LLB Law
ApplyKey facts
- UCAS Code: M114
- Accreditation: Law Society of Scotland and Faculty of Advocates
International experience: study at our partner law schools in Toronto, Maastricht & Copenhagen
Part-time study: available
Study with us
Studying an LLB Law at the University of Strathclyde, you'll be learning at an award-winning academic institution - the only University to have won the Times Higher Education University of the Year award twice (2012/2019).
- gain practical court-room experience through the Mooting Society and enter competitions
- benefit from high-quality research-led teaching at one of Scotland's leading providers of legal education
- develop your practical legal skills by applying to become a member of Scotland's largest student-run Law Clinic
- study abroad at our partner law schools
Why this course?
The Law School at Strathclyde is one of Scotland’s leading providers of legal education.
Studying law concerns the obligations, duties and rights of every member of society in relation to their neighbours and to society.
Our expertise extends beyond the traditional core subjects essential for entry to the legal profession into construction law, criminology, human rights law, information technology and telecommunications law, mediation studies and international economic law.
We are home to Scotland’s biggest student-run Law Clinic, which offers a unique, real-world, learning environment, and to Ardcalloch, a virtual community where the legal issues of everyday life are played out.
All of our LLB graduates satisfy the professional requirements of the Law Society of Scotland and the Faculty of Advocates. This means you can continue to the post-degree stages of professional training required to become a practising lawyer in Scotland.
Strathclyde Law Clinic
"The Strathclyde Law Clinic is a not-for-profit, student-run organisation and we aim to provide legal advice and representation to people that otherwise couldn't afford a layer or would go without legal assistance for any number of reasons."
Find out more about the Law Clinic in the video below.
What you'll study
A typical four-year LLB (Honours) curriculum covers many subjects, from the basic sources of law and the way in which they are used, to analysis of the major issues facing a particular area of law at any given time.
As well as core law classes taken by all LLB students there is the opportunity to take optional law classes in Year 3.
The following curriculum is a typical course of study for a full-time student, incorporating some compulsory classes and others that enable graduates to gain full exemption from the Law Society of Scotland’s professional exams. Please note that some classes may be subject to change.
Year 1
Criminal Law, Legal Methods, Legal Process, Law and Society, Public Law 1 and Voluntary Obligations: Contract and Promises.
Year 2
Commercial Law, Domestic Relations, EU Law, Property Trusts & Succession, and Involuntary Obligations: Delict and Unjustified Enrichment, Public Law 2.
Year 3
Evidence, and five class options. In recent years these have included: Competition Law; Crime and Punishment; Discrimination Law; Employment Law; Housing Law; Human Rights Law; Internet Law; Law, Film and Popular Culture; Legal Theory; Planning Law; Public International Law; Roman Law.
Year 4
As an Honours student, you'll take four optional classes as well as write an 11,000-word dissertation. Formal lectures are replaced by seminars in the final year.
Other study options
Law Clinic
This is a unique opportunity to enhance your understanding of law by applying it in a real-life context. Find out more about our Law Clinic.
LLB Part-Time
Part-time study of the LLB normally takes six years (five for graduate entrants). Mature students who hold a recent first degree in a relevant discipline, or otherwise satisfy the University’s general entrance requirements, are eligible to apply. Find out more about our LLB (part-time).
Accreditation
Recognised by the Law Society of Scotland as a Foundation programme, being one part of the route to qualification as a solicitor in Scotland.
How to become a lawyer
There are different routes to a career in law. The choices you make now can affect the steps you would need to take to achieve your desired career in law. Here we explore the process of becoming a lawyer in Scotland and look at the different roles available within the law profession.
Semester 1
Legal Processes & Systems
The aim of this module is to provide students with an introduction to the concepts, structures and processes that make up a legal system. It is designed to equip all students studying law with the knowledge and understanding that they will utilise in all other law modules: the “tools of the trade”.
Clinical LLB students receive additional training in legal ethics in this module and complete a legal ethics report as part of the assessment of this module.
