Written by Samuel Roberts

Regular Dilemmas for the Regular Student – Are Combined Honours Second Best, Or Second To None?

Crunch time; a time we all dread. When we need to make a decision we can panic, possibly causing us to make the wrong decision. When students are faced with the decision of what to pick for University, this can be that very time!

It was for me… So, what did I do? Simply put it off for a year. Lazy? I wouldn’t say so, just time to think. After all, they say patience is a virtue.

I needed a year out, not only to learn the skills of cooking and cleaning before I moved away from home, but to choose between my two favourite subjects, law and music. I later came across a course that let me do them both at Liverpool Hope University. Strange combination? I don’t disagree (though I’m not going to be a singing lawyer).

I didn’t want to just pick one, to later be kicking myself after my degree thinking, “I wish I picked the other”.

In my studies at the moment they are unrelated, which I knew they would be; I study law with the law students and music with the music students. I enjoy it entirely! Studying law (yes, I do enjoy this) whilst also writing songs, what’s not to love?

Combined Honours Degree – Work Experience Can Help You Choose For The Future

My experience at Duncan Gibbins Solicitors has been my first at a law firm. Having a lot of information to take in, it’s given me a great insight into a solicitor’s/trainee solicitor’s world. The more it I think about it, the more I want law to be the core of my career, though I don’t regret choosing a Combined Honours Degree. My career path is not yet a fully constructed plan, but with every piece of experience I acquire it becomes slightly clearer.

After University, if I did indeed decide to chase the law path, I wouldn’t feel that I’ve turned my back on music, but that I’ve made a sensible decision. I would eventually like to combine the two subjects, becoming a solicitor that specialises in music; I’d have my cake and eat it too!

The aim in writing this article was not to glorify Combined Honours Degrees, but to advise you, the reader, that decisions such as University choices deserve much thought, though you may not need to choose between your head and your heart after all.

Combined Honours Degrees – What DG Academy Says

Combining your interests can only be a good thing as it is important that you enjoy what you are studying. If you have an idea that you might want to pursue postgraduate legal qualifications, check that your combined honours is a qualifying law degree, or that you will have the option to take modules that make it qualifying.

If the answer is no, then please be aware that if you want to continue onto the Legal Practice Course or Bar Professional Training Course you will be required to take the graduate diploma in law (GDL) after your combined honours degree.

When completing a combined honours course make sure you highlight the benefits of choosing your subjects to future employers, and stress any cross over skills that you have developed as a result. If you decide law is your chosen path once you have started your degree, then demonstrate your dedication by undertaking as much work experience as possible. Whilst at university it is also important to take on extra curricular activities that relate to law such as joining a debating society or participating in mooting competitions.

Contact Us

If you have an article or story that you would like to submit to DG Academy (it looks great on your CV!) email Beth Nunnington at academy@duncangibbins.com for more information.

Please check out the rest of our website for all our legal career advice for law students. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @DG_Academy and like our Facebook Page for all the latest law jobs, work placements, blogs and videos.

The views expressed by DG Academy contributors are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to Duncan Gibbins Solicitors

All information is supplied in good faith but we accept no responsibility for any loss you may incur by following the advice here on these pages.