LLB (Hons) Law
Course Overview
Whether you're seeking to forge a career as a solicitor, barrister, costs lawyer, legal executive or conveyancer, the University of Bolton's LLB (Hons) Law is an excellent choice. It's also an ideal springboard to a career in civil service, business management, politics, HR or finance.Our experienced team will guide you as you explore the sources of the law in England and Wales, how it is made and developed, the institutions within which that law is administered, and the personnel who practice law. You'll study the law as it regulates the functions of the state, the relations between private individuals, and the ownership and control of land and other property. You'll also be able to choose additional legal areas that interest you or match your career aspirations.
We'll support you in developing the skills required to practice law. For example, we'll expect and encourage you to participate in mooting debates (a mock legal hearing where points of law are argued) in our purpose-built courtroom. We'll challenge you to develop sought-after critical reasoning, communication and advocacy skills, along with valuable transferable skills such as analytical thinking, practical problem-solving, presentation, negotiation skills and teamwork. Overall, our dedicated team will focus on helping you gain the skills employers value along with a deep and critical understanding of the law.
Highlights
- Our Law courses are in the top 10 in the UK for student satisfaction, according to The Complete University Guide 2024.
- This LLB (Hons) includes the seven foundations of legal knowledge and the skills associated with graduate legal work, such as legal research. If you wish to train as a barrister, you must achieve three components set out by the Bar Standards Board (BSB). These are the academic, vocational and work-based learning components. This LLB (Hons) fully meets the requirements of the academic component. It also meets the entry requirements for the Solicitor's Qualifying Examination (SQE) if you're an aspiring solicitor.
- The University of Bolton's Legal Advice Centre guarantees law students a compulsory work placement of at least one semester and an additional optional work placement. Here they can develop and enhance their practice skills by assisting members of the public with their legal enquiries.
- Few law schools have their own courtroom. Our state-of-the-art Moot Law Court gives you the opportunity to apply your academic and forensic skills to practical situations in front of your peers.
- We have our own dedicated Law library, as well as a specialised law librarian. Online legal database resources are available via Lexis Library and Westlaw, and we use the virtual learning environment, Moodle, to create an interactive learning environment.
- We maintain strong partnerships with local law firms and other legal service providers, facilitating work shadowing opportunities and regular visits by guest speakers. We also run an annual Law Lecture series and are home to the Centre for Contemporary Coronial Law.
Key Features
- We offer a deep understanding of the fundamental legal principles, concepts, values, rules and techniques, establishing your knowledge and understanding of the doctrines and principles which underpin the law of England and Wales.
- Our research-active academic law staff offer you access to expertise in a range of disciplines, including alternative dispute resolution, commercial, employment, European, family, healthcare, intellectual property, international and judicial reform.
- We'll guide you in the use of research data, including primary sources such as legislation, EU law, case law, and secondary source materials such as government reports, white and green papers, and refereed journal articles.
- You'll be encouraged to gain practical experience in presentation, argument and applying legal method skills as you participate in mock interviews, moot debates and negotiations.
- We recommend that you join the University of Bolton's Student Law Society, which offers access to work placement opportunities, presentation skills development sessions and court trips.
Entry Requirements
- 112 UCAS points. We accept a full range of qualifications that carry UCAS points, including A-levels, BTECs and T-levels. Please see our guide to the UCAS Tariff for examples of how to achieve these points. For most courses, we are also able to consider non-tariffable qualifications.
- Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3.
- You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.
- You may be required to attend for an interview, complete a diagnostic assessment and/or provide a portfolio of appropriate work.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
- Please note that this course is subject to the University of Bolton's Fitness to Practise procedure.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
The academic study of law will give you an insight into the legal systems on which much of our day-to-day life is based. As well as acquiring a comprehensive knowledge of the law, this degree will enable you to develop a range of key employability skills such as reasoning and critical judgement, researching for accuracy, confidence gained from public speaking, the ability to formulate arguments and great attention to detail. These skills are highly transferable and can place you well for a career inside or outside the legal profession.
To practice law after graduation, you must go on to further study and vocational training. To become a solicitor in England and Wales, you have to complete the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and undertake a minimum of two years of full-time (or equivalent) Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) in a qualifying legal role. If you aim to work as a barrister in England and Wales, you'll need to undertake a Bar course with an authorised institution, followed by a pupillage or work-based learning component. Variations in training routes exist in Scotland and Northern Ireland for both roles.
