LLB (Hons) Law with Foundation Year

Why study this subject?

Studying law opens up a world of possibilities, whether you want to be legal practitioner, a legal executive advising businesses while working in compliance, regulation and contracts, helping transform governance by designing policies and advocating or making impact through politics as a champion of social change.

Law is universal, with all countries across the world having their own legal system that reflects the society around it. Studying law can give you the versatile and transferrable skills needed to work across the globe.

Studying LLB (Hons) Law is a great way to gain a comprehensive understanding of the law, regulation and the legal system. It also gives you the flexibility of being able to develop your career in whatever direction you wish, whether that is within the legal sector or in another area of business or service provision.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

BNU is 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 want you to get the most out of your time with us and being workplace ready is something we are proud to offer you. Our Law degree is accredited by professional bodies, Solicitors Regulatory Authority and Bar Council. This means that the degree is recognised as a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) and means you can enter the next stage of qualifying upon leaving university, whether that is securing a training contract to become a solicitor or securing vocational training and pupillage to become a barrister.

We understand that some people’s passions lie outside of law in adjacent roles in business, finance, politics or non-profit and our law degree is the perfect way of gaining and developing a wide range of skills, from communication to comprehension to help you succeed post graduation.

Not all learning is done inside of a lecture theatre and there are plenty of chances to visit magistrates’ courts to participate in bail applications, visit Parliament and law courts to experience first-hand how they operate on a day to day basis, meet guest speakers from across the legal industry, including judges, magistrates and law firms, to learn more about how you can apply your knowledge in the workplace.

Our Bucks Students’ Union has been rated in the top 5 in the whole of the UK (NSS, 2021) and it has a range of societies students can join free of charge. One of these societies is the Mooting Society and this gives the perfect opportunity to 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 law and personal development. You’ll study topic areas like, the self-development, responsibility, creativity, intro to law and inquiry-based learning to provide you with a solid basis for your study of law.

During your time studying law you will cover diverse subject areas including, professional skills, digital business and new technologies and human rights. Studying such varied topics will help you understand how law interacts with society and government, alongside developing key skills, such as understanding complex information, attention to detail and analytical thinking which will ensure you are well placed to enter the employment market.

In your first year we are focused on providing you with all of the building blocks you need to create a solid foundation and understanding of the concepts, theories and models of law. You will study topics, such as, criminal law, EU constitutional and procedural law the law of contract.

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 be able to study subjects including criminal justice, employment law, media law and tort law.

In your final year, you will focus on preparing yourself for your future and career after graduation. Topics, ranging from children and law, intellectual property law, medical law and equity and trusts will be explored. You will also undertake a dissertation or research project 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.

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.

Throughout your three years on this course you will carry out the following assessment activities:

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

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.