Program Overview

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Legal Theory and Solicitors Practice MLaw

Overview

Our MLaw in Legal Theory & Solicitors Practice is the first of its kind. It gives you a clear and supported career pathway to qualification as a solicitor in England & Wales.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the professional body governing training and qualification for solicitors, introduced the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) as the new route to qualification as a solicitor in England & Wales. The MLaw programme addresses this and provides a distinct route to prepare you for the SQE.

The MLaw contains specialist preparatory modules (SQE1 Legal Theory & Solicitors Practice, and SQE2 Legal Theory & Solicitors Practice) that provide you with specific one-to-one support and guidance to perform effectively in both the SRA’s SQE1 and SQE2 assessments.

The MLaw also gives you a rigorous legal education with an in-depth grounding in practical legal and transferable skills. The course develops your legal, academic and clinical skills at every stage of your journey.

The programme is taught by a mix of academic experts and practitioner lawyers, who put real-world clinical legal experience at the heart of the programme. They'll give you the tools you need to graduate as a capable and reflective practitioner, equipped for qualification as a solicitor in England & Wales.

As an MLaw student, you'll benefit from working throughout your degree alongside staff in our Law Clinic who possess national and international legal experience and who have worked both regionally and in the City. You can also undertake a work placement year. These opportunities will enhance your employability and contribute to the two-year Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) required by the SRA for you to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales.

On graduating with an MLaw degree, you will have:

• covered the seven foundations of legal knowledge in your first and second years of study
• studied for, and passed SQE1, needed to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales
• studied for, and be ready to sit, SQE2 on completion of your studies with us
• undertaken invaluable work experience in our Law Clinic, and during a placement year, that will contribute to the two-year Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) needed to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales
• gained in-depth knowledge in areas such as Corporate Law, Banking Law, Human Rights, or Environment and Energy Law during your third and fourth years

Entry Requirements

At Bradford, we take into consideration a number of factors when assessing your application.

Below outlines the typical entry requirements for this course. If you’re not sure and want to check if your qualifications would be suitable, fill in an enquiry form at the bottom of this page.

Typical offer - 112 UCAS tariff points.

• A levels: BBC - there are no subject specific requirements.
• T levels: Merit - there are no specific subject requirements.
• BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM - there are no subject specific requirements.
• Applicants on Access Programmes: Meet UCAS tariff of 112 points. There are no subject specific requirements.
• International Baccalaureate Requirements: 112 points to include at least 2 HL subjects.
• Plus minimum of GCSE English at grade C or 4 (equivalents accepted).
• English language requirements: Minimum IELTS at 6.0 or the equivalent.

Foundation Year entry

If you are a UK student and do not meet the entry requirements for this course, our Foundation Year in Management, Law and Social Sciences has a route to Legal Theory and Solicitors Practice MLaw

• Foundation Year entry requirements: 64 UCAS points or equivalent plus an English Language qualification equivalent to GCSE Grade 4.
• Study and progression requirements: Pass each module and achieve a programme average of at least 40%. You will study the relevant core modules plus five optional modules.

Transferring from another university

If you are currently studying at another university and would like to transfer to the University of Bradford, this course accepts students into the second or third year. This is called advanced entry.

Applications for advanced entry will be considered on a case-by-case basis and must include an official transcript (not a screenshot of a portal), all module descriptors, and relevant qualifications. Module descriptors must include learning outcomes.

Applications must be submitted through UCAS and the required documents emailed along with your UCAS Personal ID no later than 31 August prior to the course starting in September.

Curriculum

First Year

• Core:
  • Legal System: Sources and Institutions
  • Contract Law i
  • Introduction to Legal Skills
  • Public Law i
  • Law of Tort i
  • Human Rights i

Second Year

• Core:
  • Clinical and Employability Skills in Context
  • Criminal Law ii
  • Equity & Trust ii
  • EU and International Law ii
  • Land Law ii
• Optional:
  • Law in the Community: Clinic Route
  • Law in the Community: Public Legal Education Route

Third Year

Study abroad or placement year.

Final Year

• Core:
  • SQE1 Legal Theory & Solicitors Practice
  • Law Clinic (extended)
  • Law Dissertation
  • SQE1 (SRA External Exam)
• Optional:
  • Banking and Finance Law
  • Commercial Law
  • Environmental Law
  • Family Law
  • International Criminal Law
  • The Law of Evidence
  • Immigration and Asylum Law
  • Company Law
  • Crime and Society
  • Employment Law
  • Safe AI: Ethics, Law and Governance
  • The Law of Succession

Fifth Year

• Core:
  • Law Clinic 2
  • SQE2 Legal Theory & Solicitors Practice
• Optional:
  • International Company and Corporate Governance Law
  • International Competition Law
  • International commercial contracts and e-commerce
  • International Energy Law & Just Transition
  • International Human Rights Law
  • International Humanitarian Law
  • International Banking and Finance Law
  • Law of Financial Crime
  • International Trade and investment law
  • International Environmental Law
  • Data Protection and Privacy Law
  • International Water Resources Law
  • International Commercial Dispute Resolution
  • International Law of Taxation
  • International Insolvency Law
  • Business Human Rights and Environment
  • Immigration & Refugee Law
  • Legal Technology
  • Law and Gender
  • Regulation of Financial Technologies and Virtual Assets
  • International Law of Taxation
  • Climate Change Law & Policy
  • Waste Management Law & the Circular Economy

Professional Placement

A placement year allows you to apply your academic learning within a wide range of industries, including private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. You will gain hands-on experience, develop skills such as communication, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship, and build a professional network that will benefit your future career.

