- Law (Philosophy, Politics and Law Pathway)
LLB (Hons) — 2025 entry Law (Philosophy, Politics and Law Pathway)
If you are keen to get a solid legal education and dig deeper to better understand fundamental questions about why the law functions the way it does, then this is the course for you.
Why choose
this course?
- Top lawyers not only know what the law is, but they understand why it is this way, what philosophical ideals and values it is based on, and how it can be made better.
- The heightened analytical skills that can be obtained on our LLB in Law (Philosophy, Politics and Law Pathway) are increasingly in demand by employers. As technology eliminates simplistic tasks, employers are progressively seeking law graduates who have complex problem-solving skills, can think abstractly, argue critically and find creative solutions to novel legal problems. This is what our course delivers.
- We offer our own Professional Legal Practice (SQE Pathway) LLM so you can apply to stay at Surrey for your masters and benefit from the familiar teaching environment.
- You’ll have the option to take one of our award-winning Professional Training placements that will prepare you for work in industry.
Accreditation
What you will study
You’ll gain a strong understanding of the main areas of legal knowledge, including law as it:
- Regulates the functions of the state (public law and criminal law)
- Regulates relations between private individuals (contract law and tort law),
- regulates the ownership and control of land and other property (land law, and equity and trusts).
After your first year, you will immerse yourself in deeper questions about the operation and design of our legal system and the principles of legal change and reform. You will take optional modules on the philosophical, social and political dimensions of law, focusing on cutting-edge legal problems and developing your knowledge of the relation between law and society, and the values and political structures our legal system is based on.
You will learn how to evaluate the law, analyse its application to given situations and apply your legal understanding in a national or international context. We also provide a series of employability training seminars, digital lawyering, pro bono opportunities, and extracurricular activities focusing on client interviewing, negotiation and mooting.
Professional recognition
LLB (Hons) - Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
The qualifying law degree is recognised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for the purposes of satisfying the academic stage of training.
Led by expert researchers
Surrey Law School has a dynamic team of expert researchers working on the cutting-edge legal questions that you will encounter in your studies. These range from how to regulate technology, to using law to combat environmental problems, and how to reform the criminal law, improving business practice and working within international legal frameworks. Find out more about the lecturers you will work with.
Drawing on the expertise of the Surrey Centre for Law and Philosophy, law students on the Philosophy, Politics and Law Pathway will be taught by world-leading experts in this field.
The Centre employs over a dozen lecturers in legal and political philosophy and is an internationally recognised hub for dynamic and innovative research and teaching. A philosophical, political and social perspective on law is embedded within a wide range of modules taught in the School, which will engage and challenge you from day one.
Facilities
Our Court of the Future is the perfect venue to run practical workshops to demonstrate legal practice and to give you first-hand experience of advocacy in a court setting. It allows you to have mock trials and moot courts in a real adversarial setting. It is comprised of:
- A raised judicial “bench” and a layout mirroring a typical UK court
- Video-conferencing hardware (telepresence system including multiple screens, cameras, microphones, audio system)
- Video-conferencing software
- Digital court recording system with speech recognition and transcription support
- Digital case file management system
- Court interpreting equipment
- Virtual reality simulation.
Discover more about Surrey Law School's facilities.
The academic year is divided into two semesters which are both 15 weeks long. Each semester consists of teaching, revision/directed learning and assessment periods.
The Philosophy, Politics and Law (PPL) Pathway explores the same compulsory modules as the LLB in Law, including Public, Tort, Crime, Contract, EU, Land, Equity and Trusts.
To complete the requirements of the PPL Pathway, you must complete a sufficient number of optional modules from the specified list of PPL modules (equal to at least 90 credits or six modules). Upon completion of this Pathway, you will receive a recognised LLB degree, but one that also signals your PPL specialism to prospective employers.
An indicative list of modules that count toward the minimum of 90 credits required for the PPL Pathway (subject to change) are:
Year 2
- Law and Contemporary Social Issues (15 credits)
- Law and Economics (15 credits)
- Environmental Law (15 credits).
Year 3
- Dissertation in a PPL topic (30 credits)
- Commercial Restitution (15 credits)
- Jurisprudence I (15 credits)
- Legal Obligation and Punishment (15 credits)
- Medical Law I (15 credits)
- Medical Law II (15 credits)
- Core Issues in Private Law (15 credits)
- Tax Law (15 credits).
Expected progression through the PPL Pathway
In Year 1, you will take eight compulsory 15 credit modules just as other LLB students.
In Year 2, you will take three core compulsory modules and one optional module in each semester. The options available include several modules on the PPL Pathway.
You may then decide to gain work experience through our award-winning Professional Training placement programme, or else progress straight to final year.
In your final year, you will take four optional modules each semester, which include a number of options from the list of PPL approved modules.
The structure of our programmes follow clear educational aims that are tailored to each programme. These are all outlined in the programme specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes.
- Law (Philosophy, Politics and Law Pathway) LLB (Hons)
- Law (Philosophy, Politics and Law Pathway) LLB (Hons) with placement
Please note: The full module listing for the optional Professional Training placement part of your course is available in the relevant programme specification.
Modules
Modules listed are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Modules are subject to teaching availability, student demand and/or class size caps.
The University operates a credit framework for all taught programmes based on a 15-credit tariff.
Course options
Year 1 - LLB (Hons)
Semester 1
Compulsory
In order to study law, it is necessary to understand what the law is, where it comes from and how it operates and evolves. This three-week intensive module will equip students with a foundation of knowledge of the English legal system and its personnel, principles and policies and introduce the skills needed to study the law effectively. It will also situate the legal system of England and Wales within the context of other legal systems allowing students to understand the interrelation between English law, European law and international law. In essence, the module will provide a foundation of knowledge and skills that will enable students to embark on their study of law with confidence.
View full module detailsSemester 2
Compulsory
The module is a core subject for a qualifying legal degree as required by the Bar Council to qualify as a barrister and a core subject to be examined later as part of the Solicitors’ Qualifying Exam. It introduces students to the constitutional arrangements of the UK and the key institutions and concepts inherent in its uncodified constitution such as Parliamentary Sovereignty. It then explores these against the specific situations influenced by these aspects such as EU membership, devolution, and participation within the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). This module serves as a basis for several modules that follow later in the degree. For example, it introduces the key judicial review concepts that are involved in Public Law 2 (Level 5) and the institutional aspects and domestic legal considerations arising from EU membership that are further covered in the EU Law module (Level 5). It also explains the mechanics of the Human Rights Act which, as well as being relevant to Public Law 2, is relevant to many optional subjects at Level 6 such as Family Law, Medical Law, and the Law of Evidence. Where relevant the module makes comparisons with the constitutional arrangements of other jurisdictions (e.g.US, China, South Africa) and accordingly students can expect to obtain an awareness of intercultural variations in constitutional frameworks.
View full module detailsSemester 1 & 2
Compulsory
The module considers the role of contract law in providing a basis for commercial and individual transactions. The creation, nature and contents of a legally enforceable agreement and the issues and controversies, which arise in this regard, will be explored and discussed. The course will also cover the effects of a breach of contract and the factors which vitiate the validity and enforceability of contracts. The ethical values, philosophical principles and practical implications relating to enforceability of contracts will be explored. The course will focus on the nature of a contract in English Law and the roles of common law, equity and statute.
View full module detailsThis module introduces students to the fundamental principles of criminal liability and to the social, political and economic context in which they operate. It covers a range of fatal, non-fatal, sexual and property offences as well as a selection of defences that may be available to allow a defendant either to reduce their liability or to avoid liability altogether. Interwoven throughout the module are theoretical debates about the nature and purpose of criminal law and its role in society thus providing students with an accessible introduction to complex concepts such as paternalism, liberalism and autonomy using real-world illustrations from the news media and fiction. Students are encouraged to look at their world around them and see the criminal law in action and think about the role that it plays in shaping behaviour in society. The emphasis is on developing a critical approach to the criminal law whilst ensuring that students have a firm understanding of core legal principles and their operation. The module is designed around three themes to encourage students to look at the criminal law in an evaluative way: (1) the relationship between objectivity and subjectivity and the consequences of a shift from one to the other; (2) the conflict between principle and policy and (3) the shifting boundaries of criminal liability.
