What do Nelson Mandela, Hillary Clinton, the Obamas, John Cleese, Rebel Wilson, the CEO of Goldman Sachs and the Head of the National Trust all have in common? They all did a law degree.
Northumbria University’s Law LLB Degree (Hons) is designed for those looking for a stimulating and engaging law degree. The undergraduate degree provides a thorough grounding in legal principles while helping you to develop transferable skills and includes the study of the 7 foundations of legal knowledge. The foundation subjects are Public Law (Constitutional and Administrative Law), Law of Contract, Crime, Equity and Trusts, EU, Land and Tort. In addition, you will be able choose from a range of specialist options.
How can I personalise my Law degree?
All Northumbria law undergraduate students start on the Law (LLB (Hons)) pathway which then provides students with a wide range of programme route choices. Students select their preferred programme route at the end of their second year of study according to the specific career they want to pursue, and routes are available for both aspiring solicitors and barristers.
Students graduating from all routes will have studied the 7 foundations of legal knowledge making them eligible to undertake a Bar Course.
The route choices available to students at the end of year 2 are:
- The 3 year LLB (Hons) route. Students graduating from this route will obtain a LLB (Hons) law degree. The LLB (Hons) route is also available as a 4-year programme in which students can choose to take a placement or study abroad year.
- The M Law programme route is designed for students who intend to pursue a career as a solicitor. This integrated Master of Law programme allows you to combine your LLB (Hons) law degree with an integrated master’s degree award and a final year of study designed to prepare you to sit the first part of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE1) assessment required to qualify as a solicitor (see Solicitors Qualifying Examination section below).
- The M Law Exempting (Bar Course) route. The M Law Exempting (Bar Course) programme route is designed for students who intend to pursue a career as a barrister. This integrated Master of Law programme allows you to combine an LLB (Hons) law degree with an integrated master’s degree award and an exemption from the Bar Course. Entry on to the M Law Exempting (Bar Course) route is by application to transfer from LL.B to M Law during year 2 of the LL.B programme and is contingent on a number of requirements including successful completion of the BCAT aptitude test and admission to one of the four Inns of Court.
How does this Law degree prepare me for work?
An undergraduate law degree is valuable, whether you want to become a lawyer or to choose a different career path the flexible nature of our programme routes mean you don’t need to make these decisions immediately. Northumbria University’s LLB and M Law graduates have secured successful careers across the legal sector as well as in various other areas including finance, business and management.
Study abroad or work placement opportunities on this course also offer professional experience and industry contacts, further enhancing your career prospects. The availability of study abroad or work placements may depend on the route of the programme that you choose to undertake.
What is the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)?
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is a new route to qualification as a solicitor from September 2021.
The introduction of SQE means that the assessments required to become a solicitor have been centralised with every aspiring solicitor sitting the same national assessment. Under the SQE route to qualification to become as a solicitor it is necessary to:
Have a degree or equivalent;
Pass the two stages of the SQE national assessment: SQE1 and SQE2;
Undertake a two-year period of work experience; and
Meet the character and suitability requirements to become a solicitor.
The SQE Assessment is split into 2 stages: SQE1 and SQE2:
SQE 1 – A test of your ‘functioning legal knowledge’ and application of law based on realistic client scenarios. This stage consists of 2 multiple choice papers of 180 questions each. To progress onto SQE2, the student must pass SQE1.
SQE 2 – A test of your practical legal skills including interviewing (notes and analysis), advocacy, research, drafting, writing, and case analysis.
As mentioned above, ‘Qualifying Work Experience’ (QWE) is also required as part of the SQE route. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) anticipate that student’s gain this experience before sitting SQE2 although this is not a requirement. A minimum of two years full time equivalent is required and QWE is more flexible than the concept of a period of recognised training under the LPC route. Whilst many students may still choose to complete this requirement by undertaking one period of formal training with a law firm, work undertaken with up to 4 organisations can be used to satisfy the QWE requirement. A greater range of work experience can also count now than previously. This new development provides students with more flexibility and gives students an opportunity to widen their knowledge through a greater range of work experience increasing the potential pathways to qualification.
There is a cost of sitting the SQE assessments, in addition to any course tuition fees. The SRA regularly updates information and guidance about how to qualify under the SQE system so keep checking its website.
