University of Cambridge Faculty of Law
The University of Cambridge Faculty of Law stands among the worlds most distinguished law schools, combining a tradition of legal scholarship stretching back centuries with innovative research addressing contemporary challenges. As part of the University of Cambridge, the Faculty benefits from the collegiate system, supervision-based teaching, and extraordinary intellectual environment while maintaining its position as a leading center for legal education and research. Cambridge Law has produced numerous Law Lords, judges, distinguished practitioners, and legal academics who have shaped common law systems worldwide and contributed to international legal development. The Faculty is home to leading scholars whose research addresses everything from foundational jurisprudence to emerging areas such as artificial intelligence regulation, climate law, and global governance. The Squire Law Library, one of the worlds great legal collections, provides exceptional resources for research and study. With highly selective admissions and intensive small-group teaching, Cambridge Law provides a rigorous intellectual experience that develops analytical skills transferable across legal careers.
- Acceptance Rate
- 65.0%
- SAT Range
- 1050–1250
- ACT Range
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- Avg GPA
- 3.25
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Student Life & Environment
Law students at Cambridge belong to colleges that serve as their primary social and residential communities. Each college houses students from various subjects, meaning that law students live alongside historians, scientists, engineers, and others in ways that broaden intellectual horizons beyond legal studies. College dining halls, common rooms, and social events create opportunities for connections that pure law school environments cannot match. Many students form their closest friendships with college mates rather than course mates. The intensity of legal study at Cambridge leaves less free time than students might wish, particularly in the weeks before examinations when preparation consumes nearly all available hours. Those who manage their time well find opportunities for student societies, sports, and the cultural offerings of a university town with centuries of tradition. Legal societies including mooting teams and law-focused discussion groups connect students with shared professional interests. Music, drama, and athletics provide outlets for those seeking balance. Cambridge as a city offers an appealing environment despite its small scale, with historic architecture, riverside walks, and the particular atmosphere of a town shaped entirely by the university's presence. Pubs, cafes, and restaurants serve the student population along with tourists and permanent residents. London accessibility by train allows weekend escapes to the capital for those seeking urban experiences beyond what Cambridge provides.
Location & Surroundings
The Sidgwick Site houses humanities and social sciences faculties including law, creating a neighborhood of academic buildings separate from the historic core around King's Parade. The Squire Law Library serves as the faculty's intellectual hub, providing study space, reference materials, and the quiet atmosphere needed for the concentrated reading that legal study demands. Students spend substantial time here preparing for supervisions and revising for examinations. Facilities in the David Parry building include lecture theaters, seminar rooms, and faculty offices where academic staff hold office hours for student consultation. The building design emphasizes natural light and contemporary functionality while respecting the architectural character of the university's historic context. Coffee areas and informal gathering spaces allow for the conversations between students that contribute to intellectual community. Beyond the faculty building, the college system distributes student life across Cambridge. Each college maintains its own library, dining facilities, and common rooms, creating multiple centers of activity rather than a single campus hub. Walking or cycling between college and faculty facilities provides exercise and the opportunity to observe the university's architectural heritage. The compact geography means that everything students need sits within reasonable distance.
Costs & Career Outcomes
International students present equivalent qualifications from their national systems, evaluated according to Cambridge's standard frameworks for non-UK credentials. The admissions process includes written assessments and interviews conducted by college admissions tutors. These interviews probe legal reasoning ability, analytical thinking, and the capacity for the intellectual engagement that Cambridge study demands. Personal statements and references contribute to the application, though interviews and test scores typically carry greater weight in final decisions. Demonstrated interest in law through reading, work experience, or related activities strengthens applications by suggesting genuine commitment to legal study rather than mere attraction to the Cambridge name. Competition is fierce, and excellent candidates are sometimes rejected simply because qualified applicants exceed available places. Career outcomes for Cambridge law graduates reflect the program's elite standing. Graduates enter leading law firms, barristers' chambers, government service, and business roles where legal training proves valuable. International students choose Cambridge for immersion in English legal traditions and the common law system that has influenced legal frameworks across the former British Empire and beyond. The connections made during study here span the globe, with alumni networks in major legal markets providing career support and professional relationships.
Campus Location
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