View full module detailsThe Tort module introduces key concepts of Tort Law and then considers these in the context of current litigation, legal practice and legal academic theories. The content will introduce students to the concepts, terminology and policies relevant to modern tort law (including tort as a means of compensating victims and as a loss distribution mechanism), as well as considering its historical origins, theoretical justifications, and the potential impact on tort law of Human Rights. Students will be encouraged to consider and debate practical application of tort law principles by UK courts and practitioners. Specific doctrinal topics may include, among others: the tort of negligence, including defences and remedies; vicarious liability; discrete areas of liability such as psychiatric harm, occupiers' liability and pure economic harm; product liability; and torts protecting interests in personal integrity and land. Students will have the opportunity to develop their academic skills of legal research, legal writing, critical analysis and problem solving through the use of both real case examples and tailored case studies. The Tort module satisfies part of the Law of Obligations, as required by the qualifying law degree (QLD) and introduces students to a core component of the foundations of legal knowledge, which are relevant to the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), Bar Training Courses and other graduate legal career pathways. It complements the other modules required by the QLD and provides a strong foundation for optional modules such as Core Issues in Private Law or Medical Law & Ethics.
View full module detailsOptional modules for Year 1 - FHEQ Level 4
NA
Year 2 - LLB (Hons)
Semester 1
Compulsory
The module examines UK administrative law and the political, legal, constitutional and historical, context in which it operates. It focuses on the principles and practice of judicial review, the legal proceedings by which the courts are asked to determine the lawfulness of decisions made in relation to the exercise of public functions. Administrative law builds on the basic principles of constitutional law that students are introduced to in year 1. Administrative law is a foundation subject for Qualifying Law Degrees and as such the knowledge and skills developed throughout the module will be essential for entering the legal profession as a practitioner.
View full module detailsOptional
This module will require students to engage and refine key skills developed in the first year of their degree and to apply those skills at a more advanced level. The key skills include legal research (including using digital research tools), case reading, critical thinking and analysis, precision in the use of language, effective and accurate communication, and time management. This course aims to develop a knowledge of the principles of environmental law together with a critical awareness of societal context, legal policy, enforcement and jurisprudential issues which shape this area of law. It will enable students to grasp the key characteristics of environmental law in action. They will be able to handle complex problems of pollution of the environment involving corporate and private interests. The contextual relationship between national environmental law, international law and European Union law will be understood. They will also have an understanding of the issues for the protection of the environment in developing countries
View full module detailsThis module builds upon students’ knowledge gained in year 1 of Criminal Law modules 1 and 2 (LAW1029 and 1030) to explore how the UK sentencing framework follows the principles of sentencing. This module is interdisciplinary in nature, tracing the private and public conceptualisations of sentencing and penal policy (the latter covering prisons and community corrections) through changing legal, political, economic, and social cultures. The Magistrates’ Court visit will aid and consolidate students’ understanding of the theory and enable development of practical and employability skills, such as networking with persons in the legal industry and securing a training contract. This Court visit also feeds directly into the Summative 1 and 2 assessments.
View full module detailsSocieties, just like individuals, routinely face hard decisions about what they value and hope to achieve. What form of government should they have? How much say should people have in particular government decisions? For that matter, how much say should the government have in particular personal or family decisions? What balance should we strike between competing values such as freedom, equality, prosperity, and safety? Should we punish people who break the law, and if so, how? How should our society behave towards other societies? And what is the role of law in all this? Any serious attempt to answer questions like these requires engagement with key concepts in social and political philosophy – concepts like authority, democracy, liberty, rights, justice, and equality. In this module, students will carefully study and critically evaluate academic articles that focus on these concepts and the role that they play in controversial social and political debates. Students will also examine legal sources, such as statutes, treaties, and case judgments, that touch on these debates, and will critically evaluate these legal sources in light of the insights they have gleaned from their study of related scholarship.
View full module detailsSemester 2
Compulsory
This module introduces students to selected topics of European Union law, to complement their learning in Public Law I, and to complement engagement with other legal subjects where an understanding of EU law is beneficial. As such, the module provides an introduction to key features of EU constitutional law, the relationships between the UK and EU in the context of Brexit, and an introduction to the internal market/trade. Additional selected topics or case studies may be included to deepen students' understanding and to illustrate current developments.
View full module detailsOptional
LAW2084 provides a critical introduction to law and economics. It explores the distinctive approach of this academic movement and considers normative issues raised by its foundations. It is one of the Level 5 and Level 6 modules in the Philosophy, Politics, and Law Pathway, introducing a distinctive, systematic basis for deeper critical reflections and discussions about what the law ought to be. It introduces an influential type of analysis relevant to the justification and interpretation of laws and policies. It also hones skills in developing, expressing, and evaluating arguments and digesting complex abstract subjects.
View full module detailsLaw 2099 examines the development of the law governing armed conflict and several of the most important legal issues surrounding the use of military force today. Through interactive seminars and workshop discussions, we will address the fundamental questions of what justifies using military force, why peacetime rules may not apply in war, and what limits should apply to how military force is used. The module examines the development and application of the law of armed conflict through the UN Charter, Geneva Conventions, jurisprudence of international tribunals, and practice of states. Among the central questions we will consider are: When should international human rights law govern the use of military force? What particular legal issues arise in non-international armed conflicts? What law should govern counterterrorism operations? Law 2099 builds directly off of many Level 4 topics, including those addressed in Public Law 1, Criminal Law, and Tort Law, and also prepares students for further study in international law, human rights law, and law and technology.
View full module detailsIntroduction to International Law will provide students with an introductory overview of international law as a discipline in its historical context and in light of topical, contemporary case studies. The first half of the module will entail a historical narrative of the development of international law, particularly the role of international organisations and the individual in it, in the modern era. The second half of the module will present the interconnectivity of various sub-fields of international law within the prism of engaging and topical case studies in current affairs. This will be extremely useful for those students who wish to choose other International Law-related modules (International Criminal Law, International Human Rights Law, Climate Change Law) in their studies and for those who wish to undertake an international legal career as a profession.
View full module detailsSemester 1 & 2
Compulsory
This module introduces learners to the principles of law regulating real property in England and Wales. It will orient learners towards understanding how legal and beneficial title to land is obtained and evidenced and how other legal and equitable rights in land are created and exercised. This module will introduce learners to the fundaments of the land registration system and explore key aspects of the mortgagor and mortgagee relationship and also that of the landlord tenant relationship in regard to the leasehold estate. This module will also consider the key general legislative and policy framework governing land planning. This module builds on and develop the following key academic and professional skills gained during Year 1 of the LLB: case reading, statutory interpretation, problem solving, critical analysis, legal research and time management.
View full module detailsWelcome to the exciting world of Equity! In this course we will explore the fundamental principles of Equity as well as its greatest creation - the trust. The course is an introduction to the subject but is meant to give you a comprehensive understanding of the foundations of Equity.
View full module detailsOptional modules for Year 2 - FHEQ Level 5
For further information regarding programme structure and module selection, please refer to the course catalogue.
Year 3 - LLB (Hons)
Semester 1
Compulsory
Jurisprudence is the theory or philosophy of law: the study of philosophical questions about the nature of law, its relation to morality, what determines its validity and normativity, and theories about its social significance and how it operates. Jurisprudence 1 is a survey of key jurisprudential theories and debates. It seeks to fit within the rest of the LLB syllabus by providing a reasoned and principled basis for discussions regarding the content and purpose of the law. It provides background information useful in arguments over the justification or interpretation of laws and policies. It hones skills in developing, expressing, and evaluating arguments as well as in research and digesting complex abstract subjects. Its practical value for practising lawyers cannot be understated as only lawyers with a theoretical understanding will be able to advise clients and reply to opposing arguments when dealing with areas in which the law is unclear or offers conflicting guidance. The lectures will cover the theoretical content of the course, providing an overview of the theories and the debates among them. The tutorials will be aimed at guiding students through the research and development of an argumentative paper on a more focused subject so that students can then accomplish the same on their summative assessment.
View full module detailsOptional
This module looks at key issues in medical law and ethics throughout the life course. It begins by linking law with ethics and explaining the tensions between legal, ethical and professional approaches to healthcare-related issues. In the first two weeks, students consider the underpinning topics of medical ethical principles, the nature of medical law, the legal structure of the NHS and the challenges of healthcare allocation decisions. Students then address the issues of consent, capacity and information, with an in depth study of the Mental Capacity Act and its relevance to treatment decisions by competent adults, adults who lack capacity, adults whose capacity fluctuates and patients under the age of 18. These introductory topics underpin consideration of the topics covered in the second half of the semester. Cases and principles introduced in the first half of the module are connected with the topics covered in the second half of the module. The second half of the module looks at public health, the beginnings of life, definitions of ‘life’ and ‘death’ and at end-of-life decisions. Precise topics reflect current events, new case law and emerging areas of legal, ethical or academic debate. For example, students may consider communicable diseases, conception, contraception, abortion, euthanasia, palliative care and assisted dying. At the end of the module, students are given the opportunity to consolidate their learning and research by applying it to real life cases and created scenarios. Students are encouraged to debate and discuss so that they are exposed to a wide variety of perspectives and have the confidence to challenge their presuppositions.
