Law with Legal Practice LLB (Hons)
This applied and practical LLB law degree, with real client work and workplace skills, prepares you for being a solicitor, or a chartered legal executive.
Key information
UCAS code:
M1M2
Accreditation:
This course is Accredited
Typical offer:
112-120 UCAS points from 3 A levels, or equivalent
Showing content for section Overview
Overview
This LLB (Hons) Law with Legal Practice degree offers a practical way to enter the legal profession. You'll graduate ready to work as a trainee legal executive and have the option to start your career with completed industry qualifications, thanks to our CILEX accredited modules.
This course is designed around the outcomes you’ll need to study for the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE), so you'll cover all the foundations of legal knowledge and have plenty of opportunities to build your practical skills. You’ll be able to demonstrate more practical experience of dispute resolution, legal drafting and legal practice than on our other law courses.
With professional skills modules included in all levels of study, you’ll develop key solicitor skills such as negotiating, client interviewing and legal writing. And by working with real clients in our Legal Advice Clinic you'll also gain three months of work experience that can count towards your qualifying work experience for the SQE.
If you choose to complete an optional paid placement year before or after your third year, you’ll graduate with a year of industry experience too.
Course highlights
- Gain real-world legal practice skills in legal writing, litigation, advocacy and applied law such as business or property practice
- Help local people solve their legal issues by working in our Legal Advice Clinic, or taking our Community Lawyer module, where you'll work with partners such as the British Red Cross or Citizens Advice
- Get a head start on studying for your SQE exams after graduation through teaching and assessment that's designed with these exams in mind — as well as through our partnership with Barbri, the world’s largest legal exam preparation experts
- Develop professional skills for the legal workplace in our dedicated skills module
- Benefit from teaching that's shaped by expert staff who have been practising lawyers and who understand how the legal landscape is changing
- Take a 1-year optional paid placement in a business or local law firm before or after your final year of study, with support from our Placement Team throughout the application and placement process
How to become a lawyer
Are you feeling a bit confused about what kind of lawyer you'd like to be and which training route you should follow?
Read our blog to learn the differences between solicitors, barristers and CILEx lawyers and what training you'll need after your degree.
Contact information
Contact AdmissionsFacilities and clinics
Develop your legal practice skills working with real clients
Legal Advice Clinic
Volunteer in our Legal Advice Clinic where you can help Portsmouth residents with their real legal problems, such as consumer or employment issues.
Watch this short video to find out how it works and what students think of the experience.
Gemma Hargrave (tutor):
The legal advice clinic is a live clinic. We have real life clients coming in. They ask us questions about any area of law. We have students who are from level six at the university who come in and work in the clinic. They do it as part of a module called the Law and Practise Module. Rather than doing a dissertation and writing 10000 words, they come into the clinic every week and work with clients to work out their problems.
Callum Goddard (student):
So I chose to take part in the legal clinic for a number of reasons, really, having gone through a sort of assessment process with a law firm, I realised in myself that I sort of had a lack of examples to draw on in terms of how I can demonstrate my competencies to future employers. So for me, it was really beneficial to get some proper legal experience.
Gemma Hargrave:
So, the student role at the clinic is as a legal advisor. They will see the client, they will gather information from the client and then they will go away and research the problem.
Jack Macfarlane (student):
What I gained from taking part in the legal advice clinic was very much the interpersonal skills that I developed from speaking with everyday people that had everyday issues.
Gemma Hargrave:
The legal advice clinic benefits students in their further studies and future careers because it gives them the opportunity to have real life experience of the law, but it lets them build on those skills that they've got, so skills that they will have to take into the workplace: communication skills, organisation skills, they'll know how to deal with a difficult client. These are all skills, whether they go into the law or not, that will really help them in their future careers.
Katie Yeoman (client):
The legal advice clinic has helped me on mainly discrimination law. Because I'm transgender, I face discrimination and I've taken action and they've helped me sort things out. Working with the students, they've responded really well, and if they didn't know what the answer was, they've gone away and they've either emailed me or phoned me. So the students have been really good.
Callum Goddard:
In terms of how the legal clinic has helped me and my future role now, I think the clinic was really great at building those core skills of a lawyer: conducting interviews, taking the time to research matters and then also having the confidence to deliver the legal outcomes. The clinic is unmatched really for how it can develop you in those areas.
Gemma Hargrave:
I'm incredibly proud of what the students have achieved over the years. We've written multiple witness statements for some clients that have enabled them to be able to keep contact with their children in the future. We have had one case where students were able to prevent, on the day, an illegal eviction of a client who would be homeless without that help. The students have been able to take what they've learnt in the clinic and then make a real impact in the community.
Learn your craft in our courtroom
Replica Crown Court
Watch this short video to discover our replica courtroom and see where you'll practise trials and take part in mooting competitions.
