BA (Hons) Law and Sociology with Foundation Year

Why study this subject?

Law and society go hand in hand, with each one directly affecting the other. Having the opportunity to study both subjects at undergraduate level allows you to jump straight into exploring how the changing landscape of society and the actions of groups are impacting how legislation, regulation and law are being interpreted and rewritten.

It is an exciting time to study law and sociology with the global landscape providing new challenges as it evolves and becomes more litigious. We are seeing more examples of medical and social services investing in legal expertise and training to ensure they are equipped to handle the growing negligence, data and malpractice cases being brought forward.

Legal knowledge and awareness are at the heart of decision-making for many services and organisations operating within our society, and we want to ensure that you develop the essential skills needed to give you a solid foundation to begin a legal related career in the social sector. You will study policy and society alongside English legal systems so you can be confident that you are developing the wide breadth of knowledge to make a mark in the postgraduate workplace.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

Having the opportunity to study sociology alongside law will give you the unique opportunity to see how the emergence of social science, society’s evolving attitudes and the progression of law have adapted to reflect modern views. Our combined degree will help you to challenge your understanding of the nature of social and economic change from a socio-legal perspective.

If you are passionate about a career in the socio-legal sector, our programme is an ideal way to gain a solid comprehension of law in a broader sociological context, whilst also gaining an understanding of the nature of social and economic environments, and application of the law in social contexts.

At BNU we are a student focused and employer led university which means that you are at the forefront of all that we do. We are proud of our high lecturer to student ratio, which means that we see you as a person and for who you are. You are our priority and our lecturers operate an open-door policy meaning that you can get the staff time, support and contact you need to best suit your learning.

We have knowledgeable lecturers who draw upon their vast industry experience to ensure the course is relevant and will help you build up your legal knowledge and practical application awareness. You will be able to develop a wide range of skills, such as abstract thinking and practical problem-solving, which are relevant to a wide range of related careers.

We are dedicated to helping you put your learning into practise. You will have plenty of chances to visit magistrates’ courts to participate in bail applications and Parliament to see first-hand how these institutions operate, meet guest speakers from the legal industry and hear from our alumni about life beyond university in the workplace at networking events.

Our Bucks Students’ Union has been rated in the top 2 in the whole of the UK (NSS, 2022) and it has a range of societies students can join free of charge. One of these societies is the Mooting Society where you can pursue your passion for law outside of your timetable. It allows you to meet with like-minded students and practise court proceedings and arguing your case. You can even have the opportunity to participate in varsity and national mooting competitions.

What will I study?

During your foundation year you will have the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of sociology and personal development. You’ll study topic areas like, the social world, self-development, responsibility, creativity and knowledge and inquiry-based learning to provide you with a solid basis for your study of law and sociology.

In your first year you will focus on learning the base concepts, theories and models of sociology and law to enable you to begin to develop an understanding of how to two interconnects. You will study topics, such as, understanding the social world, policy in context, criminal law, EU constitutional and procedural law and sociological imagination.

During your second year, you will begin to specialise in specific areas of law that interest you. You will learn to apply, analyse and evaluate the principles and theories you have learned and be able to reference and apply them to contemporary situations. You will have the option to study subjects including gender, sexuality and society, human rights, criminology, criminal justice, family law and tort law.

In your final year, you will focus on preparing yourself for your future and career after graduation. Topics, ranging from law of evidence, globalisation, environmental law, media law and victimology can be explored. You will also undertake a dissertation to illustrate how you have developed a depth of understanding through a combination of critical analysis and evaluation.

How will I be taught and assessed?

This course is offered as a four-year programme, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate degree.

At Buckinghamshire New University we like to foster an interactive and student-focused teaching style where we blend lectures, seminars, one-to-one workshops, tutorial sessions, independent study and guest speakers to enhance the learning experience.

We will help give you the confidence to analyse and manage large quantities of complex information from both printed and electronic sources. You will also learn to construct clear and well-reasoned legal arguments.

Our lecturers work hard to ensure that you learn the latest industry standard practices and knowledge. To support in the delivery of this we also welcome industry experts and professionals to deliver guest lectures who share their experience of the latest legal rulings and cases.

You will have the opportunity to engage a wide variety of assessments, including:

• written coursework
• oral group and individual presentations
• client advice written reports
• role play advice (applying for jobs in skills, presenting bail a case in a magistrate’s court, preparing for a legal advice exhibition, role play mediation and negotiations)
• written examinations.

You will also be assessed on your ability to carry out effective research, understanding, analysis and use of source materials, ability to assess competing legal arguments, and capacity to recognise potential conclusions for situations and give reasons for them. You will also need to show you can work successfully in a team for moots and presentations. These are all valuable skills to help prepare you for your future career.

Placements Plus

BNU is a Placements Plus university. So, whatever degree you do, you can be sure there’ll be plenty of industry-relevant opportunities on offer, to help you get into your chosen field.

We’ll also prepare you for work beforehand, with special skills for work training, further boosting your CV, and building skills employers will value.  In recognition of the value we place on these skills we have incorporated this experience into your study time.

Placements Plus is all about helping you get some valuable experience under your belt while you’re a student, to increase your choices later, and help you get the graduate-level job you want.