LLB
Law with European Studies
An insight into law across borders and cultures
Course Overview
Why take this course?
A combination of subjects that explores the key principles of English and European Community law, investigating social trends within the European Union (EU) and how its member states interact with each other. Your insight into the EU, its government and politics will give you a unique edge in the law profession.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Undertake a one-year placement working in a paid full-time role, perhaps even in the country of the language you may opt to study
- Put your legal knowledge into practice in ‘real world’ situations by working in our Employment Law Clinic or new Debt Clinic
- Take the stand in our Mock Courtroom to argue your case for the jury
What opportunities might it lead to?
Our LLB courses are accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Bar Standards Board which allows you to progress to the training required to be a barrister or solicitor. Unusually, our law courses also offer the option to sit the Chartered Institute of Legal Executive (CILEx) practice papers, gaining full exemption from the academic stage required by the Institute. Successfully completing your degree and the CILEx papers will enable you to go straight on to seek work as a paid trainee Legal Executive.
Combining law with European Studies will put you in a great position to pursue a career in any international law firm, business and the institutions of the European Union.
Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:
- the police force
- probation and prison services
- management
- marketing
- further academic study to enter the law profession
The thing I like most about my course is the opportunity to be taught by qualified solicitors and barristers who have practiced for a number of years.
Valya Georgieva, LLB Law with European Studies student 2013
Key Facts
- UCAS Course Code:
- M1R8
- Duration
- 3 years full time, 4 years sandwich with work placement
- Entry
280 points from 3 A levels or equivalent.
Other qualifications- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man full-time students: £8,750 p/a*
International full-time students: £10,500 p/a*
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- bus.admissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 8200 - Department
- School of Law
Subject:
Law and Criminology
Find out what our students say about studying at Portsmouth, including:
- Putting their knowledge into practice in real and mock situations
- Practical hands-on opportunities to extend experience and practical skills
- Lecturers with practical experience in the subjects
Visit us at our open day
Wed 10 Jul
Structure & Teaching
Year one
This common first year provides you with an understanding of current developments in the legal profession and the legal services market. You’ll also be studying some topics relating to European Studies.
Core units in this year include:
- Legal System
- Contract Law
- Criminal Law
- Public Law I
- International Relations, States, Conflict and Cooperation
- Introduction to European Studies
- The Making of Modern Europe
- Political and Social Change in Contemporary Europe
- Europe in the Twentieth Century
Year two
In this year you will study realistic legal problems within a European context. You’ll also have many opportunities to learn from experiencing law in practice as a volunteer in one of our pro bono projects.
Core units in this year include:
- Land Law
- Law of Tort
- Employment law or Elements of Commercial and Consumer Law
- Careers and Research Management
- Public Law II
- Foundations of the European Union
- Governing the European Union
Options to choose from in this year include:
- Nation, Language and Identity
- Contemporary European Thought
- Language
Year three*
By this stage, you may have just completed a year of employment. You’ll return to your studies with relevant business experience and apply this to either a legal dissertation or project, or alternatively take The Reflective Practitioner Course, where students can gain credit for gaining practical experience of the legal system.
Core units in this year include:
- Equity and Trusts
- Discrimination and Human Rights
- Foundations of EU Law
- Economic and Social Law of the EU
Options to choose from in this year include:
- Protecting the Environment in the EU
- The Politics of Citizenship and Immigration in Western Europe
- Mass Communication
- France in the World
*This course is also available as a 4-year sandwich (work placement)
Teaching and Assessment
We place a lot of emphasis on student support and we aim to provide a stimulating and academically challenging learning environment. You will encounter a range of teaching methods, from lectures, seminars and tutorials to more practical learning experiences. This can include negotiation in our replica mock-court room and real-life clinical legal training.
How are you assessed?
Assessment is varied, with examinations forming an important, but not exclusive, part of the units you choose. Here’s how we assess your work:
- examinations
- coursework essays
- presentations
- participation in mock trials
- written moot arguments
Tutor's view
Claire Sparrow
Law
This qualifying law degree incorporates units in European culture, history and language which will give you a deeper understanding of how English law sits within the European Union. This degree would be ideal if you may be planning to work in another European country on graduation.
Visit us open day
Facilities & Features
Mock Courtroom
Be part of mock trials and moots in our mock courtroom
Volunteering at the Citizens Advice Bureau
Students giving advice
Mentoring
Our mentoring programme links you with legal professionals
University Library
Our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books
Mock Courtroom
You can be part of our full blown mock trials and moots in our mock courtroom. The £1 million development is an exact replica of a crown court, complete with dock, witness box, public gallery, jury room and interview rooms. Gain firsthand experience of a realistic court setting.
Volunteering at the Citizens Advice Bureau
We are proud to be able to offer some students the opportunity to train as advisers or mediators, and use their new skills to help others. Each year a small number of students train as Citizens Advice Bureau advisors in order to specialise in offering debt and legal advice to the population of Portsmouth.
Mentoring
We pride ourselves on the good reputation we have in the area. Maintaining good links with the Court Service in Portsmouth allows us to facilitate court visits, marshalling and even work experience. Our mentoring programme also brings in members of the legal profession who work in local solicitors’ firms, for the government and in a variety of other contexts and links them with you.
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
Studying this course, means you may wish to become a lawyer. But, due to its combined nature an even wider variety of careers will be open to you.
Your deeper understanding of the EU and the effect that it has on the laws of its member states will equip you to work in a variety of fields, perhaps in another EU country or as an advisor to a UK employer on specialist EU matters.
Roles our graduates have taken on include:
- designated detention officer
- legal clerk
- paralegal assistant
- business development executive
- paralegal
- environmental crime officer
- trainee probation officer
- firearms licensing operator administrator
Work experience
Boost your degree with the opportunity to undertake a one-year placement working in a paid full-time role which offers progression and a suitable level of responsibility. You will benefit from the contemporary business experience that employers demand, making you highly employable upon graduation.
We offer the option to become fully trained volunteer advice workers for the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) as part of the course. You may also participate in other schemes run under the umbrella of our innovative Pro Bono Initiative. These include:
- our in-house Employment Advice Clinic
- volunteering with Portsmouth Mediation Services
- Portsmouth Trading Standards
- Hampshire Police Constables
- new schemes include working with BID South and the British Red Cross
Career planning
6.04 minutes
Finding a job is a competitive business, but the statistics show that 89 per cent of our 2011graduates went into employment, further study or training within six months of finishing their degrees.
To make sure you take the right steps on your career path, we’re here to give you help, support and advice throughout your study. Even after you’ve graduated, we continue to give you support for up to five years.
Employers tell us that they want graduates to be able to demonstrate certain skills when they come out of university. Our courses take account of this. We make sure we prepare you for employment through work-related learning, projects, placements and working in simulated environments that are designed to prepare you for the working world.
Open Day
Our next open day is Wed 10 July
VISIT US! Have a look around and get a feel for what it’s like to live and study here. We’ll be on hand to talk to you about your course interests and show you all of our amazing facilities. You’ll also get to meet tutors and other students…
Application, Fees and Funding — find out more