Wider reading deepens your understanding of law, and demonstrating this can be highly beneficial when applying to Cambridge or Oxford, where you’ll be competing against exceptionally talented applicants from around the globe.
To support your preparation, we’ve consulted our expert law tutors and successful Oxbridge applicants to create a reading list that goes beyond the official university recommendations. By engaging with the resources in this guide, you’ll gain valuable material for your personal statement and interviews – and show genuine engagement with law. If you’ve decided to become a lawyer, this is your starting point.
How to Show Evidence of Wider Reading
The two main opportunities are your personal statement and your interview(s). Admissions tutors want to know why you’re drawn to law, how you’ve developed that interest, and how you plan to use your education in the future. Referencing your wider reading is one of the best ways to communicate this.
It’s not about listing every book or podcast you’ve consumed. What matters is showing how your reading shaped your thinking. Use references to highlight key ideas, explain your own opinions, and connect them to your personal interest in law.
For example, imagine you’ve read H. L. A. Hart’s Law, Liberty and Morality alongside Patrick Devlin’s The Enforcement of Morals. These two texts present opposing views on whether law should be guided by morality. Instead of simply naming them, you could explain why this debate caught your attention, summarise each stance, and then give your own perspective. This demonstrates genuine academic engagement and critical thinking – both qualities highly valued by Oxbridge when assessing law applicants.
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Oxford’s Law Reading List
Oxford’s recommendations are designed to give applicants a broad introduction to legal principles while encouraging them to stay engaged with current legal issues through newspapers, journals, and recent faculty research. The emphasis is less on mastering details and more on showing an ability to think critically about contemporary cases and debates. It’s worth noting that reading lists may vary by college and are updated annually, so applicants should always check the latest guidance on Oxford’s official website.
Recommended introductory books:
- A Bradney and others How to Study Law (5th edition, Sweet and Maxwell, 2005)
- T Murphy and S Roberts Understanding Property Law (4th edition, Sweet and Maxwell, 2004)
- C Ganz Understanding Public Law (3rd edition, Sweet and Maxwell,2001)
- J Adams and R Brownsword Understanding Law (4th edition, Sweet and Maxwell,2006)
- J Adams and R Brownsword Understanding Contract Law (4th edition, Sweet and Maxwell, 2004)
- C Clarkson Understanding Criminal Law (4th edition, Sweet and Maxwell, 2005)
- AW Simpson Invitation to Law (Blackwells, 1993)
- Smith and Bailey Modern English Legal System (Sweet & Maxwell, 4th edition, 2001) Part I
Oxford also recommends exploring recent publications by its law academics, available on the Faculty’s website. In addition, they suggest engaging with legal media such as BBC’s The Law Show, The Guardian’s law pages, Counsel magazine, and academic research videos, including:
Cambridge’s Law Reading List
Cambridge’s list goes beyond introductory textbooks by offering students a wider range of resources – from critical essays to podcasts and online platforms. This approach encourages applicants to explore law in its wider social, political, and ethical context, helping them to demonstrate curiosity and independent engagement.
Book recommendations:
- Barnard, O’Sullivan and Virgo, What About Law
- Berlins and Dyer, The Law Machine
- Bingham, The Rule of Law
- Kennedy, Misjustice: How British Law is Failing Women
- McBride, Letters to a Law Student: A Guide to Studying Law at University
- Williams, Learning the Law
Recommended Journals/Articles:
Recommended Websites:
Recommended Videos:
Cambridge Economics Reading List
Recommended Podcasts:
Recommended Activities:
Worried About the LNAT? Let The Big Book of Oxbridge Applications Be Your Guide
- A clear breakdown of what the LNAT involves
- Up-to-date information on test dates and format
- Targeted preparation strategies to help you study efficiently
- Practice questions that reflect the real test
Our Top Law Wider Reading Recommendations
When applying to study Law at Oxbridge, engaging with the official reading lists is essential as they provide a strong foundation and show you’ve done the expected preparation. However, most applicants will stop there. At UniAdmissions, with over a decade of experience supporting successful Oxbridge candidates, we know that the best students go further. Admissions tutors can quickly spot those who demonstrate genuine curiosity and independent thought.
