COURSE IN DEPTH
Year One
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all of the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
Legal Systems
20 credits
The module has been designed to align with aspects of the functioning legal knowledge of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam.
The module aims to provide you with basic knowledge of what the law is, what are its sources and the main characteristics of UK and foreign legal systems.
The module provides foundational knowledge to support your study in Contract Law & Tort Law at Level 4, Criminal Law and Constitutional & Administrative Law at Level 5, Law of the European Union and the optional Comparative Constitutional Models module at Level 6 by providing you with foundational concepts to be developed further in these modules.
Foundations in Professional Skills
20 credits
The module aims to provide you with foundational skills to equip you for your future study in law and also your future personal and career development. You will explore some of the foundational transferable skills that are needed in order to successfully study the law, as well as starting a reflective process preparing you for a future legal or other career.
The module provides foundational knowledge to support your study in Professional Skillsat Level 5 by starting your learning in a range of professional skills such as time management, independent learning and reflection. Since it is vitally important that you begin your career reflection and management early, you will also start to think about your own career development and this will be taken further in Professional Skills at level 5.
Critical Legal Thinking
20 credits
This module aims to furnish you with the key academic and scholarly skills to enable to flourish as a legal scholar and succeed in your studies. The module’s primary goal is to introduce you to the skillset necessary to be part of the community of knowledge and practice which is united by the use of legal thinking and knowledge.
The module provides core legal skills which will support your study of contract and tort law at Level 4, and in all compulsory and optional academic legal modules at Level 5 and Level 6. It will develop your ability to find, interpret, apply and understand the law and its role. It will provide you with the foundations for subsequent modules in which you solve legal problems and/or seek to explain or understand the law.
Law of Tort
20 credits
This is a compulsory module which has been designed to align with aspects of the functioning legal knowledge of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam. The module will introduce theoretical considerations within the Law of Tort and its function in dispute resolution and with a focus upon concepts and principles of the Tort of Negligence.
The module builds on what you have learned in Legal Systems, Foundations of Professional Skills and Critical Thinking during Semester 1 of Level 4. You will consolidate your legal knowledge and you will be introduced to principles of dispute resolution in the context of the Law of Tort. You will identify facts and analyse legal issues, in order to identify solutions to legal problems.
Contract Law
20 credits
This is a compulsory module which aims to provide you with an appreciation of the relevant contractual principles such as offer, acceptance and consideration that are involved when parties enter into legally binding agreements. The module provides foundational knowledge to support your study in Business Law at level 5 as it introduces the context for the formation of commercial transactions which is an important aspect of business law.
This module aligns with the LLB course’s ethos of fostering the development of your autonomy and professional attributes through a rigorous education in law. To achieve this the module content has been designed to improve your knowledge of the substantive law as well as to prioritise the development of key transferrable employability skills, particularly those related to communication, research, commercial awareness and problem-solving.
Criminal Justice Process & Procedure
20 credits
Criminal Justice Process and Procedure aims to provide you with essential foundational knowledge of the criminal justice system in England and Wales, building upon what you have learned about the criminal justice system in English Legal Systems in Semester 1.
This module will introduce you to a range of contemporary issues in criminal justice, enabling you to develop key transferrable skills, such as legal research, written and oral communication, team-work and ability to formulate coherent, persuasive and well-reasoned arguments. This module will therefore provide essential foundational knowledge and transferrable skills to support your study in Human Rights and Criminal Justice and Crime and Punishment at Level 5, and for Advanced Criminal Law and Evidence, Proof and Argument at level 6.
Year Two
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all of the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
Land Law & Property Practice
20 credits
The module aims to provide you with an understanding of the legal principles and rules involved in land law and an introduction to property transactions (also known as conveyancing). You will consider how they operate in the wider social and economic context and the legal ethics of property transactions.
The module builds on the transferable skills that you developed in Professional Skills and Critical Thinking at Level 4 by developing the skills acquired .The module also provides foundational knowledge to support your study in the optional module Advanced Property.
Criminal Law
20 credits
The module aims to provide you with a comprehensive overview of the fundamental concepts and principles of criminal law together with some of the criminal offences against the person and against property and some general defences.
The module builds on what you have learned in Legal Systems and Criminal Justice Process at Level 4.It also provides foundational knowledge to support subsequent Level 5 and 6 Criminal Justice pathway options by the introduction of concepts, processes and ideology.
Professional Skills
20 credits
The module aims to providing you with an opportunity to develop certain transferable skills, principally oral skills, but also written skills and professional ethics. Workshops will take place in dedicated courtroom space to foster a professional approach.
The module builds on what you have already learned in Foundations in Professional Skills at Level 4 by developing your confidence further through the practice of oral and written skills, and by recognition of the need for resilience and emotional intelligence. The module also acts as a preparation for clinical placement modules studied later at Levels 5 and 6 by equipping you with oral, written and ethical awareness.
Constitutional & Administrative Law
20 credits
Building on the knowledge of British political and legal institutions that you acquired in Legal Systems at Level 4, this module will allow you to explore the UK constitutional framework in greater depth, and key constitutional principles that underpin British democracy.
You will develop a critical understanding of those UK constitutional institutions and you will also conduct research into the impact of Brexit on the sovereignty of the UK Parliament and Constitution. Judicial and non-court based mechanisms of control of governmental action, such as judicial review and Parliamentary Ombudsman, will be considered and you will critically assess the case-law that forms the basis of the unwritten British constitution.
