A law degree is an important first step into a career in law, as well as an important foundation on the route to many other careers, and Birmingham City University is a long-established provider of legal education to the Birmingham legal community and beyond.

This course has been developed to enable anyone wishing to qualify as a solicitor or barrister to undertake this first, important academic stage of their career. To achieve this, the course has been designed to align with the subjects that you will need to study further in order to successfully undertake the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), while also meeting the requirements of the Bar Standards Board for an undergraduate law degree.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS COURSE?

The study of law is both academic and practical, and therefore both of these are important elements in the LLB (Hons) degree at BCU. Theory and academic study are important on an LLB, but so too is the application of that knowledge, and so our LLB (Hons) degree offers plenty of opportunity for you to develop the practical lawyering skills, as well as the transferable skills enhancing your employability, that graduates will need when entering the workplace.

The different pathways on the LLB course will allow you to make decisions regarding the direction in which you want to take your studies, with named degrees in Law with American Legal Studies, Law with Business Law, and Law with Criminal Justice, as well as a broad range of optional modules ranging from more theoretical topics through to those aimed at the practical application of the law in real-world situations.

You will also have the opportunity to put those skills to practical use, both in the local community and beyond. Whether that is through our programme of placement opportunities with local providers such as Citizen’s Advice and various legal advice charities, through opportunities in the local legal community, or via BCU’s own Law Clinic, established to serve the local community from our City Centre campus, there are plenty of options available to you.

You can also apply your legal knowledge further afield, through our US internship programme which has been placing students with attorneys throughout the US for over 20 years. A professional placement year is also available, between years 2 and 3 of the degree, offering further opportunity for you to put your knowledge and skills to practical use, and thereby enhancing your CV further.

By focussing on the development of a range of transferable skills, the course employs numerous innovative assessment methods, going beyond the typical forms of written academic assessment.

You are also encouraged to engage in extra-curricular activities to support your learning, with student societies such as the highly successful Mooting Society. Furthermore, you will have the ability to engage with the wider Birmingham legal community through our connections with the Birmingham Law Society, the largest regional law society in the UK.

Enhancing employability skills

Key employability skills are embedded within the learning and teaching, and we will provide you with additional careers development through our guest speakers, and pro bono and placement opportunities. The transferable skills you learn will also give you the attributes needed to satisfy employers across a range of disciplines.

Our Student Law Society also provides you with the chance to interact and work with other students on legal pursuits, career enhancement and social activities, offering you support and helping you build your employability skills.

We also have our dedicated Careers Service, which provides a wide range of online and face-to-face services to help you develop your employability skills, plan your career and access the latest job opportunities. They will also help with you tailoring CVs, writing applications and interview techniques.

PLACEMENTS

In your final year, you will have the chance to undertake a placement module with one of our partners. This will provide valuable, real-world experience, enhancing your learning in a workplace environment, and building up your networking and communication skills. While on placement, you will be assessed on your performance within the working environment, and will be encouraged to reflect on your development and progression.