Most law degrees or conversion courses begin with the core foundations – areas like criminal law, contract law, and public law – which form the backbone of legal education.
But beyond these lie numerous specialisms, from commercial and intellectual property law to lesser-known fields like shipping law or media and sports law. Some of these are explored through elective modules at university; others can be pursued through postgraduate study or hands-on experience in practice.
Getting to grips with these areas early on not only helps shape your academic direction – it also strengthens your applications for vacation schemes, pupillages, and training contracts. Your chosen specialism will influence the types of firms or chambers you approach, the clients you work with, and the opportunities available to you in the UK.
If you’re still mapping out your path into the legal profession, our comprehensive guide on How To Become a Lawyer in the UK outlines everything you need to know – from subject choices at school to qualifying routes and career tips – to help you plan with confidence.
In this guide, we’ll break down the areas of law in the UK, highlight which are in demand, and explore which sectors offer the highest earning potential.
Different Areas of Law in the UK
Each area of legal practice comes with its own unique challenges, client types, and professional settings.
Below, we’ve grouped some of the key law areas to help you build a clearer picture of the legal landscape and where your interests might align. As the legal field continues to evolve, new areas may emerge – but the ones outlined here offer a strong starting point for your exploration.
Common Areas of Law Practice
The core areas of law are the essential building blocks of legal education and form the foundation of most qualifying law degrees in the UK. These subjects are typically required in both the LLB and conversion courses (like the GDL or PGDL), and offer a grounding in how the legal system operates across public and private sectors. These typically include:
Criminal Law
Criminal law – possibly one of the most popular areas of law – governs offences against the state or society, such as theft, assault, or murder. It involves investigating alleged crimes, prosecuting offenders, and ensuring justice is served through trial, maintaining the fairness and function of the justice system. Careers in this area often lead to roles as solicitors, barristers, or legal advisors working in prosecution, defence, or public bodies like the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or the Public Defender Service (PDS).
If you choose to pursue a career in criminal law, it’s essential to maintain a discreet, impartial, and non-judgmental approach, as you may work with clients who are vulnerable, mentally unwell, or potentially dangerous. Don’t let this intimidate you though – while this field can be challenging, it is also very rewarding, offering the chance to uphold justice, protect individual rights, and make a meaningful impact on people’s lives.
Contract Law
Contract law is another core area of law practice, covering legally binding agreements between parties. It underpins commercial transactions and personal arrangements alike – from employment contracts to business deals and loan agreements. A solid understanding of contract law is vital across both litigation and transactional work in many legal careers.
Few areas of law demand as much precision and attention to detail as contract law. Strong time management skills are also essential, as the role often involves long hours and tight deadlines. Despite the challenges, it can be a highly lucrative and intellectually rewarding career path for those who excel in structured, analytical work.
Tort Law
Tort law deals with civil wrongs and the duty of care individuals owe one another. This includes negligence, defamation, nuisance, and personal injury claims. Practitioners in this area often represent clients seeking compensation or defending against liability claims.
Working in tort law can require quick, strategic thinking – particularly in cases involving libel or slander, where reputations are on the line. Timely legal intervention may stop harmful content from being published or circulated, helping to prevent lasting damage.
If you’re proactive, empathetic, and thrive in fast-paced, people-focused environments, this area of law might be a great fit for you!
Banking & Finance Law
Banking and finance law governs the lending and borrowing of money, covering everything from complex corporate finance deals to retail banking regulations. Lawyers in this field advise banks, lenders, borrowers, and investment firms on legal and regulatory matters related to loans, debt recovery, acquisitions, securities, and insolvency.
This is a high-pressure, fast-paced area of practice, often involving large sums of money and international transactions. To succeed, lawyers need strong attention to detail, commercial awareness, and the ability to interpret and apply financial regulations with precision. Due to its complexity and importance to global markets, this field tends to offer some of the highest salaries in the legal profession.
