This course allows you to specialise in an important area of legal practice, giving you a deeper understanding of crime, criminal law and the criminal justice system. As well as developing your legal skills, our strong links with the legal profession and industry ensure practical opportunities for ‘real world’ experiences. If you are passionate about criminal justice, this well-rounded degree is the perfect springboard to launch you into your chosen career.

The course is designed to foster your intellectual independence. You’ll be supported to develop the confidence and skills needed to think critically, to ask and answer cogent questions about law and its role in society, and to effectively communicate your reasoned arguments, orally or in writing.

You will acquire new knowledge and understanding of the principles and values of law and justice, and you’ll learn how law can be used to benefit individuals and societies, including the most marginalised in our community.

During the course you will study fundamental areas of legal knowledge. Not only will you study Criminal Law, but you will also examine subjects such as Public Law where you’ll learn about how the country is organised and run; and Contract Law where you’ll learn about how legal agreements are made and operate between people and companies. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to study topics such as Digital Policing and E-Crime, Crime and the Media and Organised Crime and Counterterrorism.

You’ll also have the opportunity to choose from exciting law optional modules such as International Law, Commercial Law, Human Rights, Sports Law, Roman Law & Legal History, Philosophy of Law and Family Law. If you choose our Work Placement module you will get the opportunity to experience legal work in a real-life situation.

You will be an active participant in your learning. It’s not all about sitting and reading. You'll learn the skills of debating, advocating and negotiating through a range of module and extra-curricular opportunities. You’ll also benefit from professional development activities, trips to government and judicial institutions, and from a wide range of guest speakers.

Throughout your studies you’ll acquire the academic knowledge and be introduced to the skills required to pursue a legal career should you wish to go on to qualify as a solicitor or barrister.

Why choose Bangor University for this course?

• Top 25 Law School in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2021).
• Unique opportunities to work with legal practitioners and industry professionals through our pro bono programmes.
• A state-of-the-art replica courtroom, ensuring students gain essential practical experience by taking part in mock legal trials.
• Welsh language provision is offered as part of every compulsory law module, and some optional modules can be studied entirely through the medium of Welsh.

You will experience a range of teaching methods throughout your course, including lectures, small group formats (tutorials), online learning environments, self-directed or collaborative study, experiential learning and problem-based learning.

Your usual week will be made up of twelve hours of lectures along with fortnightly one-hour tutorials.

During your time with us, you will foster self-management skills, including an ability to reflect on your own learning, make effective use of feedback and an ability to work in a team.

You will develop the ability to conduct independent research, including accurate identification of issues which require researching, retrieval and critical evaluation of relevant information from a range of appropriate sources, including primary legal sources.

The level of challenge and achievement you will be faced with is gradually increased throughout your course.

Our learning, teaching and assessment procedures will give you the opportunity to demonstrate that you have met the necessary skills and qualities within your law course. We recognise the importance of inclusive practice and are sensitive to equal opportunities requirements as indicated by good practice and relevant legislative obligations.

A wide range of assessment methods are used to determine your overall achievement; these assessments may be timed or untimed, seen or unseen, continuous or examination based.

Tasks that you might encounter could include essays and reports of varying length; case notes; statutory interpretation; briefs; critiques of articles; oral/video presentations; moots; skills-based assessments; reflective learning journals; research project/dissertation; and work/clinic-based assessments.