View full module detailsTax Law introduces students to basic elements of tax law, explores a number of the most important questions in tax policy, and examines a range of topics in UK tax law. The module provides an overview of various kinds of taxation including income, consumption, inheritance and corporate taxation and explains basic features of the UK system of tax law and tax administration. Topics in tax policy include theories of tax fairness, debates over the tax base and progressive taxation, tax competition and international tax planning, and environmental taxes. UK tax law topics include income from employment, income from trading, income from land, capital allowances, capital gains tax, corporation tax, VAT, inheritance tax, and tax avoidance.
View full module detailsThis module examines a number of key aspects of individual and collective employment law. Students build upon the knowledge gained in levels 4 and 5 when considering the legal developments in the common law of contract, It is designed to provide students with an opportunity for the advanced study of the law governing the employment relationship and labour relations; to understand the legal regulation of working life and assist students to place the key issues of employment law that have shaped the development of law in this area, in their political, economic and social context. It introduces students to the legal distinction between categories of workers and the significance this has on their individuals’ rights and obligations under the statutory framework. It develops students’ understanding of collective labour law including discussion on the political tensions between governments and unions and the political dimension in the development of laws regulating industrial conflict. The module covers the legal consequences of terminating the contract of employment and will critically assess the law of wrongful, unfair and fair dismissal. Students will also consider the relationship between the employer and employee and the balance of power between these two groups. The module will examine collective labour law, in-particular collective bargaining and industrial conflict. Students will develop their legal writing skills, building on levels 4 and 5 to achieve a deeper level of critical thinking and independent learning.
View full module detailsThe module explores a practical context for the criminal law concepts introduced in Year 1. It also provides a means for students to consider the practical application of the Human Rights Act (and ECHR) introduced in Public Law 1 at Level 4 (in particular the right to a fair trial). Specifically, the module covers the rules of criminal evidence in the jurisdiction of England and Wales. It examines these in the context of a Not Guilty trial in the Crown Court. It begins by considering the general principles (including theoretical rationales) of admissibility and exclusion of evidence and then each week examines these in light of a particular area of regulation using the applicable statutes, case law and academic opinion. It will be of general interest for the majority of law students but will be particularly valuable for those seeking employment as solicitors and barristers as the matters learned here will stand them in good stead for similar modules when preparing for the Solicitors Qualifying Exam and Bar exams.
View full module detailsThis module introduces students to the key legal and ethical issues associated with privacy and data governance, as well as to the methods of analysis of those issues used both in law and in ethics. The module makes use of the case study method to introduce students to legal and ethical legal questions through discussion of relevant major incidents from recent years. The module helps students develop their thinking on how to translate abstract ethical reasoning into law and business practice.
View full module detailsThis module is intended to introduce students to legal and policy developments on climate change, with an emphasis on international and regional levels. Students will gain an understanding of the fundamentals of international environmental law, and policy initiatives tackling climate change. Students should develop a strong, critical understanding of the basic doctrinal concepts, develop the ability to critically analyse relevant case law and engage with scholarly debates relating to the development of environmental protection. The module focuses on selected topics and case-studies. It engages with contemporary debates on issues including climate justice, the protection of rights in environmental law, and state action in addressing climate change.
View full module detailsThis module introduces the students to the key ethical and regulatory issues associated with artificial intelligence, as well as to the methods of analysis of those issues used in ethics and in law. The focus of the module is on the current state of the art in the applications of artificial intelligence (in particular: of machine learning), with smaller emphasis on hypothetical future developments. The module makes use of the case study method to introduce students to ethical and regulatory (legal) questions through discussion of relevant major incidents from recent years. The module helps students develop their thinking on how to translate abstract ethical (and regulatory) requirements of fairness, explainability or privacy into engineering and business practice.
View full module detailsThe limited liability company is the business structure which forms the foundation for the modern economy. Since its invention in the nineteenth century, it has provided the legal basis for the Industrial Revolution and the modern global capitalist system. It has been copied in every advanced economy in the world. England and Wales adopted a new statutory foundation for its corporate law in the Companies Act 2006, which is accordingly the main focus for this module. The principles, however, have been developed by statute and common law over more than one hundred and seventy years. In accordance with the design and ethos of the LLB, Company Law will be approached through a critical examination of the historical, political and economic background of the current law and through an emphasis on how Company Law operates in context. The aim of this module, therefore, is to enable students to acquire a sound knowledge base of the theoretical and substantive aspects of company law and to develop a practical understanding of the legal aspects of running public and private limited companies.
View full module detailsCommercial law is an intellectually stimulating subject which lies at the intersection of the foundational subjects of private law and law in practice. Commercial claims, clauses and remedies has significant practical relevance. Knowledge of the rules that form the basis of this subject is highly recommended for those who want to pursue careers in commercial law. It provides students with an opportunity to build upon their existing knowledge of contract law and introduces them to further areas such as unjust enrichment and some of the economic torts. It also provides students with the opportunity to consider the significance of commercial clauses and their impact upon liability and remedies. In this course, we consider interesting areas of law that are commercially very important. Further, the course will provide a sound basis for those students who wish to (i) study Commercial Law II: International Sales in Semester 2; (ii) pursue the next stage of study for Solicitor’s or Barrister’s courses; (iii) to study for a Commercial Law based LLM; and (iv) work in a Commercial environment.
View full module detailsDigital technology influences every aspect of daily life, shaping the way that individuals live, work and socialise (and therefore also inevitably matters of civil law, such as contract and tort) but it has a less positive aspect as it has also transformed criminal behaviour. This module considers the legal, regulatory and commercial issues relating to the internet and digitisation as well as the dark side of technology that has led to the growth of online crime. It reflects on the ensuing impact on the digital economy, platforms and the wider business community plus the legal regulation thereof taking account of the unprecedented transformation in the digitisation of the law and the way business is conducted in the 21st century. The module encourages critical engagement with the way in which the law operates in an effort to both facilitate digitisation as well as combat cybercrime. It brings together theoretical ideas about the function of law with the practical considerations of the impact of criminal behaviour on society. It also engages with the challenges of preventing online crime and policing the internet.
View full module detailsSemester 2
Optional
The module identifies the main types of intellectual property in terms of their subject matter, conditions for protection, duration and scope of protection and will examine their impact on the protection of creative endeavours. Intellectual property law is a specialised area of law, which is set on international law by way of minimum standards (TRIPS Agreement, Paris and Berne Conventions). The UK IP laws have seen not only international regulation but also extensive harmonisation in EU law (particularly trademark law and to a certain extent copyright law). This area of law grants exclusive rights to reward and/or incentivise creation and innovation in exchange for certain societal benefits (different for specific IP rights: the disclosure of inventions; the publication of works and the correction of market inefficiencies in the case of distinctive signs indicating commercial origin). Intellectual property law is a vibrant and rapidly evolving area of law and the knowledge and skills developed throughout this module will provide a good foundation for further exploration of more specific issues either in an academic or professional setting.
View full module detailsThe module covers the law relating to the relationships that exist between the seller and buyer located in different jurisdictions in the context of international sales of goods and examines the international conventions, principles and rules that affect their relationship.
View full module detailsThis module is an introduction to two of the most important normative and moral questions that one can raise in relation to law and legal systems, and some of the most prominent philosophical attempts at answering them: whether and to what extent there is an obligation to obey the law and whether it is justifiable to punish law-breakers. Examples of the kind of topics that we shall be looking at in this module include the nature of legal obligations, authority and the duty to obey, the nature of (legal) punishment and various philosophical theories for the duty to obey and for the justification of punishment. This module seeks to fit within the rest of the LLB syllabus by providing a reasoned and principled basis for deeper critical reflections and discussions about what the law ought to be, what role it should play in our societies and in our everyday lives more generally, and how we should relate ourselves to it. It provides background information useful in arguments over the justification or interpretation of laws and policies. It also hones skills in developing, expressing, and evaluating arguments as well as in research and digesting complex abstract subjects.
View full module detailsHealthcare delivery is one of the most socially and politically sensitive issues in economically advanced societies, and the controversies which arise when it is defective, and in increasing its effectiveness, are important issues for the law. This module addresses issues where law and medical practice interact which do not necessarily involve the same issues of purely ethical controversy and human rights as in the co-requisite module Medical Law & Ethics. The principal area will be clinical negligence liability and litigation, with the connected problems of causation and risk-warning. The other main area for examination will be the development of medical treatments through biomedical research and experimentation.
