Criminal Law and Justice LLB (Hons)

Undergraduate

Female student standing in a mock court room wearing robes and wig, holding an open book

Criminal law is of fundamental social importance. It provides the State with the greatest opportunity to inhibit an individual’s freedom and liberty, and this course scrutinises the mechanisms for doing so.

Course option

Degree with foundation year

Year of entry

2024-25 2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich

UCAS codes

M223

Start date

January 2025 - condensed

How to apply

Book an Open Day

Download a prospectus

Course overview

The Criminal Law and Justice LLB (Hons) course explores the mechanisms underpinning criminal law, domestically and internationally, whilst encouraging students to challenge the legitimacy of the State’s power and its interference with individual autonomy and freedom.  

This course aims to help you:

Acquire knowledge and understanding of legal doctrines, concepts, principles, rules and values in the core areas of law and in the specialist area of criminal law and justice.
Develop an appreciation of the context in which law operates, and an understanding of the dynamic nature of law, its uncertainty, the need for reform and proposals for such reform in the furtherance of securing justice for all.
Develop the ability to apply the legal knowledge and skills acquired to both the theory and practice of law, particularly in a criminal law setting.

The January start for this course is condensed in Year 1. Please see the ‘How you’ll learn’ section below for more details.

Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course

The course aims to give you opportunities to:

Immerse yourself in criminal law by following a criminal case from the commission of an offence through preparation for trial and finally sentencing, through an authentic case simulation.
Hone your criminal advocacy skills in our mock courtroom, known as the ‘moot room’⁴.
Apply to volunteer in the Employment Law Clinic, Advocacy Clinic or Business Law and Enterprise Clinic at the Coventry Law Centre where selected students can gain practical legal experience under the supervision of trained solicitors and lawyers².
Engage with students at other international universities and industry experts² , as well as further develop your intercultural competencies and digital skills through initiatives like our Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects².

If you choose to start this course in January you will study exactly the same course but over a slightly shorter timescale in Year 1. This is ideal if you missed the September start, want to transfer from a different university or course or just need a bit more time to prepare for life at university.

Accreditation and professional recognition

The degree is accredited¹ and recognised by the following bodies:

Criminal Law and Justice Law LLB is a recognized degree by the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) for the 2023 intake. Any graduates of this course that pass the optional third year modules ‘Family Law’, or ‘Company Law’ and ‘Employment Law’, will not need to pass the CPQ Foundation stage or CPQ Advanced stage assessments and as such are capable of being recognised as CILEX Advanced Paralegals. Those who do not complete either ‘Family Law’ or ‘Company Law’ and ‘Employment Law’ will still be exempt from the mandatory aspects of CPQ Advanced stage. On completion of your course, you will have the option to pay £400 for CILEX recognition.

Memberships

Coventry Law School is currently a member of the International Association of Law Schools, an association of around 160 law schools from over 55 countries, representing around 7,500 law faculty members. Having this status allows you to access a variety of international experiences, including with our partner institutions across the world.

Coventry Law School is also currently a member of the European Law Faculties Association with over 250 members from Europe and beyond.

Coventry Law School is currently a member of British and Irish Law Education and Technology Association, one of the largest Technology Law associations in Europe.

Memberships are renewed annually, and there is currently no intention for any of the memberships or partnership to lapse, however if our memberships or partnership are not renewed we would notify applicants and students as soon as possible¹.

Collaborations

Central England Law Centre

Coventry Law School collaborates with the Central England Law Centre in order to offer a professional element to your learning, through our Law Employment and Advocacy clinics. Students who are selected to participate in the clinics get involved with many aspects of what the solicitors do at the Law Centre, with supervisors who are currently working in practice and experts in specific areas of law. They get hands-on experience doing reserved legal activities, providing supervised advice and assistance to members of the public.

Find your future career in law

See what our students think about their law course.