Law of Persons
The aim is to teach students the rules governing, and the definition of, legal and natural persons, their status and capacity. The module is also designed to introduce students at the very start of their legal studies to the idea that legal concepts can be both natural (the child) and non-natural (the limited liability company) – both are “persons” in law.
Clinical LLB students may opt to replace the regular essay in this module with an essay topic based on a clinic-related case relevant to this module.
Criminal Law & Evidence
This module is intended to familiarise students with, and elicit an understanding of, the basic elements of Scots criminal law and evidence, including the development of the system, fundamental concepts and their operation in relation to certain specific crimes. The module will teach the application of fact handling, rhetoric and proof by lawyers and the contexts in which the rules of evidence operate, all integrated practically with the criminal law.
Semester 2
Constitutional Law
The aim of this module is to introduce students to the institutions, actors, processes and concepts that make up the UK constitution including its particular application to Scotland. It is designed to introduce students to methods of critical engagement with constitutional law in both theory and practice.
Law of Obligations 1
The aim is to introduce students to the concept of obligations that can be enforced by legal process. Students will also have the opportunity to develop their problem-solving skills and ability to construct appropriate legal questions and answers.
Clinical LLB students receive additional training in advocacy, negotiation and mediation in this module, and are assessed on this as part of the module.
Law & Society
This module engages with some challenging problems faced by law within contemporary society. It introduces students to some aspects of the social, political, and ethical conditions in which law operates. It deals with the interaction of law with justice, politics, morals and equality. The course will examine the role and challenges of law in times of social change. The course is structured around three key themes:
- legal reasoning
- law & politics
- law & social change
Clinical LLB:
Clinical LLB students receive additional training in legal research in this module and complete a legal research exercise as part of the assessment of this module.
Semester 1
Law of Property
The aim is to teach students the classification of property in the Scottish legal system, how ownership is distinguished from possession, how property is acquired, the rights it carries, and how property can be transferred. The module is also designed to introduce students to some of the conceptual issues of property, including how “property” itself is defined either as an item or as a relationship; and how property can be corporeal (a thing) or incorporeal (an idea or right, such as copyright).
Clinical LLB students may opt to replace the regular essay in this module with an essay topic based on a clinic-related case relevant to this module.
Law of Obligations 2
The aim is to teach students the rules governing claims for personal injury, economic loss and hurts to personality rights. The design of the class will help to develop problem solving and advice-giving skills in relation to the law of delictual liability generally.
Clinical LLB students may opt to replace the regular essay in this module with an essay topic based on a clinic-related case relevant to this module.
Administrative Law & Fundamental Rights
The aim of this module is to introduce students to the institutions, actors, processes and concepts that make up administrative and human rights law including their particular application to Scotland. It is designed to introduce students to critical engagement with administrative law, both in theory and in practice.
Clinical LLB students may opt to replace the regular essay in this module with an essay topic based on a clinic-related case relevant to this module.
Semester 2
Commercial Law
Commercial law is a second year compulsory subject on the LLB (and LML) degree. The class provides you with an understanding of commercial law in a Scottish context. It partially meets the commercial law subject requirements and related skills outcomes of the Law Society of Scotland and the Faculty of Advocates (albeit that some of the commercial professional topics, for example sale of goods and insurance law, are dealt with by other courses).
Building on the knowledge you acquire in first year, the general academic objective of the course is to examine the basic principles and rules concerning core aspects of commercial law, including the main principles of agency, partnership and company law, the law relating to various methods of payment (including consumer credit and bills of exchange) the rules governing the ways in which creditors can ‘secure’ repayment of a debt (for example, through taking personal guarantees from third parties for repayment of the debt, or by establishing rights in security over debtor property); the basic principles of diligence; the consequences of both corporate and individual debtor inability to repay debts (corporate insolvency and personal bankruptcy respectively).
While the focus of the class is on ‘a black letter’ analysis of relevant statutory and common law in the broad commercial area, in order to aid understanding of relevant principles, the class also examines the policy rationales underlying the current law and recent and projected reforms in this area.