The benefits of having a replica Crown Court are that if one of our students wants to be a barrister in the future or a solicitor advocate, then it really gives them the opportunity to practise a trial and various court hearings in a courtroom setting.
Although this is a crown court, so it's a criminal court, we also use it for civil cases too. We're one of the only universities in the country that has a replica courtroom. This really gives students, when they go on from university, some really important skills that are valuable not only in a legal career, but also in a lot of other careers as well.
The student Law Society do a lot of activities in here, run mock trials, mooting competitions, and it gives our students really a chance to let their hair down and have a bit of fun in here.
We use the wigs, we use the gowns, we get a real judge in and we've got the cameras in here so you can go and film your performances.
You can -- it's a really good learning space. It's so lovely to see how our students grow in the years that they're with us. Our replica courtroom helps us to do that.
Community Lawyer module
Work with one of our partners to apply your learning by giving them legal advice. Partners have included the British Red Cross and Citizens Advice.
Entry requirements
LLB (Hons) Law with Legal Practice degree entry requirements
Typical offers
- A levels - BBB-BBC
- UCAS points - 112-120 points from 3 A levels, or equivalent (calculate your UCAS points)
- T-levels - Merit
- BTECs (Extended Diplomas) - DDM-DMM
- International Baccalaureate - 29
You may need to have studied specific subjects – find full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept.
English language requirements
- English Language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.
See alternative English language qualifications.
We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.
If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Ideal skills and qualities for this course
As well as meeting the entry requirements for this course, we're looking for people who have good reading and writing skills and who are curious about the world.
You do not have to be a confident speaker or presenter to get a place on this degree; we'll help you develop those skills throughout the course.
We look at more than just your grades
While we consider your grades when making an offer, we also carefully look at your circumstances and other factors to assess your potential. These include whether you live and work in the region and your personal and family circumstances which we assess using established data.
Careers and opportunities
This course is specifically designed to maximise your employability as a future solicitor or chartered legal executive. When you graduate you'll be ready to apply for work immediately as a paralegal or trainee legal executive, or go on to study for your SQE exams. You'll have lots of practical experience to talk about at job interviews.
It's worth noting that chartered legal executives can now become judges, coroners, advocates and partners in law firms.
Non-legal careers
If you decide you don't want to go on to be a lawyer that's fine. Law degrees are in the top 10 degrees for employability, as you'll graduate with a wide range of transferable skills that will make you very employable across a range of other sectors.
Law is an incredibly flexible degree. If you don't believe us, take a look at our blog about the 7 reasons to study law.
Ongoing career support – up to 5 years after you graduate
Get experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience.
Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to help you find your perfect role.
Work placement year
You can boost your employability even more by taking an optional paid placement after your second or third year of study.
Previous law students have had placements in organisations such as:
- Verisona Law
- Opus 2 International
- GE Capital
- Oracle
- Rolls Royce Motor Cars
Whatever your career ambitions, our placements team will be there to help and guide you and you'll maintain contact with your tutors throughout the year.
The average salary for a 12-month paid placement is £19,800 for students in the Faculty of Business and Law. It could be more or less than this amount depending on your placement. You'll only pay a very small percentage of your tuition fee for this year.
You could also choose to set up your own business, or take a voluntary placement.
Modules
Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.
In each year, you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits. For example, 4 modules worth 20 credits and 1 module worth 40 credits.
This degree course meets all the 7 foundations of legal knowledge.
Modules
Core modules in this year are:
-
Contract Law - 20 credits
-
Criminal Law - 20 credits
-
Planning Your Professional Journey L4 - 20 credits
- Public Law - 20 credits
- The English Legal System - 20 credits
- Tort - 20 credits
There are no optional modules in this year.
Your core and optional modules in this year will depend on whether you're taking the CILEx route. We will help you choose the right modules to meet your career ambitions.
Core modules include:
-
Equity and Trusts - 20 credits
-
Human Rights Law - 20 credits
- Land Law - 20 credits
-
Practical Writing and Professional Skills - 20 credits
Optional modules this year include:
- Advocacy - Practice and Theory (Level 6) - 20 credits
- Data Protection Law and Policy - 20 credits
- Dispute Resolution Skills - 20 credits
- Media Law and Ethics - 20 credits
- Medical Law and Ethics - 20 credits
- Sports Law - 20 credits
Your module options in this year will depend on whether you're taking the CILEx route.
Core module:
- Property Practice 20 credits
Optional modules include:
- Advocacy - Practice and Theory (Level 6) - 20 credits
- Business Law - 20 credits
- Civil and Criminal Litigation - 20 credits
- Commercial Law - 20 credits
- Community Lawyer - 40 credits
- Comparative Equality Law (Berkley) - 20 credits
- Data Protection Law and Policy L6 - 20 credits
- Equality Law - 20 credits
- European Union Law - 20 credits
- Family and Child Law - 20 credits
- International Law and Armed Conflict - 20 credits
- Law in Practice - 40 credits
- Law of Succession L6 - 20 credits
- Legal Project - 20 credits
- Professional Insight - 20 credits
- Public International Law - 20 credits
On this course, you can do an optional work placement after your second or third year to get valuable experience working in industry.
