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As this is a qualifying law degree, you can expect to learn the fundamentals of the profession from day one.

The compulsory modules in your first two years include an introduction to legal skills and methods, and insights into the key specialist areas of the subject. These include contract, land, criminal, human rights, constitutional and administrative law.

In your final year, you’ll need to complete one compulsory module on equity and trusts, but will then be able to choose from a wide range of options. These include Intellectual Property Law, Banking Law, Family Law, Commercial Law, Client Practice and Civil and Criminal Litigation.

If you take these last two options, you can gain the Higher Diploma in Paralegal Practice in addition to your degree.

You’ll be encouraged to ‘learn by doing’ by volunteering for the University’s much-admired Legal Advice Centre in Stratford and through work placements with local law firms.

Teaching methods vary throughout the course but you’ll find them all stimulating and challenging. You’ll learn through lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops and individual supervision, supported by digital materials, notes and handbooks.

You’ll also have the chance to learn through moots and mock trials in our own chambers.

You’ll be expected to carry out your own independent study to build on your learning, ensuring you develop valuable research skills and get out of the course what you put in. Our lecturers have strong links with the legal profession, so you’ll also have plenty of opportunities to learn outside of the lecture theatre and seminar room. If you play an active role throughout the course, joining in with debates and attending guest talks, conferences and events, you’ll reap the rewards.

Many of our students take the chance to help local people with real legal problems in our Legal Advice Centre, where practising solicitors give up their time to supervise and support you. This much-admired law clinic is a shining example of civic engagement in action – taking learning out of the classroom and, at the same, making a real difference to society. It’s highly popular with our students as well as the public, and the experience will give you a taste of what being a legal professional is all about.

Our Law course equips you with skills and knowledge that are in high demand from employers in a variety of fields.

Many of our students go on to enjoy successful careers as lawyers after completing their legal studies through the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and obtaining a training contract with a law firm.

Others become barristers, going on to take the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) and then obtaining Pupillage in barristers’ chambers. This can lead to a tenancy as a self-employed barrister, or you can practise as an employed barrister.

Whether or not you decide to pursue a career as a solicitor or barrister, you’ll learn skills and develop qualities that appeal to employers in a variety of sectors. These include valuable communication skills such as writing, speaking and presenting, and the ability to analyse and evaluate information.
Other career options include:
    • General management roles in the private or voluntary sectors, e.g. in finance, insurance, media or education.
    • Public administration, e.g. in local government housing, planning or legal departments.
    • Paralegal or legal executive work in a variety of sectors.

Some students move on to postgraduate study or enter other fields such as teaching or journalism.