Course overview
Do you want to develop and apply your critical thinking and analytical skills in a legal context? Are you excited about the impact you could make in the legal profession?
Start your journey to becoming a barrister or solicitor with our LLB Law degree, covering subjects including the English Legal System, Public Law, Contract Law and Criminal Law.
This four-year course includes an initial full-time Foundation Year and offers an alternative route into university and gaining a degree.
This route is for you if you do not have the necessary qualifications or don’t yet feel ready to begin degree-level study, or are returning to education and would like some support to get up to speed with learning in a university setting.
The Foundation Year in Legal Issues will allow you to develop your academic skills and confidence as well as introduce you to key concepts, debates and skills that will support and inform your subsequent years of undergraduate study.
Following successful completion of your Foundation Year, you’ll progress onto Year 1 of our Law LLB (Hons) degree.
About this course
During your Foundation Year, you will undertake modules to enable you to enhance your academic skills and equip you with the tools you’ll need to study with confidence. You’ll carry out a personal project so you can study an area of interest related to your chosen future subject specialisation.
You’ll develop your knowledge of law through consideration of issues and questions that are key to understanding common legal issues. You’ll gain an understanding of the English legal system and how legal precedent is achieved and explore the basic principles of common law and case law. You’ll also consider the usefulness of law reports and learn about key legal personnel and systems.
Following successful completion of your Foundation Year, you’ll progress onto Year 1 of our Law LLB (Hons) degree.
The LLB (Bachelor of Laws) degree is an internationally recognised and valued qualification. This course gives you an excellent grounding in aspects of law relevant to the additional study and training that must be completed to pursue a career as a solicitor. It also covers elements of the academic training needed to become a barrister.
Our Law degree can also open doors to a wide range of legal careers, thanks to our focus on giving you an all-round legal education.
We keep our class sizes much smaller than other universities, allowing us to give you high levels of personal student support.
We’re also one of only a few UK universities to include professional work placements with every undergraduate degree, so you’ll graduate with professional experience without having to take a sandwich year.
In addition to the professional placements, we offer opportunities for pro bono activity so you can build an invaluable portfolio of legal experience during your studies.
In your final year, you can explore specialist areas of the law such as Company Law, Family Law or Employment Law. You can also study a selection of non-law option subjects offering the opportunity for you to expand your law study into areas such as Business; Journalism; Children, Young People and Families; Criminology and Sociology; and Politics.
What’s more, Leeds is a rapidly growing legal centre, making it the perfect place to start your legal career.
Why study with us?
- Build your self-confidence, academic skills and core subject knowledge in preparation for progression onto degree-level study.
- Start your journey to becoming a solicitor or barrister with a LLB Law degree.
- Open the door to a career in a wide range of legal services or related professions.
- Get invaluable professional experience in the legal sector with professional placements and pro bono opportunities.
- Learn in small groups, accessing a wide range of personal student support.
- Learn from a dedicated group of staff who are research active and who share their experiences in private practice.
Course Modules
Foundation Year
During your Foundation Year, you'll study four core modules.
Academic Skills and Studying with Confidence (core)
We'll help you develop core academic skills such as using electronic resources, planning and note-taking, communication skills related to essay and report writing and delivering presentations.
You'll learn to manage your time, prioritise tasks and manage stress, and become more confident in engaging with collaborative learning, debates, discussions and critical reflection.
Law Project (core)
You’ll study an area of interest related to your chosen future academic specialisation or area of legal practice interest.
You’ll work individually on your project, which could be a written report, a presentation and oral examination, a film or a series of blog posts.
You’ll undertake problem-solving learning, with formative feedback and support provided throughout, helping develop your self-confidence.
Law Foundations (core)
You'll be introduced to foundation legal principles and concepts.
You'll explore various fundamentals of law - including their connection with the English legal system - focussing on interesting and topical contexts, cases and principles.
We'll also cover the way the law is reported, how citations work and how to research cases.
Law and Society (core)
You'll be encouraged to engage with the broader implications of law in society.
Drawing on examples from topical legal areas and legal practice, you’ll develop an understanding of the nature of common law and legal precedent within UK law.
You'll take part in seminars and group work to explore selected case studies and reports and find more information through reference resources.
Year 1
During your first year, you'll study six core modules.
The English Legal System (core)
Get an introduction to the operation and fundamental principles of the legal system of England and Wales.
You'll learn about the main legal institutions and professionals, sources of law, the criminal and civil justice systems, rules of interpretation, and legal services and their funding.
