Law LLB(Hons)

Course structure

In your first year you will share modules with the other law degrees before taking more specialised options in your second year.

You can choose to take a paid placement year at the end of your second year before coming back to complete your final year studies, which gives you essential experience and improves your employability and skills.

In your final year you have a range of options to choose from to help widen your knowledge while focusing on some key subjects of your choice.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. If you apply to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through our applicant portal.

Year 1

Our law degrees share the same first year modules, introducing you to the different aspects of law, such as legal research skills and courtroom procedures.

Modules

• Law of Torts

  This module will provide you with a detailed knowledge of a number of torts including common law negligence, breach of statutory duty, protection against interference with the person, protection of property interests, protection of reputation and remedies associated with these torts. Where relevant, reference will be made to policy issues and human rights principles – both of which impact on the development of a number of torts.

• Public Law

  Public law is a subject of great topical interest, which is in a constant process of evolution and cannot be fully understood without reference to the UK’s political history and its social and cultural development.

  This module will provide you with a good understanding of constitutional legal principles, the major features of the UK’s constitution, civil rights, judicial review and an awareness of significant changes and developments in the subject.

• Legal Structures and Legal Ethics

  This module will introduce you to essential areas:

  • the way legal institutions in the UK operate and how law is made
  • theoretical concepts of law and socio-political aspect of law and society
  • ethical considerations relating to the legal arena
  • introduction to current legal issues.

  You will be equipped with knowledge and intellectual skills essential to other area of academic development.

• Law in Practice: Skills

  This module will provide you with the underpinning skills and strategies required to study law successfully at undergraduate level as well as developing attributes that contribute to employability.

  You'll develop skills essential for the study of law and for professional practice through the development of presentation and communication skills, both oral and written. You will be prepared for the employment process, including preparation for law vacation schemes, placements and subsequent employment.

• Criminal Justice and Theory

  This module introduces you to the main institutions and agencies constituting the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales. You'll explore some of the key debates and theories in relation to crime, justice and punishment, and gain a grounding in the history and development of criminology as a discrete discipline, and an understanding of how this fits within the wider study of law and justice.

• Business Planning

  This module will provide you with the opportunity to simulate in as near a ‘real world’ scenario as possible, the financial and management accounting implications of setting up a new business.

Year 2 

From your second year, through the module choices you make, you can either continue along a broad law degree route or specialise and graduate with a degree in Law with Business or Law with Criminology.

The mooting module will help develop your advocacy skills in a mock courtroom and you may also have the opportunity to take part in national mooting competitions. Gain experience by taking advantage of work shadowing opportunities, which could include judges and law firm partners.  

Modules

• Criminal Law
• Law in Action: Moot
• Contract Law
• European Union Law
• Law of Organisations

Options*

• Practical Employment Law
• Intellectual Property and Data Privacy Law

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Placement year

The year's paid work placement is a part of the course highly valued by employers. It gives you the chance to apply your learning to real-life situations and challenges, to meet and network with potential employers, and gain real work experience before you graduate.

On your placement, you will complete a project for the business you are working at. This contributes to your degree, replacing your dissertation, and, depending on the topic you choose, could provide valuable insight for your placement employer.

Our dedicated placements and employability team will support you throughout. Read more about our placement years.

Nowadays you can’t just have a first-class degree, you’ve got to have extra…The opportunity to spend a whole year is incredible and every law firm I’ve had work experience with since have been really impressed by it.

Final year

In your final year, core modules further deepen your knowledge and understanding. You will also be able to tailor the course to the subjects you are most interested in through option modules.  

There’s also the opportunity to gain qualifying work experience towards your Legal Practice Course by working in our Pro Bono Legal Clinic

Modules

• Equity and Trusts
• Land Law
• Legal Research Project

Options* 

Two from:

• Intellectual Property Law (if not taken in year 2)
• Employment Law (if not taken in year 2)
• Company and Finance Law
• Law Dissertation
• Commercial Law
• Healthcare Law and Ethics
• Justice and Practice – Community Legal Clinic
• Family Law
• The Innocence Programme
• Migration Law
• Human Rights and Business
• Environmental Law
• Negotiation, Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution

Plus one from

• Placement Project (for those who have undertaken the placement year)
• Small Business and Entrepreneurship
• Social Enterprise: New Business Planning
• Understanding Employee Relations
• Happiness: Work and Society
• Organisational Change
• Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Law societies 

Student Law Society

The Student Law Society is a thriving community of over 150 law students. With support from the Students’ Union, it organises an exciting schedule of social and educational events.

Members have recently enjoyed visits to Lewes Crown Court, Brighton Magistrates Court and the Houses of Parliament. Social events have included paintballing, go-karting, surfing, a Christmas Ball at the Brighton Hilton Metropole, and a trip with law students from other universities to Amsterdam.

Through initiatives such as these, the society provides excellent opportunities for personal development and for networking with other students interested in a career in law.

Student Mooting Society

The Mooting Society has a fast-growing membership of over 120 students. The society provides workshops, guest speakers, socials, trips and competitions to help build members' confidence and adversarial skills that are increasingly essential in any career path in the legal sector.

The objective of the mooting competitions is to develop the research and advocacy skills of future practitioners. Students argue both sides of a fictitious legal case in a court room setting in front of a panel of judges.

International requirements and visas

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visas and immigration advice

Course fees

If you choose to take the professional placement (sandwich) year offered on this course you will pay a reduced fee during this year. Our fee for the professional placement year is £1,290 for home students and £2,076 for international students. This fee may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included, while studying a course in Brighton Business School are listed here.

• Students who choose to take an optional placement will have travel and living expenses. The cost of this depends on where and how long your placement is.
• Some courses include optional field trips for which the school pays – you may incur minimal costs such as for food and drink and should budget up to £15.
• You will be required to buy textbooks and should budget up to £150.

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships, as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2020–21.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Local area

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

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