LLB
Law
Study the foundations of English and European law
Course Overview
Why take this course?
Ever wondered who makes the law and what influences them? Or what the rules actually are for being arrested and charged? These are the sort of topics you will discuss as part of this course.
From mock trials to mooting – we also aim to give you as much practical experience as possible to propel you into the legal profession.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Undertake a one-year placement working in a paid full-time role
- Put your legal knowledge into practice in ‘real world’ situations by working in our Employment Law Clinic or new Debt Clinic
- Train as Citizens Advice Bureau adviser or a mediator in order to specialise in offering advice to the public
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.
However, law graduates are in demand, not only from law firms but other organisations where legal knowledge may be useful, such as commercial companies or public bodies. There’s no doubt that you will find our course a valuable qualification.
Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:
- the police force
- probation and prison services
- community safety
- crime prevention
- criminological research
- further academic study to enter the law profession
I like the course because it is taught with an emphasis on practical skills.
Alexander Brown, LLB Law student
Key Facts
- UCAS Course Code:
- M100
- Duration
- 3 years full time, 4 years sandwich with work placement
- Entry
300 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 current developments in the legal profession and the legal services market. You’ll also acquire skills in speaking and writing persuasively by taking part in advocacy and negotiation exercises in class.
Core units in this year include:
- English Legal Systems
- Contract Law
- Criminal Law
- Law and Society
- Public Law
- Art of Persuasion
Year two
In this year you will study realistic legal problems to set the rules of evidence in context. You will also use a variety of techniques including audiovisual re-enactments, role-playing and mock trials to develop your understanding.
Core units in this year include:
- Law of Evidence
- Land Law
- Law of Tort
- Research and Professional Development
Options to choose from in this year include:
- Family and Child Law
- Employment Law
- Elements of Commercial and Consumer Law
- Intellectual Property Law
- 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 achieve credit for gaining practical experience of the legal system.
Core units in this year include:
- Equity and Trusts
- EU Law
- Discrimination and Human Rights
Options to choose from in this year include:
- Company Law
- Family and Child Law
- Intellectual Property Law
- CILEx Level 6 Practice Papers
- Evidence and Advocacy
- Public International Law
*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 courtroom 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
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.
The course has a designated law librarian who is extremely helpful in finding your way around the maze of books in the library and more importantly in researching in the run-up to coursework deadlines. An active law society ensures the organisation of a variety of informative events such as the mooting competitions, guest speakers and bar trips.
Ruqayya Datoo, LLB Law student 2013
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
Studying this course means you may wish to become a lawyer. But there are many types of lawyer, from the traditional professions of the barrister and solicitor to the legal executive (the third legal profession), to paralegals, and those working for advice centres, public bodies (such as trading standards) and legal departments within commercial or voluntary sector organisations. There is certainly a range of career options.
Law graduate don’t always pursue careers as lawyers. You will find this course is highly sought after on graduate trainee schemes in a variety of different sectors including human resources/recruitment and financial services.
Roles our graduates have taken on include:
- designated detention officer
- legal clerk
- paralegal assistant
- business development executive
- environmental crime officer
- trainee probation officer
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.
I want to qualify as a solicitor after I graduate. During my course I have taken the opportunity to participate in the Employment Law Clinic. It has helped me to gain many valuables skills in legal research, case management, client interviewing and law correspondence. Also, through the Law Society I have had the chance to participate in competitions and events that enabled me to get to know trainee solicitors, barristers and many more. All these connections have helped with my CV, training applications and planning my future career. I happily recommend the School of Law at the University of Portsmouth to all future students interested in pursuing a law career, you can't get any better!
Laura Gabriella Panzaru, LLB Law student 2013
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