Clinical LLB students may opt to replace the regular essay in this module with an essay topic based on a clinic-related case relevant to this module.
EU Law
The EU law class focuses on the constitutional and institutional order of the EU as well as one the internal market. To this end, the class looks at the European integration process, the EU institutions, EU competences, the decision-making process within the EU, the principles underpinning the EU legal order and the principles governing the internal market.
Elective module
To be announced.
Semester 1
Elective modules
In addition, students will be required to do three elective modules. Optional modules change year on year, so please check with the Law Course Support Team at the start of the semester to confirm which classes are available.
Semester 2
Reflective Project
The aim is to enhance your ability to undertake independent learning, and to ensure that they take a reflective approach to their work while at the same time developing a consciousness of the ethical dimensions of professional legal practice.
Elective modules
In addition, students will be required to do two elective modules. Optional modules change year on year, so please check with the Law Course Support Team at the start of the semester to confirm which classes are available.
Assessment
We use many different methods of assessment, in addition to exams and course work. For example, Social Security Law is assessed by students presenting a case. Students from all years can participate in various mooting competitions and Strathclyde has impressive success rates in these. Many students have also competed successfully in national and international mediation competitions.
Learning & teaching
As well as lectures, tutorials and seminars, our teaching methods include experiences such as the Law Clinic and legal practice. In Domestic Relations & Evidence, lectures are delivered by webcasts.
Entry requirements
Required subjects are shown in brackets.
| Highers |
(Higher English B, Maths/Applications of Mathematics National 5 C, or equivalent)
(English B, Maths/Applications of Mathematics National 5 C, or equivalent) Preferred subjects
|
|---|---|
| A Levels | AAB-BBB |
| International Baccalaureate | 34-30 |
| Irish Leaving Certificate | Two H2 passes and three H3 passes including English |
| HND | Legal Services: Year 1 entry, AAA in Graded Units. Other relevant HND qualifications will be considered on an individual basis; please contact us for advice. |
| International students | View the entry requirements for your country. |
| Deferred Entry | Not normally accepted |
Additional Information
- essay-based Highers/Advanced Highers/A Levels recommended, for example Social subjects, Philosophy, Psychology, RMPS
- experience in a law firm is not expected
- at Strathclyde, Law is also offered as a subject in the BA (Honours) degree
*Standard entry requirements
Offers are made in accordance with specified entry requirements although admission to undergraduate programmes is considered on a competitive basis and entry requirements stated are normally the minimum level required for entry.
Whilst offers are made primarily on the basis of an applicant meeting or exceeding the stated entry criteria, admission to the University is granted on the basis of merit, and the potential to succeed. As such, a range of information is considered in determining suitability.
In exceptional cases, where an applicant does not meet the competitive entry standard, evidence may be sought in the personal statement or reference to account for performance which was affected by exceptional circumstances, and which in the view of the judgement of the selector would give confidence that the applicant is capable of completing the programme of study successfully.
**Minimum entry requirements
Widening access
We want to increase opportunities for people from every background. Strathclyde selects our students based on merit, potential and the ability to benefit from the education we offer. We look for more than just your grades. We consider the circumstances of your education and will make lower offers to certain applicants as a result.
Degree preparation course for international students
We offer international students (non-EU/UK) who do not meet the academic entry requirements for an undergraduate degree at Strathclyde the option of completing an Undergraduate Foundation year programme at the University of Strathclyde International Study Centre.
Upon successful completion, you will be able to progress to this degree course at the University of Strathclyde.
International students
We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 140 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.
Fees & funding
All fees quoted are for full-time courses and per academic year unless stated otherwise.
Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.
All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.
