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Course starts: 16 September 2024Apply now
Take your first step towards a rewarding career in law. Develop sought-after skills, including commercial awareness, personal integrity and an ethical approach. Undertake an optional work placement year. Gain intellectual tools and knowledge to tackle real-world issues in the legal sector.
The LLB (Hons) degree at University of Sunderland Law School provides you with the knowledge and skills which are essential for a career in the legal sector. Our course not only covers the areas of functioning legal knowledge which are required to prepare you for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination but enables you to practice SQE style questions as part of your studies.
The course also integrates the foundations of legal knowledge which you need to pursue a career as a barrister, as well as developing the skills which are necessary to undertake further academic study, such as a master’s level qualification or a doctorate.
You will learn from a combination of experienced practitioners and research active staff, providing a high level of student support and engaging pedagogical approaches to help you achieve your goals.
In addition to the core and optional modules, you can take part in a range of CV enhancing, staff led extra-curricular activities such as the client interviewing competition, the student negotiation competition, the mooting competition or publication in the Sunderland Student Law Journal; a peer reviewed academic journal. Join us for our annual student trip to London to see Parliament, the Royal Courts of Justice and the Supreme Court, which will bring to life your study of public law.
You can experience life in legal practice by studying in our Law Clinic or taking our placement module, and network with local practitioners at the events embedded in our careers and employability programme. You can also build your leadership and organisational skills by joining our Student Law Society.
You’ll be taught by passionate academics who produce ‘internationally excellent’ research. A typical week for you will include lectures, seminars, group work and e-learning. We encourage you to develop study skills and carry out independent legal research. You will also have opportunities to present ideas to other students and develop concepts in groups. A number of modules incorporate court/tribunal visits, video presentations and visiting speakers.
As well as assessments that count towards your degree, there are also on-going assessments for feedback and consolidating your learning. Assessment methods include research assignments, case studies, problem questions, practical activities, reports and exams.
We don’t currently display entry requirements for United States. Please contact the Student Admin team on studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk or 0191 515 3154.
If English is not your first language, please see our English language requirements.
The annual, full-time fee for this course is:
*The discounted fee will be reflected in your offer letter. Learn more in our Help and Advice article.
If you currently serve (or have recently served) within the Armed Forces, then the Ministry of Defence's ELCAS scheme may be able to help cover your funding for this course. For more information, see our Funding for Armed Forces personnel page.
Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.
This information was correct at the time of publication.
A law degree provides you with the foundation subjects that are required for entry into the legal professions. But the understanding of legal implications and obligations, combined with the ability to combine this knowledge in practice, is valuable in many parts of the public, private and voluntary sectors.
Employers from different sectors value the skills of clear thinking, logical argument and effective writing and sectors where a degree in law will be beneficial, include, property development, banking and finance, HR or Civil Services.
Sunderland Student Law Clinic provides quality, free legal advice and assistance to local members of the public, start-up businesses and mature businesses in financial difficulty. All work is carried out by students who are supervised by nine experienced solicitors. The Law Clinic enables you to:
To enhance your experience of standing up in front of people and delivering a clear argument, we encourage competitions run by the Mooting and Debating Group. In Year 2 there is an optional ‘Mooting’ module. It includes an outdoor performance workshop at the coast to engage in activities around voice projection and the power of oral argument. In addition, you will have the opportunity to enter the CEDR National Client Negotiation Competition, where teams representing UK university law schools compete against each other to find the most effective negotiators. The winners of each regional final are awarded a one-day negotiation skills training course, giving them even more tools to use as they compete in the final.
The Sunderland Client Interviewing Competition has been running since 2010 and provides students, competing in pairs, with an opportunity to develop the critical skill of client interviewing in a simulated environment. Coaching is provided by a team of experienced staff. The competition is sponsored by Womble Bond Dickinson LLP, and winning competitors are awarded a work placement at the firm as their prize, along with the Client Interviewing Shield. Two students from the Sunderland Law School compete each year in the Client Interviewing Competition for England and Wales.
Throughout the course, you may also be offered the opportunity to participate in one or more field trips including a trip to London which includes a visit to the Houses of Parliament and the Supreme Court.
The University works with The Essence Centre/Age UK and proudly supports Dementia Friends which provide useful sessions to better understand and support members of the community living with dementia.
Our invitations to guest speakers allow you to listen to people who are already progressing in their legal careers. Examples of past speakers include graduates from the course who are undertaking the Legal Practice Course or Bar Professional Training Course and others who have now progressed to their training contract. It’s a useful way to broaden your learning so that you’re prepared not just for exams but for life.
You can choose to undertake the 48-week placement year in year 3. It's an excellent developmental opportunity for you to enhance your organisational and specialist knowledge, capabilities and skills. These elements are crucial to your course, your final degree classification and career progression.
The focus is on your professional experiences, development, engagement and contribution. During your placement you will be supported by an allocated Academic Placement Mentor and a Host Supervisor at the placement organisation who will monitor your progress throughout the year.
You'll be supported by the Placement Team in your search for a placement, but you are required to search and organise the placement yourself. All placements will be subject to interview and need to be agreed by the University. If you undertake the placement year, you'll then transfer onto LLB (with Placement Year).
Please note, the University cannot guarantee that placements will be available.
Paralegal starting salaries can be between £12,000 and £20,000 a year, increasing up to £25,000 a year with a few years’ experience. With further experience and qualifications, this can rise to £40,000 a year or more. Salaries for qualified solicitors range from £25,000 to £70,000. Partners in large firms or heads of in-house legal departments can earn in excess of £100,000. Barristers can expect to earn between £73,000 and £210,000 a year (source: National Careers Service).
Working in the Student Law Clinic on real-life family law matters gave me invaluable experience.
Working in the Sunderland Student Law Clinic has been the highlight of my four years at university
I can say with honest conviction that my experience was enjoyable and extremely successful
I appreciate that the University has a Mock Law Court available for students to use.
It is a great institution, with great facilities.
What really sold the University for me was the incredible support that is offered.
The facilities, staff and my fellow students helped make my time here a rewarding experience.
The best aspect of the Law course was the standard of teaching.