We will support you throughout the process, offering:

• Access to a wide range of placement opportunities with top employers.
• Assistance with CV writing, applications, and interview preparation.
• Guidance on making the most of your placement experience.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Most modules use a mixture of interactive lectures, tutorials and seminars. Students need to do independent study as part of all modules. We'll support you through this with reading lists, suggested resources and our Virtual Learning Environment. You'll have regular contact hours and informal feedback from your tutors throughout the course.

Assessments are a mix of coursework assessments and formal examinations held at the end of each semester.

Fees, Finance and Scholarships

Tuition Fee

• UK: £9,535 (Sandwich year: £954)
• International: £20,538 (Sandwich year: £2,054)

Additional Course Costs

You are reminded that the costs of the SQE1 and SQE2 (SRA External Exams) are not covered in the course tuition fee. Information relating to the additional fees can be found on the Solicitors Regulation Authority website.

Funding Your Studies

It can be hard to know what financial help is available to you as a student.

Further information about the variety of options that can help fund your studies and maximise the money available to you is available on our funding your studies section.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

Enhancing Your Employability

The Law Clinic

Our Law Clinic allows you to put theory into practice. As part of your degree, you'll work in our Law Clinic advising members of the public in conjunction with local organisations, including the Citizens Advice Bureau and Girlington Advice Centre.

The Law Clinic provides free comprehensive legal advice to members of the public. Family matters, relationship breakdown, divorce, employment issues, civil disputes and neighbour disputes are all within the scope of the Clinic. Working in a team, you'll discuss the case and decide whether the client needs legal advice. Under the guidance of the Clinic Director, you'll then prepare advice for your client.

Placements

You'll have opportunities to undertake work experience and work placements with law firms and legal organisations in the region. These include:

• two-week work-experiences
• six-week summer work experience through the University’s summer work-experience programme
• year-long placements if you're enrolled on a programme that incorporates a sandwich year in industry
• other work experience scheduled around your timetable and an organisation's need for support

The School has placement opportunities open exclusively to students of the University through its collaboration with the School’s partners.

Career Prospects

Our 4-year MLaw in Legal Theory & Solicitors Practice is designed specifically for those who wish to qualify as a solicitor in England & Wales. It is the first of its kind and gives you a clear and supported career pathway to qualification as a solicitor.

On graduation it is envisaged you will have completed both mandatory Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) examinations, possess an in-depth knowledge of a specialist area of the law, and gained invaluable practice experience via the School’s Law Clinic, enhancing your career opportunities.

Most modules use a mixture of interactive lectures, tutorials and seminars. Students need to do independent study as part of all modules. We'll support you through this with reading lists, suggested resources and our Virtual Learning Environment. You'll have regular contact hours and informal feedback from your tutors throughout the course.

Assessments are a mix of coursework assessments and formal examinations held at the end of each semester.

Throughout your studies with us you will benefit from one of the Law School’s personal Learning Coaches who will support your SQE studies and work in our Law Clinic.

You will also enjoy a variety of extra-curricular activities and opportunities. These include participation in mock trials and moots in our Lady Hale Court Room facility, opened by Baroness Hale of Richmond in January 2020. You can also take advantage of volunteering opportunities with a variety of advice organisations and within the university, court visits, external speakers, and there is a wide range of social and law-related events organised by our thriving Student Law Society.

Supported by our dedicated colleagues in the Careers Service, you can obtain career mentoring and work experience through our links to our regional legal, business, and not-for-profit communities.

Study Abroad

A study abroad year is a fantastic opportunity to broaden your horizons, build connections with people from different backgrounds and cultures, and strengthen your skills and experience to make you stand out in the job market.

We have opportunities for students to study, work or volunteer in more than 150 countries across the world and will support you every step of the way.

Support for Your Studies

At Bradford, we’re committed to supporting your success, well-being and future ambitions.

We’re here to provide everything you need to make the most of your time with us, ensuring you not only excel in your studies, but also step confidently into the world of graduate employment.

In addition to the support you receive from your academic tutors, our Student Support Services are here for you throughout your journey - before, during, and after your studies.

77% say staff value students views and opinions about the course

Data for courses in Law at The University of Bradford

89% of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well.

Data for courses in Law at The University of Bradford

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Terms and Conditions of Study

The University has a set of terms and conditions for all students accepting an offer to study on a course here at Bradford. This is called The Student Contract. This document sets out the Terms and Conditions which apply when you accept an offer of a place on a programme of study at the University of Bradford.

View our Student Contract for further details.

Transparency Statement

Information about this programme and its modules has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publication, but changes may occur given the interval between publishing and commencement of teaching. Any change which impacts the terms and conditions of an applicant’s offer will be communicated to them.

How to Apply

Applications for courses starting in September 2025 are not yet open.

You can begin to apply for this course with UCAS from 14 May 2024.

• Learn about how to apply, UCAS and the application process
• See key dates on the UCAS website