Annual revision of fees
Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that the majority of fees will increase annually. The University will take a range of factors into account, including, but not limited to, UK inflation, changes in delivery costs and changes in Scottish and/or UK Government funding. Changes in fees will be published on the University website in October each year for the following year of study and any annual increase will be capped at a maximum of 10% per year.
| Scotland | £1,820 Scottish undergraduate students undertaking an exchange for a semester/year will continue to pay their normal tuition fees at Strathclyde and will not be charged fees by the overseas institution. |
|---|---|
| England, Wales & Northern Ireland | £9,535 |
| Republic of Ireland |
If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status. For more information and advice on tuition fee status, you can visit the UKCISA - International student advice and guidance - Scotland: fee status webpage. Find out more about the University of Strathclyde's fee assessments process. |
| International | £23,850 |
| University preparation programme fees | International students can find out more about the costs and payments of studying a university preparation programme at the University of Strathclyde International Study Centre. |
| Additional costs | Course materials: No additional costs for law modules and all compulsory material is in the library. Study abroad: If a student is studying abroad, they are responsible for all costs. International students: International students may have associated visa and immigration costs. Please see student visa guidance for more information. |
| Available scholarships | Take a look at our scholarships search for funding opportunities. |
Please note: All fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year. Find out more about fees.
How can I fund my studies?
Students from Scotland
Fees for students who meet the relevant residence requirements in Scotland, you may be able to apply to the Student Award Agency Scotland (SAAS) to have your tuition fees paid by the Scottish government. Scottish students may also be eligible for a bursary and loan to help cover living costs while at University.
For more information on funding your studies have a look at our University Funding page.
Students from England, Wales & Northern Ireland
We have a generous package of bursaries on offer for students from England, Northern Ireland and Wales:
You don’t need to make a separate application for these. When your place is confirmed at Strathclyde, we’ll assess your eligibility. Have a look at our scholarship search for any more funding opportunities.
International Students
We have a number of scholarships available to international students. Take a look at our scholarship search to find out more.
Glasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city
Our campus is based right in the very heart of Glasgow. We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.
Careers
Most Strathclyde LLB graduates enter the legal profession after completing the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice and a two-year traineeship in a law firm.
Trained Scottish lawyers are increasingly in demand in England and abroad.
Jobs related to your degree
Law graduates with the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice can work as solicitors in a variety of legal practices, from multinational law firms to local high street firms. They can deal with a range of subjects including company business and finance, house purchase and sales, winding up of estates, civil disputes, criminal law, family and personal matters.
Opportunities are available in law firms, legal departments of local and national government, and numerous large organisations which often have in-house legal teams.
Jobs directly related to a law degree include:
- solicitor (Scotland) - this can be in a private practice, local or national government or in-house
- advocate (Scotland)
- company secretary
Work experience is key
Employers greatly value work experience as it shows you have the skills they're looking for.
Take the opportunity to join the Strathclyde Law Society or the many other law societies we offer, which provide fantastic experience, hints and advice to help you take your first steps to a career in the legal world.
What other areas can I work in?
Studying law doesn’t mean you can only work as a solicitor; many options beyond the legal profession will be open to you. The understanding of legal implications and obligations, combined with the ability to apply this knowledge in practice, is valuable in many parts of the public, private and voluntary sectors.
Jobs where your degree could be useful include:
- consultant in a professional services firm
- patent attorney
- trading standards officer
- civil service positions
- human resources officer
- chartered accountant
- banking & finance positions
- company secretary
Trainee salary
As a trainee, The Law Society recommends a minimum of £23,122 (The Law Society, 2023).
Skills for your CV
The range of skills that a law degree provides include:
- research skills using a range of sources, including verbal questioning
- evaluation skills and the ability to interpret and explain complex information clearly
- analytical skills
- reasoning and critical judgement skills
- the ability to formulate sound arguments
- lateral thinking and problem-solving skills
- the ability to write concisely
- confident and persuasive oral communication skills
- attention to detail and the ability to draft formal documents with precision
Chat to a student ambassador
If you want to know more about what it’s like to be a Humanities & Social Sciences student at the University of Strathclyde, a selection of our current students are here to help!
Our Unibuddy ambassadors can answer all the questions you might have about courses and studying at Strathclyde, along with offering insight into their experiences of life in Glasgow and Scotland.
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Law (1 year entry)
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