Discover the issues surrounding the rule of law, practical and ethical implications, social, economic and political contexts, and their impact.
Content covers the Knowledge requirements and some Constitutional Law elements of the Public Law Foundation of Legal Knowledge under the Joint Statement, which is required by the SRA and BSB for a QLD, and the SRA Statement of Legal Knowledge for, "12. Legal system of England and Wales".
Contract Law (core)
Get an introduction to the operation and fundamental principles of the legal system of England and Wales.
Discover the issues surrounding contract law, practical and ethical implications, and evaluate its operation within society.
You'll also appreciate the social, economic and political contexts, underlying policy issues and their impact.
You'll develop a practical ability to analyse cases and apply legal method and legal reasoning.
Content covers the Contract and Restitution elements of the Obligations Foundation of Legal Knowledge under the Joint Statement, required by the SRA and BSB for a QLD. It also covers the SRA Statement of Legal Knowledge for "9. Contract Law".
Legal Skills (core)
Develop the critical and research skills you need to study and practise law.
You'll apply the skills learned in your other modules.
You'll get an introduction to the case study format, legal method and the specific legal application of Knowledge and General Transferable Skills under the Joint Statement as required by the SRA and BSB for a QLD.
You'll learn research, analysis, critical judgement, literacy, technical language and communication, and ethical practice (as informed by SRA's Code of Conduct).
Public Law (core)
Learn about the operation and principles of England and Wales' legal system.
You'll explore institutions including the Crown and Parliament, central government, devolved institutions and the judiciary and principles of the constitution.
You'll look at how legislation is passed, government accountability, separation of powers, the rule of law and judicial review, plus any content specified by the SRA and BSB for QLDs.
You'll develop an awareness of the issues surrounding constitutional and administrative law, evaluate their operation within society, and appreciate the social, economic and political contexts, underlying policy issues and their impact.
This module covers the Constitutional and Administrative Law elements of Public Law as a Foundation of Legal Knowledge required by the SRA and BSB for a QLD under the Joint Statement, and relevant aspects of the SRA Statement of Legal Knowledge for "11. Constitutional law and EU law (including Human Rights).
The Law of the European Union (core)
Learn about the law of the European Union and its place in our constitution.
You'll find out about the issues surrounding EU law and its practical and ethical implications.
You'll evaluate its operation in society and look at the social, economic and political contexts and underlying policy issues relating to its operation.
The module covers the Law of the European Union Foundation of Legal Knowledge under the Joint Statement as required by the SRA and BSB for a QLD, and relevant aspects of the SRA Statement of Legal Knowledge for "11. Constitutional law and EU law (including Human Rights)".
Ethics, Society and Employability (core)
Get an introduction to the social justice mission of Leeds Trinity University and consider a range of contemporary social issues, as well as your own personal and academic development.
We'll help you engage with ethical topics and perspectives relevant to your degree programme.
It'll help you transition into higher education and introduce the learning and teaching approaches at Leeds Trinity, allowing you to integrate your own learning from personal experience with an ability to engage in an empathic, ethical and compassionate way with the wider world.
We'll encourage you to reflect on and enhance your employability, identify and apply for suitable placement opportunities, and prepare for and successfully complete a Professional Challenge Project or work placement at the end of Semester 2.
Year 2
During your second year, you'll study six core modules.
Human Rights and Social Justice (core)
You'll get an introduction to human rights law, including the Human Rights Act 1998 and anti-discrimination legislation.
You'll consider issues of social justice and discrimination in the light of comparative law and critical legal theory.
We'll explore human rights through key theories and texts, and encourage you to apply and test your findings on current debates about justice and equality.
Land Law (core)
Get an understanding of the legal principles and issues of English law of real property.
You'll learn about property legislation, freeholds, mortgages, rights over land, adverse possession, the landlord/tenant relationship and tax considerations.
In your seminars you'll get training and support for transferable skills and you'll apply legal principles to real and hypothetical cases.
You'll also carry out independent tasks and research.
The module covers the Property Law Foundation of Legal Knowledge under the Joint Statement as required by the SRA and BSB for a QLD, and the SRA Statement of Legal Knowledge for "5. Property".
Criminal Law (core)
You'll get an understanding of the main legal principles and issues of English criminal law.
We'll cover elements of offnences, factors affecting culpability, capacity to commit offences, modes of liability, evidence, defences, and other content specified by the SRA and BSB for QLDs.
