(LLB) Bachelor of Laws
Law (Including Year Abroad)
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Essex Law School
Colchester Campus
Honours Degree
Full-time
Law
LLB M120
25/04/2014
Details
Professional accreditation
Accredited by the Bar Standards Board for the purpose of a Qualifying Law Degree.
The qualifying law degree is recognised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for the purposes of satisfying the academic stage of training.
Admission criteria
A-levels: ABB-BBB, including one essay-based subject
IB: 32-30 points, including a Higher Level essay-based subject grade 5
Entry requirements for students studying BTEC qualifications are dependent on units studied. Advice can be provided on an individual basis. The standard required is generally at Distinction level.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall. (Different requirements apply for second year entry.)
If you are an international student requiring a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.
Other English language qualifications may be acceptable so please contact us for further details. If we accept the English component of an international qualification then it will be included in the information given about the academic levels required. Please note that date restrictions may apply to some English language qualifications.
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
Provide students with a rigorous academic training in the discipline of Law.
Allow students to develop a critical awareness of the nature of Law within its social, political and economic contexts and enable students to develop an approach to the discipline so that they are able to see each subject area as part of an integrated whole.
Inculcate in students an awareness of the place of the Law of England and Wales in its European and international frameworks.
Allow students to develop critical, analytical and research skills, problem-solving skills, and transferable skills.
Foster the ability in students to construct a logical argument and to communicate that argument clearly, and to consider, evaluate and respond to alternative and possibly conflicting points of view.
Provide students with the opportunity to work independently and in teams.
Provide students with the exemption from the academic stage of the Bar Vocational Course and the Legal Practice Course through a qualifying law degree.
The outcomes listed in this section represent the minimum that might be expected of a graduate of the School of Law of the University of Essex.
It is the intention of the Department that the vast majority of law graduates will achieve significantly more.
Details of the different standards expected for the various classes of degree can be found in the Student Handbook produced annually by the Department of Law.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: Fundamental doctrines and principles of the law, and the institutions and procedures of the legal system of England and Wales and of at least one other European country.
A2: Social, cultural, economic and political context in which the law develops.
A3: Some substantive areas of law in depth.
A4: Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of comparative methodology with respect to the laws and legal systems within Europe.
A5: Those areas of law necessary to obtain a Qualifying Law Degree for the purposes of the Bar Standards Board, Solicitors Regulation Authority and Law Society.
Learning methods
A1, A2, A3 and A4 are acquired through lectures; large group interactive classes which encourage dialogue between the students and teacher and between the students inter se; and tutorials which allow students to work in small groups and for dynamic interaction.
Where relevant and as the basis for an argument, students should use, present and evaluate relevant numerical or statistical information as appropriate.
Students are expected to undertake independent research through directed reading to consolidate and develop what they have learned in class.
A1 and A4 are particularly acquired through the year abroad.
Assessment methods
Testing of the knowledge base for A1 - A5 is through unseen examinations and continuous coursework, both at Essex and during the year abroad.
Coursework consists of essays, problem analysis, oral presentations and group projects.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Identify accurately the issue(s) which require researching in English law and the law of at least one other European country.
B2: Apply relevant primary and secondary legal sources from England and at least one other European country.
B3: Reason critically, identify, analyse, and solve problems in English law and the law of at least one other European country.
B4: Recognise, rank and collate items and issues in terms of relevance and importance in English law and the law of at least one other European country.
B5: Produce a synthesis of relevant doctrinal and policy issues in relation to a topic in English law and the law of at least one other European country.
B6: Make a critical judgement of the merits of particular arguments with respect to English law and the law of at least one other European country.
B7: Present and make a reasoned choice between alternative solutions with respect to English law and the law of at least one other European country.
B8: Demonstrate and exercise independence of thought.
Learning methods
Skills B1 - B8 are obtained and developed through tutorials and large group interactive classes where there is an emphasis on group discussion and analysis of case material and problems (hypothetical and actual), and through the year abroad.
