Program Overview

PG Cert Foundations in Law | Part-time

Why study this course with LJMU?

Gain a solid foundation in legal knowledge and skills Full Time Study Option

Provides legal knowledge with linked practical skills in the Six Foundations of Legal Knowledge:

• Contract Law
• Crime
• Equity & Trusts
• Land Law
• Public & EU Law
• Law of Tort

About this course

Designed specifically for non-law graduates, this Foundations in Law PG Cert, will provide the legal knowledge and competencies that will allow you to proceed onto the Solicitors Qualifying Examination preparatory courses.

You have already acquired numerous transferable skills from your undergrad degree. Opting for law later on demonstrates your drive and commitment to embark on a fresh career path.

Delivered by academics and qualified professional practitioners, this postgraduate programme will provide the legal knowledge and competencies needed in the Six Foundations of Legal Knowledge; Contract Law; Crime; Equity & Trusts; Land Law; Public & EU Law; and the Law of Tort.

It aims to provide both legal knowledge and linked practical skills in order to put you in a strong position to commence any SQE prep course with confidence, so you can go on to complete the vocational phase of qualifying as a solicitor.

The Rice-Jones Trust Scholarship

The Rice-Jones Charitable Trust was set by an individual who wanted to benefit postgraduate law students studying in the North West of England. The individual's late husband and father were both lawyers, and this inspired her to help students who show academic promise and a commitment to the legal profession, but who may not necessarily have the financial support to undertake their studies.

The Rice-Jones Charitable Trust is registered at the Charity Commission with registration number. The Rice-Jones Charitable Trust Scholarship is available to applicants who have accepted a place to study on a postgraduate law course, including but not limited to the Graduate Diploma in Law, the Legal Practice Course, the Solicitors Qualifying Examination, the Bar Professional Training Course or the Master's in Law.

The amount offered and purpose for which the Scholarship award is offered is at the absolute discretion of The Rice-Jones Charitable Trust and may vary per individual. A successful applicant may be in receipt of a grant of up to £20,000.

The deadline for applications is 31 March 2025.

Course modules

Discover the building blocks of your programme

Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.

Core modules

• Contract Law (10 credits) This module aims to provide a basis for knowledge, understanding and analysis of the principles of contract law and aligns with the Solicitors Regulation Authority's Foundations of Legal Knowledge. The module includes: existence and formation of a contract; contents of a contract; causation and remoteness; vitiating elements; discharge of contract and remedies; and unjust enrichment.
• Criminal Law (10 credits) This module aims to provide an opportunity for students to acquire substantive knowledge of criminal law to align with the Solicitors Regulation Authority's Foundations of Legal Knowledge. The module includes: general principles of criminal law; general defences; property offences; offences against the person and; criminal evidence.
• Equity and Trusts (10 credits) This module demonstrates a critical understanding of the law of equity and trusts in context in order to align with the Solicitors Regulation Authority's Foundations of Legal Knowledge. The module includes: general principles of the law of equity and trusts; creation of valid trusts; charitable and non-charitable purpose trusts; trusts of the family home; Trustee and Fiduciary duties; breach, strangers and tracing.
• Land Law (10 credits) This module develops critical understanding of both English and Welsh land law, including: Co-ownership; Adverse Possession; Trusts of Land; leases and licences; third party interests and; registered and unregistered land. Students will demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the policy tensions and changes in land law, and the ability to apply legal knowledge to problems in land law.
• Public and EU Law (10 credits) On this module, students will gain an understanding of both the constitutional and theoretical framework of the UK alongside EU Law to align with the Solicitors Regulation Authority's Foundations of Legal Knowledge. The module includes: an introduction to the nature of UK constitution; separation of powers; Royal prerogative; EU and UK relations; devolution, central government and accountability and; Judicial Review.
• The Law of Tort (10 credits) The module introduces the fundamentals of the Law of Tort, and aligns to the Foundations of Legal Knowledge prescribed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The module includes: General principles; Defences; Psychiatric damage; Occupiers liability; Employer's liability and; Trespass to the person and land.

Your Learning Experience

Teaching Assessment

An insight into teaching on your course

Study hours

The part-time course is 6 months (2 semesters) and runs from September to May. It is taught 2 days a week – usually each day consisting of 6 hours face to face delivery.