The module covers the Criminal Law Foundation of Legal Knowledge under the Joint Statement as required by the SRA and BSB for a QLD, and the Criminal Law aspects of the SRA Statement of Legal Knowledge under "7. Criminal law and evidence".
Torts (core)
Learn the main legal principles and issues of the English law of Torts.
You'll learn topics including negligence, product liability, nuisance, defamation and defences.
Your seminars will get you to consider how legal principles can be applied to real and hypothetical facts and get you to argue either side of a case.
The module covers the Tort aspects of the Obligations Law Foundation of Legal Knowledge under the Joint Statement as required by the SRA and BSB for a QLD, and the SRA Statement of Legal Knowledge for "6. Torts".
Advanced Legal Skills (core)
You'll develop the skills introduced in level 4 modules needed to apply and practise law.
You'll apply these skills in client interviewing, advocacy, on either side of an argument, and advanced legal research.
The module meets the requirements in the Joint Statement for a QLD, by addressing the specified Knowledge and General Transferable Skills.
Professional Development and Placement (core)
You'll normally do six weeks of placement in total with suitable organisations.
Workshops will prepare you, guiding you through the process of choosing and applying for placements.
You'll also complete a portfolio and report, including a career research project.
Year 3
During your final year, you'll study one core module and will be required to choose five optional modules.
Equity and Trusts (core)
We'll cover the law of equity and the law of trusts, covering the main legal principles and issues.
You'll learn about the difference between legal and equitable interests, the creation of express trusts, resulting trusts, constructive trusts and charitable and non-charitable purpose trusts.
You'll also look at trustees, fiduciary duties, the rights, remedies and powers of beneficiaries, equitable remedies, and such other content as may be specified by the SRA and BSB for QLDs.
The module covers the Equity and the Law of Trusts Foundation of Legal Knowledge under the Joint Statement as required by the SRA and BSB for a QLD, and the SRA Statement of Legal Knowledge under "10. Trusts and equitable wrongs".
Professional Learning Through Work (optional)
You'll spend time working with an employer during the year, completing a project related to local government or regional politics.
This will involve negotiating a project that meets the needs of both your employer or placement provider and Leeds Trinity University.
You'll then reflect on what you've learned from the experience.
The project you undertake should help you explore career pathways in politics so you can make informed and purposeful decisions about your future.
You'll develop and negotiate learning outcomes and assessment modes that allow you to apply theoretical understanding and practical work-based development to a chosen context.
Law Research Report (optional)
You'll define a research project of your choice in consultation with an appointed member of staff who will be your supervisor.
You'll formulate a proposal and then complete a dissertation.
Employment Law (optional)
You'll learn the main legal principles and issues of employment law.
We'll look at case law and changes in law and policy.
The content is tailored to topics of current interest so we can cover significant contemporary issues relating to employment law.
Family Law (optional)
We'll explore contemporary issues relating to family law, including case law and changes in law and policy.
The content of the module, which is not specified by either the SRA or BSB, will therefore be tailored to topics of current interest.
You'll develop an awareness of the issues surrounding family law, you'll evaluate its operation within society, and appreciate the social, economic and political contexts and underlying policy issues relating to its operation, and their impact.
Comparative Law (optional)
Learn the principles and methodology of comparative law, civil law and other legal systems.
You'll find out the issues around comparative law techniques, look at practical and ethical implications, and you'll evaluate the operation of legal systems in terms of social, economic and political contexts.
You'll develop your ability to carry out independent tasks and research, develop arguments and possible solutions to legal problems, and develop your employability skills.
Law for Journalists (optional)
You'll study the principles of English law affecting the media.
This includes laws on contempt, copyright, defamation, privacy, human rights and court reporting.
We'll cover legal areas that crop up in day-to-day reporting.
We'll also look at changes in legislation and case law that impact journalists.
Child and Youth Justice (optional)
You'll explore themes relating to young people and justice.
You'll look at the historical development of youth justice, the social construction of the young offender, contemporary strategies, the links between policy, practice and outcomes, and key debates around regulating and controlling young people.
Intelligence and Security (optional)
Get an in-depth understanding of the role of intelligence agencies in Britain.
You'll critically examine key aspects of security studies.
We'll cover the role of the British Security Service (MI5) since the end of World War Two.
We'll look at the way MI5 has dealt with security threats from Soviet spies to internal subversives, the IRA and Islamic jihadis within a more accountable and democratic political framework.
