Program Overview

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LLB (Hons) Law (Criminal Law Pathway)

Overview

Our professional practice focused LLB Criminal Law course will give you a thorough grounding in the law with a particular emphasis on Criminal Law, as well as the opportunity to develop your career and professional skills at the same time.

The course is aimed at students who already know that they are likely to want to work in the Criminal Justice sector and covers the key topics of Criminal Law, Criminal Litigation, and the Law of Evidence. Your final year Project will also be on a Criminal Justice topic of your choosing. You will be able to graduate with a clear and focused statement of your career intentions

As well as developing in-depth legal knowledge and academic skills, there is a strong emphasis on experiential learning and legal education for professional practice and the enhancement of professional career prospects. We offer opportunities for all undergraduate students to undertake a work placement, internship or work experience, including in our Legal Advice Clinic, during our core Working in the Law Module.

The course is the first step on the journey to becoming a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive as well as being the foundation for a broad range of other professional careers. It is designed to give students a ‘Head Start’ on professional qualification, particularly for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination with its focus on professional procedure and skills as well as the academic study of Law. As part of our assessment strategy, we use professional examination style multiple choice questions, so our students have an opportunity to practice and prepare for them in advance. Students who pass Business Law, Company Law & Employment Law with grades of 50% or more are also eligible to become Graduate Members of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives, a recognised legal qualification.

The course is supported by extensive online learning resources and all students are given access to a personal electronic law library. The course offers opportunities to study abroad, including international field trips such as the Comparative Law option. We have very strong links with the local legal community, particularly the South London Law Society and the Southwark Legal Advice Network, and the course offers frequent opportunities to learn from legal practitioners, particularly our Visiting Fellow and Professors, Alumni and members of the local legal profession who contribute guest lectures and support our career development activities and events.

Why Law at LSBU?

• On this course, 93% of students think that teaching staff are good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2024).
• We are the first and only Law School in the UK to introduce an employability guarantee. We offer opportunities for all undergraduate students to undertake work experience in at least one of our clinics. These include our award-winning Legal Advice Clinic, Human Rights Clinic and Law and Social Policy Clinic.
• Experienced practitioners and law teachers - You'll learn from practised informed legal professionals who know what it takes to succeed in the field.
• You’ll have access to our Oxford University Press Law Trove law library worth over £6000, meaning you’ll have all online your textbooks for free. You’ll also have access to world class law databases including LexisNexis and Westlaw UK.
• We have strong professional links with the local legal profession, including the South London Law Society, numerous professional societies and the Southwark Legal Advice Network.
• We partner with Barbri to offer SQE 1 -style multiple choice testing throughout foundational legal knowledge modules.

Mode | Duration | Start date | Application code | Application method

• Mode: Full-time
• Duration: 3 years
• Start date: September
• Application code: M102
• Application method: UCAS

Location

• Southwark Campus

London South Bank University student union is located at 103 Borough Rd, London SE1 0AA.

If you are visiting our Southwark Campus, you may wish to use our downloadable campus map (PNG File 466 KB). For information on accessibility, see our DisabledGo access guides. See our location page for more details.

Entry Level Requirements

• UK Qualifications: 112 UCAS points
• International Qualifications: Equivalent level 3 qualifications.

If you do not meet the entry criteria above we also review any previous skills, knowledge or experience you have gained outside of your education and are happy to talk through any extenuating circumstances you feel relevant.

Visit UCAS for guidance on the tariff.

Fees

• UK: £9535
• International: £16500

Tuition fees are subject to annual inflationary increases. Find out more about tuition fees for Undergraduate or Postgraduate courses.

Course Content

Level 4: Semester One

• Legal Skills, Legal Study, Legal System (Compulsory)
• Contract Law (Compulsory)
• Public Law (Compulsory)

Level 4: Semester Two

• Current Legal Issues (Compulsory)
• Law of Torts (Compulsory)
• European Law (Compulsory)

Level 5: Semester One

• Working in the Law (Compulsory)
• Criminal Law (Compulsory)
• Property, Equity & Trusts (Compulsory)

Level 5: Semester Two

• Law in Action (Compulsory)
• Sentencing, Crime and Punishment (Compulsory)
• Option Pool A or Option Pool B

Level 6 Semester One

• Land Law (Compulsory)
• Criminal Advocacy, Evidence and Litigation (Compulsory)
• Option Pool C - Practice Specialisms or Option Pool D - Interdisciplinary

Level 6 Semester Two

• The Project (Compulsory)
• Option Pool E

Careers

On successful completion of our course you will be able to progress to qualify as a Barrister, a Chartered Legal Executive or a Solicitor.

You will also be prepared for a wide range of professional careers in other sectors including Business, Central and Local Government, LawTech and Management.

To become a Barrister you need to pass with 2(ii) Honours. You will then need to pass the Bar Training Course and obtain a Pupillage (work based learning).

To become a Chartered Legal Executive you need to join the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and follow their route to qualification.

To become a Solicitor you need to pass the degree. You will then need to pass the Solicitors Qualifying Examination Parts 1 and 2 and to obtain two years of qualifying work experience.

Teaching and Assessment

We employ an experiential learning strategy which means that much of our teaching is rooted in professional practice, using placements (including in our Legal Advice Clinic), simulations and professional skills exercises to engage and develop our students.

As well as studying the Law and how it is used in practice, students analyse and evaluate whether the law is effective and fair. Students also apply critical and theoretical perspectives to questions of law reform. Our academic team draw upon significant research experience.

Core knowledge is imparted through large group lectures. Interactive workshops support knowledge acquisition and skills for application. This is developed and tested in interactive small group seminars. Smaller optional modules tend to use teaching time more flexibly to suit the subject.

We use a broad range of assessment techniques, including: examinations, multiple-choice tests, coursework, group work and oral presentations, to test the full range of knowledge and skills the course teaches and develops.

Personal Tutoring

As an undergraduate Law and Social Science student, you will be allocated a named tutor during your first semester at LSBU. The role of your tutor is to be your primary contact for academic and professional development support. Your tutor will support you to get the most of your time at LSBU, providing advice and signposting to other sources of support in the University.

Law Mentoring at LSBU

This programme gives mentors experience in supporting and guiding, whilst mentees benefit from their guidance.

Free resources and Technology

We invest in resources and technology to support your learning journey.

We provide extensive online learning resources to support your self-study time and every student, after enrolment is given free:

• Access to the latest version of Microsoft Office and Microsoft Teams;
• Access Moodle (our Virtual Learning Environment);
• Over £6000 of Oxford University Press Law Trove Library of online law text books;
• Access to top quality practitioner databases including Westlaw and Lexis
• Numerous other resources

We also nurture and develop your skills through our Law Division Skills and Support Site.