Introduction
Train to become a solicitor or barrister. Get hands-on experience in our law clinics and professional mentoring – and graduate ready to work in the legal field.
You want to hone your legal knowledge, learn from professionals and gain practical experience.
Our LLB (Hons) Law degree is accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Boards, so you know you’re in good hands. Study in Cambridge, Chelmsford or Peterborough, work with qualified solicitors in our law clinics, and practise your craft in mock court rooms.
If you hope to use your legal skills in other areas – such as business, finance, policy making or public service – our law course will give you the transferable skills you need.
Many of our students choose to study law because they’re motivated by the idea of helping people. And so, from your first year, you’ll have the opportunity to work in our law clinics in Cambridge or Chelmsford. With support from qualified solicitors, you’ll advise members of the public on legal issues.
As you move into Year 2, you can also take part in our mentoring scheme, and get advice and guidance from a legal professional
It’s well worth joining our student Law Society, too. They take part in national competitions such as Mooting, and have a track record of success. It could be a great achievement to add to your CV.
All this practical experience is, of course, backed up by classroom teaching. Our lecturers combine academic modules with those that focus on areas of professional practice, such as human rights law.
As you progress through the LLB (Hons) Law course, you’ll have the chance to take optional modules and explore areas of law that are of particular interest to you.
Whichever area you focus on, you can rely on our personal tutor system, which offers regular, structured support throughout your time at ARU.
You have the option to take this course as a four-year degree with foundation year. If you choose to learn in Cambridge or Chelmsford, you’ll study with our partner, ARU College, in Cambridge for Year 1, then Cambridge or Chelmsford for years 2-4. If you choose to study in Peterborough, you’ll stay there for all four years of your course.
TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT
Year 1
Year 1 is all about giving you a solid grounding in the law and legal systems of the United Kingdom. We’ll look at the different ways that people can be held to account, whether that’s through a court of law, an inquiry, ombudsmen or judicial review. We also cover the general principles of criminal law.
During your first year, you’ll develop a range of fundamental legal skills, such as fact handling, case reading and research.
Our assessments include traditional exams and essays as well as more innovative career-oriented methods, including mooting, online discussions, group work and presentations, ensuring you have different and relevant opportunities to test your learning.
Modules are subject to change and availability.
Year 2
We continue to focus on legal skills in Year 2. With support, you’ll become increasingly confident about carrying out research and conveying ideas, either in writing or verbally. You’ll tackle real-world problems by working with students from other disciplines in order to learn about a variety of perspectives and approaches on our Ruskin Module.
We’ll also turn our attention to three important areas of law: equity and trusts, European Union law, and the Law of Tort – that is, civil wrongs and compensation for harm to people’s rights, safety and interests.
During Year 2 you can start to look at specific areas of law in more depth. There’s a range of optional modules including child and family law, Human Rights law, and company law. You can also boost your CV with our Legal Work Experience module.
Our assessments include traditional exams and essays as well as more innovative career-oriented methods, including mooting, online discussions, group work and presentations, ensuring you have different and relevant opportunities to test your learning.
Modules are subject to change and availability.
Year 3
In Year 3, you have the chance to really put your research skills into practice with your Major Project. You can focus on an area of interest, carry out research, evaluate information and present your findings. You’ll also study civil litigation, and land and property law.
There are further chances to explore specific areas of law, such as employment law, sports law, and medical law. You can also boost your CV with our Legal Work Experience module or learn a language with our Anglia Language Programme.
Our assessments include traditional exams and essays as well as more innovative career-oriented methods, including mooting, online discussions, group work and presentations, ensuring you have different and relevant opportunities to test your learning.
Modules are subject to availability, and to change in response to changes being brought in by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Facilities and accreditation
Hands-on experience
All our LLB (Hons) Law students have access to:
- Law Clinics in Cambridge and Chelmsford, where you can volunteer under the supervision of qualified solicitors
- mock court rooms
- professional mentoring scheme
- undergraduate researcher scheme
- ARU’s student Law Society, which takes part in national competitions.
Your course, your way
At ARU you’ll have the opportunity to:
- focus on your own interests with a range of optional modules
- study a language as part of your course
- study abroad for a semester
- complete particular modules and graduate with two awards: the LLB (Hons) and the Higher Diploma in Paralegal Practice, which can help you secure a job as a paralegal.
Accredited degree
Our three-year LLB (Hons) Law degree is accredited by the SRA and BSB. It’s the first step to becoming a solicitor or a barrister in the UK.
Careers
Our LLB (Hons) law is the first step to becoming a solicitor, barrister or paralegal. But you’ll also find that the course gives you skills that you can use in related roles, including business and commerce, policy making, public services or banking and finance.
We work with employers to make sure you graduate with the knowledge, skills and abilities they need – whichever sector you’re interested in. Employers and legal professionals often join us on campus too, for events such as guest lectures and careers fairs.
While you’re studying with us, you can gain valuable work experience in our law clinics, with supervision from qualified solicitors.
You’ll also benefit from our mentoring scheme, which partners you with a legal professional in your second year; and our undergraduate researcher scheme, where you support a member of academic staff who works in your field of interest.
Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us. You might decide to stay at ARU and study for a Masters. There are plenty of options, including our LLM International Law, LLM Advanced Legal Practice, LLM International Commercial Law and LLM International Business Law. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.