View full module detailsThis module builds on students’ knowledge gained at levels 4 and 5 concerning the rule of law. The module content and assessment strategy provide students with a theoretical understanding of social justice and welfare issues in the UK, while acknowledging that access to justice is central for the rule of law to operate effectively. It assesses the inadequacies of the legal system resulting from cuts to legal aid and local authority funding to the advice sector. The module examines the challenges of making legal services and the justice system more accessible, including an analysis of the wider social and economic issues impacting on sustainable development. Students will evaluate best practice across the legal and justice sectors, the role of lawyers, and ways in which access to justice can be enhanced. Students will have the opportunity to focus their studies on either environmental related or access to law and rights justice dimensions. The module enhances employability since it contains a clinical legal and policy education element. Streetlaw students design interactive presentations to raise awareness amongst non-lawyers of legal issues. ELF Students develop legal policy proposals to address current selected environmental issues. Students develop policy and/or legal writing skills, from levels 4 and 5 to achieve a deeper level of critical thinking and independent learning.
View full module detailsThis module provides an overview of financial regulation including regulation of banking, capital markets, payments and digital assets. Building on prior knowledge of private and public law, it introduces the regulatory frameworks for each of these areas and the policy considerations that animate regulatory policy. The module also examines the impact of financial regulation on emerging FinTech businesses and considers the ways in which new technology challenges traditional models of financial regulation.
View full module detailsThis module explores theoretical, practical and policy issues related to how the criminal law operates in corporate contexts, both crimes perpetrated by individuals (sometimes called "white collar crime") and crimes perpetrated by organisations (corporate crimes). The module places roughly equal emphasis on doctrinal and theoretical issues. We will explore doctrinal issues related to specific offences that are central to this area, such as fraud, regulatory crimes and corporate manslaughter, and we will look at practical issues of how corporations seek to promote employee compliance with such laws. At the same time, we will investigate important theoretical and policy questions related to crime in the corporate context. These include how corporate and regulatory criminal law push traditional boundaries of criminalisation and whether some regulatory offences are so strict as to amount to improperly punishing innocent conduct. We will also explore how it might make sense to punish corporations when they are non-living entities incapable of truly experiencing penalties, as well as doctrinal and policy questions about what the best mechanism for the imposition of corporate liability might be (comparing the identification doctrine to respondeat superior and "failure to prevent" offences). Throughout the module, our focus will be not only on learning about a sampling of representative parts of law, but also (and just as importantly) on casting a critical eye on how criminal law works in corporate settings. We will consider questions about what leads actors to engage in criminal misconduct in corporate contexts, with a particular emphasis on the organisational factors that can pressure or incentivise especially mid- or lower-level employees to break the law. We will explore ways in which large amounts of everyday conduct, the wrongness of which may not always be apparent to actors on the ground, gets deemed to be criminal in corporate settings, and we will debate whether and to what extent this makes sense. In these ways and more, we will seek to cast a critical eye on the criminal law in corporate settings and ask whether and when alternatives to criminal liability might be called for in response to certain forms of misconduct by employees or managers. We will focus primarily on issues and debates relevant to English law, though the US will serve as an important comparison throughout
View full module detailsSince the US anti-Vietnam War movement, philosophical interest in armed conflict has increased considerably. Beginning with Michael Walzer's classic Just and Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument with Historical Illustrations (1977), this module looks at key thinkers, themes, and ideas from contemporary just war theory and the ethics of armed conflict, mostly from within the analytical tradition of philosophy. Topics include the paradigm of self-defense and its critics, the moral status of combatants, the normative sources (and limits) of non-combatant immunity, the moral nature of terrorism, as well as the problem of intervention. The module concludes by examining more recent ethical challenges posed by remote-warfare, cyber warfare, and the prospect of robotic weapons. In studying these topics, students will not only gain a sound understanding of contemporary just war theory; they will also be introduced to key ideas and concepts from contemporary ethical and political theory. Finally, students will be able to apply the more abstract philosophical material discussed on the module to real-life events via an assessed Ethics Case Study
View full module detailsThe module is concerned with understanding the source, practice, effect and response to terrorism in the modern world. In particular, the objective is to provide students with a clearer understanding of how and why terrorism exists and how other political actors respond to it.
View full module detailsSemester 1 & 2
Optional
LAW3005 provides students the opportunity to engage in sustained independent research and critical writing in defence of a legal thesis, under the supervision of a member of staff.
View full module detailsThis module will require students to engage and refine key skills developed throughout the first two years of their degree and to apply those skills at an advanced level. The key skills include legal research (including using digital research tools), case reading, critical thinking and analyses, precision in the use of language, effective and accurate communication, and time management. This module provides the framework for understanding how the law recognizes and regulates intimate personal relationships and mediates relationships of affinity and consanguinity. Family law provides the legal framework for the establishment and dissolution of marriage and civil partnerships, the imposition of legal consequences within marriage, civil partnerships and cohabitation, the financial implications upon the dissolution of those relationships. Family Law also provides the framework for students to understand how the law defines, regulates and mediates the relationship between parent, child, other persons with a relationship nexus to the child and the State. The concept of a child's welfare being paramount informs and constructs the legal framework for the parenting and regulation of parenting of children and forms the core consideration in the resolution of private and public authority disputes over the upbringing of children. The study of this module will enable students to critically assess the purpose of family law and the extent to which laws should regulate and influence adult interpersonal relationships and the parent-child relationship. Students will also gain significant practical insight into how to identify and resolve potential legal problems that may arise during professional family law practice. Real world examples and contemporary trends in family demographics are explored to encourage students to relate practically to the module content and to emphasise the relevance to lived experience.
View full module detailsOptional modules for Year 3 - FHEQ Level 6
For further information regarding programme structure and module selection, please refer to the course catalogue.
Year 1 - LLB (Hons) with placement
Semester 1
Compulsory
In order to study law, it is necessary to understand what the law is, where it comes from and how it operates and evolves. This three-week intensive module will equip students with a foundation of knowledge of the English legal system and its personnel, principles and policies and introduce the skills needed to study the law effectively. It will also situate the legal system of England and Wales within the context of other legal systems allowing students to understand the interrelation between English law, European law and international law. In essence, the module will provide a foundation of knowledge and skills that will enable students to embark on their study of law with confidence.
View full module detailsSemester 2
Compulsory
The module is a core subject for a qualifying legal degree as required by the Bar Council to qualify as a barrister and a core subject to be examined later as part of the Solicitors’ Qualifying Exam. It introduces students to the constitutional arrangements of the UK and the key institutions and concepts inherent in its uncodified constitution such as Parliamentary Sovereignty. It then explores these against the specific situations influenced by these aspects such as EU membership, devolution, and participation within the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). This module serves as a basis for several modules that follow later in the degree. For example, it introduces the key judicial review concepts that are involved in Public Law 2 (Level 5) and the institutional aspects and domestic legal considerations arising from EU membership that are further covered in the EU Law module (Level 5). It also explains the mechanics of the Human Rights Act which, as well as being relevant to Public Law 2, is relevant to many optional subjects at Level 6 such as Family Law, Medical Law, and the Law of Evidence. Where relevant the module makes comparisons with the constitutional arrangements of other jurisdictions (e.g.US, China, South Africa) and accordingly students can expect to obtain an awareness of intercultural variations in constitutional frameworks.
View full module detailsSemester 1 & 2
Compulsory
The module considers the role of contract law in providing a basis for commercial and individual transactions. The creation, nature and contents of a legally enforceable agreement and the issues and controversies, which arise in this regard, will be explored and discussed. The course will also cover the effects of a breach of contract and the factors which vitiate the validity and enforceability of contracts. The ethical values, philosophical principles and practical implications relating to enforceability of contracts will be explored. The course will focus on the nature of a contract in English Law and the roles of common law, equity and statute.
View full module detailsThis module introduces students to the fundamental principles of criminal liability and to the social, political and economic context in which they operate. It covers a range of fatal, non-fatal, sexual and property offences as well as a selection of defences that may be available to allow a defendant either to reduce their liability or to avoid liability altogether. Interwoven throughout the module are theoretical debates about the nature and purpose of criminal law and its role in society thus providing students with an accessible introduction to complex concepts such as paternalism, liberalism and autonomy using real-world illustrations from the news media and fiction. Students are encouraged to look at their world around them and see the criminal law in action and think about the role that it plays in shaping behaviour in society. The emphasis is on developing a critical approach to the criminal law whilst ensuring that students have a firm understanding of core legal principles and their operation. The module is designed around three themes to encourage students to look at the criminal law in an evaluative way: (1) the relationship between objectivity and subjectivity and the consequences of a shift from one to the other; (2) the conflict between principle and policy and (3) the shifting boundaries of criminal liability.
