Law LLB (Hons)

Compulsory

• LX1606 - Academic and Professional Development (30 credits)

  Enable students to form a reflective view of the various roles, challenges and professional opportunities that working in a legal environment presents; enable students to develop their academic, employability, and personal skills whilst understanding how these skills are all transferable to working environments within and outside of legal practice. 

• LX1605 - Contract Law and Civil Justice Systems (30 credits)

  This study block aims to explain:

  Legal principles applicable to legally binding agreements between parties and the effects of any defects in their formation or performance, including a detailed knowledge, examination and understanding of:

  • the essential elements required to form legally binding contracts
  • the obstacles that affect the formation of contractual agreements, including those elements that vitiate consent
  • the content of legally binding contractual agreements
  • termination & remedies.

  The civil Justice system and procedures in England and Wales such as:

  • the ‘doctrine of precedent.’
  • main types of civil proceedings and how these differ from each other in terms of procedure and evidence.
  • Key stages of a civil claim.
  • Analyse and apply the relevant procedural rules to case scenarios
  • Drafting of documents.
• LX1604 - Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Systems (30 credits)

  To introduce students to English Criminal Law. To engage students in a critical evaluation of the definition, scope and application of serious criminal offences as well as a critical discussion of the underlying philosophies. To introduce students to the criminal justice institutions. The study block includes an overview of the different stages of the criminal process. It also includes some theoretical approaches to the design of systems and the application of criminal justice.

• LX1603 - Public Law and Legal Skills

  In Public Law and Legal Skills, you will learn how to create your own country – and how to make it work. What are the basic ideas that you need to organise government? How do we choose the people who rule us and which powers they should have?

  You will also be learning basic legal skills and judicial review – how to ensure courts check on the administration of power.

Compulsory

• LX2606 - EU Law in its UK Context

  EU Law seeks to provide a solid working knowledge of the principles of European Union law, specifically in the current UK context as a third country maintaining close relationships with the EU. The module begins with the history of the European legal order, the treaties, the institutional framework, and the main constitutional principles regulating EU law.

  It then focuses on the EU internal market and economic trade integration as well as the protection of fundamental rights in EU law. In addition, aspects of Brexit, the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement, and the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement will be discussed throughout the module. 

• LX2082 - Land Law

  To provide the means and opportunity to acquire a critical understanding of the conceptual structures underpinning property law in their historical, economic and social contexts.

• LX2080 - Law of Tort

  To familiarise students with the key principles that underpin this branch of the common law and to introduce them to the main aims of functions of tort and its role in apportioning losses in modern society.

• LX2083 - Trusts

  To develop knowledge and understanding of the rules, principles and concepts of the law of trusts, and the application and significance of the law in various contexts.

Optional

• LX2DDD - Employment Law

  To introduce students to the historical and socio-political development of employment law in the UK; To familiarise students with the creation, terms and termination of contracts of employment and enable them to understand how this relates to employment status, (i.e. self-employed, employees, workers), in the UK.

• LX2EEE - Environmental Law and Policy
  • To equip students with knowledge of rationales, core principles, instruments and rules of Environmental Law.
  • To provide students with a thorough understanding of the different approaches law might take to environmental protection.
  • To provide students with a thorough understanding of the different perspectives, principles and techniques underlying environmental law and governance.
  • To equip students with the knowledge of the main institutions charged with implementing and enforcing Environmental Law and to enable them to assess these institutions’ work critically.
  • To enable students to consider Environmental Law and Policy critically, taking into account major political, economic and social contexts.
• LX2FFF - Sentencing & Penology

  To provide an integrated examination of the theory and practice of sentencing and punishment. This aim will entail: a consideration of the philosophical and theoretical justifications for the punishment of criminals by the state. an examination of the nature of the sentencing process, the rules and principles constraining the discretion of those who sentence and the use and operation of non-custodial penalties. an analysis of community and custodial penalties in practice.

Optional

• LX3611 - Evidence

  Evidence is essential for students who desire to obtain a deeper understanding of the rules around advocacy and the trial process. Students taking evidence will study the rules pertaining to the admissibility of evidence in court (including witnesses, confessions, identification evidence and evidence of prior convictions).

  You will also examine the issue of how the jury evaluates the weight of evidence admitted in court, and will study the fundamental rules relevant to who bears the burden of proof in criminal trials. Most importantly, students will seek to explore the theoretical principles underpinning the law of evidence. In that respect, the focus will be on the perennial criminal justice dilemma between convicting the guilty and protecting the individual rights of those involved in the criminal process.

• LX3614 - International Commercial Arbitration

  The module has been formally recognised by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), the primary professional body within the field of arbitration.

