK. In order to prove your interest in law, you need to pursue activities outside of your academics. That means volunteering, interning, shadowing, and gaining valuable work experience, preferably in the field of law (through legal firms, attorney’s offices, government offices, banks, non-profit organizations etc.). Moreover, admissions offices look closely at your commitment to activities and interests outside of school. This means that anything you can do to boost involvement in extracurriculars is worth the effort. Finally, explore your interest in law by reading online academic law journals and reputable newspapers. The more knowledge and experience you acquire in terms of law, the more worthy an applicant you will become.
 

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For many students, preparing for the SAT is not exactly a favorite activity.  You have to put a lot of time and effort into SAT revision if you want a high score. The most important thing to remember when it comes to SAT is that it is not the quantity but the quality that counts. Staring at a blank piece of paper for an hour will get you nowhere. I’ve listed some options below to help make your SAT revision more enjoyable and effective!

Change Location

Many of us think that in order to properly revise we need to chain ourselves to our desk at home or to a corner table in the library. This may work for some of us, but in truth changing up our study environment can prove to be very effective. When we are stuck in the same place for long periods of time, we can go a little bit stir crazy. My advice is to mix up your working environment.  Try moving to sit near a window so you can be exposed to direct sunlight. Natural light helps our eyes focus as well as boosts our general mood. Getting outside for a different scene is a popular choice; find a quite local park to set up your revision. Even getting out the house to get a coffee and revise in Starbucks can prove useful.

Take a Break and Reward yourself

As human beings we can only concentrate for a certain amount of time. Among individuals this number will vary, but in general we need to take a short break every 45 minutes of intense studying. This break can include taking a short walk, looking at something far away to let your eyes readjust, grabbing a drink or a snack or even talking to someone for ten minutes. Give your brain a rest and take small breaks throughout the day.

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The final task of your TOEFL exam is to write and complete an independent essay within a 30 minute time frame. By this point in the test you will be somewhat exhausted from the last three hours, and to make it worse, you are not given a choice of essay topics. That is, you will only receive one option for the essay question.

With this one essay question you are required to write at least 250 words using your own knowledge and background. In my experience, TOEFL works around four key topics areas for the independent essay question.

People -

For example:

What factors make an effective leader?

For many people, genuine happiness is difficult to achieve in life. What do you believe true happiness means? In your life, what factors influence happiness?

Science -

For example:

Advances in sciences have been a great success for society.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Technology has greatly improved the way we communicate with our friends and family through social networks.  To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Social Concerns -

For example:

Education is a pillar stone for any society, what factors contribute to an effective education?

What are the requirements needed for a society to grow sustainably?

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