LLB in
LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology University of Portsmouth
Introduction
Are you interested in understanding criminal behaviour and the processes of criminal justice at the same time as gaining a fully accredited law degree?
This Bachelor of Laws (LLB) gives you a choice to study for your solicitor exams or your Bar exams after you graduate. Alongside your study of law, you'll gain knowledge of:
- the history of criminology
- the role of criminology in maintaining and challenging the social order
- how the world deals with the crimes of the powerful, such as genocide and war crimes
- policing and society
As well as preparing you for a career as a lawyer, this course is ideal if you're considering a career in the police or prison services.
Course highlights
- Have the opportunity to obtain pre-entry qualifications for a career in probation work.
- Enrich your study of law through an understanding of the theories of crime and criminology and through assessing competing perspectives on society and crime.
- Take an optional paid placement year where you can apply your knowledge in a criminal justice organisation.
- Get lots of practice at the type of assessment used in the first part of the new Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).
- Cover in-depth all the foundations of legal knowledge you need to go on and take your Bar exams.
- Apply your learning in our community settings, gaining real-world legal practice skills.
- Take our Law in Practice module and gain three months of work experience that can count towards your qualifying work experience for the new Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).
- Benefit from teaching that's shaped by expert staff who have been practising lawyers and criminologists and who understand how the legal landscape is changing.
- Enrich your learning through our research expertise in data protection, policing and financial crime.
New Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE)
The route to qualifying as a solicitor has changed for new applicants.
If you accept an offer on this course after 21 September 2021, you'll need to take the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) after you graduate to qualify as a solicitor. The content and mode of assessment of many of our modules provide a good foundation for further specific SQE preparation.
If you completed or started this course, accepted an offer of a place, or paid a non-refundable deposit (international students only) before 21 September 2021 (inclusive), you can choose to take either the new SQE or the Legal Practice Course (LPC) after graduation.
Accreditation
This course satisfies all the degree requirements laid down by the Bar Standards Board.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
You may be able to partly or fully fund the costs of your study with a bursary or scholarship. You can use these alongside student loans, and you don't have to pay them back.
Whether you can get a scholarship or bursary depends on your circumstances. So they aren't available to everyone.
These are the scholarships and bursaries we currently offer to home (UK) students. You may also be eligible for some of these scholarships and bursaries if you have refugee status or are seeking asylum.
- The University of Portsmouth Bursary – £750 a year
- Care Leavers Bursary – £1,750 a year
- Stand Alone Bursary – £1,000 a year
- Young Carers Bursary – £500 a year
- Unite Scholarship – a free place in halls
- Greenwich Hospital Bursary – £3,000 a year
- Sport Scholarship
- NHS Learning Support Fund – at least £5,000 a year
- Best Begins Scholarship – £5,000
- Portsmouth Football Club Partnership Scholarship – £3,000 a year towards course fees
- Sanctuary Scholarship
- Sanctuary Language Bursary
Curriculum
Modules
Year 1
Core modules
- The English Legal System – 20 credits
- Contract Law – 20 credits
- Criminal Law – 20 credits
- Public Law – 20 credits
- Understanding Criminology – 20 credits
- Tort – 20 credits
- Law Level 4 Personal Tutoring – 0 credits
Year 2
Core modules
- Land Law – 20 credits
- Equity and Trusts (Level 5) – 20 credits
- Human Rights Law (Level 5) – 20 credits
- Questioning Criminology – 20 credits
- Legal Writing and Research – 20 credits
Optional modules
- Crimes of the Powerful – 20 credits
- Global, State and Corporate Security – 20 credits
- Penology and Prison – 20 credits
- Policing and Society – 20 credits
- Principles of Economic Crime Investigation – 20 credits
- Wildlife Crime: Threats and Response – 20 credits
Year 3
Core modules
- Contemporary Criminologies – 20 credits
- European Union Law – 20 credits
Optional modules
- Advocacy, Practice and Theory – 20 credits
- CILEx Client Care Skills – 0 credits
- CILEx Level 6 Practice – 20 credits
- Commercial Law – 20 credits
- Community Lawyer – 40 credits
- Employment Law – 20 credits
- Family And Child Law – 20 credits
- Landlord and Tenant Law – 20 credits
- Law In Practice – 40 credits
- Law of Succession (Level 5) – 20 credits
- Legal Dissertation – 40 credits
- Legal Project – 20 credits
- Social Care Law (Level 5) – 20 credits
- Company Law – 20 credits
- Jurisprudence And Ethics – 20 credits
- Data Protection Law and Policy (Level 6) – 20 credits
- Equality Law (Level 6) – 20 credits
- Intellectual Property Law – 20 credits
- Public International Law – 20 credits
- Dispute Resolution Skills (Level 6) – 20 credits
Work placement year
You can boost your employability even more by taking an optional paid placement year between years 2 and 3.
Previous students have had placements in organisations such as:
- Verisona Law
- Opus 2 International
- GE Capital
- Oracle
- Rolls Royce Motor Cars
Whatever your career ambitions, our placements team will be there to help and guide you, and you'll maintain contact with your tutors throughout the year.
The average salary for a 12-month paid placement is £19,000. It could be more or less than this amount depending on your placement. You'll only pay a small percentage of your tuition fee for this year.
Study abroad year
Between your second and third year, you can choose to study abroad at one of our partner universities in Europe, Asia, Australia or North America. All classes are delivered in English, you don't have to study Law, and you'll still be able to get your tuition fee and maintenance loans. You may also qualify for a government travel grant.
Career Opportunities
Law is an incredibly flexible degree. If you don't believe us, look at our blog about the seven reasons to study law.
When you graduate, you'll be ready to take your next step to train as a solicitor, a barrister or a Chartered Legal Executive. It's worth noting that Chartered Legal Executives can now become judges, coroners, advocates and partners in law firms.
Law degrees are in the top 10 degrees for employability. You'll graduate with a wide range of transferable skills that will make you very employable across other sectors. Your knowledge of criminology will be particularly helpful when applying for roles within the criminal justice system, such as the police or the probation service.
Graduates of this course have gone on to work for companies such as:
- DC Kaye & Co
- The Home Office
- Surrey Police
- Willis Towers Watson (risk management)
- Invicta law
- Parker Bullen LLP
- Fidelity Investments
- Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
Graduates of this course have secured jobs as:
- trainee solicitor
- legal executive
- probation service officer
- Border Force executive officer
- police community support officer
- account manager
- paralegal
- criminology teacher
Ongoing career support – up to 5 years after you graduate
Get work experience while you study with support to find part-time jobs and volunteering opportunities. Towards the end of your degree and after graduation, you'll get 1-to-1 support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to find your perfect role. On top of this, you'll get bespoke careers to support through our faculty 'career-ready' programme.
Facilities
Student Testimonials
English Language Requirements
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