University of Law

What University of Law does

The University of Law is a private UK higher education institution and the country's longest-established specialist provider of legal education, founded in 1876. It serves more than 9,000 students across undergraduate programmes (law, business, criminology, psychology, computer science), postgraduate professional qualifications (LLM Legal Practice covering SQE1 and SQE2, Bar Practice Course, PGDL, MA Law Conversion, the legacy Legal Practice Course with final intake September 2026), specialised LLM pathways (over 40 subjects including Legal Technology, International Business Law, Data Protection and IP), and an apprenticeship track. Teaching is delivered through seven owned UK campuses (Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, London Bloomsbury, London Moorgate, Manchester, Nottingham), an international campus in Hong Kong, 12 partnership campuses at UK universities, and ULaw Online.

The institution operates a multi-platform digital infrastructure including the main law.ac.uk website, an Applicant Portal, the ELITE platform, and an Employability Portal powered by Symplicity that gives students and alumni access to hundreds of job vacancies across the legal and business sectors. Over 90% of lecturers are qualified lawyers and business professionals. In January 2026 ULaw announced a partnership with Luminance (Cambridge-founded AI company) — alongside TED Conferences and the ACC Foundation — to launch TEDLaw Trainings, embedding legal-grade AI into executive legal education.

Revenue derives primarily from tuition fees across undergraduate, postgraduate, and SQE preparation courses; bespoke SQE training delivered exclusively for over 65 leading UK and US law firms; continuing professional development and paralegal qualifications via subsidiary CLT Scotland (350+ training events annually); and ancillary venue hire. Go-to-market is sales-led through programme consultants, event-driven via campus open days and outreach to schools and colleges, and direct-to-consumer through the website, prospectus requests, and online application. The institution claims the largest community of LPC students in the UK (LawCAB 2024), more law students than any other UK university (HESA 2022/23), and a 76% SQE1 first-time pass rate versus the 58% national average. The University of Law Limited is a private company registered in England and Wales with no disclosed parent company or external ownership.

Name

University of Law

Legal name

The University of Law Limited

Website

https://law.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1876

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The University of Law is the UK's longest-established specialist provider of legal education, serving 9,000+ students through undergraduate, postgraduate, SQE, and professional development programmes delivered across seven UK campuses, Hong Kong, twelve university partnerships, and an online platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Law Schools (e.g., Tax, IP, International, Trial Advocacy) (EDAHAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

LLM & Post-JD Graduate Law Programs (EDAHAIAC), Online / Hybrid Law Schools & Programs (EDAHAIAE), Law School Continuing Legal Education (CLE) & Executive Programs (EDAHAIAH), Paralegal & Legal Studies Programs (Law School–Affiliated) (EDAHAIAI)

Keywords

• Legal education
• Professional law training
• SQE preparation
• Postgraduate law degrees
• Vocational legal qualifications

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices23 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate Tuition: Fees for undergraduate courses in law, business, criminology, psychology and computer science. Programmes offered at UK campuses and via partnership arrangements with universities including Lancaster, Newcastle, Oxford Brookes, Royal Holloway, UEA, Exeter, Hull, Leicester, Liverpool, Reading, Sheffield, and Southampton.
2. Postgraduate Tuition: Fees for postgraduate courses including LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2), Bar Practice Course (BPC), Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL), MA Law (Conversion), Legal Practice Course (LPC), and various specialized LLM programmes. Multiple delivery modes including on-campus and online options.
3. SQE Preparation Courses: Solicitors Qualifying Examination preparation courses including SQE1 Preparation Course, SQE2 Preparation Course, and combined programmes. The university exclusively delivers SQE training for over 65 leading UK and US law firms.
4. Legal Practice Course (LPC): Final vocational stage for LPC route to qualification. Final intake September 2026 (Part-time, Online only). Offers optional LLM in Professional Legal Practice add-on. Eligible for postgraduate student loans.
5. Professional Development and CPD: CLT Scotland (part of The University of Law) provides specialist paralegal qualifications, CPD training events, and professional development courses. Over 350 training events annually including face-to-face, online, and webinars.
6. Room Hire: Venue hire services through venuehire.law.ac.uk for external events and functions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The University of Law delivers specialist legal and professional education through undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in law, business, criminology, psychology, and computer science. Core offerings include the LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2), Bar Practice Course (BPC), Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL), MA Law Conversion, Legal Practice Course (LPC), SQE1 and SQE2 preparation courses, apprenticeships, and continuing professional development, delivered via owned UK campuses, a Hong Kong campus, ULaw Online, and partnership arrangements with 12 UK universities.