‘The criminal law seeks to safeguard citizens from serious harm . At the same time, criminal justice represents one of the State’s most powerful tools against its citizens. No other area of law is able to so significantly infringe a person’s liberties and freedoms. The criminal justice system therefore, has to strike a balance between controlling criminal behaviour and protecting the rights and freedoms of the accused.’
Dr Gary Betts, Head of the Law School, 2022

What you'll study

During your first year, you will work alongside students doing similar courses to you, to widen your knowledge of the law and develop the fundamental legal skills necessary to undertake the remainder of your course. You will also be exposed to a range of contemporary issues in the law that relate to each of the LLB courses on offer. If you discover that you have an interest in a particular area of law that you have studied, upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degree courses to one of the other LLB courses listed above (subject to meeting progression requirements).

As you move through your second and final year, you will study further core legal modules whilst also exploring more specialist commercial law subjects and enhancing your practical legal skills.

The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing similar courses to you, to widen your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students, so you can share your insights and experience which will help you to develop and learn.

Common first year courses

Commercial Law LLB (Hons)
International Law LLB (Hons)
Law LLB (Hons)

Modules

English Legal System – 20 Credits

In this module, you will explore the main sources, institutions, and structures of the English legal system. You will develop an insight into the workings of the civil and criminal justice system, whilst exploring key challenges in providing access to justice for all. You will be introduced to sources of English Law, judicial precedent, statutory interpretation, legal personnel and the growing role of alternative dispute resolution and tribunals within the legal system. You will be encouraged to take a critical role by examining current legal issues that relate to the English legal system and debate different perspectives.

Compulsory

Public Law – 20 Credits

This module explores the law regulating state institutions, their interactions with each other and their relationship with the individual citizen. You will explore the constitutional arrangements for the United Kingdom and examine fundamental concepts such as the rule of law, legal accountability and human rights. You will also develop an awareness of the global significance of a specific constitution and the role that international and comparative law can play in setting standards of constitutional behaviour. You will also examine how governments and various state institutions are held to account through the area of administrative law, with particular reference to judicial review.

Compulsory

Contract Law – 20 Credits

Contracts affect companies in the way that business is conducted and impact every person’s daily life. Contracts, therefore, have significant effects on both business practice and social relations. This module introduces you to the key legal principles and rules governing contracts and how these give rise to legally protected and enforceable obligations. You will examine the formation, operation, and termination of contractual obligations and how factors such as technological advancement, social change and changing commercial priorities may influence the development of contract law.

Compulsory

Criminal Law – 20 credits

The criminal law in England and Wales includes a wide range of offences ranging from minor motoring offences to the most serious crimes, such as homicide. You will gain an understanding of the current law through an appreciation of the purposes of the criminal law, the principles underpinning the law and how the criminal law continues to adapt to address changes in social behaviours and the emergence of new types of harm. This module takes a contemporary approach by exploring the development of the criminal law within modern society, including the creation of new offences and how the law works to protect a person’s protected characteristics.

Compulsory

Applied Law Study – 20 Credits

This module encourages you to acquire an applied understanding of how the law can be a creative force for meaningful change. You will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with other students to tackle a ‘grand legal challenge’ and through this, practice and develop your key legal skills. The module will equip you with the ability to conduct effective legal research in order to present reasoned legal solutions to real-world problems arising from the grand legal challenge. You will examine the limits of the law and identify instances where reform of the law would aid the resolution of real-world problems.

Compulsory

Contemporary Issues in the Law – 20 Credits

This module aims to examine and apply your understanding of the law to new social, economic or technological change. You will explore how, and when, the law must adapt to meet these changes and how public opinion, the media, political thinking, and international pressure can influence the law’s development. You will explore several contemporary issues and will evaluate ways in which the law has or may contribute to resolving those problems by examining key debates within contemporary legal research and thinking.

Compulsory

In your second year, you will continue to build your understanding of core legal subjects, whilst exploring criminal law and justice in detail. You will also begin to develop your practical legal skills to provide you with an insight into life in legal practice.