  In a world where commerce knows no borders, International Commercial Arbitration offers the fastest, most effective way to resolve disputes, making it a dispute-resolution method of preference for international traders. International Commercial Arbitration (LX3606) explores the principles, rules, and procedures governing the resolution of cross-border commercial disputes through arbitration. It examines the legal framework provided by key international instruments such as the New York Convention (1958), the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, and institutional rules from organisations like the ICC, LCIA, and SIAC.

  Students will gain a deep understanding of arbitration agreements, jurisdictional challenges, arbitral procedure, enforcement of awards, and the interplay between arbitration and national courts.

  The module also covers the intersection between arbitration and technology, ethical considerations, and emerging trends in the field. Through case studies, moot exercises, and critical analysis, students develop practical skills in drafting arbitration clauses, procedural strategy, and advocacy.

  The module is ideal for those pursuing careers in international business, dispute resolution, or legal practice, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to navigate complex arbitration disputes effectively. 

• LX3645 - Competition Law

  Competition law is an exciting subject which regulates how businesses behave in relation to their competitors and consumers. It protects competition in the market by prohibiting (a) abuses of dominance, (b) anti-competitive agreements between businesses (e.g., cartels), and (c) mergers that may lead to higher prices and less variety for consumers.

  It is a fascinating field of study which has recently been at the forefront of initiatives to regulate big technology companies and address climate change and sustainability issues. The module focuses on EU and UK competition law. However, the EU and UK rules are the ‘model law’ for many other jurisdictions. As a result, students following this module will acquire a solid background to competition rules that are applicable in most jurisdictions around the world.

  You'll go beyond the study of legal rules, exploring the economics of supply and demand (no prior knowledge of economics is required), the influence of politics over the application of competition law, and how societal and technological changes affect the enforcement priorities that competition authorities set.

  Students choosing a career path in the field of competition law will realise that ‘the sky is the limit’. An expert in competition law is sought after by law firms; companies looking for in-house counsel to work on competition compliance; regulators (e.g., the UK Competition and Markets Authority); and public affairs agencies.

• LX3646 - Families, Children and the Law

  This module examines the law relating to the different forms of families and family relationships, the rights of children and responsibilities of parents, arrangements for children after family breakdowns, and protection from domestic abuse.

  The module will also focus on state responses to children and young people including the role of the state and the law in protecting children at risk of harm. Students will examine some of the assumptions on which the law is based, and how changing perceptions of the family and of roles within it are reflected in the law and in continuing pressure for legal change.

• LX3647 - Intellectual Property Law

  The Intellectual Property module aims to provide students with knowledge about the theoretical rationales and policy arguments for the recognition and protection of intellectual property rights such as copyright, trademarks, designs, patents and trade secrets.

  The module seeks to explain the nature and scope of these rights, the procedures for the granting or recognition of the rights, and mechanisms for enforcement as well as defences against enforcement.

  Additionally, the module aims to explore intellectual property law within a wider social, economic, cultural and political context. This includes consideration of the impact of technological changes in the protection of intellectual property. 

• LX3649 - Jurisprudence

  The aim of this course is to introduce students to the philosophy of law: to understand what is distinctive about law relative to other social practices such as customs and conventions, and to understand why law is necessary.

  It addresses a range of questions about the nature of law including the relationship between law and morality; social and political functions of law; and the nature of legal reasoning. One of the main themes of the module is the classical distinction in the history of legal philosophy between positivism which supposes law can be understood independently from morality, and natural law, which supposes there is some necessary link between law and morality. This issue is also important to the theme or question of legal reasoning - an often under-studied topic that is addressed in the second half of the module.

• LX3652 - AI, Data and the Law

  In this module, you will study the legal framework governing the development and deployment of AI and data protection laws of the EU and the UK, enabling students to develop an in-depth understanding of regulatory frameworks which are crucial for compliance across the private, public, and third sectors.

  The module will introduce students to key topics, concepts, theories, methodologies, and tools relevant to regulatory compliance, oversight, accountability, and legal liability for harm caused by the misuse of data and AI. Through various lectures, seminars, and engagement with relevant materials, students will develop critical thinking, legal argumentation, and analytical skills in relation to data and AI-driven decision-making.

• PP3621 - Parliamentary Studies

  This module aims to provide students with a detailed understanding of the UK Parliament by examining its structure, internal processes, and different committees, and to give students an understanding how to transfer the skills they have acquired when thinking about social, historical and political issues to practical ongoing issues that parliament is encountering in its committees or in legislation it is devising.

• LX3AAA - Medicine and the Law

  This module explores the legal and ethical regulation of medical practice in England and Wales. It covers key topics (such as consent, capacity, medical negligence, confidentiality, and end-of-life decision-making), and places them in the context of human rights law and contemporary bioethical debates. It enables students to critically evaluate the role of law within the contexts of doctor-patient relationship, medical decision-making and the limited resources of the National Health System (NHS). 