View full module detailsThe Tort module introduces key concepts of Tort Law and then considers these in the context of current litigation, legal practice and legal academic theories. The content will introduce students to the concepts, terminology and policies relevant to modern tort law (including tort as a means of compensating victims and as a loss distribution mechanism), as well as considering its historical origins, theoretical justifications, and the potential impact on tort law of Human Rights. Students will be encouraged to consider and debate practical application of tort law principles by UK courts and practitioners. Specific doctrinal topics may include, among others: the tort of negligence, including defences and remedies; vicarious liability; discrete areas of liability such as psychiatric harm, occupiers' liability and pure economic harm; product liability; and torts protecting interests in personal integrity and land. Students will have the opportunity to develop their academic skills of legal research, legal writing, critical analysis and problem solving through the use of both real case examples and tailored case studies. The Tort module satisfies part of the Law of Obligations, as required by the qualifying law degree (QLD) and introduces students to a core component of the foundations of legal knowledge, which are relevant to the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), Bar Training Courses and other graduate legal career pathways. It complements the other modules required by the QLD and provides a strong foundation for optional modules such as Core Issues in Private Law or Medical Law & Ethics.
View full module detailsOptional modules for Year 1 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 4
NA
Year 2 - LLB (Hons) with placement
Semester 1
Compulsory
The module examines UK administrative law and the political, legal, constitutional and historical, context in which it operates. It focuses on the principles and practice of judicial review, the legal proceedings by which the courts are asked to determine the lawfulness of decisions made in relation to the exercise of public functions. Administrative law builds on the basic principles of constitutional law that students are introduced to in year 1. Administrative law is a foundation subject for Qualifying Law Degrees and as such the knowledge and skills developed throughout the module will be essential for entering the legal profession as a practitioner.
View full module detailsOptional
This module will require students to engage and refine key skills developed in the first year of their degree and to apply those skills at a more advanced level. The key skills include legal research (including using digital research tools), case reading, critical thinking and analysis, precision in the use of language, effective and accurate communication, and time management. This course aims to develop a knowledge of the principles of environmental law together with a critical awareness of societal context, legal policy, enforcement and jurisprudential issues which shape this area of law. It will enable students to grasp the key characteristics of environmental law in action. They will be able to handle complex problems of pollution of the environment involving corporate and private interests. The contextual relationship between national environmental law, international law and European Union law will be understood. They will also have an understanding of the issues for the protection of the environment in developing countries
View full module detailsThis module builds upon students’ knowledge gained in year 1 of Criminal Law modules 1 and 2 (LAW1029 and 1030) to explore how the UK sentencing framework follows the principles of sentencing. This module is interdisciplinary in nature, tracing the private and public conceptualisations of sentencing and penal policy (the latter covering prisons and community corrections) through changing legal, political, economic, and social cultures. The Magistrates’ Court visit will aid and consolidate students’ understanding of the theory and enable development of practical and employability skills, such as networking with persons in the legal industry and securing a training contract. This Court visit also feeds directly into the Summative 1 and 2 assessments.
View full module detailsSocieties, just like individuals, routinely face hard decisions about what they value and hope to achieve. What form of government should they have? How much say should people have in particular government decisions? For that matter, how much say should the government have in particular personal or family decisions? What balance should we strike between competing values such as freedom, equality, prosperity, and safety? Should we punish people who break the law, and if so, how? How should our society behave towards other societies? And what is the role of law in all this? Any serious attempt to answer questions like these requires engagement with key concepts in social and political philosophy – concepts like authority, democracy, liberty, rights, justice, and equality. In this module, students will carefully study and critically evaluate academic articles that focus on these concepts and the role that they play in controversial social and political debates. Students will also examine legal sources, such as statutes, treaties, and case judgments, that touch on these debates, and will critically evaluate these legal sources in light of the insights they have gleaned from their study of related scholarship.
View full module detailsSemester 2
Compulsory
This module introduces students to selected topics of European Union law, to complement their learning in Public Law I, and to complement engagement with other legal subjects where an understanding of EU law is beneficial. As such, the module provides an introduction to key features of EU constitutional law, the relationships between the UK and EU in the context of Brexit, and an introduction to the internal market/trade. Additional selected topics or case studies may be included to deepen students' understanding and to illustrate current developments.
View full module detailsOptional
LAW2084 provides a critical introduction to law and economics. It explores the distinctive approach of this academic movement and considers normative issues raised by its foundations. It is one of the Level 5 and Level 6 modules in the Philosophy, Politics, and Law Pathway, introducing a distinctive, systematic basis for deeper critical reflections and discussions about what the law ought to be. It introduces an influential type of analysis relevant to the justification and interpretation of laws and policies. It also hones skills in developing, expressing, and evaluating arguments and digesting complex abstract subjects.
View full module detailsLaw 2099 examines the development of the law governing armed conflict and several of the most important legal issues surrounding the use of military force today. Through interactive seminars and workshop discussions, we will address the fundamental questions of what justifies using military force, why peacetime rules may not apply in war, and what limits should apply to how military force is used. The module examines the development and application of the law of armed conflict through the UN Charter, Geneva Conventions, jurisprudence of international tribunals, and practice of states. Among the central questions we will consider are: When should international human rights law govern the use of military force? What particular legal issues arise in non-international armed conflicts? What law should govern counterterrorism operations? Law 2099 builds directly off of many Level 4 topics, including those addressed in Public Law 1, Criminal Law, and Tort Law, and also prepares students for further study in international law, human rights law, and law and technology.
View full module detailsIntroduction to International Law will provide students with an introductory overview of international law as a discipline in its historical context and in light of topical, contemporary case studies. The first half of the module will entail a historical narrative of the development of international law, particularly the role of international organisations and the individual in it, in the modern era. The second half of the module will present the interconnectivity of various sub-fields of international law within the prism of engaging and topical case studies in current affairs. This will be extremely useful for those students who wish to choose other International Law-related modules (International Criminal Law, International Human Rights Law, Climate Change Law) in their studies and for those who wish to undertake an international legal career as a profession.
View full module detailsSemester 1 & 2
Compulsory
This module introduces learners to the principles of law regulating real property in England and Wales. It will orient learners towards understanding how legal and beneficial title to land is obtained and evidenced and how other legal and equitable rights in land are created and exercised. This module will introduce learners to the fundaments of the land registration system and explore key aspects of the mortgagor and mortgagee relationship and also that of the landlord tenant relationship in regard to the leasehold estate. This module will also consider the key general legislative and policy framework governing land planning. This module builds on and develop the following key academic and professional skills gained during Year 1 of the LLB: case reading, statutory interpretation, problem solving, critical analysis, legal research and time management.
View full module detailsWelcome to the exciting world of Equity! In this course we will explore the fundamental principles of Equity as well as its greatest creation - the trust. The course is an introduction to the subject but is meant to give you a comprehensive understanding of the foundations of Equity.
View full module detailsOptional modules for Year 2 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 5
For further information regarding programme structure and module selection, please refer to the course catalogue.
Year 3 - LLB (Hons) with placement
Semester 1
Compulsory
Jurisprudence is the theory or philosophy of law: the study of philosophical questions about the nature of law, its relation to morality, what determines its validity and normativity, and theories about its social significance and how it operates. Jurisprudence 1 is a survey of key jurisprudential theories and debates. It seeks to fit within the rest of the LLB syllabus by providing a reasoned and principled basis for discussions regarding the content and purpose of the law. It provides background information useful in arguments over the justification or interpretation of laws and policies. It hones skills in developing, expressing, and evaluating arguments as well as in research and digesting complex abstract subjects. Its practical value for practising lawyers cannot be understated as only lawyers with a theoretical understanding will be able to advise clients and reply to opposing arguments when dealing with areas in which the law is unclear or offers conflicting guidance. The lectures will cover the theoretical content of the course, providing an overview of the theories and the debates among them. The tutorials will be aimed at guiding students through the research and development of an argumentative paper on a more focused subject so that students can then accomplish the same on their summative assessment.
View full module detailsOptional
This module looks at key issues in medical law and ethics throughout the life course. It begins by linking law with ethics and explaining the tensions between legal, ethical and professional approaches to healthcare-related issues. In the first two weeks, students consider the underpinning topics of medical ethical principles, the nature of medical law, the legal structure of the NHS and the challenges of healthcare allocation decisions. Students then address the issues of consent, capacity and information, with an in depth study of the Mental Capacity Act and its relevance to treatment decisions by competent adults, adults who lack capacity, adults whose capacity fluctuates and patients under the age of 18. These introductory topics underpin consideration of the topics covered in the second half of the semester. Cases and principles introduced in the first half of the module are connected with the topics covered in the second half of the module. The second half of the module looks at public health, the beginnings of life, definitions of ‘life’ and ‘death’ and at end-of-life decisions. Precise topics reflect current events, new case law and emerging areas of legal, ethical or academic debate. For example, students may consider communicable diseases, conception, contraception, abortion, euthanasia, palliative care and assisted dying. At the end of the module, students are given the opportunity to consolidate their learning and research by applying it to real life cases and created scenarios. Students are encouraged to debate and discuss so that they are exposed to a wide variety of perspectives and have the confidence to challenge their presuppositions.
