Law (with integrated foundation year)

Study at the North West's Top Law School (Guardian League Tables for Law 2025).

Our law degree is recognised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and will facilitate your journey to becoming a solicitor or a barrister, or a broader range of careers.

On this course, you'll learn about the law and legal skills such as how to interview clients. You’ll take part in mock court cases (civil and criminal) and work on real-life legal problems.

Course Overview

You’ll gain a strong foundation in legal knowledge and skills relevant to careers in the legal profession and many other areas of employment. There is a focus on work experience and professional mentors, thanks to our industry links.

Public speaking events, mock trials, and student competitions will further boost your skills. Throughout, you’ll be taught by tutors with experience of working in law, who will provide the support and knowledge to ensure you stay on track.

On this course you will...

• Have access to our law team consisting of former practising solicitors and barristers with national and international experience.

• Have access to the criminal courts for mock trials, presided over by real judges.

• You’ll have the option to do a placement in a local law firm or legal service provider so you get work-based learning.

• Be able to use our connection with local law firms and legal service providers and strong working relationship with Solicitors Regulator Authority and the Law Society.

• Have opportunities to use your academic skills practically via our Street Law project, in which you research and advise on real legal issues to clients in our local community.

On this course, you will gain a strong foundation in legal knowledge and skills relevant to careers in the legal profession and many other areas of employment. There is a focus on work experience and professional mentors, thanks to our industry links.

Public speaking events, mock trials, and student competitions will further boost your skills. Throughout, you’ll be taught by tutors with experience of working in law, who will provide the support and knowledge to ensure you stay on track.

• Note that optional modules will run subject to student numbers'

Year One

• Essential University Skills 1
• Contemporary Issues and the Media
• Introduction to Policing, Criminology and Law
• Essential University Skills 2
• Families, Communities & the Criminal Justice System
• Professional Practice in the Community

Year Two

• Legal Skills
• English and Comparative Legal Systems
• Practical Contract Law
• Law of Torts
• Citizen and State
• Persuasive Presentation and Courtroom Skills

Year Three

• Lawyering and Dispute Resolution in a Digital Age
• Criminal Law
• Land Law
• Equity and Trusts
• Law of the European Union
• Law of Criminal Evidence (optional)
• Human Rights (optional)
• Family Law (optional)

Year Four

• Law Dissertation
• Business Awareness and Employment Practice
• Law in Action
• Medical Law and Ethics (optional)
• Human Rights (optional)
• Law Placement (optional)
• Law of Criminal Evidence (optional)
• Family Law (optional)
• Intellectual Property Law (optional)

Whether graded or not, assessments are an integral part of learning. This programme aims to deliver engaging and challenging opportunities to demonstrate your learning.

In your foundation year, you will be introduced to a variety of assessment types you may encounter across your degree. Knowledge will be tested formally in seminars, workshops, and individual or group tasks. Whereas, summative assessments aim to build on formative assessments at set times throughout the year. Deadlines and assessment outlines will be supplied by tutors and available to view on Blackboard.

At level 4, you will create a reflective portfolio to aid in personal development. Tutors will regularly give feedback on the contents of this portfolio throughout the year and prior to submission. This portfolio will then be used throughout levels 5 and 6 as a place for further reflection.

Formative assessments may include legal research, presentations, teamwork, and critical analysis through essays and reports, research proposals, poster and oral presentations, moots, multiple-choice tests, mock trials, and written examinations.

There is a strong emphasis on group working across the foundation year through class activities and assessments with students having the opportunity to do group presentations and investigations and to set up and run an event or social enterprise.