Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (graduate entry) Open University

If you already have a degree or masters degree in any subject from a UK university or recognised overseas university, you can choose this route to a law degree.

This graduate entry law degree will give you the legal knowledge to understand and apply the law, together with skills of legal analysis. Alongside studying the foundation subjects of law such as contract law, public law and the law of trusts it offers the flexibility to tailor your study according to whether you wish to gain a law degree as an academic degree, need a Qualifying Law Degree to become a barrister in England and Wales, progress to take Part 1 of the national Solicitors Qualifying Examination, or become a solicitor or barrister in Northern Ireland.

By the end of the degree, you’ll be prepared with the knowledge and skills needed for a legal career. When combined with what you’ve learnt from your previous degree, this will make you an excellent candidate for any law firm.

Key features of the course

• Offers a fast track to gaining a law degree in just two years
• Covers the seven ‘Foundations of Legal Knowledge’ required for a Qualifying Law Degree
• Provides specific preparatory courses for part 1 of the national Solicitors Qualifying Examination for those wishing to be a solicitor.
• Offers practical experience through an online law clinic and other online projects

Accessibility

We make all our qualifications as accessible as possible and have a comprehensive range of services to support all our students. The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (graduate entry) uses a variety of study materials and has the following elements:

• studying with online material – online learning resources may include websites, audio/video media clips, and interactive activities such as online quizzes
• face-to-face tutorials/day schools/workshops and/or online tutorials
• working with specialist reading material
• working in a group with other students
• using and producing diagrams or screenshots
• using specialist software (W360 only)
• finding external/third party material online
• using technology for research purposes involving access to catalogues and databases online
• continuous and end-of-module assessment in the form of essays and short answer questions
• using feedback: continuous assessment involves receiving detailed feedback on your work from your tutor and using this feedback to improve your performance
• engagement with learning and assessment within a pre-determined schedule or timetable – time management will be needed during your studies and the University will help you to develop these skills throughout your degree.

This qualification develops your learning in four main areas:

• Knowledge and understanding
• Cognitive skills
• Practical and professional skills
• Key skills

The level and depth of your learning gradually increase as you work through the qualification. You’ll be supported throughout by the OU’s unique style of teaching and assessment – which includes a personal tutor to guide and comment on your work; top quality course texts; e-learning resources like podcasts, interactive media and online materials; tutorial groups and community forums.

Course details

In this graduate entry version of our law degree:

• You’ll start at Stage 2, building your knowledge of contract law and public law and choosing two modules to focus on aspects of the law that are of particular interest.
• Finally, in Stage 3, your modules will be determined by the pathway you choose: an academic law degree, the Qualifying Law Degree route, the Solicitors Qualifying Examination route or the route that is specifically for students in Northern Ireland.