This module introduces you to the main features of the English legal system and the procedures and processes that are followed. It provides a foundation for understanding how law is created, interpreted and applied in practice, and how legal institutions operate. The module also develops core legal skills, including legal research, case analysis, statutory interpretation and the use of appropriate legal terminology. You’ll begin to apply these skills to straightforward legal problems and to engage with primary and secondary legal sources. The module acts as an essential foundation for all further legal study. 

This module introduces you to the core principles of criminal law, including the elements of criminal liability, the structure of criminal offences and the operation of defences. You’ll examine how criminal responsibility is established, how offences are defined and interpreted, and how criminal law operates in practice within the wider legal and social context.

This module introduces students to the core principles of contract law, including the formation, content and regulation of contracts and the remedies available for breach. You’ll examine how contractual obligations arise, how contractual principles operate in practice, and the circumstances in which contracts may be avoided or enforced. 

This module introduces you to the constitutional framework of the United Kingdom, including the roles of Parliament, the executive and the courts. It examines the principles underpinning the UK constitution and the legal mechanisms through which the exercise of state power may be controlled, including the roles of judicial review and the Human Rights Act 1998.

This module examines the general principles of tortious liability in English law. You will study the main areas of tort, including negligence, occupiers’ liability, trespass and nuisance. The module will also consider the remedies that are available in tort, in addition to looking at contemporary issues and policy debates relating to the development of tort law.

This module introduces you to the legal framework governing rights and interests in land, including their creation, transfer and protection. It examines the distinction between legal and equitable interests and the operation of registered and unregistered land, including the rules governing priority and enforceability of rights. A problem-based approach is adopted throughout, requiring you to apply legal principles to realistic scenarios and to analyse the rights and obligations of parties in land transactions. 

This module develops your practical legal skills and professional awareness through the use of realistic case studies and simulated legal practice. You’ll work with case files, legal documents and professional scenarios in order to develop skills in legal research, writing, drafting, interviewing, advocacy and case preparation. The module also introduces the ethical and regulatory framework governing legal practice and considers the professional responsibilities of lawyers in different contexts.

This module examines the legal principles governing the formation, structure and regulation of business organisations, including sole traders, partnerships and companies. It considers the legal framework governing the operation of companies, including the roles and responsibilities of directors and shareholders, the management of the company, and the protection of creditors and third parties. This module will require you to analyse legal problems arising in commercial contexts and to consider the wider legal and policy issues relating to the regulation of business entities. 

This module is concerned with the management of property (real and personal) and in particular, with the management of personal property through the technical requirements of the trust relationship. It examines the fiduciary nature of the relationship between trustees and beneficiaries and the consequences of any breach of a trustee's fiduciary duties.  

In the second block of your final year, you will choose a specialist module from one of the below.

Intellectual Property Law

This module examines the main forms of intellectual property protection, including copyright, trademarks, patents and designs, together with the legal principles governing the enforcement and commercial exploitation of intellectual property rights. The module considers the statutory framework regulating intellectual property and the remedies available for infringement. It also explores the economic and commercial significance of intellectual property in modern society. Particular attention is given to the fast-changing nature of this area of law, including the challenges created by new technologies and the digital environment. 

Employment Law

This module examines the legal principles governing the employment relationship, with a particular focus on individual employment law and the practical application of legal rules in workplace situations. The module begins by exploring how the law determines whether a person is an employee, worker or independent contractor, and why this distinction is important. It then considers the formation, content and variation of the contract of employment, including the sources of contractual terms and the obligations arising from the employment relationship. The module also examines the legal framework governing discrimination and equal pay, and the protection provided by the law in relation to dismissal. Throughout the module you’ll analyse employment law problems in their legal and policy context and consider the operation of the law in practice, including the role of courts and employment tribunals.

Law, Technology and Legal Practice

This module examines the relationship between law, technology and modern legal practice, with particular focus on the skills, knowledge and professional awareness required of graduates entering contemporary legal and regulatory environments. It considers the increasing use of digital technologies within legal work, including artificial intelligence, document automation and data-driven decision-making, and explores the legal, ethical and professional issues that arise from their use. You’ll analyse the regulatory frameworks governing technology in legal contexts, including data protection, professional responsibility and emerging approaches to the governance of artificial intelligence. The module places these developments within the practical realities of legal practice, including litigation support, compliance, in-house legal work, and court and tribunal processes, and requires you to evaluate both the opportunities and risks created by technological change in the legal profession. 

In the third block of your final year, you will choose a specialist module from the below.

Consumer Sales Law

This module examines the legal framework governing consumer transactions and the protection of consumers in their dealings with businesses. It focuses on the rights and remedies available to consumers, together with the legal obligations imposed on traders. The module considers both private law and regulatory approaches to consumer protection, including statutory rights, unfair terms, and the control of unfair commercial practices. 

Commercial Sales Law

This module examines the legal principles governing commercial sales transactions and business-to-business contracting relationships. It focuses on the law relating to the sale and supply of goods, the allocation of risk between commercial parties, and the remedies available where contractual obligations are not fulfilled. The module considers the statutory and common law framework governing commercial sales, including implied terms, delivery, transfer of property and remedies for breach of contract. You will evaluate how the law seeks to promote certainty in commercial dealings while ensuring fairness between contracting parties. 

EU Trade and Competition Law

This module examines the role of European Union law in regulating trade and competition within the internal market. It focuses on the legal principles governing the free movement of goods and the rules of competition law, and considers how these areas support the functioning of a market-based economic system. The module explores the legal framework governing restrictions on trade, anti-competitive agreements and abuse of market power. You’ll analyse how EU law balances market integration, economic efficiency and fairness, and will consider contemporary issues affecting trade and competition. 

In your final block, you will choose from either completing a Project or Professional Practice Preparation.

Project

This module provides an opportunity for you to develop advanced research, analytical and written communication skills through the detailed evaluation of legal principles, policy considerations and contemporary debates in a chosen area of law. Subject to approval by the module leader, you will be required to identify an appropriate research question or issue and undertake independent investigation using relevant primary and secondary legal sources. You’ll produce a sustained and critical analysis of the chosen topic and will work with an allocated supervisor, who will provide academic guidance throughout the research process. 

Professional Practice Preparation

Building on the legal and professional skills developed in earlier modules, this module focuses on the development of your professional readiness for careers in law and related fields. It examines how those skills are applied in practice and supports you in preparing for the transition to employment or further study. The module adopts a practice-based and experiential approach, incorporating activities such as client interviewing, negotiation, drafting, ethics and engagement with professional scenarios, to develop your ability to apply legal knowledge and skills in realistic settings. You’ll consider the roles of legal and commercial professionals, the skills required for different career pathways, the expectations of employers in the legal and wider professional sectors, and the use of technology and digital tools in contemporary legal practice. A reflective approach is embedded throughout the module, enabling you to evaluate your development, identify your strengths and areas for improvement, and demonstrate your readiness for professional practice.