What A levels do you need for law?

Here is the surprise: most UK universities require no specific A level subjects for law - not even Law A level itself. What they require is strong grades (offers range from BBB to A*AA) and evidence you can read, reason and write. A defined group of universities also require the LNAT admissions test, which has its own deadlines entirely separate from UCAS.

Everything below was checked against university and UCAS pages on 20 September 2026.

The subject myth that costs applicants options

The most common mistake in law applications is picking A levels to look "law-like". The reality, straight from admissions pages:

• Cambridge states most of its law students have not studied Law at school, and no subjects are required
• Oxford (AAA) accepts any subjects except General Studies, and asks only for GCSE Maths at grade C or above as evidence of numeracy
• King's College London (A*AA) lists required subjects as "none" and preferred subjects as "none"
• LSE (A*AA) has no set combination, but wants at least two traditional academic subjects and evidence you can handle heavy reading and writing

What does help: essay-based subjects - History, English Literature, languages - because a law degree is built on close reading and precise writing. LSE explicitly looks for "a high level of literacy" in your post-16 choices. Maths and Further Maths are fine at LSE only if combined with an essay-writing subject.

The exclusions that actually matter

While required subjects barely exist, excluded subjects do - and they quietly break applications:

• General Studies and Critical Thinking are excluded by many universities, including King's (which also excludes Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives) and Royal Holloway
• Some universities will not count AS levels or the EPQ toward a tariff-based offer
• Some universities (York is a documented example) do not accept UCAS tariff points at all - you must hold the named grades

Check each course page's exclusions, not just the headline grades. Our university pages link to the official requirements per institution.

Typical grades

Published offers for 2027 entry span a wide band:

Contextual offers can cut this substantially - York, for example, offers up to two grades below standard for eligible applicants. Always check eligibility.

The LNAT: the real gatekeeper for top courses

The Law National Admissions Test is a separate registration with its own deadlines and fee - and missing it voids your application at LNAT universities regardless of your grades.

For 2027 entry:

• Test window: LSE and King's require the LNAT between 1 September 2026 and 31 December 2026. Oxford requires it earlier - by 15 October 2026, in line with its UCAS deadline (Cambridge applicants face the same early timing)
• Format: a 42-question multiple-choice section on comprehension and reasoning, plus an essay the university reads directly (the essay is not centrally scored)
• Results do not carry over between cycles
• The list of LNAT universities changes - check lnat.ac.uk at the start of your application year rather than trusting third-party lists

How to build a competitive application

Grades get you considered; everything else gets you selected:

• Personal statement (new three-question format): one statement covers all five choices, so write about law and how your reading, debating, work experience or part-time job built relevant skills - not about one university
• Wider reading and super-curriculars: courts are open to the public, and mentioning a case you actually watched or read about carries more weight than generic assertions
• Apply strategically across the grade range: mixing A*AA and AAB choices is normal and sensible - see our guide to choosing your five UCAS choices

Want to know which law courses your predicted grades actually reach? The Tansiky free preview checks your grades against real entry requirements across UK law schools, and the £9.99 full report builds the five-choice shortlist with LNAT deadlines flagged.

Further reading: What A levels for medicine? · UCAS deadlines 2027 · UCAS points explained

Frequently asked questions

What A levels do you need to study law?

No specific subjects at most universities - offers range from BBB to A*AA, with essay subjects like History and English valued. Some universities also require the LNAT.

Do I need Law A level?

No. No major university requires it, and Cambridge says most of its law students never studied it at school.

Which universities require the LNAT?

A specific group including Oxford, Cambridge, King's College London and LSE. The list changes - check lnat.ac.uk.

What grades do I need for law?

From BBB (University of Law) up to A*AA (Cambridge, KCL, LSE); Oxford asks AAA. Contextual offers can be lower.

Are any A levels excluded for law?

Yes - General Studies and Critical Thinking are commonly excluded, and some universities also exclude Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives.

Sources: Oxford, Cambridge, KCL, LSE, York, Royal Holloway and University of Law course pages, UCAS course search, lnat.ac.uk guidance - checked 20 September 2026.