Public Law
Public law governs the relationship between individuals and the state. In the UK, public law includes constitutional law, administrative law, tax law, and criminal law. Legal professionals in this area may work in government, regulatory bodies, or NGOs, often engaging with judicial review or public interest litigation.
A key component of public law is constitutional law, which outlines the fundamental rules and principles governing the structure and operation of the government. It includes matters like the separation of powers, the rule of law, and the roles of Parliament, the executive, and the judiciary. While the UK doesn’t have a single written constitution, its constitutional framework is made up of statutes, common law, and conventions – all of which play a central role in ensuring government accountability and protecting individual rights.
Public law may also intersect with private law areas – for example, while an employment contract falls under private law, workplace health and safety are governed by public law.
Civil Law
Civil law broadly refers to the legal framework that deals with disputes between individuals and/or organisations. It encompasses areas like property, family, and contract disputes. Unlike criminal law, civil law typically involves seeking remedies or compensation rather than criminal sanctions.
Practising civil law can involve anything from helping clients navigate divorces to representing them in business disagreements or claims over wills and inheritance (which, arguably, are more common than one might think). Whether working in private practice or in-house, civil lawyers often develop strong negotiation and client management skills, as many cases are resolved through mediation or settlement rather than going to court.
Specialist Areas of Law
Once you’ve mastered the foundations of law, you may be drawn to one or more specialist fields that align with your interests, values, or career goals. These areas often require additional training or on-the-job experience and may open doors to niche industries or high-demand sectors. Whether you’re passionate about the environment, business, or human rights, there’s likely a specialist area that suits your strengths and ambitions. Let’s explore some of these below:
Commercial Law
Commercial law governs the legal aspects of business and commerce, covering everything from company formation and mergers to trade disputes and regulatory compliance. For example, a commercial lawyer might help negotiate and draft the terms of a merger between two international tech companies, ensuring the deal complies with UK competition law and that both parties’ interests are legally protected.
This area is crucial to the functioning of both small businesses and multinational corporations. Careers in commercial law are often fast-paced, well-paid, and may involve advising clients across multiple jurisdictions. Key skills required for commercial law include negotiation, commercial awareness, and people/stakeholder management. Additional commercial work experience in a non-legal setting can also be beneficial for aspiring commercial lawyers.
Employment Law
Employment law regulates all sorts of relationships between employers and employees and matters related to the workplace. It covers topics such as discrimination, workplace rights, termination, redundancy, and contracts. With ever-changing legislation and the rise of remote work and gig economy concerns, this area is more relevant than ever. Practitioners often act for either employees or employers and may work within firms, unions, or corporate legal teams.
To excel as an employment lawyer, you need to be agile and adaptable, as workplace laws and regulations frequently change. Strong communication skills are essential for negotiating and advising clients effectively, alongside staying up to date with the latest developments in employment law and labour market trends.
Family Law
Family law focuses on matters such as divorce, child custody, adoption, and domestic abuse. It’s a diverse and people-focused area of law where empathy, emotional intelligence, and negotiation skills are key. Though often emotionally charged, many find family law highly rewarding due to the opportunity to support vulnerable individuals through significant life transitions.
Shipping Law
Also known as maritime law, shipping law covers legal disputes and regulations related to shipping, trade routes, and international waters. It can include cargo claims, insurance issues, piracy, and shipping contracts. Due to its global nature, this is a specialist and often lucrative niche – ideal for those interested in international business or transport law.
Shipping lawyers often work closely with contract, commercial, and tort law, as the majority of disputes in this field revolve around contractual matters. Having a solid understanding of, or direct experience in, the shipping industry is highly valuable for navigating the complexities of this sector.
Sports & Media Law
Sports and media law covers a diverse range of legal issues related to the sports, entertainment, and media industries. Lawyers in this field often handle matters involving contracts, intellectual property rights, defamation, privacy, and regulatory compliance. Whether it’s protecting copyright and trademarks, addressing libel or slander claims, or managing data privacy concerns, this area requires a versatile legal approach.
