Print article
Author
Author
Lord Denning is a prominent figure in every law student’s textbooks and is widely regarded as one of the greatest judges of the 20th century. But did you know that before embarking on his impactful legal career, Denning studied Mathematics at Magdalen College, Oxford before a short spell teaching the subject?
The journey from maths teacher to trainee solicitor may not be the most conventional route into the profession, but this is the journey that I have found myself on. I studied maths at university and taught the subject for eight years before pursuing a career change into law. Throughout my recent PGDL and SQE studies, I lost count of the number of times someone would crack a joke to my class along the lines of: “We know you all want to become lawyers because you can’t do maths.” Yet the more time I spend as a trainee, the more convinced I am that a maths background is surprisingly good preparation for a career in law.
For anyone considering a career in law from a maths background – here’s why you may be better prepared than you think.
Law is structured problem-solving
University-level mathematics isn’t so much about arithmetic, it’s more about constructing arguments. You start with assumptions, apply established principles, build a logical chain of reasoning and test it for weaknesses. Legal analysis works much in the same way. A client presents a problem – a complex transaction, a dispute or a strategic business decision. The legislation and case law form the framework. You analyse the facts, apply the principles and the discipline of “showing your workings” translates into presenting a clear, commercially sound conclusion. If there is a gap in reasoning, it will show.
Precision is powerful
In mathematical proof, wording matters. The difference between “if” and “if and only if” changes everything. Law is no different. A misplaced definition, an ambiguous clause or an overlooked assumption can shift risk dramatically. A mathematical background encourages you to ask:
- Does this provision cover every scenario?
- Where could this interpretation be challenged?
- Does the working achieve the desired outcome?
These habits can be invaluable in legal drafting.
The numbers come in handy
While legal practice is about far more than calculations, there are moments when being comfortable with numbers makes a real difference. This became especially apparent during the SQE syllabus where maths calculations featured far more often than expected.
Since joining Michelmores, I have often found myself being the ‘go-to’ person for precise calculations – from calculating interest due on unpaid sums, to calculating the rent apportionment due on the sale of a property subject to a lease. These tasks aren’t the headline-grabbing aspects of a dispute or a transaction, but they do matter. Being confident with numbers enables you to explain them clearly to colleagues and clients alike and has a real-world financial impact.
Comfort with complexity
One of the most valuable things about studying mathematics is that it teaches you how to sit with something difficult. Transactional legal practice in particular involves navigating intricate frameworks: title investigations, corporate structures, financing arrangements, options, overages – the list goes on. To the unfamiliar trainee, these can look really intimidating, but mathematicians spend years working with abstract systems. Learning to break problems down, tackle them step by step and trust the process applies just as much to a real-life legal scenario as it does to a complex algebra question.
For students and career changers
If you’re a student from a non-law background or a career changer, you may think you’ll be at a disadvantage. In reality, law firms value different ways of thinking and thrive on diverse perspectives. Studying mathematics taught me how to think rigorously, communicate clearly and solve problems under pressure – skills which are hugely relevant to legal practice. The technical legal knowledge can be learnt, but the mindset developed from a non-law degree or previous career can be invaluable – just look at Lord Denning.