We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your situation and ambitions. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year.
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
Ways to enrich your study
Study abroad year
Between your second and third year, you can choose to study abroad at one of our partner universities in Europe, Asia, Australia or North America. All classes are delivered in English and you'll still be able to get both your tuition fee and maintenance loans. You may also qualify for a government travel grant.
"Students that go abroad are more likely to obtain first-class honours [and] more likely to be in graduate employment than their non-mobile peers."
Universities UK International: 'Gone International, Rising Aspirations', 2019
Teaching
Around 20% of your timetabled teaching will be online.
The majority of your timetabled teaching will be face-to-face and will include:
- seminars
- tutorials
- workshops
- practical sessions
We pride ourselves on the academic support we offer our students. You'll have a personal tutor, student engagement officers and study support staff to help you throughout your studies.
Assessment
The way you qualify as a solicitor has changed and we want to make sure that we prepare you as much as possible for the new SQE exams. The SQE exams are multiple choice, so we're adapting our assessment methods so that you're confident with this method of assessment.
Your assessment will depend on which modules you take, but it's likely to include:
- exams
- problem scenarios
- written reports and essays
- presentations
- practical projects
Teaching staff profiles
These are some of the expert staff who'll teach you on this course. To learn more about our teaching staff's active engagement in research and in addressing current legal challenges, explore our law blog.
How you'll spend your time
One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.
We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies. As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.
A typical week
We recommend you spend at least 35 hours a week studying for this degree.
Your total study time will depend on the modules that you take, but in your first year this is what your week may look like:
- timetabled teaching activities (seminars, tutorials, classes and workshops) = about 13 hours a week
- independent study (research, reading, coursework and project work, alone or in a group) = about 22 hours a week
You'll probably do more independent study and have less scheduled teaching in years 2 and 3, but this depends on which modules you choose.
Term dates
The academic year runs from September to June. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter.
Supporting you
The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:
Types of support
Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.
As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.
In addition to the support you get from your personal tutor, you'll also have access to our student engagement officers. They can give you confidential, impartial advice on anything to do with your studies and personal wellbeing, and refer you to specialist support services if you need extra help or support.
You'll have help from a team of study support tutors. Based within the Faculty of Business and Law, these tutors are familiar with the specific requirements your assignments and work closely with faculty academics. This means they can give you focused support with the specific study skills you need to be successful on your course. They're available face-to-face, by phone, email, and by video call.
They can help with:
- Academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations, projects and literature reviews)
- Reflective writing skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
- Understanding and using assignment feedback
- Managing your time and workload
- Revision and exam techniques
If you're a mature student, specialist support to help you return to learning is available.
As well as support from faculty staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University's Academic Skills Unit (ASK).
ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:
- academic writing
- note taking
- time management
- critical thinking
- presentation skills
- referencing
- working in groups
- revision, memory and exam techniques
Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University's library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from librarians who specialise in business and law.
The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.
Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.
You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.
If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.
They'll help you to
- discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
- liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
- access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
- liaise with external services
If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees
- UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
- EU students – £9,250 a year, including our Transition Scholarship (may be subject to annual increase)
- International students – £17,200 a year (subject to annual increase)
You won't pay any extra tuition fees to another university for taking part in a study/work abroad activity if you choose to do it for the whole academic year. During a year abroad you'll only have to pay a reduced fee to the University of Portsmouth.
Funding your studies
Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.
Additional course costs
These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.
Additional costs
Our accommodation section shows your accommodation options and highlights how much it costs to live in Portsmouth.
You may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each module that you study.
You won't need to buy the core textbooks as you can borrow most books from our extensive library.
If you choose to buy the course books they may cost up to £30 each.
We recommend that you budget £75 a year for photocopying, memory sticks, printing charges, binding and specialist printing.
If your final year includes a major project, there could be cost for transport or accommodation related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
If you take a placement year or study abroad year, tuition fees for that year are as follows:
- UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £1,385 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
- EU students – £1,385 a year, including Transition Scholarship (may be subject to annual increase)
- International students – £2,875 a year (subject to annual increase)
Apply
How to apply
To start this course in 2024, apply through UCAS. You'll need:
- the UCAS course code – 002N
- our institution code – P80
You can also sign up to an Open Day to:
- Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
- Speak with lecturers and chat with our students
- Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join
If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.
Applying from outside the UK
As an international student you'll apply using the same process as UK students, but you’ll need to consider a few extra things.
You can get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region.
Find out what additional information you need in our international students section.
If you don't meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.