For example, a sports lawyer might negotiate a multi-million-pound endorsement deal for a professional athlete, ensuring contract terms protect their client’s image rights and income streams. Meanwhile, a media lawyer could defend a broadcaster facing a defamation lawsuit after airing allegations about a public figure, carefully balancing freedom of expression with reputational harm.
Careers in sports and media law demand excellent communication skills, commercial awareness, and the ability to navigate multiple areas of law – including finance, tort, and employment. While this field is sometimes perceived as glamorous, it rarely involves mingling with celebrities. Instead, lawyers often work behind the scenes on complex legal matters. The working environment is typically more informal and fast-paced than in traditional legal sectors, but the financial stakes can be high, requiring sharp diligence and strong professional judgement.
Immigration Law
Immigration law addresses the legal status and rights of people moving across borders. It involves visa applications, asylum claims, deportation defence, and nationality issues. For example, immigration lawyers may work with clients who make applications or permanent residence in the UK, and appeal Home Office decisions.
Often emotionally intense and politically sensitive, this field suits those committed to social justice, human rights, and working closely with individuals from diverse backgrounds. An excellent knowledge of the immigration system and Home Office is essential, as well as being able to work under pressure and tight deadlines. You should also have good people skills, patience, and the ability to communicate with people whose first language is not English.
Intellectual Property Law
Intellectual property (IP) law protects the rights of creators over their original works – including inventions, literary and artistic works, symbols, names, images, and designs – primarily through copyright, trademarks, patents, and design rights. It plays a crucial role in sectors like media, technology, fashion, science, and entertainment, where innovation and brand identity are core assets.
Success in this area requires strong analytical skills, an eye for detail, and an appreciation for creativity and innovation. IP lawyers must also stay attuned to commercial and cultural trends, as well as developments in digital technology and global markets. Flexibility is key, as the work often involves juggling multiple projects across different industries. The ability to clearly explain complex legal protections in simple, client-friendly terms is another essential skill in this field.
Environmental Law
Environmental law concerns regulations that protect the natural environment, including climate change, pollution control, conservation, and sustainable development. As global awareness of environmental issues grows, so does demand in this area. Practitioners may work for NGOs, government bodies, or corporations with green initiatives.
The introduction of the Environmental Protection Act in 1990 represented a key milestone in the UK’s commitment to environmental legislation. Although environmental law has gained prominence over the years, it remains a relatively specialised field. Purely environmental law practices are rare; in most firms, lawyers dealing with environmental matters often come from related departments such as property, construction, or project finance.
To succeed in environmental law, strong analytical skills are essential for interpreting complex legislation and scientific data. Equally important are research and writing abilities, as much of the work involves drafting reports, compliance advice, and legal arguments. Finally, a genuine interest in sustainability and public policy helps lawyers stay motivated and effective in this dynamic, socially impactful field.
Technology and Data Protection Law
This fast-evolving field deals with legal issues in data privacy, cybersecurity, AI, and digital platforms. With legislation like GDPR shaping how data is collected and used, demand for tech-savvy legal professionals is on the rise. It’s ideal for those interested in law, innovation, and digital ethics.
Health and Medical Law
Health and medical law covers issues like patient rights, medical negligence, consent, and public health policy. Legal professionals in this field often work alongside healthcare providers, regulators, or insurers. It combines a strong ethical dimension with opportunities to shape healthcare delivery and policy.
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Highest Paying Areas of Law in the UK
While passion and interest often drive career choices in law, it’s no secret that certain specialisms can offer a higher earning potential – and it doesn’t hurt to know which. High-paying legal careers, however, typically require advanced expertise, strong commercial awareness, and often, long hours in fast-paced environments. Below are some of the most lucrative areas of legal practice in the UK – many of which are sought after by top firms and in-demand globally.