B5 and B6 are also obtained through lectures.
All skills are complemented by class-independent reading undertaken by students in the light of guidance by lecturers and tutors.
Intellectual and cognitive skills are also acquired through written and oral feedback on coursework.
In addition, learning is enhanced by formative assessment of Skills B1, B3.
B7 and B8 in tutorials and large group interactive classes.
Assessment methods
Skills B2 - B8 will be assessed through unseen examinations, and B1 - B8 through continuous coursework, both at Essex and during the year abroad.
C: Practical skills
C1: Identify, select and retrieve up-to-date legal information, using both paper and electronic sources with respect to English law and the law of at least one other European country.
C2: Use and apply legal terminology and legal concepts with respect to English law and the law of at least one other European country.
C3: Plan and undertake tasks in areas of law already studied, and undertake independent research in areas of law not previously studied, starting from standard legal information sources with respect to English law and the law of at least one other European country.
Learning methods
Skill C1 is developed through preparation for tutorials, coursework and examinations.
It will also be developed and utilized during the year abroad.
Skills C1 and C2 are also facilitated through the provision of LEXIS training.
Skills C2 and C3 are developed through tutorials by way of the medium of problem solving and group discussion, both at Essex and during the year abroad.
Skills C1 - C3 are formatively assessed in tutorials and large group interactive classes, which assessment reinforces their learning by students.
Assessment methods
Skills C1 - C3 are assessed through continuous coursework.
In addition to traditional research methods, students are expected to use the internet when researching their coursework in order to find primary and secondary sources, either in on-line or paper format.
Skill C2 is also obtained through unseen examinations.
Skill C3 is acquired in particular by those students taking the option of writing a dissertation (LW351) in their final year.
D: Key skills
D1: Both orally and in writing, (i) work with the English language proficiently in relation to legal matters with respect to English law and the law of at least one other European country;
(ii) where teaching in the partner University is in the language of that country, then the student will be able to communicate clearly and accurately in that foreign language with respect to legal matters;
(iii) present knowledge or an argument in a clear, coherent and relevant manner.
D2: (i) Produce a word-processed essay or other text in an appropriate form and
(ii) use the worldwide web, e-mail, and also some electronic information retrieval systems.
D3: Where relevant and as the basis for an argument, use, present and evaluate information provided in numerical or statistical form.
D4: Analyse a reasonably complex set of facts and apply relevant law thereto.
D5: Participate in group work to the benefit of the group as a whole.
D6: With limited guidance, reflect on his or her own learning, and to make use of feedback.
Learning methods
Skills D1, D2, D4 and D5 are acquired through tutorials where students debate legal issues and problems at Essex and during the year abroad.
Skill D1 (ii) will be obtained particularly during the year abroad and in any language courses taken at Essex offered by the Department of Language and Linguistics; and D1 (iii) through the University’‘s online essay writing tutorial at: http://www2.essex.ac.uk/essay-writing/ Skills D1, D2, D4 and D6 will be learnt through writing summatively assessed and formative coursework and consequent feedback, both written and that obtained in oral sessions.
Skill D3 is acquired in particular in LW101 (Contract), in the context of the law of damages, in LW102 (Land Law) and LW202 (Equity and Trusts) in the context of quantification of interests, and in LW201 (Tort) in the context of probabilistic causation.
Skill D2(ii) is obtained and developed in all courses through tutorial, coursework and examination preparation, in particular by using web-based materials and law data bases (such as LEXIS and WESTLAW).
Skill D6 in particular is developed, in particular, by those students opting to take LW228, (Clinical Legal Education).
Assessment methods
Skills D1, D2, D4 and D6 are assessed through continuous coursework.
Skills D1, D3 and D4 are also assessed through unseen examinations.
Skill D1 (ii) is assessed during the year abroad and in any language courses taken at Essex offered by the Department of Language and Linguistics.
Skills D1 (oral communication) and D5 (working with others) are summatively assessed as part of the assessment process in LW301 (Jurisprudence).