Law (LLB) (Part-time) - 2013/2014 entry
Accredited as a qualifying law degree by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board, so it is ideal if you are working during the day. Study law in a historical, social and comparative context and develop advanced skills in legal writing, reasoning and analysis, oral presentation and the capacity for critical reflection on and about law. Successful completion qualifies you to pursue vocational training, if you wish to practise.
This course is also available for full-time evening study.
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Course structure
The first two years of compulsory subjects provide an introduction to the basic concepts and methods of legal study and the classification of the common law. The last two years allow for some degree of specialisation, with the choice of one option module in the third year and two option modules in the fourth year, one of which may be a dissertation. You will also be able to take one full option module, or two half option modules in the second year.
Year 1
- Induction course
- Constitutional and Administrative Law
- Law of Obligations I (Contract Law)
- Legal Methods and Legal Systems.
Year 2
- Criminal Law
- Law of Obligations II (Tort)
- one full option module or two half-option modules chosen from the Year 2 range, which may include (subject to availability): Freedom of Expression; Equality and Diversity; Environmental Law; Legal History; Crime Fiction and the Law; Law and Spatial Power; Law and Film; Imprisonment and Justice; Research, Writing and the Legal Academy; Advanced Constitutional Law; Legal Life Writing; Introduction to Comparative Law; Civil Liberties.
Year 3
- Law of Property I (Land Law)
- Law of Property II (Equity and Trusts)
- and either one full option module chosen from the Year 3/4 range (subject to availability): Family Law; Evidence; Criminal Justice; Environmental Law; Human Rights; Labour Law; Medical Law; or two half-options from: Refugee Law; Foundations of Company Law; Advanced Studies in Company Law; Foundations of Tax Law, Advanced Tax Law, Private International Law; Public International Law.
Year 4
- Law of the European Union
- Legal Theory I and Legal Theory II
- plus either one full option module or two half-option modules chosen from the Year 3/4 list above, or Intellectual Property; Legal Practice; and a dissertation.
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Study resources
We offer dedicated academic skills workshops and have an academic support officer, who runs a study skills programme and can advise on academic matters, including advice on essay writing, time-management, efficient reading and note-taking, giving presentations and participating in seminars.
A range of extra-curricular activities are organised throughout the year. You will be able to hear guest speakers of international renown and can join our Student Law Society. An annual retreat takes place at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park, which allows students to explore a range of contemporary issues in law with specialist speakers. Students can also participate in our successful mooting programme, where advocacy training is given by experienced practising barristers, as well as attend our careers evening and get information on career opportunities.
Our study resources include extended office hours (10am–6pm) to reflect the needs of students who work during the day and technology such as electronic learning environments, film and podcasts to enhance teaching and learning. Students can access one to one tutorial support for their core modules via the School of Law's telephone tuition line. Read more about our range of teaching and learning resources.
Birkbeck Library has an extensive teaching collection of books, journals and electronic resources in law and related disciplines such as economics, politics and sociology. For example, it provides access to over 17,000 electronic journals, including specialist law journals such as Westlaw UK and Lexus Library, which are available online 24 hours a day.
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Further study opportunities
We offer a range of postgraduate programmes (LLM and MA) in various areas of law.
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Careers information
Many graduates go on to vocational training and obtain solicitors training contracts or pupillages in barristers' chambers. Others use the degree to develop their existing career, to further their academic skills, or as preparation for postgraduate study.
Find out more about the career advice and information we offer.
- To speak to an independent careers advisor, booking onto one of our Future Focus — Careers Workshops
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Sample timetable
- All teaching is in the evening and part time students will study three modules per year. Lectures and seminars for core modules take place in one-hour slots on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 6pm-9pm. Option modules are taught on Monday evening, in 90-minute slots, at either 6.00pm-7.30pm or 7.30pm or 9.00pm, depending on module chosen.
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Further details
Media work
Find out about the School of Law and our staff's work with the media.
Background reading
It is recommended, although not obligatory, that students do a certain amount of preparatory reading, both so as to start thinking about legal systems and other forms of regulation or discipline and so as to prepare the ground for the subject-matter of the first year. The module outlines include references to introductory textbooks and to course texts. These are suggested books and readings but it is not recommended to purchase a textbook until after the introductory lecture in the subject in question. Programmes will be taught by a combination of lectures and seminars or tutorials. Lecturers and tutors will provide students with additional reading materials as well as essay and problem questions.
