How to get into the UK’s top law degree programme (even if it seems impossible)

For many high school leavers, a law degree at the London School of Economics (LSE) feels out of reach.

LSE is “the top university in London.” Undergraduate law degrees in the UK are notoriously competitive, let alone one from LSE.

In 2024, the university received approximately 28,000 applications for just 1,850 spots. This intense competition means that even meeting or exceeding the entry requirements does not guarantee an offer, and many highly qualified applicants are disappointed each year.

The odds are even less in their favour for those applying for law. Only one application gets an offer for every 15 applications. 

This low acceptance rate comes as little surprise to high school graduates applying to law programmes.

LSE Law School is consistently ranked among the best globally. In 2024, it secured the seventh spot in the QS World University Rankings for Law and in 2025, was named the UK’s third-best law school by The Complete University Guide. 

So, what does it take to secure a coveted spot at this elite institution?

Mehar Suri, who successfully gained admission to LSE’s LLB Bachelor of Laws programme, has the answer. 

“For LSE, the most important thing is the personal statement, and they’re very clear about this on their website,” she says. 

The International Baccalaureate is ‘really helpful’ when applying to a law degree

Born in Punjab, India, Mehar began life as an international student at a young age. After moving to Sweden as a child and spending two years in the UK, her family settled in the Netherlands, where she has lived for over a decade.

There, she attended the International School of Amsterdam (ISA), a trailblazer in offering the complete International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum from Pre-School to Grade 12.

“I completed the entire IB programme at ISA, from the Primary Years Programme to the Diploma Programme,” she says. “Having done the IB for most of my education, it felt like the natural next step for me to take instead of A-Levels.”

For students weighing their options between A Levels and the IB, Mehar advocates for the IB. While the IB demands a broader scope — covering math, science, language, English, and humanities — its benefits are undeniable. 

“You have to cover all the bases, and I found that it’s been really helpful in university,” she says. “The topics and themes from subjects I might not have been interested in otherwise still come up in my studies.”

Her hard work paid off when she scored highly on her IB Diploma Programme, earning her the Honour Award: Academic Distinction. Behind this achievement was a combination of dogged discipline and the seizing of every opportunity. 

“What I meant by taking every opportunity means taking every chance to practise and get feedback,” she says.

“This meant going to teachers and asking a lot of questions about a topic until the concept was crystal clear. I was weaker at math and practised every day until those exercises became second nature.”

When exam season approached, she took preparation to the next level. “I promise you, I did every exam-style question available,” she says. 

For Mehar, it was never an option to leave revision to the last minute. In fact, she started preparing for her finals two years ahead. 

Treating every assessment like an exam helped her build confidence and sharpen her skills.

Choosing LSE’s law degree

Growing up, Mehar had many interests, but a common thread tied them all together: a fascination with people and their interactions within society.

Over time, she realised that what intrigued her most was understanding how people behave when governed by rules.

Her interests ranged from global and domestic politics to economics, but everything always pointed back to our choices.

“I can’t say law was always my passion, but people are my passion, and the law stems from it,” she says. 

She believed that understanding the law would empower her and allow her to help others navigate the system.

This interest solidified during her time in the IB programme. 

For instance, while studying economics and global politics, she often encountered references to the law — whether it was competition law or human rights. But these were just cursory treatments.

Mehar, however, was struck by how powerful and protective laws could be. It ignited her curiosity, making her eager to explore these concepts further.

Out of thousands of law schools in Europe and beyond, Mehar could have gotten into many with her IB grades.

Instead, she stuck with LSE as she sees herself as a social science person.

“If I didn’t study law, I’d probably have studied political science, international relations, sociology, business, or economics,” she says. “I think you can’t understand law without understanding how it connects to all these areas.” 

LSE caught her attention because of its focus on social science. 

Unlike schools like King’s College London or UCL, which offer a wide range of degrees, LSE is known for its strong emphasis on social science.

This was precisely what Mehar was looking for — a place where she could study law in the context of society and explore other subjects like international relations or sociology at a high level.

“The law is all about context,” she says. “At LSE, law is studied in its societal context. It’s not purely about academic theory, as some other universities focus on.”

