About this course

If you want a career in the legal profession but studied another subject for your first degree, our accelerated LLB is the ideal choice for you. It allows you to fast track your learning; fitting the modules needed to complete a qualifying law degree into just 2 years of study. When you graduate, you'll be ready to train to become a solicitor or barrister.

Designed for graduates from a wide range of disciplines, our intensive accelerated LLB programme offers you the possibility of a qualifying law degree in just 2 years.

You'll become proficient in all the subjects required for a qualifying law degree and have the opportunity to develop an area of interest through extended study for your dissertation.

Our accelerated LLB programme will give you in-depth legal knowledge together with strong critical thinking and communication skills. As you would expect from a Russell Group university, you'll be taught by active researchers who bring the latest legal developments to the curriculum.

As part of your degree you can:

gain work experience alongside legal professionals by advising students at the Law Clinic
engage with our academic research groups including the Stefan Cross Centre for Women, Equality and Law, and the Institute of Maritime Law
benefit from advice from our alumni about your future legal career options during our unique careers and employability skills programmes
take part in a range of competitions to enhance your skills, including the Clyde & Co Team Building Challenge, and also regional, national and international mooting and negotiation competitions

Accreditations

Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)

Bar Council

“I enjoy discovering the different parts of law that I love the most, and discovering things about myself and what my drive is. Studying law pushes me out of my comfort zone and makes me think outside of the box.”
Doreen Kwei, 2018 graduate

Course location

This course is based at Highfield.

Awarding body

This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.

Download the Course Description Document

The Course Description Document details your course overview, your course structure and how your course is taught and assessed.

ODT

Download 2021-22 Course Description Document

Entry requirements

Select the academic year you want to see entry requirements for

Degree

2:1 from UG degree (in non law subject)

Other requirements

UK students

International students

Other ways to qualify

GCSE requirements

Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)

Eligibility Criteria

You must have taken recent academic study, completed within the last 3 to 4 years.

Degree

2:1 from UG degree (in non law subject)

Other requirements

UK students

International students

Other ways to qualify

GCSE requirements

Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)

Got a question?

Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000

Course structure

This accelerated course focuses on the core modules required by the Bar Council, and the Law Society of England and Wales, for a qualifying law degree.

Year 1 overview

You'll study the following core modules:

Criminal Law
Foundations of Contract Law
Legal Skills
Legal System and Reasoning
Public Law: Foundations

You'll also choose 1 of these optional modules:

Historical Development of the Common Law
Philosophical Perspectives on the Common Law

These modules are designed to give you a deeper understanding of the contested nature of law and legal principle, develop your critical thinking skills, and help you to construct and communicate a persuasive argument.

Year 2 overview

You'll study these core modules:

Legal Research and Writing
Equity and Trusts
Land Law
Public Law: Administrative Justice
Remedies in Contract and Tort
The Law of Torts

Your Legal Research and Writing module will be assessed by a 10,000-word dissertation on any research topic. You can choose to explore a topic you are passionate about, or unravel a legal conundrum that fascinates you.

Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.

Modules

For entry in Academic Year 2021-22

Year 1

Year 2

You must study the following modules in year 1:

Criminal Law [AJP]

This version of Criminal Law is delivered for you if you are studying the LLB JD Pathway, the LLB Accelerated programme or the LLB Law with Psychology programme. This module provides an introduction to the substantive criminal law, and to fundamental aspe...

Foundations of Contract Law [AJ]

Foundations of Contract Law is important in a number of different ways. Firstly, it is a building-block module on which other subjects will depend in later years of the degree. Contract law also exemplifies principles of law and techniques of analysis whi...

Legal Skills [AJ]

This module is designed to develop the intellectual, practical and transferable skills needed to study law generally, and to allow you to see how these skills can be employed in legal practice. It builds on the legal knowledge acquired in the first semest...

Legal System and Reasoning [AJ]

This version of Legal System and Reasoning is provided for you if you are studying the LLB JD Pathway or the LLB Accelerated programme. It is a predominantly skills-based module focusing on the legal system of England and Wales, its institutions and prac...

Public Law 1: Foundations [AJ]

This Module, the first of two Public Law Modules, considers fundamental questions of constitutionalism common to both UK and EU legal orders. You will examine the UK Governmental and European Union (EU) institutions, the separation of power between them, ...

You must also choose from the following modules in year 1:

Historical Development of the Common Law [AJ]

The ‘Historical Development of the Common Law' module tells the story of the Common Law and its major developments through a study of some of its most prominent personalities, historical moments and decisive cases. The module charts the development and gr...