Modules

Practical Legal Skills – 20 credits

This module provides you with a working understanding of practical legal skills and professional ethical awareness in the areas of advocacy, drafting, interviewing and negotiation. The module is designed to introduce you to the type of work you would do in legal practice and inform your career aspirations. The skills you learn in this module can be highly attractive and transferable to a variety of professional spheres both inside and outside of the legal profession.

Compulsory

Tort Law – 20 credits

Tort law is the name given to the branch of law that imposes civil liability for breach of obligations owed by both individuals and organisations to one another. In this module, you will explore the foundational tort of negligence which has led to the growth of this discipline area. You will examine the kinds of damage the law permits recovery for and explore other torts such as nuisance, occupiers’ liability, trespass to the person and privacy/defamation, among others. Throughout the module, you will explore how tort law has developed in a changing social, economic and political climate, as well as how it relates to other legal areas such as contract, criminal law and human rights.

Compulsory

Land Law – 20 credits

With a particular focus on land law, this module aims to acquaint you with the terminology, concepts, policy objectives and statutory schemes necessary to understand modern property law in England and Wales. It aims to provide you with the intellectual framework with which to identify, understand and resolve practical problems in property law and examine the underlying rationales which explain the current design and shape of the law of property. It will also introduce you to conveyancing practice.

Compulsory

European Union Law – 20 credits

European Union law remains hugely important to individuals and businesses both within the EU and beyond. Notwithstanding the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the Union, EU law continues to pervade many aspects of English law. Additionally, as one of the world’s largest single markets, knowledge and understanding of the European Union are crucial to any business, wherever located. Through this module, you will develop an understanding of the operation of European Union Law within the English legal system and the legal frameworks that operate within the EU. You will gain an understanding of both the public law of the European Union and the substantive rules of the internal market.

Compulsory

Equity and Trusts – 20 credits

This module introduces you to the equitable principles governing the creation, operation and administration of public and private trusts and examines the reasons for creating trusts in the contemporary social, economic and international context. Contemporary issues in this area may include the legal problems raised by crowd-funding and surplus funds, the potential problems of joint ownership of property outside of the family relationship and how philanthropy through the creation of charitable trusts provides funding that supports and advances UN Sustainable Development Goals. You will gain an understanding of the trust concept, the requirements for the creation of a valid trust, the different types of trust that may come into operation, the nature of trusteeship and liability for breach of trust. You will explore the flexibility of the trust concept, its traditional function in relation to family property and its contemporary role in commercial contexts.

Compulsory

Criminal Justice – 20 credits

Criminal justice is the system of rules and institutions that regulates potential, alleged and actual criminal activities within the limits necessary to protect individual rights and innocent individuals from wrongful treatment and conviction. In this module, you will follow a hypothetical defendant through the criminal justice process, from initial police detention through to an eventual appeal. You will examine the various stages of the process and the roles and responsibilities of different people, institutions and agencies forming the criminal justice system.

Compulsory

There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement² can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

If you choose to do a work placement year or study abroad year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee³ of £1,250. For more information, please go to the fees and funding section. During this time you will receive guidance from your employer or partner institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement².

Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our placement/study abroad offering here, it is often tailored for each course every year and depends on the length of placement or study abroad opportunities that are secured. Therefore, the placement and study abroad arrangements vary per course and per student. Request further information about going on a placement or study abroad year.

Modules

UK Work Placement– 0 credits

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement undertaken during your programme. A placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

International Study/Work Placement – 0 credits

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement undertaken during your programme. A work/study placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

Year three aims to bring you to the level to enter the world of work by immersing you in the criminal trial process to develop your professional legal skills. You can choose from a variety of optional modules to tailor your degree to your interests and/or future ambitions, as well as work on a large final project in a criminal law area of your interest or participate in one of the law school’s pro- bono clinics (subject to securing a place at the Coventry Law Centre).

Modules

Project – 40 credits

During the project module, you will have the opportunity to apply and develop your research skills and extend your knowledge, understanding and ability to critically analyse a topic in a specialist area of interest.

