One of the UK’s biggest law schools has reported a surge in profits, driven by an ‘optimised course and campus mix’ and a review of its costs base.

In the year to 31 May 2025, the University of Law Limited recorded a pre-tax surplus of £4.2m, up from £1.6m in the previous 12 months. Income climbed 6% from £162m to £173m, accounts filed at Companies House show.

Further growth is forecast for the current financial year, based on ‘current momentum, the application pipeline and a significant number of revenue generation initiatives targeting key international markets’.

ULaw’s board is chaired by former Cabinet minister Lord (David) Blunkett and includes eminent commercial lawyer Lord (Anthony) Grabiner KC. The fast-growing private university employs about 1,400 staff, including over 600 teachers, at seven UK campus locations and the campuses of nine partner universities.

In 2025, ULaw launched a new campus in partnership with Hull University to deliver postgraduate law programmes, while ending a partnership with the University of Chester. ULaw works exclusively with over 60 major law firms, including Clifford Chance, White & Case and Eversheds.

In the company’s strategic report, vice-chancellor and chief executive Professor Andrea Nollent noted that ULaw’s legal apprenticeship scheme continues to expand. Over 450 apprentices were onboarded last September alone. Its share of the undergraduate law market also grew, rising to 3.67% in 2023-24, ranking ULaw second only to the Open University.

Nollent added: ‘The consequence of the change from LPC [Legal Practice Course] to SQE [Solicitors Qualifying Examination] is the evolution and potential fragmentation of the solicitor training market, with some potentially lower-cost options appearing in the market, with the accompanying risk of new competition but also the opportunity to grow the customer market. Based on the latest available Central Applications Board (CAB) data, ULaw has maintained its position as market leader for the LPC and Conversion courses, alongside being the biggest SQE provider through the CAB system.’

Student numbers at the year end totalled 16,266, down from 16,828 12 months earlier. Nollent noted 'a significant decline' in international recruitment affecting ULaw’s business programmes, but added that there had been a ‘strong recovery’ for the June 2025 Business School intake.

Nollent, ULaw’s highest-paid director, was paid £397,000 in 2024-25, unchanged on the previous 12 months. Total directors’ remuneration was flat at £1.1m.

In accordance with Office for Students methodology, the report notes that Nollent’s basic salary is 7.5 times that of the median basic salary of all staff. Twenty-five ULaw staff earn more than £100,000 a year, and seven more than £190,000.

ULaw is owned by international education group Global University Systems.