How to Choose a Country for Studying Law Abroad

Many law students hope to study abroad to enhance their credentials and strengthen their competitiveness, but they are not sure how to choose a destination country. Today, let’s talk about the factors law students should consider when studying law overseas.

If you plan to study law at a foreign law school, there are five factors to consider.

1. Legal system compatibility

At present, the two major legal systems in the world are the common law system and the civil law system. The common law system is more flexible and places greater emphasis on tradition and custom as the basis for judgment. The civil law system, by contrast, relies more on codified rules. These two systems differ greatly, both culturally and politically. For students, it is best to continue studying within one consistent legal tradition, because that makes learning more coherent.

Of course, if you want to improve yourself through studying abroad, going to countries such as France or Germany can still be very rewarding.

2. The quality of the law school

Many overseas universities are excellent, but if you are choosing where to apply, you should still try to select schools that rank highly, have strong academic strength, and are widely recognized. The higher the quality of the school, the better the learning environment and opportunities students can gain, leading to all-around improvement. In addition to building a stronger network of high-quality contacts, students can also benefit from a more comprehensive training system.

3. Career direction

Different countries have different thresholds for law qualifications. Relatively speaking, students studying in the United States face a much lower barrier to taking the bar exam, which gives them some advantage over systems in places such as the UK.

In terms of employment, graduates from top-tier American law schools generally earn higher salaries than students in other regions. However, if the goal is to find a job after returning to China, then while studying abroad you should focus more on developing a solid understanding of the legal system and strong legal problem-solving skills. That will give you an edge after you return home.

4. Admission difficulty

In terms of admissions difficulty, the United States has a larger number of law schools, so the application process is relatively less difficult and the requirements for participating in legal programs are also lower. By comparison, top-tier law schools in countries such as the UK and France are fewer in number, so the competition is naturally tougher.

5. Cost of studying abroad

Generally speaking, tuition at a top law school can reach $90,000 per year. Add living expenses and miscellaneous costs, and the annual total is usually around $100,000. For that reason, places with a lower cost of living tend to be more attractive.

Overall, it is still better to choose the option that suits you best.