View full module detailsTax Law introduces students to basic elements of tax law, explores a number of the most important questions in tax policy, and examines a range of topics in UK tax law. The module provides an overview of various kinds of taxation including income, consumption, inheritance and corporate taxation and explains basic features of the UK system of tax law and tax administration. Topics in tax policy include theories of tax fairness, debates over the tax base and progressive taxation, tax competition and international tax planning, and environmental taxes. UK tax law topics include income from employment, income from trading, income from land, capital allowances, capital gains tax, corporation tax, VAT, inheritance tax, and tax avoidance.
View full module detailsThis module examines a number of key aspects of individual and collective employment law. Students build upon the knowledge gained in levels 4 and 5 when considering the legal developments in the common law of contract, It is designed to provide students with an opportunity for the advanced study of the law governing the employment relationship and labour relations; to understand the legal regulation of working life and assist students to place the key issues of employment law that have shaped the development of law in this area, in their political, economic and social context. It introduces students to the legal distinction between categories of workers and the significance this has on their individuals’ rights and obligations under the statutory framework. It develops students’ understanding of collective labour law including discussion on the political tensions between governments and unions and the political dimension in the development of laws regulating industrial conflict. The module covers the legal consequences of terminating the contract of employment and will critically assess the law of wrongful, unfair and fair dismissal. Students will also consider the relationship between the employer and employee and the balance of power between these two groups. The module will examine collective labour law, in-particular collective bargaining and industrial conflict. Students will develop their legal writing skills, building on levels 4 and 5 to achieve a deeper level of critical thinking and independent learning.
View full module detailsThe module explores a practical context for the criminal law concepts introduced in Year 1. It also provides a means for students to consider the practical application of the Human Rights Act (and ECHR) introduced in Public Law 1 at Level 4 (in particular the right to a fair trial). Specifically, the module covers the rules of criminal evidence in the jurisdiction of England and Wales. It examines these in the context of a Not Guilty trial in the Crown Court. It begins by considering the general principles (including theoretical rationales) of admissibility and exclusion of evidence and then each week examines these in light of a particular area of regulation using the applicable statutes, case law and academic opinion. It will be of general interest for the majority of law students but will be particularly valuable for those seeking employment as solicitors and barristers as the matters learned here will stand them in good stead for similar modules when preparing for the Solicitors Qualifying Exam and Bar exams.
View full module detailsThis module introduces students to the key legal and ethical issues associated with privacy and data governance, as well as to the methods of analysis of those issues used both in law and in ethics. The module makes use of the case study method to introduce students to legal and ethical legal questions through discussion of relevant major incidents from recent years. The module helps students develop their thinking on how to translate abstract ethical reasoning into law and business practice.
View full module detailsThis module is intended to introduce students to legal and policy developments on climate change, with an emphasis on international and regional levels. Students will gain an understanding of the fundamentals of international environmental law, and policy initiatives tackling climate change. Students should develop a strong, critical understanding of the basic doctrinal concepts, develop the ability to critically analyse relevant case law and engage with scholarly debates relating to the development of environmental protection. The module focuses on selected topics and case-studies. It engages with contemporary debates on issues including climate justice, the protection of rights in environmental law, and state action in addressing climate change.
View full module detailsThis module introduces the students to the key ethical and regulatory issues associated with artificial intelligence, as well as to the methods of analysis of those issues used in ethics and in law. The focus of the module is on the current state of the art in the applications of artificial intelligence (in particular: of machine learning), with smaller emphasis on hypothetical future developments. The module makes use of the case study method to introduce students to ethical and regulatory (legal) questions through discussion of relevant major incidents from recent years. The module helps students develop their thinking on how to translate abstract ethical (and regulatory) requirements of fairness, explainability or privacy into engineering and business practice.
View full module detailsThe limited liability company is the business structure which forms the foundation for the modern economy. Since its invention in the nineteenth century, it has provided the legal basis for the Industrial Revolution and the modern global capitalist system. It has been copied in every advanced economy in the world. England and Wales adopted a new statutory foundation for its corporate law in the Companies Act 2006, which is accordingly the main focus for this module. The principles, however, have been developed by statute and common law over more than one hundred and seventy years. In accordance with the design and ethos of the LLB, Company Law will be approached through a critical examination of the historical, political and economic background of the current law and through an emphasis on how Company Law operates in context. The aim of this module, therefore, is to enable students to acquire a sound knowledge base of the theoretical and substantive aspects of company law and to develop a practical understanding of the legal aspects of running public and private limited companies.
View full module detailsCommercial law is an intellectually stimulating subject which lies at the intersection of the foundational subjects of private law and law in practice. Commercial claims, clauses and remedies has significant practical relevance. Knowledge of the rules that form the basis of this subject is highly recommended for those who want to pursue careers in commercial law. It provides students with an opportunity to build upon their existing knowledge of contract law and introduces them to further areas such as unjust enrichment and some of the economic torts. It also provides students with the opportunity to consider the significance of commercial clauses and their impact upon liability and remedies. In this course, we consider interesting areas of law that are commercially very important. Further, the course will provide a sound basis for those students who wish to (i) study Commercial Law II: International Sales in Semester 2; (ii) pursue the next stage of study for Solicitor’s or Barrister’s courses; (iii) to study for a Commercial Law based LLM; and (iv) work in a Commercial environment.
View full module detailsDigital technology influences every aspect of daily life, shaping the way that individuals live, work and socialise (and therefore also inevitably matters of civil law, such as contract and tort) but it has a less positive aspect as it has also transformed criminal behaviour. This module considers the legal, regulatory and commercial issues relating to the internet and digitisation as well as the dark side of technology that has led to the growth of online crime. It reflects on the ensuing impact on the digital economy, platforms and the wider business community plus the legal regulation thereof taking account of the unprecedented transformation in the digitisation of the law and the way business is conducted in the 21st century. The module encourages critical engagement with the way in which the law operates in an effort to both facilitate digitisation as well as combat cybercrime. It brings together theoretical ideas about the function of law with the practical considerations of the impact of criminal behaviour on society. It also engages with the challenges of preventing online crime and policing the internet.
View full module detailsSemester 2
Optional
The module identifies the main types of intellectual property in terms of their subject matter, conditions for protection, duration and scope of protection and will examine their impact on the protection of creative endeavours. Intellectual property law is a specialised area of law, which is set on international law by way of minimum standards (TRIPS Agreement, Paris and Berne Conventions). The UK IP laws have seen not only international regulation but also extensive harmonisation in EU law (particularly trademark law and to a certain extent copyright law). This area of law grants exclusive rights to reward and/or incentivise creation and innovation in exchange for certain societal benefits (different for specific IP rights: the disclosure of inventions; the publication of works and the correction of market inefficiencies in the case of distinctive signs indicating commercial origin). Intellectual property law is a vibrant and rapidly evolving area of law and the knowledge and skills developed throughout this module will provide a good foundation for further exploration of more specific issues either in an academic or professional setting.
View full module detailsThe module covers the law relating to the relationships that exist between the seller and buyer located in different jurisdictions in the context of international sales of goods and examines the international conventions, principles and rules that affect their relationship.
View full module detailsThis module is an introduction to two of the most important normative and moral questions that one can raise in relation to law and legal systems, and some of the most prominent philosophical attempts at answering them: whether and to what extent there is an obligation to obey the law and whether it is justifiable to punish law-breakers. Examples of the kind of topics that we shall be looking at in this module include the nature of legal obligations, authority and the duty to obey, the nature of (legal) punishment and various philosophical theories for the duty to obey and for the justification of punishment. This module seeks to fit within the rest of the LLB syllabus by providing a reasoned and principled basis for deeper critical reflections and discussions about what the law ought to be, what role it should play in our societies and in our everyday lives more generally, and how we should relate ourselves to it. It provides background information useful in arguments over the justification or interpretation of laws and policies. It also hones skills in developing, expressing, and evaluating arguments as well as in research and digesting complex abstract subjects.
View full module detailsHealthcare delivery is one of the most socially and politically sensitive issues in economically advanced societies, and the controversies which arise when it is defective, and in increasing its effectiveness, are important issues for the law. This module addresses issues where law and medical practice interact which do not necessarily involve the same issues of purely ethical controversy and human rights as in the co-requisite module Medical Law & Ethics. The principal area will be clinical negligence liability and litigation, with the connected problems of causation and risk-warning. The other main area for examination will be the development of medical treatments through biomedical research and experimentation.