Product overview

The University of Law is a specialized UK higher education institution primarily focused on legal and professional education. The offering consists of a unified platform of educational programs centered around law qualifications, from undergraduate degrees through to vocational training for solicitors and barristers. Core products include the LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2), Bar Practice Course (BPC), Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL), MA Law, and the Legal Practice Course (LPC - with final intake September 2026). These are complemented by specialized LLM modules covering areas such as Legal Technology, International Business Law, Data Protection, and over 40 other specialized law subjects. The university delivers through multiple channels including physical campuses across the UK and Hong Kong, the ULaw Online platform for remote study, and the Employability Portal for career services. The institution also operates CLT Scotland as a paralegal training division and has established partnerships with law firms and legal organizations for professional training delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) A postgraduate law programme that prepares students for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination, covering both SQE1 and SQE2 assessments required to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales.
• Bar Practice Course (BPC) Professional qualification course for aspiring barristers, providing practical skills training for the barristers' profession.
• Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) A conversion course for non-law graduates providing foundational legal knowledge to prepare for the vocational stage of training to become a solicitor or barrister.
• MA Law (Conversion) Master of Arts conversion course for graduates from non-law disciplines seeking to pursue a career in law.
• Legal Practice Course (LPC) Final vocational stage for the LPC route to qualification as a solicitor. Final intake September 2026 (Part-time, Online only); students must complete by July 2028 and pass assessments by August 2030.
• LLM Master of Laws (General) General Master of Laws postgraduate degree providing advanced study in law with flexibility to explore multiple legal disciplines.
• LLM Legal Technology Specialised master's programme covering legal technology, combining law and technology studies for careers in the evolving legal tech sector.
• LLM Data Protection and Intellectual Property Specialised LLM focusing on data protection law and intellectual property regulations.
• LLM International Business Law Master's programme covering international business law, corporate transactions, and cross-border legal frameworks.
• SQE Courses Comprehensive suite of Solicitors Qualifying Examination preparation courses including SQE1 Preparation Course, SQE2 Preparation Course, and SQE Law Essentials, delivered on-campus and online.
• Apprenticeships Legal apprenticeship programmes allowing individuals to work in a law firm while studying, combining 80% work and 20% study over six to seven years.
• CLT Scotland Paralegal Qualifications Specialist paralegal training qualifications offered through CLT Scotland, part of The University of Law, covering practice areas including civil litigation, commercial property, company law, criminal law, debt recovery, employment law, family law, licensing law, personal injury, residential conveyancing, and wills and probate.
• ULaw Online Online learning platform offering flexible study options for many courses, allowing students to study full-time and part-time with the same quality of teaching as physical campuses.
• Employability Portal Student and graduate portal providing access to job vacancies, career advice, employer connections, and employability resources, powered by Symplicity.
• Business School Dedicated business school division offering undergraduate and postgraduate business programmes alongside law courses.
• Professional Development and CPD Training CLT Scotland provides specialist paralegal qualifications, CPD training events, and professional development courses with over 350 training events annually in face-to-face, online, and webinar formats.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of postgraduate students in highly skilled employment 15 months after graduating
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• LuminancecoreTechnology or Integration · 13 January 2026Luminance, a Cambridge-founded AI company, serves as the AI technology partner for the 'Practicing Law in the AI Age' pillar of TEDLaw Trainings professional development initiative. The partnership provides hands-on AI learning experiences for general counsel and senior in-house legal advisors as part of the programme launching in 2026 in partnership with TED Conferences and the ACC Foundation.
• King's College LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2026Partnership to integrate legal-grade AI into legal education. King's College London is one of the universities globally partnered with Luminance and The University of Law for AI-powered legal education.
• Vanderbilt AI Law LabcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2026Partnership to integrate legal-grade AI into legal education. Vanderbilt AI Law Lab is one of the institutions globally partnered with Luminance and The University of Law for AI-powered legal education.
• TED ConferencesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2026Partnership with TED Conferences for the 'Practicing Law in the AI Age' pillar of TEDLaw Trainings professional development initiative. Programme launching in 2026 for legal leaders.
• ACC FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2026Partnership with ACC Foundation for the 'Practicing Law in the AI Age' pillar of TEDLaw Trainings professional development initiative. Programme launching in 2026 for general counsel and senior in-house legal advisors.
• Top 100 UK Law Firms (90 firms)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerThe university delivers legal training for 90 of the top 100 law firms in the UK. These partnerships provide recruitment pipelines, employer engagement, and endorsement of the university's programmes.
• 65+ UK and US Law Firms (SQE exclusive)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerThe university exclusively delivers SQE training for over 65 leading UK and US law firms, creating exclusive pathways for graduates into these organisations.
• 12 UK Universities (Partnership Campuses)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership campuses at Lancaster University, Newcastle University, Oxford Brookes University, Royal Holloway (University of London), University of East Anglia, University of Exeter, University of Hull, University of Leicester, University of Liverpool, University of Reading, University of Sheffield, and University of Southampton. These deliver law programmes under the ULaw brand.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BPP University: BPP University is one of the UK's largest private providers of legal education and professional training, directly competing with ULaw across LPC, SQE, LLB, LLM and conversion courses. It is the closest direct head-to-head competitor for UK law school market share.
• Nottingham Law School (Nottingham Trent University): Nottingham Law School at NTU is a major UK law school offering LLB, LLM, LPC and SQE preparation, competing directly with ULaw for postgraduate law students and SQE candidates. It is regularly ranked among the top UK law schools for employability.
• City, University of London - The City Law School: The City Law School is a long-standing London-based provider of legal education including LLB, LLM, LPC and SQE preparation, directly competing with ULaw in the London postgraduate market and barrister training (Inns of Court School of Law heritage).