This degree is a Qualifying Law Degree, so if you started this course before 31 December 2021 (date subject to change), you have a choice of qualifying as a solicitor through either the SQE route or by completing the Legal Practice Course (LPC) route.
What can I do with this qualification?
If you qualify as a solicitor, you'll have direct contact with clients, with the broadest caseload coming from high street practices covering criminal, family, probate and business law. Opportunities are therefore available in private practice, in public sector bodies such as local authorities and the government, and the in-house legal departments of companies.
If you choose the barrister route, you'll most likely work in sets of chambers on a self-employed basis. Alternatively, barristers may seek employment in public sector bodies such as the Crown Prosecution Service, the Armed Forces legal service, and the Government Legal Profession.
Alternative career options
Not all graduates want to qualify as a lawyer. You may prefer to work in an area involving legal content, perhaps in business or the wider community. As a law degree is highly regarded, you'll be well placed to seek a career in a huge variety of fields, bearing in mind that some jobs may require further study and/or work experience. Some possibilities are:
- Immigration
- Police
- Trading standards
- Investment banking
- Tax advice/inspection
- Teaching and education
- International aid/development
- Human resources
- Health and safety
- Probation/social work
- Accountancy
- Political research
- Charity and advice work
- Recruitment
- Stockbroking
- Marketing
Professional Recognition
This LLB (Hons) includes the seven foundations of legal knowledge and the skills associated with graduate legal work such as legal research. If you wish to train as a barrister, you must achieve three components set out by the Bar Standards Board (BSB). These are the academic, vocational and work-based learning components. This LLB (Hons) fully meets the requirements of the academic component. It also meets the entry requirements for the Solicitor's Qualifying Examination (SQE) if you're an aspiring solicitor.
Fees & Funding
Home/EU Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
International Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
Bursaries
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2025-26 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
Please contact Admissions by telephone on 01204 903903 or email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
Admissions
University of Bolton
Deane Road
Bolton, BL3 5AB
United Kingdom
Tel: 01204 903903
Email: enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
International Applicants
International applications are not possible for this course
As an international student you are not allowed to study this course because of the restrictions on your visa.
We offer a wide range of full-time courses in lots of different subjects, many of our courses start in September and January. If you would like to see what courses are available please visit our Course Search.
Partner Organisation Applicants
Please contact Admissions by telephone on 01204 903903 or email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
Admissions
University of Bolton
Deane Road
Bolton, BL3 5AB
United Kingdom
Tel: 01204 903903
Email: enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
Teaching & Assessment
The School of Law is led by professionally qualified and specialist law staff with a wide range of experience in practice, teaching and research. The LLB programme uses a blended learning and teaching style, including online delivery and engagement where appropriate. You can expect lectures, seminars, tutorials, technology-enhanced applications, mooting, debates, role plays and student presentations.
In most modules, formal lectures introduce a topic. We'll then encourage you to apply this knowledge to case studies based on a range of legal problems in follow-up small group seminars. You'll have the opportunity to attend additional weekly tutorials, ensuring you have space to ask questions or seek individual help.
We employ a diverse and distinctive suite of assessment methods, allowing you to benefit from a balanced approach. You can expect examinations, coursework, presentations, mock interviews, mooting and negotiations. Some assessments will contribute to your final module mark and allow you to demonstrate that you've met the learning outcomes. In contrast, others focus on helping you identify areas that need extra attention on your part or where you need additional support from your tutors.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- English Legal System and Foundation Legal Skills
- Contract Law
- Criminal Law
- Public Law
- Equity and Trusts
- Professionals in Practice
- Law of Tort
- European Law
- Land Law
- Legal Skills
- Preparation for Practice
- Professional Standards and the Commercial Environment
- Dissertation
- Employment Law
- Family Law
- Company Law
- Intellectual Property Law
- Jurisprudence
- Advanced Legal Practice
- International Human Rights Law
- Sports Law
- Medical Law and Ethics
- Professional Standards and the Commercial Environment
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 50% Practical exams 25% Written exams 25% |
| Level 2 | Coursework 50% Practical exams 17% Written exams 33% |
| Level 3 | Coursework 71% Practical exams 22% Written exams 7% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 74% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 26% |
| Level 2 | Guided independent study 74% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 26% |
| Level 3 | Guided independent study 78% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 22% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
