When Should You Decide on an Area of Law?
One of the most common questions we hear from aspiring lawyers is:“When should I decide what area of law to go into?”
The honest answer? There’s no single right time. For some, the decision is clear long before they start university. Others only discover their interests during their degree, after work experience, or even years into practice.
To explore this further, we recently ran a LinkedIn poll asking:
“When did you first decide which legal route to pursue?”
Before university - 46%
During my degree - 34%
Following work experience - 8%
I’m still figuring it out - 12%
The results highlight something important: the journey to choosing an area of law looks different for everyone. Let’s unpack what each stage can mean.
Deciding Before University (46%)
Nearly half of respondents felt they had already made up their mind before setting foot in law school. This group often comes from a place of strong motivation - maybe inspired by family, a news story, or a subject they enjoyed at school.
For example, some students know from the outset they want to become criminal barristers, driven by a passion for advocacy and justice. Others may be fascinated by business and decide on commercial or corporate law.
The advantage here is clarity ; you can tailor your module choices, work experience and extracurriculars early on. The risk, however, is narrowing your focus too soon, without exploring other areas you might enjoy.
Deciding During Your Degree (34%)
For many, university is where interests take shape. Exposure to subjects like contract, tort, family, or human rights law often sparks curiosity. Sometimes the area that seemed dull can become fascinating once real cases and consequences are explored.
Students in this category benefit from keeping an open mind. Trying out mooting, joining law societies, or attending guest lectures can provide insight into different specialisms. University is the perfect laboratory for testing your interests before committing.
Deciding After Work Experience (8%)
Only a small number in our poll said they chose their path after work experience — but for those who did, it was often the most decisive stage.
Spending time in chambers, firms, or legal clinics gives a glimpse of day-to-day life that no lecture can. You might discover you love the client-facing, fast-paced world of family law, or that you thrive in the detail-heavy environment of IP disputes.
Even a short placement can be transformative, cementing your interests or ruling out areas you thought you’d enjoy.
Still Figuring It Out (12%)
Finally, more than 1 in 10 admitted they’re still undecided. And that’s okay! Law is a diverse profession, and many practitioners switch areas later in their career. You don’t need all the answers now.
The key is to keep exploring: read judgments, attend open days, shadow practitioners, and reflect on what excites you most.
How to Explore Your Options
If you’re in the process of deciding, here are a few practical steps:
Follow your curiosity: Notice which cases or stories grab your attention in the news.
Test through practice: Clinics, mooting, and work experience reveal the real work behind the textbooks.
Talk to practitioners: Ask barristers and solicitors what they enjoy (and don’t enjoy) about their field.
Reflect on your skills: Do you enjoy detail and drafting (good for commercial work), or advocacy and persuasion (suited to litigation)?
A Tool to Help: The Area of Law Quiz
To make things a little easier, we’ve created an Area of Law Quiz on our website. It’s a light-hearted but surprisingly accurate tool that matches your personality and interests with possible areas of practice.
It doesn’t give you a final answer, but it does give you a starting point. Many students have told us it helped them consider areas they’d never thought about before.
👉 Take the quiz today and see which practice areas might suit you best. You may be surprised at the result!
Final Thoughts
Your path into law is uniquely yours. Some decide early, others much later. What matters most isn’t when you decide, but that you stay open, seek out experiences, and reflect honestly on what motivates you.
So whether you’ve known since school, discovered your interest during a degree module, or are still figuring it out, remember: your decision doesn’t have to be final today. The legal profession is broad, and your career will evolve with you.
And if you’re unsure where to start - why not let our quiz give you a nudge in the right direction?
