Cambridge Law Tripos: What to Expect

The Cambridge Law Tripos is a three-part degree (Part IA, Part IB, Part II) that balances doctrinal rigour with theoretical depth. Like Oxford, it is heavily supervised: most teaching happens in one-to-one or small group supervisions where students discuss written work with academics and practitioners.

Part IA (Year 1) is compulsory and covers Criminal Law, Contract Law, Tort Law, Constitutional Law, and Foundations of Law (legal methods, jurisprudence). The Foundations of Law paper is designed to develop critical thinking about the nature of law early — students read Hart and Dworkin in their first term. Exams are sat at the end of year one.

Part IB (Year 2) builds on IA with Land Law, Equity, and European Human Rights Law as compulsories. Students also choose one or two electives from a growing list: Company Law, Public International Law, Labour Law, and more. Examinations follow in May.

Part II (Year 3) is almost entirely elective. Students choose from around 25 options including Advanced Contract, Criminology, Competition Law, Intellectual Property, Tax Law, and International Disputes. A dissertation (optional) can replace one paper. This year is where Cambridge students develop the specialist knowledge that makes them attractive to commercial firms and the Bar.

Cambridge uses a classing system: First, 2:1, 2:2, Third. Firsts in Part IA and IB are awarded to roughly 25–30% of students — higher than Oxford — reflecting a more lenient marking convention. The practical upshot is that both degrees are regarded identically by employers: what matters is which class you achieve, not which university you attended. Prepare with our Cambridge BA flashcard decks.