View full module detailsThis module builds on students’ knowledge gained at levels 4 and 5 concerning the rule of law. The module content and assessment strategy provide students with a theoretical understanding of social justice and welfare issues in the UK, while acknowledging that access to justice is central for the rule of law to operate effectively. It assesses the inadequacies of the legal system resulting from cuts to legal aid and local authority funding to the advice sector. The module examines the challenges of making legal services and the justice system more accessible, including an analysis of the wider social and economic issues impacting on sustainable development. Students will evaluate best practice across the legal and justice sectors, the role of lawyers, and ways in which access to justice can be enhanced. Students will have the opportunity to focus their studies on either environmental related or access to law and rights justice dimensions. The module enhances employability since it contains a clinical legal and policy education element. Streetlaw students design interactive presentations to raise awareness amongst non-lawyers of legal issues. ELF Students develop legal policy proposals to address current selected environmental issues. Students develop policy and/or legal writing skills, from levels 4 and 5 to achieve a deeper level of critical thinking and independent learning.
View full module detailsThis module provides an overview of financial regulation including regulation of banking, capital markets, payments and digital assets. Building on prior knowledge of private and public law, it introduces the regulatory frameworks for each of these areas and the policy considerations that animate regulatory policy. The module also examines the impact of financial regulation on emerging FinTech businesses and considers the ways in which new technology challenges traditional models of financial regulation.
View full module detailsThis module explores theoretical, practical and policy issues related to how the criminal law operates in corporate contexts, both crimes perpetrated by individuals (sometimes called "white collar crime") and crimes perpetrated by organisations (corporate crimes). The module places roughly equal emphasis on doctrinal and theoretical issues. We will explore doctrinal issues related to specific offences that are central to this area, such as fraud, regulatory crimes and corporate manslaughter, and we will look at practical issues of how corporations seek to promote employee compliance with such laws. At the same time, we will investigate important theoretical and policy questions related to crime in the corporate context. These include how corporate and regulatory criminal law push traditional boundaries of criminalisation and whether some regulatory offences are so strict as to amount to improperly punishing innocent conduct. We will also explore how it might make sense to punish corporations when they are non-living entities incapable of truly experiencing penalties, as well as doctrinal and policy questions about what the best mechanism for the imposition of corporate liability might be (comparing the identification doctrine to respondeat superior and "failure to prevent" offences). Throughout the module, our focus will be not only on learning about a sampling of representative parts of law, but also (and just as importantly) on casting a critical eye on how criminal law works in corporate settings. We will consider questions about what leads actors to engage in criminal misconduct in corporate contexts, with a particular emphasis on the organisational factors that can pressure or incentivise especially mid- or lower-level employees to break the law. We will explore ways in which large amounts of everyday conduct, the wrongness of which may not always be apparent to actors on the ground, gets deemed to be criminal in corporate settings, and we will debate whether and to what extent this makes sense. In these ways and more, we will seek to cast a critical eye on the criminal law in corporate settings and ask whether and when alternatives to criminal liability might be called for in response to certain forms of misconduct by employees or managers. We will focus primarily on issues and debates relevant to English law, though the US will serve as an important comparison throughout
View full module detailsSince the US anti-Vietnam War movement, philosophical interest in armed conflict has increased considerably. Beginning with Michael Walzer's classic Just and Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument with Historical Illustrations (1977), this module looks at key thinkers, themes, and ideas from contemporary just war theory and the ethics of armed conflict, mostly from within the analytical tradition of philosophy. Topics include the paradigm of self-defense and its critics, the moral status of combatants, the normative sources (and limits) of non-combatant immunity, the moral nature of terrorism, as well as the problem of intervention. The module concludes by examining more recent ethical challenges posed by remote-warfare, cyber warfare, and the prospect of robotic weapons. In studying these topics, students will not only gain a sound understanding of contemporary just war theory; they will also be introduced to key ideas and concepts from contemporary ethical and political theory. Finally, students will be able to apply the more abstract philosophical material discussed on the module to real-life events via an assessed Ethics Case Study
View full module detailsThe module is concerned with understanding the source, practice, effect and response to terrorism in the modern world. In particular, the objective is to provide students with a clearer understanding of how and why terrorism exists and how other political actors respond to it.
View full module detailsSemester 1 & 2
Optional
LAW3005 provides students the opportunity to engage in sustained independent research and critical writing in defence of a legal thesis, under the supervision of a member of staff.
View full module detailsThis module will require students to engage and refine key skills developed throughout the first two years of their degree and to apply those skills at an advanced level. The key skills include legal research (including using digital research tools), case reading, critical thinking and analyses, precision in the use of language, effective and accurate communication, and time management. This module provides the framework for understanding how the law recognizes and regulates intimate personal relationships and mediates relationships of affinity and consanguinity. Family law provides the legal framework for the establishment and dissolution of marriage and civil partnerships, the imposition of legal consequences within marriage, civil partnerships and cohabitation, the financial implications upon the dissolution of those relationships. Family Law also provides the framework for students to understand how the law defines, regulates and mediates the relationship between parent, child, other persons with a relationship nexus to the child and the State. The concept of a child's welfare being paramount informs and constructs the legal framework for the parenting and regulation of parenting of children and forms the core consideration in the resolution of private and public authority disputes over the upbringing of children. The study of this module will enable students to critically assess the purpose of family law and the extent to which laws should regulate and influence adult interpersonal relationships and the parent-child relationship. Students will also gain significant practical insight into how to identify and resolve potential legal problems that may arise during professional family law practice. Real world examples and contemporary trends in family demographics are explored to encourage students to relate practically to the module content and to emphasise the relevance to lived experience.
View full module detailsOptional modules for Year 3 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 6
For further information regarding programme structure and module selection, please refer to the course catalogue.
Year 3 - LLB (Hons) with placement
Semester 1 & 2
Core
This module supports students’ development of personal and professional attitudes and abilities appropriate to a Professional Training placement. It supports and facilitates self-reflection and transfer of learning from their Professional Training placement experiences to their final year of study and their future employment. The PTY module is concerned with Personal and Professional Development towards holistic academic and non-academic learning, and is a process that involves self-reflection, documented via the creation of a personal record, planning and monitoring progress towards the achievement of personal objectives. Development and learning may occur before and during the placement, and this is reflected in the assessment model as a progressive process. However, the graded assessment takes place primarily towards the end of the placement. Additionally, the module aims to enable students to evidence and evaluate their placement experiences and transfer that learning to other situations through written and presentation skills.
View full module detailsThis module supports students’ development of personal and professional attitudes and abilities appropriate to a Professional Training placement. It supports and facilitates self-reflection and transfer of learning from their Professional Training placement experiences to their final year of study and their future employment. The PTY module is concerned with Personal and Professional Development towards holistic academic and non-academic learning, and is a process that involves self-reflection, documented via the creation of a personal record, planning and monitoring progress towards the achievement of personal objectives. Development and learning may occur before and during the placement, and this is reflected in the assessment model as a progressive process. However, the graded assessment takes place primarily towards the end of the placement. Additionally, the module aims to enable students to evidence and evaluate their placement experiences and transfer that learning to other situations through written skills.
View full module detailsThis module supports students’ development of personal and professional attitudes and abilities appropriate to a Professional Training placement. It supports and facilitates self-reflection and transfer of learning from their Professional Training placement experiences to their final year of study and their future employment. The PTY module is concerned with Personal and Professional Development towards holistic academic and non-academic learning and is a process that involves self-reflection. Development and learning may occur before and during the placement, and this is reflected in the assessment model as a progressive process. However, the graded assessment takes place primarily towards the end of the placement. Additionally, the module aims to enable students to evidence and evaluate their placement experiences and transfer that learning to other situations through written skills.
View full module detailsOptional modules for Professional Training Year (PTY) -
NA
Teaching and learning
For our core law subjects, teaching consists of weekly lectures and tutorials.
You’ll carry out extensive research into the law in preparation for tutorials. During the tutorial, you will engage in solving complex legal problems through advocacy, mooting and discussion of legal principles and rules, using legal sources as the basis of your answers and presentations.
During tutorials you will engage with varied teaching methods, drawing upon material covered in lectures and your own independent reading. Tutorials may involve traditional seminars or inquiry-based learning, and may include opportunities to debate contentious issues, and to work in teams for presentations or mooting. We offer a dynamic and inclusive teaching environment, where every student is supported in building their skills and pursuing their academic interests through our courses.
In addition, other modules (such as second and third year options) have different formats and use a range of innovative teaching methods, including seminar discussions, group work, projects and interactive learning as appropriate to the subject matter.
- Group work
- Independent study
- Lectures
- Practical sessions
- Project work
- Seminars
- Tutorials
- Role play
Assessment
We assess modules individually and award credits for the successful completion of each one. Assessment takes place through a combination of examination and/or coursework, practical examinations and reports.
