Law LLB (Hons)

Course Content

• Course Details

  The Law Team are passionate about social justice and making a difference within our communities. In 2019 we won the award for ‘University of Northampton Changemaker Team of the Year’. We received this award for our work in giving students as many opportunities as possible to make a difference in a range of communities such as volunteering, our Street Law Project, the Pro Bono Clinic, setting up charities and much more. We were commended for our ‘…commitment and passion to all their activities which provide law students with valuable exposure to real life experiences and situations and in no small way ensures that people without access to legal aid can gain justice’.

  You will find strong support for your studies from a dedicated team of well qualified staff. A number of our Law team have published books and journal articles and some regularly deliver papers at conferences both at home and abroad.

  Several staff members are external examiners or reviewers at other educational institutions; one is an Assistant Coroner and sits on professional body disciplinary panels and some are on committees examining national or international issues relating to Law. Our teaching team includes solicitors and barristers.  Our Law tutors hold Doctorate, Masters or professional qualifications and most are actively involved in legal research.  Many also take part in voluntary activities outside of work and will support you in your voluntary roles.

  Take a look at the blogs written by staff and students in the Law Division and check out what our Law students have achieved after graduation on our law case studies page.

  Modules

  Information about the modules on this course can be found on the LLB modules award map.

  If you choose to study Law with us you will benefit from a varied and imaginative modular scheme that is designed to offer you a wide range of options in addition to the foundation subjects that are required by legal professional bodies. Our approach to teaching and learning is centred around you, we ensure that we teach Law in its social, political, and economic context across all three stages of the course.

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• Entry Requirements

  Standard entry requirements apply. A typical offer would be BBC at A Level or DDM at BTEC. An Access Course must include 45 level 3 credits at Merit or above.

  We welcome international applicants and applications from those with a range of non-traditional educational or professional qualifications.

  For more information on how to make an application, please visit our How to Apply page.

  If you are an International student and would like information on making an application, please see our How to Apply page.

  Integrated Foundation Year Entry Requirements

  The standard entry requirements for the Integrated Foundation Year are DEE at A level or MPP at BTEC.

  For more information on how to make an application please visit our How to Apply pages for Home and EU, and International students.

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands for study at undergraduate level.

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

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• Fees and Funding

  21/22 Tuition Fees
  

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 21/22 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK Full Time: £9,250
  • UK Part Time: £1,465 per 20 credit module
  • UK Integrated Foundation Year: £6,780 for the foundation year; thereafter standard fees apply
  • International Full Time: £13,000
  • International Integrated Foundation Year: £13,000 for the foundation year; thereafter standard fees apply
  • Optional Work Placement Year: £1,000

  For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.

  Your reading materials are accessible from our library however, you may choose to purchase your own copy of the textbooks. New law textbooks cost in the region of £30-40 but you can often buy recent secondhand ones for much less.

  20/21 Tuition Fees
  

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK/EU Full Time: £9,250
  • UK/EU Part Time: £1,450 per 20 credit module
  • UK/EU Integrated Foundation Year: £6,750 for the foundation year; thereafter standard fees apply
  • International Full Time: £12,900
  • International Integrated Foundation Year: £12,900 for the foundation year; thereafter standard fees apply
  • Optional Placement Year: £1,000

  Additional costs

  Your reading materials are accessible from our library however, you may choose to purchase your own copy of the textbooks. New law textbooks cost in the region of £30-40 but you can often buy recent secondhand ones for much less.

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• Qualifying as a Solicitor

  Currently, if you want to a solicitor in England and Wales you can take a Qualifying Law Degree (usually three years), followed by the Legal Practice Course (one year), followed by a training contract (on the job training secured through a law firm, two years).

  Taking our Qualifying Law Degree enables you to gain an exemption from the current qualification process.

  From 2021 the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) are implementing changes to the current qualification process by introducing the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

  The Faculty of Business and Law continues to monitor these developments closely with a view to advising students about law career routes. We have also reviewed our curriculum to ensure that our legal education provision continues to prepare students effectively for legal practice and or professional careers more widely.

  Information from the SRA

  What is the SQE?

  The SQE is the Solicitors Qualifying Examination which will be introduced on 1 September 2021, subject to final approval from the Legal Services Board.  In the future, all those wishing to qualify as a solicitor will need to pass the SQE, as well as holding a degree or equivalent qualification or experience, complete a two-year period of qualifying work experience and meet our suitability requirements. SQE1 primarily tests candidates’ functioning legal knowledge, while SQE2 tests practical legal skills.

  Do you need a law degree to sit SQE1 and/or SQE2?

  No. However, to be admitted as a solicitor, you will need a degree (in any subject) or equivalent in addition to passing the SQE. ‘Equivalent’ means a qualification equivalent to a bachelor’s or master’s degree, such as:

  • a level 6 or 7 apprenticeship
  • a level 6 or 7 professional qualification

  If you don’t have an equivalent qualification, we may be able to count experience in the workplace as equivalent.