That’s why we’ve curated our own wider reading list. These recommendations go beyond the official materials, helping you explore legal debates in greater depth, broaden your perspective, and develop the critical insights that make applications stand out.
Books
Barnard, O’Sullivan and Virgo, What About Law?
Outline:
This book looks at eight cases which developed the common law and were interesting in their own right.
Main Learning Points:
Gain an understanding of how the common law system works. Consider whether this is a good system or, as the book suggests, is disordered and arbitrary.
McBride, Letters to a Law Student
Outline:
This book is divided into sections which chronologically take you through applying and becoming a law student. It’s an honest discussion of the reality of being a law student,for better or worse!
Main Learning Points:
The practicalities of applying and studying law.
Helena Kennedy, Eve Was Framed
Outline:
Written by the Principal of Mansfield College Oxford, this is a great book to read for discussion points at interviews.
Main Learning Points:
Explores the disparity between men and women having legal careers. It also provides a more general critique of the UK legal system.
Tom Bingham, The Rule of Law
Outline:
This will most likely be on your summer reading list before starting the degree,so it’s highly relevant and good to get a head start.
Main Learning Points:
The Rule of Law is a prominent principle within UK constitutional law, one which you will study in detail. It relates to how laws can/should be made and enforced.
CMV Clarkson, Understanding Criminal Law
Outline:
If you’re especially interested in criminal law then this is a very informative book.Don’t worry too much about the detail, but it’s useful for an overview of the criminal justice system and develop your understanding beyond a lay person’s knowledge of criminal law.
Main Learning Points:
Understanding the concepts of ‘actus reus’ and ‘mens rea’ will put you in good stead for both interview questions on criminal law and for the criminal law paper.
Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale
Outline:
Although this is purely fictitious, it is a uniquely interesting case study which brings up many legal topics. If you’re looking for an edge in your personal statement or at interview then a discussion based on this dystopian society would be a great starting point.
Main Learning Points:
The novel depicts a world in which fertile women are enslaved to produce politicians’ children. It brings out moral repugnance, but try to engage with why you think this is ‘unfair’ or ‘unjust’.
Allan Hutchinson, Is Eating People Wrong?
Outline:
This book looks at eight cases which developed the common law and were interesting in their own right.
Main Learning Points:
Gain an understanding of how the common law system works. Consider whether this is a good system or, as the book suggests, is disordered and arbitrary.
HLA Hart, The Concept of Law
Outline:
This is an eminent text in philosophy of law and one which you will undoubtedly come across.
Main Learning Points:
Main learning points: Introduces the concept of‘jurisprudence’ (philosophy of law) and will challenge what you understand ‘law’ to be. Is it a set of rules made by Parliament or something much more?
HLA Hart, Law, Liberty and Morality
Outline:
This book develops Hart’s famous debate with Patrick Devlin about the relationship between law and morality.
Main Learning Points:
Examines whether the law should enforce moral standards, or whether individual liberty should prevail. Provides a foundation for thinking critically about the limits of legal authority and how far personal freedom should be protected.
Patrick Devlin, The Enforcement of Morals
Outline:
This is the counterpart to Hart’s work, reflecting the other side of the Hart–Devlin debate. Devlin argues that society has a right to enforce moral standards through the law.
Main Learning Points:
Explores the role of shared morality in maintaining social cohesion. Challenges you to think about whether certain behaviours should be legally regulated simply because they are considered immoral.
The Secret Barrister, Stories of the Law and How It’s Broken
Outline:
A highly accessible book written by an anonymous criminal barrister, exposing the realities and shortcomings of the English legal system.
Main Learning Points:
Provides real-world insight into how the justice system operates day to day. Highlights systemic issues such as underfunding, delays, and barriers to justice, making it an essential complement to more theoretical legal texts.
Jonathan Herring, Medical Law: A Very Short Introduction
Outline:
Part of the Oxford “Very Short Introduction” series, this text offers a concise entry point into medical law and its ethical dimensions.
Main Learning Points:
Covers key areas such as patient autonomy, consent, euthanasia, and medical negligence. Encourages you to think about how law interacts with medicine and ethics in dealing with some of society’s most difficult questions.
