University of Cambridge Faculty of Law

A. The Law course at Cambridge is intended to give a thorough grounding in principles of law viewed from an academic rather than a vocational perspective. There are opportunities to study the history of law and to consider the subject in its wider social context. The emphasis is on principle and technique. Skills of interpretation and logical reasoning are developed, and students are encouraged to consider broader questions such as ethical judgement, political liberty and social control.

B. Although many undergraduates who read law do so with the intention of practicing, many do not, preferring instead to go into administration, industrial management or accountancy. Candidates intending to read law need not have studied any particular subject at school. It is common for undergraduates to have a scientific or mathematical background at A-level as it is for them to have studied history or languages.

C. Undergraduates reading law for three years take Part I A of the Tripos at the end of the first year. This comprises four papers: Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, the Law of Tort and Roman Law. In the second year five subjects are studied for Part I B of the Law Tripos which is taken at the end of the year. The range of subjects on offer is wide – from Family Law to International Law – though in practice most undergraduates take Contract and Land Law as two of their papers. In the third year, five subjects are studied for Part II of the Tripos. The range of options is even wider than the Part IB. According to preference an undergraduate may develop his or her interest in property law (including trusts and conveyancing law), commercial law, public law (including Administrative Law and EEC Law), or in more academic and sociological aspects of law, such as Jurisprudence, Legal History, Labour Law and Criminology. Candidates may also participate in the seminar course, submitting a dissertation in place of one paper.

D. Candidates for the postgraduate LLM take any four papers selected from a wide range of options in English Law, Legal History, Civil Law, Public Law, International Law, and Comparative Law and Legal Philosophy.

1. The text has four paragraphs marked A, B, C and D. Read the text and decide which paragraph:

1. gives information about the subjects students can study on a first degree course

2. explains the general purpose and method of the course

3. gives information about Master’s degree course

4. says what most law students do before and after they go into university

2. Find words or phrases in the text which mean the following:

1. In paragraph A

Example 1: basic education – grounding

Example 2: relating to a profession or occupation – vocational

1. abilities

2. the process of logical thinking

3. relating to moral principles

2. In paragraph B

   1. follow a course (such as Law or Medicine) at university

   2. working in a profession

   3. to work in

3. In paragraph C

   1. examinations

   2. things you can choose

   3. a long piece of academic written work

3. Reading for detail.

First check that your understand the questions below, then read the text carefully to find the answers.

1. Does the course (1) give an academic legal education or (2) teach students to become lawyers?

2. What intellectual abilities does the course develop?

3. Does the course only include strict (pure) law?

4. Do most Cambridge Law graduates become lawyers?

5. Should people who want to read law study (1) science subjects or (2) humanities (history, languages, etc.) at school?

6. Can students choose the subjects they study in the first and second years of the law course?

7. Do students have the same options in the second year and in the third year?

8. Must students take an exam in all the subjects they study?

9. How many exams do postgraduates take?