Business Law
20 credits
The module will provide you with a comprehensive overview of key legal principles which determine and oversee business structures carrying out economic activities. In addition to addressing the available legal channels for conducting business, the module will also focus on the formation, management and decision-making procedures in private limited companies.
This module builds on knowledge acquired in the Contract Law module at level 4 and in particular, your prior knowledge of the formation of contracts will be relevant to further discussions on commercial arrangements where business organisations are contractual parties.
Human Rights & Criminal Justice
20 credits
This module will consider the relationship between the aims and purpose of the Criminal Justice System, the need to protect the public and fight crime with the requirement to protect the Human Rights of suspects and offenders.
The module builds on what you have learned in Legal Systems and Criminal Justice Process at Level 4 and Criminal Law at Level 5 by building upon your knowledge of the foundations of criminal law and the processes through which those charged and convicted of a criminal offences pass and their human rights at each stage. It will also provide foundational knowledge to support your study in Advanced Criminal Law and Evidence, Proof and Argument at Level 6 by the introduction of concepts, processes and ideology.
Final Year
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all of the following CORE modules (totalling 80 credits):
Equity & Trusts
20 credits
The module aims to introduce the concept of equity and how it interacts with the law to create the trust by building on what you have learned in Contract Law and Land Law at Levels 4 and 5 about equitable remedies and property ownership.
This module will develop your ability to undertake independent research while critically analysing the way in which the law applies to real life scenarios. It will do this by incorporating a rich, diverse and inclusive learning environment which draws upon the knowledge which you have already gained and challenging your understanding through group work and interactive materials taking a student-led approach.
Law of the European Union
20 credits
The module aims to familiarise you with the Law of the European Union, combining the study of theoretical and practical elements and the procedural and substantive foundations. The module examines and evaluates the structural organisation of the EU and the way its legal processes operate. This module contextualises the rules that derive from Europe within the legal institutional framework and also the way in which those rules affect business and wider society.
The module builds on what you have learned in Legal Systems at Level 4 and Constitutional & Administrative Law at Level 5 as it relates to the relationship between the structure of the EU and the English legal system, taking into account the UK’s status as a Third Party Country under EU Law.
You will also choose one of the following:
Dissertation
40 credits
The module aims to provide you with an intellectually stimulating and academically rigorous education in the preparation and successful completion of a dissertation. The module will explore some of the key aspects involved in the preparation of a dissertation which will be approached through a critical examination of the current law relevant to the chosen topic and through an emphasis on how the subject of the dissertation operates in context.
American Legal Practice*
40 credits
American Legal Practice (ALP) is an optional module. To be eligible for this module you must average a 2:1 across Level 4 and Level 5.
ALP prepares and facilitates you to apply for an internship in law a legal organisation in the United States (US), developing your legal systems knowledge and legal practice skill-set, and supporting you to create a high quality CV and Cover Letter as part of your career planning.
*Students wishing to study this module are subject to academic requirements specified by the Module Team
The United Nations: Law and Practice
40 credits
This module will provide you with critical knowledge of international humanitarian law, and international human rights law. It presents an overview of the Charter of the United Nations and engages with the International Bill of Rights and associated international legislation.
The module provides a simulated crisis and humanitarian disaster wherein you will engage in a Model United Nations’ Security Council. The crisis issues include: the necessity for a sanctions regime to stop the human rights violations of--genocide, torture, executions, famine, mass casualty medicine and the spread of disease, closure of schools, and border controls. To help solve the crisis, you will participate in the MUN through: (a) providing a UNSC speech; (b) engage in an alliance building activity with fellow member states, and; (c) draft a UNSC Resolution. The module will provide a critical examination of the historical and political backgrounds of the legal architecture of the UN, and how it works in practice.
Law in Practice
40 credits
Selection for the module is through application and interview.
The module aims to enhance your existing problem-solving skills, and provide you with opportunities to develop your ethical awareness and transferable employability skills through casework either in our Law Clinic, or on a pro bono placement (e.g. with Citizens Advice), in private practice, or in a clinical arbitration setting.
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following list of OPTIONAL modules:
Evidence, Proof & Argument
20 credits
Evidence, Proof and Argument aims to provide you with a comprehensive overview of the rules of criminal evidence and procedure in England and Wales. Your learning will revolve around a fictitious case studies, akin to a real-life case. The case study will provide you with a ‘practice-led’ experience in identifying and solving evidential issues that may arise in a criminal law trial, and by using authentic pre-trial documents, including witness statements, statements of proof and interview transcripts.
Advanced Criminal Law
20 credits
This module aims to provide you with an opportunity to examine in detail and critically reflect on some of the more complex criminal law principles and doctrines, as well as their underlying rationales.
The module builds on what you have learned in Legal System at Level 4, Criminal Law at level 5 and the Criminal Justice pathway modules that you have studied across Levels 4 & 5. As such you will be encouraged to consolidate your legal knowledge and use it to reflect on the scope of criminal law and critically analyse a variety of conceptual, moral and policy issues affecting criteria for attributing responsibility and blame to those who breach criminal prohibitions.
Crime & Punishment
20 credits
The aim of this module is to develop your understanding of the Criminal Justice System by examining due process in trial procedure and the aims and purposes of sentencing following conviction. It will provide you with an understanding of the fundamental principles of law and legal theory.
The module builds on what you have learned in Criminal Justice Process and Procedure at Level 4, by building upon your knowledge of process and procedure within our Criminal Justice System and from the Level 5 Human Rights and Criminal Justice module, which introduced a range of concepts, processes and ideology.
All core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.