  How much will the SQE exam cost?

  The estimated cost of the two stages of assessment is between £3,000 – £4,500.

  SQE1 will primarily test the application of legal knowledge. The fees range estimate is £1,100 – £1,650. SQE2 will test practical legal skills. The fee range estimate is £1,900 – £2,850.

  The costs are based on an estimated 35 hours of assessment, including written tests, computer-based assessments and simulations such as mock client interviews. These costs are indicative, as we continue our work with Kaplan to develop and test the assessments.

  For more information please visit the SRA website.

  Accepting a place on the LLB by 21 September 2021?

  If you are looking to become a solicitor and accept our offer by 21 September to start this academic year (2021), then the SRA transitional arrangements will allow you to take either the existing Legal Practice Course or the Solicitors’ Qualifying Examination to complete the next stage of training.  If you accept the offer after that then you will only be able to take the Solicitors’ Qualifying Examination.

  Get more information on transitional arrangements and the solicitors qualifying examination.

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• Qualifying as a Barrister

  Our LLB course covers the seven foundations of legal knowledge which are required for the academic component of Bar training. On successful completion of the degree programme (with a 2:2 or above) students can progress to vocational component of Bar training.

  For more information please visit the BSB website.

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• Postgraduate Opportunities

  Our postgraduate courses are a great way to enhance the skills you have already learnt. Benefit from our 20% alumni discount on postgraduate fees to give yourself a CV that will catch the eye of employers.

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• Student Perks

  At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

  If you join this full time degree at Northampton you will receive a laptop when your course begins. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.

  Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

  To check out the full list of perks visit our Student Perks page.

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• Integrated Foundation Year (IFY)

  The Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) offers a new and exciting route into studying for a degree, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance.

  If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements for Law we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year Law programme which includes a Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award.

  Featuring a reduced tuition fee in the first year, our four-year courses will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.

  Please see our Integrated Foundation Year page for more details.

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• FAQs

  What are the methods of learning and assessments for this course?

  Our teaching includes a variety of methods underpinned by active learning. This ranges from lectures, tutorials, workshops, on-line learning, self-directed or collaborative study, experiential and problem-based learning. You, as the student, are at the heart of what we do. Through your participation you will engage with your peers and lectures in an interactive setting whereby you can critically engage with the syllabus.

  You can expect to put in 200 hours of work on each module that you study. You will normally have two hours of contact time, which could be online or face to face, per week with your tutor for each module.

  The University of Northampton Law Degree offers you a wide range of assessments to help you develop a diverse set of academic and professional skills.  Assessments have been carefully designed to help you build the skills you will need for the future. The skills you will acquire will not only help with preparation for entry to the legal profession but will also be highly desirable to graduate recruiters in a variety of sectors. Our mission is to produce high quality, adaptive and socially responsible graduates equipped to pursue successful careers in a variety of contexts. The assessment strategy is a combination of formative and summative assignments designed to enable you to learn and develop key academic and employability skills. These are the range of assessments that you can expect across your modules:

  • Client interviews
  • Essays
  • Advocacy
  • Commentaries on current legal issues both in a national and global context
  • A range of presentations individually and in groups
  • Multiple choice questions/exams/time constrained assignments

  Are there any extracurricular activities for this course?

  • Mooting, negotiating and client interviewing competitions
  • Use of purpose-built Moot Room to practice and develop advocacy skill
  • Street Law Projects
  • Opportunities to conduct research projects as student researchers to develop your academic skills which will also be useful for if you are considering other professions
  • Guest lectures from national and international speakers such as Judges and human rights advocates.
  • A thriving Student Law Society which organises social and professional activities.

  What is the learning and teaching like on the Law course?

  At the University of Northampton we are committed to your learning and use this to shape our teaching of Law in the following ways:

  • We appreciate that many areas of Law need context for them to be fully understood and so have shaped our course to reflect this. Our programmes are underpinned by social justice issues and we actively encourage you to explore Law in its wider context whether this is historic, social, moral or commercial.
  • Our Law team prides itself on its commitment to students. Tutors are available to support you throughout your academic studies. You can get further academic support through the Learning Development Team. You will also meet with your personal tutor on a regular basis where you can discuss your academic progress and get advice on future career prospects.
  • We are firmly committed to listening to students through regular drop ins, the Course Advocate system and through our termly Staff – Student Liaison Committees.

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Careers and Employability

By the time you graduate you will have developed a range of skills which will enhance your employability, whether in the legal profession or in another career.

We work closely with the University Centre for Employability and Engagement (UCEE), who will support you with your career planning.

You will also have the opportunity to attend the annual Law Careers Fair and University Careers Fair which offers the opportunity to meet with potential future employers.