Check individual module information to see full details at a module level.
General course information
Contact hours
Contact hours can vary across our modules. Full details of the contact hours for each module are available from the University of Surrey's module catalogue. See the modules section for more information.
Timetable
New students will receive their personalised timetable in Welcome Week. In later semesters, two weeks before the start of semester.
Scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week (Monday – Friday), with part-time classes normally scheduled on one or two days. Wednesday afternoons tend to be for sports and cultural activities.
View our code of practice for the scheduling of teaching and assessment (PDF) for more information.
Location
Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught.
We offer careers information, advice and guidance to all students whilst studying with us, which is extended to our alumni for three years after leaving the University.
In the survey, Graduate Outcomes 2024, HESA, results show that 95 per cent of our undergraduate Surrey Law School students go on to employment or further study.
Each year, many of our graduates take up permanent employment with prestigious employers. These have included Clifford Chance, Eversheds and other solicitor firms, sets of barristers’ chambers and legal departments of large companies. We have also placed students in organisations outside law, such as the BBC and Electricité de France.
We offer a varied programme of careers sessions, which will provide advice and guidance on what you should do to develop a suitable career path.
In combination with our student Law Society, we run a variety of events, competitions and activities, such as mooting and client interviewing. These are not only enjoyable and rewarding but will also enhance your employability and introduce you to local and regional solicitors, barristers and other legal professionals.
Surrey Law School also has close links with the University of Law in Guildford and co-operates with them in a number of career-development activities.
Recent Surrey Law School graduates have secured roles such as:
- Compliance Associate, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
- HR Case Manager, Ministry of Justice
- Graduate Scheme Trainee (Banking), Lloyds Bank
- Paralegal, Shoosmiths
- Tax Analyst, Deloitte
- Corporate Paralegal, Meade King LLP
- Claims Handler, Arthur J Gallagher.
Kelly Yon
Student - Law (Philosophy, Politics and Law Pathway) LLB (Hons)
"Surrey Law School is one of the best communities to be part of: the staff are all so friendly, welcoming and supportive, it feels like a home away from home."
Robyn Whitmore
Student - Law (Philosophy, Politics and Law Pathway) LLB (Hons)
"The University of Surrey was the first open day that I didn’t want to leave as soon as possible, and I wanted to continue exploring. I just knew it was the place for me."
Learn more about the qualifications we typically accept to study this course at Surrey.
Typical offer
Overall: ABB.
Please note: A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking are not accepted. Applicants taking an A-level science subject with the Science Practical Endorsement are expected to pass the practical element.
GCSE or equivalent: English Language at Grade 4 (C) and Mathematics at Grade 4 (C).
Overall: 33.
GCSE or equivalent: English A HL4/SL4 or English B HL5/SL6 and Maths (either course) HL4/SL4.
Overall: 78%.
GCSE or equivalent: Maths 6 and either English Language (1/2) 6 or English Language (3)7.
Overall: QAA-recognised Access to Higher Education Diploma, 30 Level 3 Credits at Distinction and 15 Level 3 Credits at Merit.
GCSE or equivalent: English Language at Grade 4 (C) and Mathematics at Grade 4 (C).
Overall: AABBB.
GCSE or equivalent: English Language - Scottish National 5 - C Maths - Scottish National 5 - C.
Overall: ABB from a combination of the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales and two A-levels.
Please note: A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking are not accepted. Applicants taking an A-level science subject with the Science Practical Endorsement are expected to pass the practical element.
GCSE or equivalent: Please check the A-level drop down for the required GCSE levels.
Applicants taking the BTEC Extended Diploma will be considered for Law LLB Foundation year entry only. A course change to the Law (Philosophy, Politics and Law Pathway) can be requested during the course. Please see the Law LLB course page for details.
Applicants taking the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) will receive our standard A-level offer for this programme, plus an alternate offer of one A-level grade lower, subject to achieving an A grade in the EPQ. The one grade reduction will not apply to any required subjects.
Applicants can only receive one grade reduction from the published grades, an EPQ grade reduction can’t be applied in addition to other grade reductions made through other schemes such as Contextual Admissions or In2Surrey.
English language requirements
IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall including 6.0 in Writing and 5.5 in each other category.
View the other English language qualifications that we accept.
If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
International Foundation Year
If you are an international student and you don’t meet the entry requirements for this degree, we offer the International Foundation Year at the Surrey International Study Centre. Upon successful completion, you can progress to this degree course.
Selection process
We normally make offers in terms of grades.
If you are a suitable candidate you will be invited to an offer holder event. During your visit to the University you can find out more about the course and meet staff and students.
Recognition of prior learning
We recognise that many students enter their higher education course with valuable knowledge and skills developed through a range of professional, vocational and community contexts.
If this applies to you, the recognition of prior learning (RPL) process may allow you to join a course without the formal entry requirements or enter your course at a point appropriate to your previous learning and experience.
There are restrictions on RPL for some courses and fees may be payable for certain claims. Please see the code of practice for recognition of prior learning and prior credit: taught programmes (PDF) for further information.
Contextual offers
Did you know eligible students receive support through their application to Surrey, which could include a grade reduction on offer?
Fees
Explore UKCISA’s website for more information if you are unsure whether you are a UK or overseas student. View the list of fees for all undergraduate courses.
Payment schedule
- Students with Tuition Fee Loan: the Student Loans Company pay fees in line with their schedule.
- Students without a Tuition Fee Loan: pay their fees either in full at the beginning of the programme or in two instalments as follows:
- 50% payable 10 days after the invoice date (expected to be early October of each academic year)
- 50% in January of the same academic year.
The exact date(s) will be on invoices. Students on part-time programmes where fees are paid on a modular basis, cannot pay fees by instalment.
- Sponsored students: must provide us with valid sponsorship information that covers the period of study.
Professional training placement fees
If you are studying on a programme which contains a Professional Training placement year there will be a reduced fee for the academic year in which you undertake your placement. This is normally confirmed 12 to 18 months in advance, or once Government policy is determined.
Scholarships and bursaries
Discover what scholarships and bursaries are available to support your studies.
Our award-winning Professional Training placement scheme gives you the chance to spend a year in industry, either in the UK or abroad.
We have thousands of placement providers to choose from, most of which offer pay. So, become one of our many students who have had their lives and career choices transformed.
Law placements
All students on an LLB Pathway will be eligible to apply to complete a work or study placement as part of Surrey Law School's Professional Training Year programme. All students on an LLB Pathway are enrolled on the School's Professional Training Preparation programme during their second year.
Many Professional Training placements are paid, with the opportunity to experience a variety of contexts, including solicitors’ offices, local authority legal departments, non-governmental organisations and corporations.
Some examples of organisations that participate in this scheme include:
- 5 Chancery Lane Commercial Barristers
- Bail for Immigration Detainees
- Citizens Advice Bureau
- National Centre for Domestic Violence
- Penningtons Manches
- Shoosmiths
- Thompson and Co Solicitors.
Applying for placements
Students are generally not placed by the University. But we offer support and guidance throughout the process, with access to a vacancy site of placement opportunities.
Find out more about the application process.
Discover, develop and dive in
Find out how students at Surrey developed their skills in industry by undertaking a placement year.
Discover, develop and dive in
Find out how students at Surrey developed their skills in industry by undertaking a placement year.
"I wanted to take advantage of the fact the University offers a placement year to you; to get out there, get some experience and make a name for myself.”
Study and work abroad
Studying at Surrey opens a world of opportunity. Take advantage of our study and work abroad partnerships, explore the world, and expand your skills for the graduate job market.
The opportunities abroad vary depending on the course, but options include study exchanges, work/research placements, summer programmes, and recent graduate internships. Financial support is available through various grants and bursaries, as well as Student Finance.
Perhaps you would like to volunteer in India or learn about Brazilian business and culture in São Paulo during your summer holidays? With 140+ opportunities in 36+ different countries worldwide, there is something for everyone. Explore your options via our search tool and find out more about our current partner universities and organisations.
Apply for your chosen course online through UCAS, with the following course and institution codes.
About the University of Surrey
Need more information?
Contact our Admissions team or talk to a current University of Surrey student online.
Terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Surrey, you are agreeing to follow our policies and procedures, student regulations, and terms and conditions.
We provide these terms and conditions in two stages:
- First when we make an offer.
- Second when students accept their offer and register to study with us (registration terms and conditions will vary depending on your course and academic year).
View our generic registration terms and conditions (PDF) for the 2023/24 academic year, as a guide on what to expect.
Disclaimer
This online prospectus has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies.
Whilst we have done everything possible to ensure this information is accurate, some changes may happen between publishing and the start of the course.
It is important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us. Read our full disclaimer.