Company Law (optional)
You'll cover the key principles of corporate law in England and Wales.
Find out about the concept of the company as a separate legal entity before considering limited liability, the corporate veil, a company's constitution, and the roles of directors and shareholders.
You'll be introduced to internal processes and procedures and associated reporting requirements and liaison with Companies House.
You'll be encouraged to think critically about issues such as minority protection, majority rule, and the separation of ownership and control so you can apply these concepts to problem-based scenarios.
Corporate Sustainability (optional)
You'll measure environmental, social and economic impacts and performance, including market and non-market impacts and key performance indicators.
We'll examine the business case for sustainability, strategic frameworks for implementing corporate sustainability and environmental compliance.
We'll also analyse corporate sustainability tools, environmental auditing including EMAS, ISO1400 certification and carbon footprinting, social and environmental risk assessment, product life-cycle analysis, eco-labelling and sustainable branding, as well as external sustainability reporting and verification.
Prisons and Punishment (optional)
Explore how punishment has evolved and continues to evolve in response to criminal behaviour.
Explore penal theory and how punishment has functioned as a warning to others, to reform behaviour, and by removing anti-social elements from society.
We'll use case studies to relate theory to practice and identify ways key social perspectives about punishment are historically related to governmental policies and the organisation of key institutions, but also consistent across time and place.
We'll also look at how governments have tried to reduce the use of prisons through alternative forms of rehabilitation of social punishments such as community service.
You'll be expected to use ethical and critical insight to analyse the difficulties facing penology.
Professional work placements
Experience matters. That's why we include professional work placements with every undergraduate degree.
How does it work?
Careers and Placements will work with you to find your perfect placement or help you arrange your own, whether that's in Leeds, another part of the UK or even abroad. You will be able to take part in a series of workshops, events and live ‘employer challenges’ to boost your confidence and prepare you for your placement.
During your placement, you will have an opportunity to gain degree-relevant work experience, build your knowledge of career sectors and secure valuable employer references and industry contacts. This experience will help you to shape your career decisions and find the right path for you.
You’ll get exclusive opportunities to work with law and legal service providers through an integrated programme of preparation, training and placements throughout your degree. In your final year an optional Professional Learning through Work module gives you the chance to work on a live brief from a legal employer.
To find out how we can help you make your career ambitions a reality, visit:
Chat with our students
Do you want to find out more about studying at Leeds Trinity University?
Ask our Student Ambassadors about what it’s like to be part of the Leeds Trinity University community, chat to them about your course(s) of interest and hear more about their Leeds Trinity University student experience.
Chat with our studentsLearning and Teaching
At Leeds Trinity we aim to provide an excellent student experience and provide you with the tools and support to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional potential.
Our Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy delivers excellence by providing the framework for:
- high quality teaching
- an engaging and inclusive approach to learning, assessment and achievement
- a clear structure through which you progress in your academic studies, your personal development and towards professional-level employment or further study.
We have a strong reputation for developing student employability, supporting your development towards graduate employment, with relevant skills embedded throughout your programme of study.
We endeavour to develop curiosity, confidence, courage, ambition and aspiration in all students through the key themes in our Learning and Teaching Strategy:
- Student Involvement and Engagement
- Inclusion
- Integrated Programme and Assessment Experience
- Digital Literacy and Skills
- Employability and Enterprise
To help you achieve your potential we emphasise learning as a collaborative process, with a range of student-led and real-world activities. This approach ensures that you fully engage in shaping your own learning, developing your critical thinking and reflective skills so that you can identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and use the extensive learning support system we offer to shape your own development.
We believe the secret to great learning and teaching is simple: it is about creating an inclusive learning experience that allows all students to thrive through:
- Personalised support
- Expert lecturers
- Strong connections with employers
- An international outlook
- Understanding how to use tools and technology to support learning and development
Programme delivery
Your time on campus, learning through in-person teaching, is at the heart of your academic experience and the way we deliver our programmes. This is supported and further enhanced by additional engagement activities and opportunities provided online and through digital teaching materials. This blended approach seeks to ensure a positive learning and teaching student experience.
Your programme of study has been carefully designed around a three-phase model of delivery:
- Preparation: You will be given clear tasks to support you in preparing for live teaching. This could include watching a short-pre-recorded lecture, reading a paper or text chapter or preparing other material for use in class.
- Live: All your live teaching will be designed around active learning, providing you with valuable opportunities to build on preparation tasks, interact with staff and peers, and surface any misunderstandings.
