Law (Philosophy, Politics and Law Pathway) LLB (Hons)

University of Surrey

Why choose this course

Top lawyers not only know what the law is, but they understand why it is this way, what philosophical ideals and values it is based on, and how it can be made better.

If you are keen to get a solid legal education and dig deeper to better understand fundamental questions about why the law functions the way it does, then this is the course for you.

The heightened analytical skills that can be obtained on our LLB in Law (Philosophy, Politics and Law Pathway) are increasingly in demand by employers. As technology eliminates simplistic tasks, employers are progressively seeking law graduates who have complex problem-solving skills, can think abstractly, argue critically and find creative solutions to novel legal problems. This is what our course delivers.

Graduation from Surrey will stand you in good stead for accessing the postgraduate qualifications necessary to become a solicitor or a barrister. To best ensure this opportunity, we have partnered with the University of Law to facilitate access to the solicitors’ courses offered there.

We are ranked 4th for law in the National Student Survey 2022. We are ranked 13th in the UK and 64th in the world for law in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023. We are ranked top ten in the UK for politics in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.

Our award-winning Professional Training placements prepare students for roles in industry.

We were shortlisted for University of the Year in The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.

What you will study

You’ll gain a strong understanding of the main areas of legal knowledge, including law as it regulates the functions of the state (public law and criminal law), regulates relations between private individuals (contract law and tort law), and regulates the ownership and control of land and other property (land law, and equity and trusts).

After your first year, you will immerse yourself in deeper questions about the operation and design of our legal system and the principles of legal change and reform. You will take optional modules on the philosophical, social and political dimensions of law, focusing on cutting-edge legal problems and developing your knowledge of the relation between law and society, and the values and political structures our legal system is based on.

You will learn how to evaluate the law, analyse its application to given situations and apply your legal understanding in a national or international context. We also provide a series of employability training seminars, digital lawyering, pro bono opportunities, and extracurricular activities focusing on client interviewing, negotiation and mooting.

The qualifying law degree is recognised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for the purposes of satisfying the academic stage of training.