Law with Criminology LLB
Our degree prepares you for a variety of careers in criminal justice, whether as a legal professional or public servant focused on criminal justice or supporting prosecution, defence, rehabilitation or law and penal reform. You’ll benefit from dual perspectives; working with experts in both legal and criminology disciplines.
You will develop skills in legal and academic reasoning and research, and an appreciation of social policy and the principles of justice, underlying the fundamental principles of law and the criminal justice system. You will study modules from both Leicester Law School and the School of Criminology wwhich examine the nature, extent, causes, and control of criminal behaviour in both the individual and wider society in addition to the essential foundations required for an LLB degree. You will also explore the factors that underscore processes of law-making, law-breaking and law enforcement. Leicester is ranked #2 in the country for teaching criminology (The Guardian University Guide 2021), and you'll benefit from our expertise at every step.
You can broaden your perspective with a year studying overseas, or make a difference by giving free legal advice to real clients through our Pro-Bono group. We will also encourage you to build practical skills through our award-winning extracurricular activities.
Law and Criminology are inseparable. Each discipline informs the other - changes in law inevitably lead to criminologists adapting their understanding, and vice versa. This course is ideal if you are interested in criminal law and want to broaden your knowledge to include what goes on outside the courtroom, in prison and working on offender behaviour.
Topics that are typically explored in criminology include:
- What is the nature of criminal behaviour?
- Why do individuals commit crime?
- How and why do definitions of crime change over time and between societies?
- How should society deal with criminal activity?
By combining the study of Law with Criminology you can complement and contextualise your Law studies for a broader and deeper understanding of your subject. Optional modules in law and criminology allow you to examine criminology issues in more detail, develop higher level legal skills or diversify to explore contrasting or complementary areas of law.
Careers and employability
Whether you're looking for a career in law or are not yet sure where your degree will take you, our dedicated team of Careers Tutors are here to help. With a huge array opportunities to take part in, you'll discover the range of paths available and find the one that's right for you. Along, the way, you'll develop a portfolio of professional skills and also learn what employers are looking for in applications and job interviews.
Some of the careers initiatives within the School include:
- Pro bono projects: Our student-led Pro Bono Group offers hundreds of volunteer roles across an extensive range of projects. Advise real clients in our Legal Advice Clinic or at the courts in Leicester, managing your own case load. Help a local or global community or be part of something really different and carry out research to support vulnerable people on death row in the USA – we’re one of only two universities doing this. As the projects are student-managed and supported by professionals and experts, you could even be the next leader of a new project.
- Legal competitions: The Leicester University Law Society organise mooting, debating, client interviewing, negotiation and mediation competitions for you to develop key transferable skills. For aspiring barristers, we have a brand-new dedicated moot court room and grand debating chamber, in which you can compete in national and international mooting competitions.
- Guaranteed Entry Scheme for progression to the professional training courses for solicitors with the University of Law and a programme of support for the bar course interview from the University of Law and other leading providers of the bar course.
- Networking events: With strong links to local, regional and national law firms, we'll help you to get your foot in the door. Make connections at our annual law fair which attracts over 40 top law firms (including magic circle firms) and through our meet-and-greet sessions with successful graduates.
- Workshops: Applying for jobs is a skill in itself and we’ll help you to succeed with tailored workshops on CV-writing, applications, psychometric tests, interviews and assessment centre techniques.
- Vacancy alerts and weekly newsletters to help you find vacation placements, work experience and a job after graduation.
- Commercial awareness programme run by the Leicester University Law Society ensuring you know what employers and clients really need from you.
- Practice-focused assessments: We’ll teach you how to draft a letter to a client in your first year – an essential skill for any solicitor. You can take this further in practice-based optional modules.
Our courses satisfy the entry requirements for the professional courses to prepare you to qualify as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales and permit exemptions from the legal executive qualification. Applicants wishing to become lawyers outside of England and Wales should consult the appropriate country’s legal statutory body to check the requirements. Leicester Law School LLB degrees are recognised by the Legal Practice Qualifications Board of Malaysia and are qualifying degrees for Canada.
For more information about professional qualification, consult:
- The Legal Practice Course and Solicitors Qualifying Exam
- Bar Professional Training Course and Bar Training Pathways
- Legal Executive Exemptions
- Information for Canadian applicants
- Information for Malaysian applicants
Graduate destinations
Graduates from our Law degrees have gone on to work for a wide range of employers including:
- Crown Prosecution Service
- Magistrates Court Service
- Unlocked (Prison Service)
- NACRO (offenders)
- DLA Piper
- Freeths LLP
- Grant Thornton LLP
- Home Office
- Shakespeare Martineau LLP
- Rolls-Royce
My name is Kavisha Prince Anthony, and I always had a dream of studying abroad. Thankfully, that dream came to life since I applied to the Study Advisor. I was able to receive my visa within four days. I also had some visa refusals in the past; I had about six UK visa refusals in the past, but thankfully, it was not an issue since the Study Advisor was able to make things work this time. I highly recommend Study Advisor for your dreams of going abroad, whether it be the UK or any other European country there is.