Law (Joint Honours)

Three years full-time, or flexible part-time.

The course has been developed over the last 25 years to provide a contextualised study of Law. Students benefit from a varied and imaginative modular scheme, which is designed to offer students a wide range of options in addition to the foundation subjects identified by the legal professional bodies. We are committed to a student-centred approach to teaching and learning, so as well as ensuring we teach Law in its social, political, and economic context across all three stages of the course, we offer a wide range of additional voluntary activities, such as court visits, mooting, client interviewing and negotiating. There is also the Student Law Society, which organises social and professional activities for those students who wish to follow a legal career.

Students are required to study six modules at each stage - how many will be in the law field will depend upon whether you are studying Law as a major subject, a minor subject or as part of a Joint Honours degree. If you are majoring in Law and wish to use your degree to satisfy the professional legal bodies for exemption purposes, at least half of your degree must be in Law and must cover the seven foundation subjects identified by the Law Society and Bar Council. Guidance is given to those students who are interested in achieving this when they are making their module choice. 

Stage one

There are two compulsory modules, Law of Contract and Legal System. There are also a number of optional modules including Criminal Law, Sport and the Law, Legal History, Professional Legal Skills and Immigration, Nationality and Asylum.

Stage two

There are no compulsory modules at stage two and students can select from a range of modules including Law of European Institutions, Public Law, Law of Tort, Professional Legal Skills, Environmental Law, Child Law, Human Rights, Consumer Law, Criminal Justice, Law in the Community and Organised Crime.

Stage three

There is a compulsory dissertation at stage three but students can select from a range of option modules including Land Law, Intellectual Property Law, European Law, Company Law, the Law of Relationships, Sentencing and Penal Policy, Sale of Goods and Agency, European and International Human Rights, Evidence, Professional Legal Skills and Succession.

• Studied in a supportive environment
• Experienced staff
• Practical skills are developed

Stage one modules:

• Legal Systems (compulsory)
• The Law of Contract (compulsory)
• Law and Society
• Criminal Law
• Sport and the Law
• Legal History
• Professional Legal Skills 1
• Introduction to Public Law
• Immigration, Asylum and Nationality

Stage two modules:

• Civil Liberties and Human Rights in the UK
• Consumer Law
• Organised Crime
• Public Law
• Law of Tort
• Equity and Trusts
• Criminal Processes
• Professional Legal Skills 2
• Law and Human Rights
• Law of European Institutions
• Environmental Law
• Child Law
• Discrimination Law
• Law in the Community
• Financial Services Law

Stage three modules:

• Law and Government
• Land Law
• Employment Law
• European Law
• Relationships
• Terrorism
• Legal Advice in the Community
• Sentencing and Prisons
• Company Law
• Evidence
• Sale of Goods and Agency
• Medical Law
• Legal Theory
• European and International Human Rights Law
• Professional Legal System
• Intellectual Property Law
• Succession

Course outline

Law may be taken as a major, joint or minor subject in the Joint Honours degree programme. If Law is not taken as a main subject, students may still take one or two modules as 'electives'.

Subject aims

• To introduce students to the terminology and methodology of the law
• To demonstrate the pervasive influence of law in a civilised society
• To emphasise that legal rules are not an end in themselves and therefore cannot be divorced from the political, social, economic and business environment of the society within which they operate
• To encourage the student to think positively and analytically about the role played by legal rules in society
• To encourage the student to develop their communicative, analytical and research skills in a legal context
• To form part of a coherent programme of social science orientated or business orientated study

Assessment methods are varied. As well as end of module examinations, they also include written work (essay writing and problem solving), time-constrained assignments, presentations (group and/or individual) and project work.

Moot room.

The course utilises a wide variety of teaching methods appropriate to the different modules available. Many of these methods are heavily student-centred and involve activities such as presentations (group and individual), formally structured discussions, student-chaired debates and problem-solving exercises. In the course of these activities, considerable emphasis is placed upon the development of skills of analysis and evaluation and students are actively encouraged to conduct independent research and to develop, explain and defend opinions of their own.

Students majoring in Law can obtain partial or complete exemption from the academic level of training for solicitors and barristers. The Law units also provide a valuable foundation for students wishing to pursue careers in areas such as business, public administration, management or personnel.