There are three routes for study in this module, which are:

Route 1: An individual research-based dissertation on a topic of your choosing, supported by a project supervisor
Route 2: An individual work-based project report
Route 3: An individual work-based project report on their engagement in the Coventry Law School’s Law Clinics² (this option is subject to securing a placement at Coventry Law Centre)

Compulsory

Criminal Advocacy – 20 credits

In this module, you will follow a hypothetical defendant through the process of criminal proceedings from the moment the defendant is charged with a criminal offence. You will look at the movements of a case through the Magistrates’ Court and the Crown Court, focusing on the different types of hearing that may take place. You will get a realistic and practical insight into how a criminal advocate prepares for and fulfils their role either as an advocate at the Crown Prosecution Service or representing a person charged with a criminal offence.

Compulsory

Law of Evidence – 20 credits

The law of evidence is a wide and diverse discipline that covers how information received in a court is to be weighed and assessed in a criminal trial. This module aims to provide you with a practical and engaging insight into how the rules of evidence work in practice. The module investigates the practical impact of rules of evidence in criminal trials, including how the rules and regulations are used to decide what facts will be used in a case as proof. The module examines who in the system will investigate criminal cases and the methods of investigating cases including the means and methods of gathering and retaining evidence, the rules of admissibility and how evidence can be challenged.

Compulsory

Optional Modules

Choose any 2 optional modules from the following:

International Criminal Law – 20 credits

This module will explore those crimes which are considered ‘international crimes’ i.e. the most heinous crimes which operate across national borders or those within states which warrant international scrutiny. This module examines the development of International Criminal Law (ICL), beginning with the aftermath of the Second World War, before focusing on the establishment of the more contemporary international criminal courts and tribunals. You will explore the basic principles of public international law which are relevant to ICL, before looking at the four ‘core crimes’ (genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and aggression), as well as various other aspects of international criminal prosecution, including the modes of criminal responsibility, defences and the international criminal trial process.

Family Law - 20 credits

This module will aim to develop your knowledge and understanding of family law, and the ways in which these areas of law operate in practice in their socio-legal context. You will primarily explore the ways in which English law regulates relationships between adult partners (in marriage, civil partnership, and co-habitation), and relationships between parents/carers and children. You will also develop your understanding of the operation of human rights law principles in family law, with a particular focus on the ways in which both private and public law operate to safeguard children and adults from violence and abuse in a family context.

Environmental Law - 20 credits

This module will introduce you to the legal and policy issues surrounding the protection of the natural environment. The module will focus on the UK and its relationship to international, regional, and bi-national law as the global community seeks to adapt and mitigate the effects of a variety of environmental issues. You will study the historical development of environmental law and focus on key contemporary issues such as the responsibility of businesses towards the environment, climate change and environmental crime.

Law, Innovation and Intellectual Property Law - 20 credits

Innovation is a major driver of added value and economic growth. This module considers the legal frameworks for the protection, harnessing, and exploitation of the economy of ideas. You will learn about the terminology, concepts, policy objects and statutory schemes necessary to understand Intellectual Property Law in the UK and the international protection measures which provide protection for intellectual property assets across national boundaries. You will further consider the ways in which innovation and new technologies can impact both the substance and practice of the law.

Company Law - 20 credits

Registered companies conduct most of the economic activity in the United Kingdom. Therefore, lawyers and other professional persons require an understanding of the concepts that shape company law, as well as the rules that govern corporate activities. Consequently, this module aims to develop your critical understanding of the laws that govern registered companies, as well as other business models such as Partnerships and LLPs. In this module, you will examine the legal regulation of the formation, administration, financing, and governance of companies.

Employment Law - 20 credits

Employment law is a dynamic subject as it responds to changing, and sometimes conflicting, economic, political and social demands, within the UK, in addition to the impact of the European Union and the wider global context. The module aims to provide you with a critical understanding of the regulation of employment by law and to place the legal rules in their broader economic and socio-political context. You will examine the legal regulation of the employment relationship from recruitment through to termination, the nature of employment and the rights and duties of both employers and employees.