- F Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment (Penguin)
- F Kafka, The Trial (Penguin)
- J Griffith, The Politics of the Judiciary (Fontana Press)
- H Kennedy, Eve was Framed (Penguin)
- D Rose, In the Name of the Law (Vintage) 1996.
Assessment guidance
During your LLB, you will encounter a range of assessment methods. These include essays, problem questions, seen and unseen exams, open and closed book exams, group projects, dissertations and oral presentations. The reason for this is that we are keen to ensure that you acquire a toolkit of skills over time.
The LLB examinations are usually scheduled during the period mod-May to early-June, although dates are not confirmed until early March. Resit examinations usually take place in the first week of September. Examinations take place during the day starting either at 10am or 2.30pm.
For those with little recent experience of writing academic essays or sitting exams, the academic support officer runs workshops throughout the year to help students brush up on their skills.
Each year the School of Law awards a number of prizes to those students who have been particularly succesful.
As a student here, you will get a range of study skills support:
- Induction course: this is held during the first weeks of term and is aimed at introducing you to the reading and understanding of a case, to following a legal argument and judgment, and reading and drafting legal language. These are skills that are necessary throughout the four years of the course. Very few students will have any prior knowledge of these skills, so this course aims to introduce you to some of the techniques specific to the discipline of law. First-year students will be given an induction pack which contains a lot of useful advice about studying law.
- Mentoring: our mentoring scheme pairs current students with Birkbeck law graduates and provides additional support for those students who would most benefit from it. Mentors can provide advice and guidance on how to manage work and study and how to draft curricula vitae and prepare for employment interviews. They also give general support.
- Personal tutors: all students are assigned a personal tutor for the duration of their studies. In your first year, you will see your tutor at least three times, and in subsequent years at least twice. The function of the personal tutor is to provide one-on-one academic support and guidance.
- Developing your skills: during your time with us, we expect you to acquire a number of different skills that will allow you to use your knowledge effectively. Our programme is based on the notion that we should introduce you to skills, give you time to acquire them, practice them and then assess you. During induction, we undertake a skills audit. Students who find that they need extra support in study or computer skills will be advised as to where they can go to get additional help by a member of the induction team. Each course focuses on a particular set of skills to be acquired or matured. However over time we have discovered that some students need additional help in skills acquisition. Our students can get help from their lecturer, seminar tutor, personal tutor or the academic support officer, as all of these will provide practical support and advice.
- Residential weekend for LLB students: every September, the School of Law organises a residential weekend away at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park. The Lodge is the ideal location for students to find time to reflect on the broader themes emerging across the LLB programme.
Each year we choose a topic such as the ‘environment’ or ‘children’ and invite specialists to come and talk to our students about current legal debates in the area. As well as providing intellectual stimulation, the weekend provides an excellent opportunity for students to meet with each other and staff in informal surroundings. A different theme is selected for each year and past seminars have included: Law and Discrimination; Access to Justice; Asylum; Privacy; Law and Violence; Human Rights; Law and the Environment; Law, Culture and Crime and European Law; Children and the law; Law and Film; Dispute Resolution; Judges and Judging.
You can also take get the following support through Birkbeck services:
- help with study skills and other learning support issues.
- if you have a recognised disability or dyslexia, you can get support from our disability experts. Read about our full range of disability and dyslexia support.
- the Birkbeck Library offers a full range of support, from inductions, to specialist subject support.
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Apply now
- Application deadlines and interviews
- You can apply at any time but we recommend that you apply as early as possible.
- Online application
You can apply online from the link below. - Our Application Workshop will give you an overview of what Birkbeck looks for in an undergraduate degree application and includes practical writing exercises to help you write a more effective personal statement
- Application deadlines and interviews
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Key information set
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Welcome to Birkbeck, London's evening university: Number 1 in London for teaching and student satisfaction (National Student Survey 2012).
Birkbeck specialises in part-time, evening study. The Key Information Set has been developed for full-time, daytime courses. We are providing some additional information about our evening courses to help you make an informed choice.
Fees:
The Key Information Set (KIS) for this degree course shows the annual fee for a 3-year, full-time degree. This is a 4-year, part-time evening degree and the annual fee is lower than the fee shown in the KIS. See 'Fees and funding' in the left hand menu for the correct fee for this course.Years of study:
The KIS presents all degrees as 3-year courses. Birkbeck's standard part-time, evening degree is a 4-year course.
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