Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (graduate entry)

When you complete your studies for this qualification, you will have demonstrated your competence in each of the following areas:

Knowledge and understanding

On completion of this degree, you will have knowledge and understanding of:

• The concepts, values, rules and principles of the legal system of England and Wales, and some awareness of the powers exercised by the devolved legislatures in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales

• A range of areas of substantive law of England and Wales and their impact on individuals and society

• The social, political, economic, historical and ethical dimensions of law

• The impact of technology on the law.

Cognitive skills

On completion of this degree, you will be able to:

• Ask and answer appropriate questions about law and legal systems, identifying gaps in your knowledge,

• Combine and criticise various sources of legal authority, identify their merits and shortcomings, and make a reasoned choice between them,

• Apply legal principles and authority to develop reasoned answers to questions,

• Recognise ambiguity, and deal with uncertainty in the law.

Practical and/or professional skills

On completion of this degree, you will be able to:

• Conduct independent legal research

• Identify, retrieve and evaluate legal information from a range of electronic and other sources

• Communicate clear, relevant and accurate legal information in language appropriate to the intended audience,

• Acknowledge the sources of information that you have used, in a style appropriate to the task

Key skills

On completion of this degree, you will be able to demonstrate the ability to:

• Communicate relevant ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing,

• Work with a range of textual, numerical and statistical data,

• Reflect on your own learning and development, making effective use of feedback, and demonstrating a willingness to acknowledge and correct errors,

• Collaborate effectively with others, including negotiating, undertaking and performing agreed tasks.

In this graduate entry version of our law degree:

• You’ll start at Stage 2, building your knowledge of contract law and public law and choosing two modules to focus on aspects of law that are of particular interest.
• Finally, in Stage 3, your modules will be determined by you choosing either the Foundations of Legal Knowledge route, the Academic Law degree route, or the Solicitors Qualifying Examination route.

Stage 2 (120 credits)

You'll study both of the following:

• Public law (W211)
• Contract law (W212)

You’ll also study two of the following:

• Business and employment law (W240)
• Evidence law (W250)
• Family law (W230)
• International, environmental and space law (W260)

Students who intend to progress to an LLB and aim to be a solicitor or barrister in Northern Ireland will need to study Evidence law (W250).

Stage 3 (120 credits)

Foundations of Legal Knowledge Route

You'll start with the following:

• SQE: legal system, public law and criminal litigation (W321)

You’ll also study the following:

• SQE: property and private client law (W322)
• SQE: business law and dispute resolution (W323)
• European Union law (W330)

Academic Law Degree route

You’ll start with the following:

• Trusts law (W311)

You’ll also study three of the following:

• European Union law (W330)
• Exploring legal boundaries (W350)
• Justice in action (W360)
• Law, society and culture (W340)
• Land law (W312)

Solicitors Qualifying Examination route

You’ll start with the following:

• SQE: legal system, public law and criminal litigation (W321)

You'll study the following:

• SQE: property and private client law (W322)
• SQE: business law and dispute resolution (W323)

You’ll also study one of the following:

• European Union law (W330)
• Justice in action (W360)
• Law, society and culture (W340)
• Trusts law (W311)

Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods

Materials on all modules will be delivered online using a module study planner. You will also be directed to third-party materials through the online module units.

You are provided with opportunities to enhance your learning by engaging with fellow students, tutors and other members of the module team via online tutorials and forums. Some modules may provide additional online sessions, for example, library sessions led by library staff and module-wide briefings.

Assessment is designed to include a range of formative and summative tasks appropriate to the stage of study including online activities and written assignments. Each Stage 2 module will also include regular interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs) to prepare those students wanting to be a solicitor in England and Wales as SQE1 is assessed entirely by multiple-choice questions.

Stage 2 and 3 modules will be assessed by single component assessment comprising a mixture of iCMAs, tutor-marked assignments (TMAs), end-of-module tutor-marked assignments (emTMAs) and end-of-module assessments (EMAs). Online tutorials will usually occur before the submission of TMAs, emTMAs and EMAs and will be an opportunity to ensure you have consolidated your knowledge and understanding of the relevant materials and acquired general and legal study skills to enable you to complete the assessment.

Assessment will be scaffolded appropriately through the degree so that you have the opportunity to practice your skills in formative assessment before any summative assessment. The level of complexity of the assessment will also increase incrementally across the modules, stages and degrees building upon previous assessments to support you in acquiring the necessary skills.

You will have access to a Law Undergraduate Guide which will set out guidance on assessment including the meaning of commonly used words and phrases in assessment tasks and the characteristics expected of assessment in each assessment scale.

Skills for career development

As independent learners, law graduates have developed literacy, communication, problem-solving, presentation, numeracy, cognitive and organisational skills, and can apply an academically coherent methodology to current debates in law. This is excellent preparation for a career as a legal professional and is also an asset for many careers such as roles in finance, commerce, human resources, education, local and central government, the voluntary sector or management.

Career relevance

Studying law opens up many career options, whether in law or law-related fields, including solicitor, barrister, legal executive and paralegal. Solicitors and barristers usually work in private practice, in central or local government, commerce, industry, the armed forces or in professional bodies.

Other careers

The knowledge and skills you will gain from studying this degree are recognised and highly respected by employers outside the legal profession. Roles in finance, human resources, local government or general management all benefit from a legal background and from the discipline of studying law.

Other relevant jobs include Citizens Advice Bureau caseworker, Crown Prosecution Service caseworker, magistrates' court legal adviser, court reporter or administrator, licensed conveyancer, patent attorney, trademark agent, teacher, or lecturer in law.

Many graduate-level jobs are open to graduates of any discipline, particularly in business, finance, management consultancy and the public sector. Some careers may require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree.

With our unique approach to distance learning, you can study from home, work or on the move.

You’ll have some assessment deadlines to meet, but otherwise, you’ll be free to study at the times that suit you, fitting your learning around work, family, and social life.

For each of your modules, you’ll use either just online resources or a mix of online and printed materials.

Each module you study will have a module website with

• A week-by-week study planner, giving you a step-by-step guide through your studies

• Course materials such as reading, videos, recordings, and self-assessed activities

• Module forums for discussions and collaborative activities with other students

• Details of each assignment and their due dates

• A tutorial booking system, online tutorial rooms, and your tutor’s contact details

• Online versions of some printed module materials and resources.