Optional

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

The Criminal Law and Justice LLB (Hons) degree has been designed so that it is capable of satisfying the academic component of Bar training as required by the Bar Standards Board.

For further details of the requirements of the academic component of Bar training, please visit the Bar Standards Board website.

The course is delivered through a combination of live/asynchronous lectures, workshops, online activities and directed readings.

Lectures tend to be expository in nature, introducing you to basic concepts and core principles. Workshops provide you with the opportunity to deepen your understanding of the subject matter through active exploration of legal issues, for example through debates, discussions, presentations, and other practical activities. Teaching sessions are designed to be interactive and may involve exploring real-world and hypothetical problems, considering case studies and analysing contemporary or more theoretical legal issues. This interactive approach enables you to develop your legal skills throughout our degree and immerse yourself in authentic legal experiences.

Throughout the course, your learning will be supported through AULA, our mobile-first virtual learning environment and you will receive specialist training in the use of a variety of legal databases (our online learning platform is subject to change).

If you choose to start this course in January it will be run as a condensed programme. You’ll start your course in January and finish your first year in August. Upon successful completion of Year 1, you will progress onto Year 2 in September and then continue to start subsequent years of your course in September, completing your degree at the same time as the September starters unless you opt to do a placement year.

Teaching contact hours

We understand that everyone learns differently, so each of our courses will consist of structured teaching sessions, which can include:

On campus lectures, seminars and workshops
Group work
Self-directed learning
Work placement opportunities².

If you would like more information, you can request information about teaching hours.

Part of university life is undertaking self-directed learning. During a typical week you will have time that allows you to work independently to apply the skills and knowledge you have learnt in taught or facilitated sessions to your projects or assignment briefs. This self-directed learning allows you to use your research skills, consolidate your knowledge or undertake collaborative group work.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods include:

Formal examinations
Phase tests
Essays
Group work
Presentations
Reports
Projects
Coursework
Exams
Individual assignments

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

International experience opportunities

Throughout the Criminal Law and Justice LLB degree, we aim to expose you to a wide variety of international opportunities². From undertaking an international field trip to working with students from international universities in a Collaborative International Online Learning project, we aim to offer an international opportunity for everyone. The Law School has particularly strong links with the Southwest University of Political Science and Law in Chongqing, China and established links with the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, the University of Nebrija in Madrid and the University of the West Indies.

Throughout the course, you will explore aspects of international law and develop cognisance of diverse cultural and global perspectives. The Law School is a diverse community of legal academics and students, which brings depth and vibrancy to your student experience.

Breathing life into the law

Law students joined forces with journalism, paramedic and acting students as a dramatic court case gave them hands-on, industry-relevant experience.

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2024/25 entry.

Requirement	What we're looking for
UCAS points	112
A level	BBC
GCSE	Minimum 5 GCSEs graded 4 / C or above including Maths and English
BTEC	DMM
IB Diploma	24 Points
Access to HE	The Access to HE Diploma to include 30 Level 3 credits at Merit. Plus GCSE English and Mathematics at grade 4 / C or above.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Contextual offers and Fair Access Scheme

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme, you could automatically receive a contextual offer that may be up to 24 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 overall (with at least 5.5 in each component area)

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Not got the required grades? We offer this degree with an integrated foundation year.

Fees and funding

2024/25 tuition fees.

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£9,250 per year	Not available
EU	£9,250 per year with EU Support Bursary £16,800 per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£16,800 per year	Not available

If you choose to do a work placement², you should consider travel and living costs to cover this. There is also a tuition fee³ of £1,250 that will cover your academic support throughout your placement year.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our undergraduate finance page and see the University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of international scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our international scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

Other additional costs

On completion of your course, you will have the option to pay £400 for CILEX recognition, if you successfully pass either ‘Family Law’ or ‘Company Law’ and ‘Employment Law’. This means you will not need to pass the CPQ Foundation stage or CPQ Advanced stage assessments and as such are capable of being recognised as CILEX Advanced Paralegals.