• LX3BBB - Canadian Constitutional Law
  • To provide students with a basic understanding of Canadian Constitutional Law;
  • To introduce students to fundamental aspects of Canadian Constitutional Law, including history, constitutional sources, principles, institutions, and powers;
  • To expose students to the principles necessary for understanding and applying the provisions of the Canadian constitution;
  • To encourage students to think critically about the nature and effect of constitutional rights and to situate them in modern Canadian society.
• LX3609 - Dissertation

  The primary aim of the dissertation is to assess a student’s ability to undertake independent research under the supervision of an academic member of staff. Students will have the opportunity to explore a chosen topic in depth and to write an original piece of critical analysis on the issues arising from the topic.

• LX3612 - Banking Law

  The module intends to help students understand the legal issues associated with banking and credit markets. The laws and regulations of banking include the laws  setting  the  conditions  for  establishing  banks, the legal  framework for the transactions between banks and their customers and the rationale, structure and operations of the authorities supervising the financial services industry.

• LX3613 - Company Law

  Company Law offers an in-depth analysis of the legal framework governing companies with a focus on core principles of corporate governance, directors’ duties, shareholders’ rights, and corporate liability. Students will critically examine the structure and regulation of companies, engaging with key legislation (such as the Companies Act 2006) alongside relevant case law.

  The module also explores contemporary issues including corporate finance, minority shareholder protection, and the evolving role of corporate governance in global markets.

  The teaching structure consists of a combination of lectures and seminars aimed at enabling students to develop a rigorous analytical understanding of how legal principles apply to real-world corporate scenarios.

  By the end of the module, students will be equipped to critically assess corporate structures and regulatory frameworks while engaging with both theoretical and practical aspects of company law. The module prepares students for careers in corporate law, compliance, and financial regulation.

• LX3648 - International Law and Human Rights

  This module will address the nature of international law, state responsibility and the right to self-determination. It will focus on theories of human rights, and look into the structures, strengths and weaknesses of the international human rights systems including the United Nations.

  It will focus on human rights including the right to life, prohibition of discrimination, women’s rights and minority rights. Focusing on the legal dimensions, but also drawing from international politics and using sociological concepts, the module will give you the tools to identify, understand and critically discuss human rights worldwide.

  You will be taught by someone working with the United Nations on these issues everyday as the UN Special Rapporteur in the field of Cultural Rights!

• LX3651 - International Investment Law and Arbitration

  The module will explore the legal, economic and political issues revolving around foreign investment, covering both the substance of international investment law and its international investment arbitration dimensions. This will include, notably: legal and diplomatic strategies for states in emerging markets to compete for foreign capital; the role of foreign direct investment in the economic development of poor countries; and, significantly, the implementation of the international investment arbitration treaty regime.

  The module will examine the legal framework for cross-border investment established in bilateral investment treaties, investment provisions of regional or multilateral treaties, customary international law, and the domestic law and regulatory institutions of host nations. Substantive principles, including prohibitions on direct and indirect expropriation, and guarantees of fair and equitable treatment, will be examined in the context of applicable legal instruments. The module will consider the challenges associated with the twin goals of mitigating investment risk for investors while also allowing developing states to address urgent public policy concerns.

  The module will also examine and evaluate how effectively treaty-based dispute resolution processes and institutions enable investors and states to effectively resolve disputes. These mechanisms include investor-state arbitration by tribunals convened pursuant to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and other arbitral institutions.

• LX2EEE - Environmental Law and Policy
  • To equip students with knowledge of rationales, core principles, instruments and rules of Environmental Law.
  • To provide students with a thorough understanding of the different approaches law might take to environmental protection.
  • To provide students with a thorough understanding of the different perspectives, principles and techniques underlying environmental law and governance.
  • To equip students with the knowledge of the main institutions charged with implementing and enforcing Environmental Law and to enable them to assess these institutions’ work critically.
  • To enable students to consider Environmental Law and Policy critically, taking into account major political, economic and social contexts.
• LX2FFF - Sentencing & Penology

  To provide an integrated examination of the theory and practice of sentencing and punishment. This aim will entail: a consideration of the philosophical and theoretical justifications for the punishment of criminals by the state. an examination of the nature of the sentencing process, the rules and principles constraining the discretion of those who sentence and the use and operation of non-custodial penalties. an analysis of community and custodial penalties in practice.

• LX2DDD - Employment Law

  To introduce students to the historical and socio-political development of employment law in the UK; To familiarise students with the creation, terms and termination of contracts of employment and enable them to understand how this relates to employment status, (i.e. self-employed, employees, workers), in the UK.