Law and Language (French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish) with Foundation Year

Our LLB in Law and Language is a specialist course that allows you to study towards a career in legal practice while developing proficiency in a language. In an ever-globalising world and workplace, this combination of legal skills and language proficiency gives you access to unique opportunities for work and further study.

Alongside the main law curriculum, comprising the seven foundations of legal knowledge and taught in the Birkbeck Law School, you will pursue study in the language of your choice in our School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication. Starting at the level that suits you, you will be able to choose to study one of the following languages:

• French

• German

• Italian

• Japanese

• Korean

• Spanish.

Not only will you attain a good level of competence in your chosen language, you will also have a chance to learn about the culture of the language-speaking area, choosing from a range of modules covering fields such as literature, film, history, visual culture and philosophy. You will also have the chance to study a number of cross-cultural modules which will allow you to explore specific themes across a variety of language-speaking areas.

The law curriculum for this LLB Law and Language is taught by internationally renowned researchers and includes not only the foundations of legal knowledge, but specialist option modules from a broad range of topics.

This course satisfies the first stage of professional qualification laid down by the Bar Standards Board. It also provides a foundation for the Functioning Legal Knowledge tested on the Single Qualifying Exam (Part One) set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Foundation Year
If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree.

This course has an evening timetable with lectures, seminars and classes taking place in the evening. Some daytime and online teaching is available, depending on the modules you choose.

Highlights

• Birkbeck is a leading international centre for world-class legal teaching, research and scholarship. You will be taught by field-leading academic staff, alongside experienced solicitors, barristers and judges from across the legal sector.

• Your language modules will be taught by specialists from a centre of teaching and research excellence that prides itself on research-led teaching in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Spanish, making it an outstanding multidisciplinary department.

• You will have access to a huge range of careers support including Birkbeck's Careers Service, Birkbeck Talent and Birkbeck Futures. This comprehensive support links our students and recent graduates with top UK employers and offers you help with job applications, interviews and career planning.

• You will be able to take part in our Legal Practice Conversation series, in which lawyers and Birkbeck graduates discuss their work and offer advice to students looking to pursue a law career. Recent speakers have discussed the Pfizer/AstraZeneca takeover bid, international human rights, sports law, and litigation brought on behalf of veterans of the 1950s nuclear testing programme on Christmas Island.

Careers and employability

As well as gaining proficiency in a language, this degree provides you with transferable skills and knowledge of the English legal system that will be relevant within a diverse range of jobs.

Our law graduates follow successful careers in the following:

• barrister

• solicitor

• paralegal and legal assistant

• advocate

• policy researcher.

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Law modules are assessed, depending on the module, via independent research essays, problem scenario essays, seen and unseen exams, workbooks, group work, oral presentations, reflective journals and creative and critical-thinking exercises.

Language modules are assessed through a variety of exercises testing skills in writing, reading, speaking and listening, including short coursework assignments, in-class written tests and oral and listening comprehension tests.