About this course
Introduction
This is one of six law undergraduate programmes offered at UWE, Bristol. The others are LLB(Hons) Law, LLB(Hons) European and International Law, LLB(Hons) Law with Psychology, BA(Hons) Business and Law and BA(Hons) Criminology and Law.
This degree is designed for you, if you know that you want to specialise in Commercial Law or Business and you want a degree which will instantly mark you out to prospective employers as someone who has chosen a commercial law focus. You will have a wide range of commercial and business law related modules from which to choose.
This course can be used as a route into the legal profession. If you wish to become a Solicitor or a Barrister you should take the qualifying law degree (QLD) modules as indicated under the 'Structure' tab. These must be passed if you wish to progress straight onto the professional stage of training for Solicitors and Barristers. However, there are a huge number of careers open to law graduates - there is no need to limit your ambitions by simply considering becoming a Solicitor or a Barrister.
Structure
Content
The proposed structure below will run from September 2012 onwards.
Year 1
Five modules are studied as follows:
- Contract Law
- Constitutional and Administrative Law
- Criminal Law
- Professional Skills
- Legal Method
Year 2
Students seeking a QLD should take:
- Professional Development (15 credits)
- European Union Law (15 credits)
- Land Law (15 credits)
- Torts (15 credits)
In addition, students should take 60 credits from the following list of modules (all modules are 30 credits each):
- Company Law
- Critical and Legal Reasoning
- Dispute Resolution Skills
- Employment Law
- Environmental Law
- Legal Research Project
- International Trade
- Migration Law and Policy
- Sports Law
Students not seeking a QLD should take Professional Development and select modules to the value of 105 credits from the list above.
Opportunity for placement or study abroad year
It is possible to study abroad for a year or to do a placement year after completing Year 2. In addition to this being a very useful experience you could also achieve academic credit through the selection of the appropriate module listed below:
- Learning and Development on Study Year Abroad (15 credits)
- Placement Learning (15 credits)
Year 3
Students seeking a QLD should take:
- Professional Futures (15 credits)
- Equity and Trusts (30 credits)
In addition students seeking a QLD should take 75 credits for the modules list below:
- Advanced European Union Law (prerequisite European Union Law) (15 credits)
- Advanced Land Law (prerequisite Land Law) (15 credits)
- Advanced Torts (prerequisite Torts) (15 credits)
- Commercial Law (30 credits)
- Comparative Constitutional Law (30 credits)
- Cyberlaw (30 credits)
- Dissertation (30 credits)
- Evidence (30 credits)
- Globalisation, Trade and Natural Resources (30 credits)
- Intellectual Property Law (30 credits)
- Law in Action (30 credits)
- Legal Process (30 credits)
- Media and Entertainment Law (30 credits)
Students not seeking a QLD should take Professional Futures and select modules to the value of 105 credits from the list above.
Flexibility
If at any time during your course you decide that you wish to change focus and switch from the LLB Commercial degree to UWE’s LLB Law degree you can do so.
Teaching and learning
We provide a wide range of choices of law modules. We offer a student centred learning experience supporting you to develop the skills you will need to study law and to continue to have a successful career based on your legal studies. Each year the National Student Survey (NSS) results consistently show that our students believe that the modules are delivered in an interesting and stimulating manner. Our modules offer different approaches to learning which allow you to choose modules which best support your learning style.
On your first day you will meet your personal academic tutor who will support you in your academic studies throughout your degree. We see engagement with learning as a key feature of your success and we want you to succeed. The role of the personal academic tutor in supporting your academic aspirations is a key feature of the programme. This support continues throughout your degree through three core modules which aim to support your personal development.
Assessment
Assessments vary across the programme, including problem and essay questions, examinations, research based assessments, reflection on skills acquisition, report writing, portfolio submission and presentations.
Special Features
Placements
It is possible to study abroad for a year or to do a placement year after completing Year 2. In addition to this being a very useful experience you could also achieve academic credit through the selection of the appropriate module listed below:
- Learning and Development on Study Year Abroad
- Placement Learning
Flexibility
We understand that as you develop through study, work and life experiences what you want to do at the end of your studies may change. It may also be that the political or economic circumstances of the country change whilst you are studying. We aim to help you to make successful choices in terms of study options and work experiences. This will help you to make the right choices during and at the end of your programme of studies to achieve your career aspirations.
Our Pro Bono opportunities allow you to gain experience in working with legal professionals and use that experience to build and shape your future plans. We have student societies such as the Law Division, the Law and Debating Society and a branch of the European Law Students' Association (which provides and supports students in networking activities). We support our students in developing new initiatives be they with lawyers, other professions, industry or local and national charities.
The Peer Assisted Learning scheme provides further support and encouragement. We help you to gain important skills that you will need to emerge as confident graduates able to take your place in society. You might like to work with us through Street Law which encourages young people from traditionally low participation neighbourhoods to go to University. Street Law runs mock trials in one of our three state of the art courtrooms in which future students participate.
Careers/further study
Employability
We offer a supportive environment for you to grow and succeed as an undergraduate. For every year of study there is a supporting core module which helps you to develop the skills you will need to succeed in your future career. We encourage you to develop a profile of work experience including pro bono work, volunteering experiences and developing contacts with employers which will enable you to move seamlessly into your chosen career. Our alumni work with us to provide mentoring support which helps you to understand how to achieve your preferred future.
Studying the subjects required for exemption from the academic stage of training allows you to apply directly to either the Legal Practice Course (LPC full-time or part-time if you want to become a Solicitor) or the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC full-time or part-time if you want to become a Barrister).
We offer a range of masters' courses and PhD opportunities.
A law degree opens a huge variety of careers to you, everything from business and management to public service in addition to more traditional law careers. Regional, national and international employers are keen to employ law undergraduates in a whole variety of industries. Our personal skills development programmes support you in choosing and reflecting on the academic and work experience/volunteering/pro bono choices you have made to help you to achieve your personal goals and ambitions.
Graduate destinations
Find out what our graduates are doing six months after graduating - includes examples of careers, employers and further study. Download a PDF from graduate destinations.
Creating employable students
UWE places strong emphasis on employability and skills development at every level. Through work placements, volunteering, study abroad and UWE initiatives which nurture talent and encourage innovation, students gain valuable real world experience and graduate with diverse career opportunities and a competitive place in the job market. Law students have the opportunity to gain experience in mooting and debating and to undertake legal work through the Pro Bono Unit to further increase their employability.
See great graduate prospects for further information.
Be inspired
Read how UWE's mentoring programme helped Catherine find her first job.
Read how volunteering helped make Faheem a good fit for a firm of solicitors.
Useful links
UWE - careers in law
Guardian - what to do with a degree in law
The UWE careers service provides guidance and support throughout your studies in addition to useful resources, CV checks, career coaching and details of current job vacancies.
Entry
Typical offers
- Tariff points: 320
- GCSE: English Language at grade C or above required.
- Access: Achievement of the Access to HE Diploma; achievement of Level 2 credits in English Language.
Advice on typical offers
In addition to the 'typical offer' given here, please read the general information about
entry requirements.
Entry requirements
We welcome applications from students whether or not they have studied law prior to University entry.
How to apply
Please see the general information about
applications.
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011