Corporate and Commercial Law
According to Reed, the average Commercial Lawyer salary in the UK is £69,751, though this figure can vary significantly based on location, experience, and employer. At top-tier firms in London, salaries can reach £115,000 or more, reflecting the high demand and competitive nature of the field.
Banking and Finance Law
The average salary for banking and finance solicitors in the UK is around £71,000, according to Reed. In London and at leading firms, this can rise to £115,000+, particularly for lawyers working in structured finance or regulatory compliance.
Intellectual Property Law
According to Glassdoor, the average IP lawyer in the UK earns approximately £59,000, with salaries reaching £80,000 or more at IP-focused firms or in-house roles at tech and media companies.
International Arbitration and Tax Law
These fields can be highly lucrative. Average salaries start around £60,000, but experienced lawyers at global firms or in international organisations can command salaries of £120,000–£150,000 or more, depending on seniority and client base.
Areas of Law in Demand in the UK
If you’re considering a career in law, it’s worth understanding which practice areas are currently in high demand across the UK. Legal demand often shifts in response to changes in the broader macro environment – including the economy, political landscape, evolving regulations, and global trade dynamics. For instance, the introduction of new immigration policies can lead to increased demand for immigration lawyers, while periods of economic uncertainty tend to elevate the need for experts in commercial, property, and finance law.
In recent years, areas such as cybersecurity law, environmental law, and employment law have also seen a noticeable rise in demand. The growth of tech-driven industries and increased regulatory scrutiny on data privacy have made technology and data protection law particularly important. Similarly, sustainability commitments and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) regulations are pushing environmental and energy law into the spotlight, especially for firms working across infrastructure, construction, and corporate compliance.
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Property Law
Property law remains one of the most consistently active areas of legal practice in the UK, largely driven by the country’s ever-evolving housing market, changing regulations, and economic fluctuations. Whether it’s residential conveyancing, commercial leasing, or landlord-tenant disputes, legal professionals in this sector are always in demand.
Several key developments have contributed to the sustained – and at times growing – demand for property law expertise. The UK housing crisis, marked by high demand and limited supply, has led to increased transactions and legal scrutiny, especially in urban centres like London and Manchester. Additionally, the temporary stamp duty holiday introduced in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic created a surge in property purchases, causing a ripple effect across conveyancing and real estate legal services.
More recently, new legislation like the Renters Reform Bill – which aims to abolish Section 21 “no-fault” evictions and introduce a Decent Homes Standard in the private sector – has further raised the need for legal guidance for both landlords and tenants. Moreover, changing planning laws, leasehold reforms, and the growing trend of build-to-rent and green housing projects continue to shape the legal landscape.
Immigration Law
Immigration law has become one of the most dynamic and in-demand legal areas in the UK, driven by major political shifts, global events, and frequent changes to legislation. Lawyers working in this field support individuals, families, and organisations navigating visa, asylum, and residency issues within a system that is constantly evolving.
Demand surged following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union in 2020. Brexit brought an end to free movement between the UK and EU, introducing a new points-based immigration system. This shift created a significant need for legal advice, particularly for EU citizens seeking settled status and businesses needing guidance on hiring overseas workers.
Additionally, the war in Ukraine, crises in Afghanistan, and the UK government’s changing stance on asylum and deportation policies have further increased the workload for immigration lawyers. Meanwhile, controversial proposals such as the Rwanda deportation scheme and tightened rules on family reunification have added to the legal complexity and urgency in many cases.
Environmental Law
Environmental law is steadily gaining prominence in the UK legal sector as public concern about climate change, pollution, and sustainability continues to rise. While traditionally viewed as a niche area, recent years have seen a notable increase in demand for lawyers with expertise in environmental regulation, compliance, and green energy projects.
The introduction of the Environment Act 2021 marked a significant turning point. As the UK’s first major environmental legislation post-Brexit, it introduced legally binding targets on air quality, water resources, biodiversity, and waste management – placing new obligations on businesses and local authorities alike. This has led to a surge in the need for legal guidance on compliance, especially in the construction, manufacturing, and energy sectors.