Teaching methods

From day one students will be introduced to the English Legal System and acquire knowledge and understanding of the legal theories and principles which underpin the areas of substantive law being studied.

Students will do an introductory non-credit induction studying the English Legal System and practical legal research to put the basics of law into context before they undertake their 6 compulsory modules.

As the course progresses, students will demonstrate their learning achievement through a series of formative assessments, culminating in their final examinations.

Applied learning

Students will acquire subject knowledge and legal skills through seminars, supplemented by large group sessions and supported by extensive learning materials. In the seminars students will be applying their new-found legal knowledge to problem-based scenarios and questions.

How learning is monitored on your programme

To cater for the wide-ranging content of our courses and the varied learning preferences of our students, we offer a range of assessment methods on each programme.

The testing of the knowledge is through examinations which consist of both multiple choice questions (MCQ) type questions (to replicate the SQE 1 assessments) and problem type questions.

Where you will study

The School of Justice Studies is based in Redmonds Building, in the heart of the bustling Mount Pleasant Campus and Liverpool's growing Knowledge Quarter. Redmonds Building is shared by Liverpool Screen School, School of Law and Liverpool Business School making for a rich blend of student learning experiences. The building is home to high quality lecture theatres and seminar rooms, a mock courtroom, social spaces, and a café. It is only a short walk from LJMU's Aldham Robarts Library, which contains all the resources you will require for your studies.

Career paths

Further your career prospects

LJMU has an excellent employability record with 94% (HESA 2022) of our postgraduates in work or further study fifteen months after graduation. Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.

As this is designed for those wishing to become solicitors, the programme gives the students both practical and legal knowledge needed in a competitive legal sector.

Tuition fees and funding

Home International

Fee:

£4,140

Fees

The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as library membership and student IT support with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources including programme-appropriate software and on campus wifi.

Financial Support

There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you’ll find all of the information you need on our specialist postgraduate funding pages. The University offers a range of financial support for students. You'll find all the information you need on our specialist financial support pages including details of the Student Support Fund and other activities to support with the cost of living.

Additional Costs

In addition to fees, students should also keep in mind the cost of:

• Accommodation
• Travel costs and field trips unless paid for by LJMU
• Stationery, IT equipment, professional body membership and graduation gown hire

Fee:

£7,600

International Scholarships and payment plans

Liverpool John Moores University is committed to supporting international students by providing a range of scholarships and flexible payment plans to help students manage their tuition fees.

Scholarships

LJMU provides a variety of postgraduate scholarships to support international students. Scholarships are available to self-funded students who have accepted their offer and met all the conditions outlined in their offer letter. Students must also demonstrate that they can cover living costs, travel, and other expenses associated to studying at the university. Postgraduate scholarships include tuition fee reductions and are often offered in partnership with external funding organisations such as the British Council and Chevening.

All self-funded international students are eligible for an automatic scholarship worth up to £4,000. For more details and to view our full list of scholarships, visit the international scholarship webpages.

Deposit

All students must pay a £5,000 deposit before they can receive their CAS letter.

For more information view our deposit page.

Tuition Fee Payment Plan

After paying their £5,000 deposit, students have the option to pay their fees in full or in three equal instalments minus any internal scholarships and discounts. There are two payment options available for international students. You can either pay your tuition fees in full before enrolment or opt for a payment plan. With the payment plan, you can pay your fees in three instalments after making your £5,000 deposit. The first instalment is due before enrolment.

All payments should be made through Flywire. Full details can be found in the How to Pay Guide.

Early Bird Tuition Fee discount

We are excited to introduce a £500 Early Payment Discount to all self-funded international students. Eligible self-funded students who pay their fees by the required deadlines will get a discount which will be automatically deducted from the 1st year of tuition fees.

To see the required deadlines please visit the webpage

Entry requirements

You will need:

Home

Qualification requirements

Undergraduate degree

2:1 or above from any non-law degree. Applicants without a 2:1 will be considered on an individual basis.

Find your country

Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.

How to apply

Securing your place at LJMU

To apply for this programme, you are required to complete an LJMU online application form. You will need to provide details of previous qualifications and a personal statement outlining why you wish to study this programme.

Your university life

From accommodation and academic support to clubs and societies. Find out what LJMU has to offer.

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