Philosophical Perspectives on the Common Law [AJ]

This module provides you with a critical introduction to the philosophical development of the common law through an examination of key concepts and principles within private and public law that are essential for full and critical engagement with the subst...

You must study the following modules in year 2:

Equity and Trusts (AJP)

This version of Equity and Trusts is delivered for you if you are studying the LLB JD Pathway, the LLB Accelerated programme or the LLB Law with Psychology programme.. The module examines the origin of equity, and the principles associated with equity and...

Land Law (AJ)

This version of Land Law is provided for you if you are studying the LLB JD Pathway or the LLB Accelerated programme. Land Law investigates the private law rules affecting the ownership and use of land. It explains the principles governing the nature of ...

Legal Research and Writing

The Legal Research and Writing course is a compulsory final year unit. It is examined through a 10,000 word dissertation on a topic of your choice. The module builds on the research skills you have developed during your degree programme and provides you w...

Public Law 2: Administrative Justice (AJP)

This module, the second in Public Law, focuses upon the rules of administrative law which prevail in each jurisdiction and the conceptions of administrative justice. It introduces students to the relevant legal and non-legal frameworks, providing the nece...

Remedies in Contract & Tort (AJP)

This version of Remedies in Contract & Tort is provided for you if you are studying the LLB (JD Pathway), the LLB Accelerated or the LLB Law with Psychology programmes. This module combines study of remedies in contract and in tort. The module will be ...

The Law of Torts (AJP)

This version of Law of Torts is provided for you if you are studying the LLB (JD Pathway), the LLB Accelerated or the LLB Law with Psychology programmes. This module examines a broad range of torts protecting a variety of different interests. The module b...

Learning and assessment

The learning activities for this course include the following:

lectures
classes and tutorials
coursework
individual and group projects
independent learning (studying on your own)

How you'll spend your course time:

Year 1

Year 2

Study time

Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 1:

19%

Scheduled learning & teaching

81%

Independent learning

How we'll assess you

essays
individual and group projects
oral presentations
self-assessment
written exams

Your assessment breakdown

Year 1:

67%

Written exam

33%

Coursework

Academic support

You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor and have access to a senior tutor.

Course leader

Mark Telford is the course leader.

Careers

This programme is accredited by the Law Society of England and Wales and the Bar Council of England and Wales as a qualifying law degree, so you'll be ready to train to become a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales.

You may also be ready to train to practise law outside of England and Wales. You should check with the relevant governing bodies in your chosen area to make sure that a 2-year LLB programme meets their requirements.

Our graduates work in:

law (including as solicitors and barristers)
the civil service
the police
probation service and social services
national and international organisations
entertainment
politics
business
accountancy
banking
media

In addition to our strong links to the legal profession, we have a dedicated careers and employability coordinator focused on your graduate opportunities. We organise:

an annual careers fair attended by over 50 law firms, including the top 5 law firms known as the 'Magic Circle'
a one-week Employability Skills Programme
prizes awarded to our top-performing students by leading law firms, barristers' chambers, legal publishers, companies and individuals
presentations and workshops from leading law firms and alumni
writing skills support
visits to law firms, courts, and tribunals
talks on postgraduate study opportunities

Careers services at Southampton

We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2019). Our Careers and Employability Service will support you throughout your time as a student and for up to 5 years after graduation. This support includes:

work experience schemes
CV and interview skills and workshops
networking events
careers fairs attended by top employers
a wealth of volunteering opportunities
study abroad and summer school opportunities

We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.

Work in industry

Outside of your studies, you'll find many opportunities to gain skills and give back to your fellow students and wider community. You can shadow and volunteer alongside legal experts, inform college students about their rights and responsibilities, or network at one of our many industry events.

Our students recently worked with national campaign JENGbA (Joint Enterprise Not Guilty by Association), leading to a landmark Supreme Court ruling. The Supreme Court acknowledged that the law on joint enterprise (relating to crimes where more than one person takes part) had been misinterpreted by the courts for over 30 years.

Fees, costs and funding

Tuition fees

Fees for a year's study:

UK students pay £9,250.
EU and international students pay £18,520.

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and all examinations.

Find out how to:

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. Explore:

Bursaries, scholarships and other funding

If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £25,000 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.

If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.

Get in touch for advice about student money matters.

Scholarships and grants

You may be able to get a scholarship or grant that's linked to your chosen subject area.

We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from underrepresented backgrounds.

Support during your course

The Student Services Centre offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.