Additionally, the UK’s net zero emissions target by 2050 and international agreements like the Paris Climate Accord have spurred investment in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure. This growth has created opportunities for lawyers to advise on large-scale green projects, environmental impact assessments, and planning disputes.
Health Law
Health law in the UK has become an increasingly vital and dynamic area of legal practice, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The unprecedented strain on the NHS and the evolving healthcare landscape have led to heightened scrutiny of healthcare regulations, patient rights, medical negligence, and public health policy – all of which require strong legal expertise.
Key developments, such as the Health and Care Act 2022, have reshaped the structure and governance of the NHS in England, introducing integrated care systems (ICSs) and creating new legal frameworks for collaboration across health and social care. This shift has increased demand for lawyers who can navigate regulatory changes, draft compliance policies, and advise on contracts between public and private health providers.
The pandemic also brought renewed attention to medical ethics, vaccine mandates, data sharing, and the balance between individual rights and public safety – issues at the heart of health law. Meanwhile, rising medical negligence claims and patient safety concerns continue to fuel demand for solicitors skilled in litigation, risk management, and dispute resolution.
Commercial & Corporate Law
Commercial and corporate law remains one of the most in-demand and influential areas of legal practice in the UK.
Recent years have seen increased demand for commercial lawyers, driven by economic uncertainty, the impact of Brexit, and the ongoing evolution of international trade agreements. As companies restructure and adapt to new regulatory frameworks, they require legal professionals who can help them manage risk, negotiate complex transactions, and stay compliant with both domestic and international laws.
The rise of tech startups, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) requirements, and investment in renewable energy and infrastructure projects have also broadened the scope of commercial law. Corporate lawyers are increasingly involved in cross-border deals, intellectual property matters, and supply chain contracts, making this a fast-paced and highly strategic sector.
Cybersecurity & Privacy Law
The Data Protection Act 1998 initially uncovered a new legal sector – Cybersecurity and Privacy Law. The introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the revised UK Data Protection Act in 2018 significantly strengthened legal protections around personal data privacy. More recently, new proposals such as the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill and the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, outlined in the King’s Speech, indicate the government’s continued focus on regulating the digital space.
Cybersecurity law has become increasingly prominent due to several high-profile data breaches. Notably, the WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017 disrupted over 60 NHS trusts, highlighting major vulnerabilities. In more recent years, British Airways, among other major organisations like the BBC and Boots, faced serious breaches – including a payroll provider hack in mid-2023.
How to Choose the Right Area of Law to Specialise In
Choosing the right legal specialism should start with understanding your own interests, values, and strengths. Are you drawn to helping individuals, influencing policy, working with businesses, or shaping innovation?
Your personality plays a big role too – if you enjoy fast-paced problem-solving, you might thrive in corporate or litigation work, while those with empathy and patience may prefer areas like family or immigration law. It’s also worth thinking about the kind of work you find intellectually rewarding, as genuine interest will sustain motivation throughout a long legal career.
Additionally, some areas, like commercial and finance law, offer higher salaries but often come with long hours. Others may offer better work-life balance but more modest earnings. It’s important to weigh your expectations realistically. Availability of training contracts or pupillage in certain areas may also influence your options early on.
Finally, consider long-term career growth – sectors like data protection, environmental, and health law are expanding rapidly. By balancing passion with pragmatism, you can identify a legal path that fits both your goals and the future of the industry – and by reading this guide you have already taken the first step!
Conclusion
As you can see, the legal profession offers a wide range of specialisms – from criminal and family law to corporate, environmental, and technology law. Each area comes with its own challenges, rewards, and working styles, meaning there’s likely a path that suits every personality and interest.
If you’re considering a career in law, it’s important to research your options, seek out internships or shadowing opportunities, and reflect on where your strengths and values align.
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