- Post: Follow-up activities will include opportunities for you to check understanding, for staff to receive feedback from you and your peers to inform subsequent sessions, and for you to apply learning to new situations or context.
Preparation, Live and Post teaching and learning and the digital materials used will vary by course, but will be designed to help you structure your learning, take a full and active part in your course, and apply and test your developing knowledge and skills.
Assessment
A variety of assessment methods are used, matched to the learning outcomes for your programme, allowing you to apply and demonstrate the full range of knowledge and skills that you have developed.
For more details on specific assessment methods for this course contact hello@leedstrinity.ac.uk
Entry Requirements
Leeds Trinity University is committed to recruiting students with talent and potential and who we feel will benefit greatly from their academic and non-academic experiences here. We treat every application on its own merits; we value highly the experience you illustrate in your personal statement.
Information about the large range of qualifications we accept, including A-Levels, BTECs and T Levels, can be found on our entry requirements page. If you need additional advice or are taking qualifications that are not covered in the information supplied, please contact our Admissions Office.
| Qualification | Grade |
|---|---|
| UCAS tariff | 64 |
| GCSE requirements | GCSE English Language at grade C or 4 (or higher) is required |
Applications are welcome from mature students with few formal qualifications.
Any previous relevant work experience and learning will be assessed and, where appropriate, we may offer an alternative way to assess suitability to study.
This course is not available to students on a Student Route Visa.
Fees and finance
Funding
UK Home Students:
Tuition fees cost £9,250 a year for this course in 2023/2024.
Part-time tuition fees will be prorated accordingly to the number of credits you're studying.
Depending on government policy, tuition fees may change in future years.
Living costs, e.g. accommodation, travel, food, will also need to be taken into consideration.
Leeds Trinity offers a range of bursaries and scholarships to help support students while you study.
Additional costs
We advise students that there may be additional course costs in addition to annual tuition fees. These include:
- Books - recommended and required reading lists will be provided at the start of your course. All the books and e-books are available from our Library to borrow but you may choose to purchase your own.
- Print costs - the University provides students with a £6 printing credit each academic year which can be topped up either on campus or online.
How to apply
For full-time undergraduate courses, you apply through UCAS. That's the University and Colleges Admissions Service.
On your application form, you'll need to know our institution code - it's L24 - and the course code. If you click through to the UCAS website using the button below, it'll take you to the right place with all the information you need.
You'll need to write a personal statement - we've prepared a guide to help you.
Although the main UCAS deadline has passed for 2023 entry, you can still apply until 30 June if you haven’t applied yet or haven’t used all five choices on UCAS. After this date, all applications will go through Clearing.
Alternatively, if you’ve used all your five choices, but received no offers or declined your offers, you may be eligible to add another choice through UCAS Extra. UCAS will send you information on UCAS Extra if you’re eligible.
UCAS Extra opened on Thursday 23 February 2023 and closes on Tuesday 4 July 2023.
Applications are not yet open for courses starting in September 2024. You can register and start your application for 2024 from 16 May 2023, although you cannot submit it until later in the year. The UCAS application deadline for courses starting in September 2024 is 31 January 2024
There's lots more information about the application process on the UCAS website, or you can get in touch with our admissions team who will be happy to help:
- call 0113 283 7123 (Monday to Thursday, 9.00am to 5.00pm, or Friday 9.00am to 4.00pm)
- email admissions@leedstrinity.ac.uk
Graduate opportunities
Providing you with the opportunity to develop the professional skills and experience you need to launch your career is at the heart of everything we do at Leeds Trinity University.
Graduating with a Law LLB degree gives you an excellent basis for pursuing a career as a solicitor or barrister, following completion of the relevant further requisite study and training. You will develop key transferable skills that will also be useful in other professions such as chartered accountant, immigration adviser, barrister’s clerk and working within the Criminal Justice System. Further study may be required for some of these specialist roles.
After you graduate, Careers and Placements will help you as you pursue your chosen career through our mentoring scheme, support with CV and interview preparation and access to graduate employability events.
To find out how we can help you make your career ambitions a reality, visit:
What is Discover Uni?
Discover Uni is the official, authoritative source of information and guidance on higher education in the UK. The website allows you to search for and compare data and information on university and college programmes from across the UK.
It helps you make sense of all the information out there by linking to other quality resources and explaining what can be found where. It also allows you to search for and compare information and data for individual undergraduate courses across the UK.