Dr Victoria Roper, Associate Professor at Northumbria University, answers crucial questions about the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination in the BBC's podcast series;?Not All Lawyers Have Law Degrees.
How will I learn on this Law course?
This degree is focused on learning the law through a range of innovative approaches. Teaching includes lectures, small group sessions and the use of technology, such as bespoke web-based materials, lecture recordings and electronic reading lists. Innovative use of technology and online support is continually being developed and improved to enhance your learning experience.
What makes this course different to other law degrees is that throughout the course the theory of law and practice are taught together. This approach enhances your understanding of law in its practical context. On this course you’ll be taught the theoretical underpinnings of the foundations of legal knowledge alongside the law in its real-world application.
You will have the opportunity to work in the Student Law Office, experiencing legal practice, increasing your understanding of substantive law and developing sophisticated practitioner skills. The Student Law Office is a world leading law clinic, where you will provide free legal services to clients who may have no alternative access to legal representation and justice. So far, the Student Law Office has secured over £1.6 million in compensation for their clients.
We focus on building your skills, developing your critical thinking and increasing your employability together with an understanding of the law. Combining theory and real-world application in this way will equip you to take on any professional role.
Who will teach me during my degree?
You’ll be taught by world-class academics, and experienced legal practitioners who bring their real-world knowledge into the classroom. Our staff are active researchers, publishing articles and leading textbooks on a number of legal topics. We have expertise in a range of areas, including our international reputation in the fields of evidence and criminal justice studies.
The quality and expertise of our staff has been recognised through a wide variety of awards and nominations including:
- Attorney General’s Award
- Law Teacher of the Year Award
- Northern Law Awards
- Student Led Teaching Awards
Where will I study during my time at Northumbria?
Northumbria Law School is based in City Campus East, located on a purpose built £70 million, multi-award-winning development in central Newcastle. Our modern building has excellent teaching and learning facilities, including lecture theatres, classrooms and IT hubs, which makes for an inviting workspace. There are a variety of collaborative working zones, where you can work with your fellow students on group projects.
We also have a courtroom in which you can develop your advocacy skills and stage mock trials, so you can experience a courtroom environment. Our Law Library contains leading practitioner texts so you can see how the law works in practice.
How is research applied to the teaching on this course?
Northumbria Law School is one of the largest law schools in the UK.? We have?a national and international reputation for excellence in legal education, enriched by the research excellence and professional practice expertise of our staff. This enhances your learning experience, giving you the very latest understanding of key legal issues.
Our research rich learning approach promotes development of essential critical thinking skills designed to solve complex problems. Such skills will be valuable to you, whether you pursue a legal career or other graduate level employment.
We regularly host lectures focusing on our Research Interest Groups and Signature Areas. These include The Centre for Evidence and Criminal Justice Studies, Legal Education and Professional Skills and Law and Society.
Alongside this, we have hosted public lectures delivered by the likes of Professor Lorna Dawson CBE (Head of Forensic Soil Science at The James Hutton Institute), The Right Hon Lord Carnwath of Notting Hill CVO (Justice of the Supreme Court), The Right Hon Lord Mackay of Clashfern (Former Lord Chancellor or Great Britain and Lord Advocate (Senior Law Officer) of Scotland) and Professor David Ormerod QC (Law Commissioner for Criminal Law and Evidence).
The Student Journal / Research and Practice
How does this degree support my employability?
A law degree opens the door to a wealth of professional career opportunities. The course will provide you with a thorough grounding knowledge, so you are prepared to undertake the Solicitors Qualifying Examination, progress onto further study or choose a different career path entirely. To enhance your employability, you’ll have regular support from our Graduate futures which can assist you to identify your goals and plans.
You can undertake an optional year or semester studying abroad, or work placement which will further enhance your prospects. Graduate Futures supports your career by promoting volunteering opportunities, placements and overseas study.
We have a range of projects which are sponsored by law firms, giving you the chance to work on live projects and network with legal professionals.
The course provides a platform to an extensive range of professional careers and graduate level roles. Our range of optional modules allows you to develop areas of specialism tailored to your career aspirations.
Graduates of this course can choose to enter the legal profession and are also able to work in a variety of other sectors including banking, finance and tax advice, legal publishing, central and local government, journalism and human resources.
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