Helena Kennedy, Misjustice: How British Law Is Failing Women
Outline:
A passionate critique of how the legal system in the UK continues to disadvantage women, written by a leading human rights barrister.
Main Learning Points:
Examines gender bias in the law, from the treatment of women in criminal cases to wider systemic inequalities. Encourages reflection on how law can both protect and fail marginalised groups, making it valuable for applicants interested in law’s social impact.
Lord Denning, What’s Next in the Law
Outline:
Although quite old now, Lord Denning is an entertaining judge to read. These books go through various cases, including excerpts of his judgements,
and then explains the decisions in each case.
Main Learning Points:
Gives an insight into judicial reasoning and how cases are decided.
@uniadmissions Law book recommendations from a Cambridge Law student 📚 #cambridgeuniversity #law #lawbooks #podcast #lawschool ♬ Lofi Hiphop Relax in a dream(861056) - NARU
Online Resources
Online resources are a great way of keeping up to date with current information. Online resources are a great way of keeping up to date with current information. You should check in on these resources frequently.
Any news website
You should be up to date with current news and have some understanding of the workings of the UK political system.
The Lawyer
The Lawyer provides a helpful breakdown of news which is relevant and accessible to new lawyers.
Supreme Court
You can watch the Supreme Court live in action (which is very interesting, interviews aside!). You can also read up on cases which have been held in the Supreme Court.
Law National Admissions Test
The LNAT website provides practice tests and sample essays which are really helpful to look through in preparation for the test. We also have free LNAT and Oxbridge Law resources on our blog, so make sure to explore those.
E-LawResources
Their website provides short summaries on key cases for Contract, Criminal, Tort and Land law. It’s an invaluable resource and will give you a basic understanding of these topics.
Conclusion
Independent reading not only deepens your understanding of the subject but also gives you a competitive edge in the admissions process. It’s a habit worth developing early, as the majority of university-level study relies on independent learning.
While it’s important to read widely, don’t feel you need to cover everything at once – focusing on a few carefully chosen books, articles, or podcasts that genuinely interest you is far more effective. As you engage with these materials, reflect on key questions:
- Why does this interest me?
- What is the author’s main argument?
- Do I agree? Why or why not?
- How can I use what I’ve learned to strengthen my application?
If you are applying to study law at Oxbridge, wider reading is just one part of the preparation. Crafting a compelling personal statement, acing the LNAT, and performing confidently in interviews are equally important. At UniAdmissions, we’ve been guiding Oxbridge law applicants through every stage of the process for over a decade, achieving a success rate three times the national average. If you’re serious about studying law at Oxford or Cambridge, our Oxbridge Law Preparation Programme can help make it happen.
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FAQs
1. Why is wider reading important for Oxbridge law applicants?
Wider reading helps you understand the subject beyond your school curriculum and demonstrates intellectual curiosity – a quality Oxbridge tutors highly value. It also gives you concrete examples to reference in your personal statement and interviews, showing independent thought and engagement with legal debates.
2. How many books should I aim to read before applying?
While you should aim to read as much as possible, quality matters more than quantity. If you don’t have enough time, focus on a few books, articles, or podcasts that genuinely interest you. Reflect on what you learn and how it connects to your motivation for studying law. Admissions tutors prefer depth of understanding over a long list of titles.
3. Should I only read the official Oxford or Cambridge lists?
Official lists are a great starting point, but the strongest candidates go beyond them. Engaging with wider reading shows initiative and helps you form your own critical perspective on law. Our curated list includes both official recommendations and additional texts that are particularly useful for Oxbridge applicants.
4. How can I reference my wider reading in my personal statement or interview?
You don’t need to list every book you’ve read. Instead, highlight key ideas, explain your perspective, and connect them to your interest in law. For example, contrasting Hart’s Law, Liberty and Morality with Devlin’s The Enforcement of Morals shows your ability to engage with complex debates critically.
5. How can UniAdmissions help with my Oxbridge law application?
Our Oxbridge Law Preparation Programme provides tailored guidance on personal statement writing, LNAT preparation, and interview practice – helping you focus on what truly matters to secure an offer from Oxford or Cambridge.