Broad incumbents

• BARBRI: BARBRI is the largest US bar exam preparation provider offering online SQE prep, US Bar prep and legal education globally. It overlaps with ULaw's SQE and legal professional training offerings as a broader incumbent in legal education delivery.
• Kaplan International: Kaplan is a large global private education provider offering university pathways, professional training and test prep. As a broad incumbent in private higher education, Kaplan competes for international students and online learners that ULaw also targets.

Regional players

• The College of Law (Australia): The College of Law (Australia) is an Australasian specialist legal education and training provider with comparable courses (PLT, LLM, CPD). It is a regional peer operating a similar specialist-law-school model in a different geography.

Emerging players

• Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx): CILEx is the UK professional body for chartered legal executives and provides paralegal training and qualification pathways. ULaw's CLT Scotland paralegal qualifications directly overlap with CILEx's training and qualification routes.
• Coursera: Coursera is a leading online learning platform partnering with top universities to offer law, business and professional courses globally. It is an emerging competitor in the online LLM and continuing legal education space where ULaw Online operates.

Others

• LexisNexis: LexisNexis provides legal research, legal training and CPD content to UK law firms and law schools. It is an adjacent enabler and supplier of legal information and training tools that often complement ULaw's curriculum.
• Practical Law (Thomson Reuters): Practical Law is a Thomson Reuters legal know-how and training service widely used by UK law firms and legal educators. It is an adjacent content and training provider that competes for legal CPD and professional training budgets alongside ULaw's offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmI9RTBcjSld6c-wbOG3KuQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/universityoflaw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/the-university-of-law
• Instagraminstagram.com/u_law
• TikToktiktok.com/@theuniversityoflaw
• Xx.com/universityoflaw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of Law