LLB (Hons) Law

Law covers every aspect of what we do daily, at home, with family and friends and in the workplace. Here at Cumbria we want to encourage anyone interested in a professional career, whether in law or in teaching, in business, in design and technology, to consider a legal education as a great place to start equipping yourself for a variety of professions.

From debates, poster presentations, conference presentations, digital lawyering, negotiations and undertaking client work through pro-bono projects, you will receive an excellent quality of education supported by innovative and personalised teaching in a supportive and friendly environment, which is vocationally relevant and enhances your employability.

We also focus on the emerging trends in professional workplaces aim to empower and equip students through the Lawyering in a Digital Age initiative which is embedded in the programmes.

Our LLB programme

Our LLB programme is a qualifying law degree, accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board.  This means there are certain subjects which we must teach on our programme. We refer to those subjects as ‘foundation’ subjects.

All our foundation subjects are taught across years 1 and 2 of the LLB programme.  This ensures our students get the best opportunity to focus their concentration on their dissertation in year 3.

Foundation subjects:

• Tort
• Contract
• Citizen and State
• Criminal Law
• Land
• EU
• Equity and Trusts
• Dissertation

In addition to the foundation subjects (which all accredited LLB programmes must provide), we teach the following subjects.  These are especially designed by and unique to our law school and focus on practical legal skills through creative and digital ‘hands on’ learning.

Non-foundation subjects:

• Legal Skills
• English & Comparative Legal Systems
• Persuasive Public Speaking and Court Room Skills
• Lawyering in a Digital Age
• Law in Action (known elsewhere as ‘Streetlaw’)
• Business Awareness & Employment Practice

As well as the above subjects (which all must be studied to pass the LLB), we offer a number of option-based subjects. Students may choose one option in second year and another in third year.  Options can change from year to year, but recent examples of options offered have included:

• Medical Law & Ethics
• Human Rights
• Law work-placement (ideal for boosting your CV)
• Criminal Evidence
• Family law

What does a typical law degree look like with us?

Year 1

In your first semester, you’ll study Legal Skills, Citizen and State and English & Comparative Legal Systems.

Through these subjects you will examine the intricacies of the English legal system and compare it with other international legal systems. You will get the opportunity to learn about and critically assess the relationship between individuals and the states governing them. You will also get the chance to work on a fictional murder case and take part in a fictional mental health tribunal whist fine tuning your legal research skills and your knowledge of sources of law and the doctrine of legal precedent. Alongside all this, you will get to visit our local courts, meet with local employers and members of the judiciary / coroner’s court and build on your own personal development (career) planning with expert help from our tutors.

In your second semester, you will study two of your foundation subjects (Tort and Contract). You’ll also study Persuasive Public Speaking and Court Room Skills.  The latter subject will encourage you to speak confidently in a range of situations including but not limited to the court room.  You will be engaged in a fictional business negotiation, a fictional bail application, a fictional domestic violence incident and a mock trial.

Year 2

You will study your remaining foundation subjects this year, including Criminal law, EU law, Land and Equity & Trusts.  As well as this, you will study on our innovative ‘Lawyering in a Digital Age’ module, designed to equip you with all the skills you will need in order to succeed in the digital era. You’ll also get the chance to choose your first ‘option’ from our list.  For example, you might choose Human Rights as many of our students do!

Year 3

This year your focus shifts towards your Dissertation module.  You are allocated a personal dissertation supervisor who will help guide your journey towards success.  Dissertations at Cumbria Law School are graded in three parts.  First: your proposal.  Second: the piece itself. Third: a poster-based presentation outlining what you’ve researched.  The latter is held as an event to which external stakeholders are invited. This gives you the chance to showcase what you’ve done and network with potential employers.

As well as your dissertation, in year 3 you will study important skills-based subjects including Business Awareness & Employment Practice and Law in Action.  Law in Action will see you working in a small group on a pro bono (voluntary) project for a real client.  Historic projects have included:

• Working with the prison service, educating prisoners on voting rights;
• Assisting the Citizens Advice Bureau with an Equality Act 2010 related matter;
• Designing a website with housing related advice for young adults leaving the care system.

All your work on such projects is of huge value, not only to those you help advise but to you as well. It enhances and enriches your University experience giving you plenty to talk about on application forms and on your CV.

Last, but not least, in your third year you get to choose two further optional subjects. For example, you might choose Family law and Medical Law and Ethics.