Condensed course – January start date

If you choose to start this course in January please make sure you check the Fees and Finance page for more information. Although starting this course in January does not prohibit you from being eligible for student finance, the way it is paid in your first year differs from those who start their course in September.

If you start the course in January, your tuition fees will be paid in accordance with the university’s Tuition Fees, Refund and Withdrawal Terms and Conditions for January starters and for any further years of study, your fees will be paid in accordance with the terms for September starters.

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

The Criminal Law and Justice LLB course is delivered at the main Coventry University campus, where you'll benefit from our dedicated law facilities⁴.

Moot Room

Our Moot Room gives you the opportunity to develop those vital and practical legal skills. You can practise your legal skills in a realistic setting, as well as having the chance to take part in mooting competitions.

Legal Clinic

Use the Legal Clinic to develop your practical legal skills and help you stand out in your future career. You will have access to 'real' clients and work alongside trained solicitors and lawyers.

A lawyer stands in a court room, with people behind we assume make up the jury, and two judges to his left

Routes into a Legal Career

Find out more about how Coventry University can kick start your legal career through our preparation courses.

Careers and opportunities

Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:

Critically analyse theories, principles and laws across diverse substantive legal areas, with a particular focus on the rules and practices relating to the criminal justice system.
Appreciate and apply principles of justice and professional ethics and their application to the law, whilst being cognisant of diverse cultural and global perspectives.
Identify and synthesise relevant information from primary and secondary legal sources, using both digital and non-digital resources, whilst adhering to principles of academic integrity.
Draw reasoned conclusions through the application of legal principles and knowledge to complex problems, whilst tolerating ambiguity and recognising alternative legal outcomes.
Communicate effectively and professionally, by conveying and explaining legal information, ideas and arguments appropriately in a variety of contexts.
Demonstrate self-management and work independently or collaboratively as appropriate.
Demonstrate intellectual independence through the acquisition of specialist knowledge and understanding of current legal thinking and emerging research.
Apply a range of practical or clinical legal skills, including those applicable to criminal practice.

Law graduates can pursue a wide variety of careers both in the UK and overseas. Many graduates enter the legal profession as solicitors, barristers, paralegals or legal executives (additional education/courses and training required). However, the skills learned are also transferrable to career paths outside of law such as recruitment, management, teaching or finance. Many of our law graduates also go on to pursue a career in academia or undertake further academic study.

Where our graduates work

Previous law graduates from Coventry Law School have gone on to work at a wide variety of organisations and firms including:

Crown Prosecution Services
DAC Beachcroft
NFU Mutual
PwC
Deloitte
Linklaters
Oracle
Squire Patton Boggs
Stobbs
Co-op Legal Services

Further study

I have volunteered with the Coventry Law employment clinic. This allows me to interview actual clients and produce advice for them. This has been extremely valuable in relating my studies to the world of work and given me incredible experience, as well as helping the clients. I have learned so much from this opportunity and I feel like I have a step up when it comes to training contract applications.
Leah Bolt, Law graduate LLB, 2022

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Discover Phoenix+

Phoenix+ brings you together with other students to learn, experience and develop essential knowledge and skills. Whatever destination you choose, it's about preparing you for life after university.

Learn more about Phoenix+

How to apply

LLB (Hons) with foundation year

Apply via UCAS

C85

Institution code

View our courses on UCAS

Visit UCAS

UK students

Full-time students applying to start in September 2024 can apply for this course through UCAS. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

Apply via UCAS

If this course has a part-time option you will need to apply directly to the university.

Apply via the portal

If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form

International students

International codes:
FBLU095

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International hub.

You can also download our International mini guide for an overview of study options and why you should study with us.

This course with foundation year is not currently available to international students. If you do not meet the entry requirements to directly join year 1 of the degree, please take a look at our International Pathways Programme for additional options.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

ioadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.