How to successfully apply to one of the best law schools in the world

In 2022, Mehar applied for a law programme at LSE starting in September 2023. At the time, the application requirements included academic achievements, a personal statement, two academic references, and the National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT), which many LLB Bachelor of Laws applicants are required to take.

The LNAT consists of reading comprehension and essay writing.

Reflecting on her application process, Mehar believes she got in because of her personal statement — which she considers one of the best pieces of writing she’s ever put her name to.

“I spent months working on it, gradually developing my ideas over time,” she says.

“For LSE, the most important thing is the personal statement, and they’re very clear about this on their website. Even if you go to any of their open days, they’ll always emphasise this, especially in law. From my understanding, the LNAT score matters but the personal statement even more. The LNAT essay is less relevant in LSE’s eyes.”

For Mehar, the personal statement was her opportunity to speak in her voice.

“It’s your chance to demonstrate an authentic motivation for studying law, grounded in your own experiences,” she says. “It’s also about proving that you can engage critically with academic theory, articles, and current events — and showing how these have inspired your interest in law.”

She viewed it as a chance to show LSE what kind of student she would be if admitted: curious, motivated, and deeply engaged.

“Ultimately, it’s about convincing them you’ll thrive in their academically rigorous environment,” Mehar says. 

The result? She was accepted into the programme. 

But getting into LSE was just the start of a new set of challenges. Mehar quickly realised that university-level law is far more demanding than high school.

One of her new biggest hurdles was learning how to write legally. 

“Legal writing is something I’d never done before, and it’s not easy,” she says. Another challenge was learning how to read cases effectively — how to skim-read them and still manage to take concise and comprehensive notes.

Fortunately, Mehar could cope thanks to a summer internship experience she had while at ISA.

She interned at global law firm Allen & Overy for two weeks, during which time she learned how to write succinctly and synthesise information into digestible pieces for professionals.

“It prepared me for university by giving me insights into the skills I now use daily,” she says. “For example, I write all the time. Legal writing requires brevity and clarity. Delivering presentations is something we do constantly, and it has supported some of my academic interests.”

At LSE, first-year exams are closed-book, designed to test deep understanding and the ability to apply principles. “This forces you to internalise everything, really understand it, and be able to apply it,” Mehar says. 

Beyond legal writing and exams, Mehar had to confront another challenge: adapting to LSE’s fast-paced, career-focused culture.

“At LSE, people are always looking for the next opportunity, and applications are always happening,” she says. “I point this out because it’s not for everyone. But it was for me.”

Though the constant pressure can sometimes feel like a lot, it motivates her as someone who’s always been career-driven and constantly searching for opportunities. “I’m surrounded by people like that,” she says.

Now in her second year, the pace has only intensified with more competitions and a greater need to strike a study-life balance. “The reading doubles, and you start leading societies, applying for internships, and looking ahead to postgraduate opportunities,” she says. 

And when she’s not busy doing all that, Mehar has taken on a research position with Professor Jeremy Horder as well, where she edits the chapters for in his upcoming publication.

“There’s so much to do, and sometimes it feels overwhelming,’ she says. “But I’m managing it and know I’ll get through it.”

Important advice for anyone applying for a law degree

For many, the application journey can feel overwhelming, but she’s learned that reaching out for help can make a difference. One of the best advice Mehar offers to students applying to university — or those already enrolled — is to seek guidance from others. 

“The people already at the university probably know a thing or two about how your statement will be received, and they can be a great resource,” she says.

In fact, Mehar has received so many messages from A Level and final-year students asking for feedback on their personal statements — something she’s always happy to give detailed responses.

She believes such outreach is smart and wishes she had done the same earlier. 

“I had LinkedIn from a very young age, but I never made use of it,” she says. “I don’t know why I never thought about it.”

Once at university, reaching out to seniors for tips and tricks and trying to understand the system can be incredibly powerful. Mehar herself reached out to seniors during her first year, and she continues to do so today.

“They’ve been the best source of advice and personal development,” she says. “I owe so much to those kind and talented peers for offering their guidance.”

Looking ahead, Mehar’s future goals are clear. “I want to become a commercial solicitor, helping businesses and people grow while managing risks,” she says.

“On a broader scale, I aim to make life better for others, even in small ways. I want to use the protective power of the law to achieve that.”