Law BA (Hons)

Buckinghamshire New University

Our BA (Hons) Law degree programme integrates applied work-based and skills-based modules that will help you to prepare for a successful career, both within and outside of the legal professions.

Our tutors will help you to find work experience that’s suited to your interests. Our location means that London, and all the opportunities it offers, is within easy reach. You’ll also benefit from our small classes, supportive and experience tutors, and valuable networking opportunities.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University? Our degree is designed for students who may not wish to pursue a professional legal career but have an interest in a career in law and/or looking to apply knowledge in another area of business or service provision.

We'll help you build up your legal knowledge and commercial awareness, and gain a wide range of transferable skills, such as abstract thinking and practical problem-solving, which are relevant to a wide range of related careers.

Although this degree does not offer exemptions from the academic stage of training to become a solicitor or barrister, the first year content is common with our LLB (Hons) Law, and those who are successful in all first year modules may choose to transfer on to year two of the LLB programme.

Work experience in the form of placements and internships can greatly improve your employment prospects. Taking part can also help enhance academic results as you can apply your learning to a professional setting.

What will I study? Particular to the study of law is a high level of research and communication skills. These competencies will be developed as you progress through the course, and you'll become skilled in areas such as legal debating, interviewing and mediation.

On this programme, you'll study compulsory modules that explore civil and criminal liability, the English Legal System and the European single market, and legal research skills. You'll also have the opportunity to select from a range of specialist options in order to tailor your programme toward your career interests.

The course will also help teach you to do legal research, and you'll have access to legal databases, such as LexisNexis or Westlaw. You'll also learn how to review information from academic sources, journals and electronic resources.

How will I be taught and assessed? In addition to the core curriculum, you'll also benefit from additional activities, all designed to bolster your career prospects. These include talks from guest speakers, alumni sharing their experiences, sessions organised by the Careers Service, and personalised support by Careers Service and Learning Development Unit.

The course is underpinned by classroom-based teaching of current theory, concepts and research, delivered through a blend of lectures, interactive seminars and workshops, small-group activities and debates and supported at every stage by material on the virtual learning environment.

You'll develop your knowledge of all aspects of law through lectures and seminars, and supplement this with your own independent study. Lectures are often interactive, involving exercises and informal assessment. Seminars are small group discussions which you'll need to prepare for in advance. Here you'll learn to analyse legal principles and apply them to practical situations, assess competing arguments and choose between alternative approaches. Group work and moots (pretend courts) will hone your verbal arguing and presentation skills.

You'll be assessed through exams, moots (pretend courts), presentations and coursework. The variety of assessment methods will help test your knowledge and analysis of legal principles and different areas of law.

You will also be assessed on your ability to carry out effective research, understanding, analysis and use of source materials, ability to assess competing legal arguments, and capacity to recognise potential conclusions for situations and give reasons for them.