Law (Two-Year Accelerated) LLB (Hons)

Course Content

• Course Details

  The two year accelerated LLB (Hons) degree provides an alternative to the three year qualification, allowing you to graduate and fast track your career and move onto the next stage. The accelerated law degree enables you to complete your degree in two years by extending the academic year into the normal vacation periods. You will need a strong academic ability and time management skills in order to be able to cope with the demands of this course.

  The accelerated two year LLB degree allows you to complete your degree in two years by extending the academic year into the normal vacation periods.

  Our LLB Law Accelerated degree has been designed to provide you with an excellent grounding towards a legal career. The LLB Accelerated degree looks at the seven foundations of legal knowledge required by the Bar Standard Board for entry onto the Bar Training Course.

  The Law Team at the University of Northampton engage in a wide variety of activities beyond the classroom. For example, several staff members are external examiners or reviewers at other educational institutions. Some of our staff are on committees examining national or international issues relating to Law, such as the UN Committee on Firearms.

  • Stage 1

    At the end of term three of year one, subject to satisfactory progress, a two-year student will continue on the accelerated pathway, taking 40 credits worth of modules over the summer period.

  • Stage 2

    In year two of the accelerated degree, you will study modules alongside students from years two and three of the three-year degree (taking 140 credits/seven modules), but, again, will take 40 credits of additional modules in the summer vacation in order to complete your degree at the end of two years.

  You must pass all nine modules to be able to continue onto the second year of the Accelerated LLB degree. If you do not meet this requirement you will be transferred to the traditional LLB route.

  Students studying two year Law degrees with us will benefit from a varied modular scheme, designed to deliver the foundation subjects required by legal professional bodies alongside a wide variety of options. We focus on teaching Law in its political, social and economic context throughout the accelerated LLB course. You can also engage in a wide range of additional activities to gain valuable Law work experience, including mooting, client interviewing and court visits. Our Student Law Society and other local community project opportunities provide the chance to further prepare for your legal career.

  At the University of Northampton, our accelerated Law LLB course includes additional optional modules alongside the traditional foundations of legal knowledge. These cover Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) topics, such as property law and practice, civil litigation, business law and criminal litigation, making it the ideal choice for students aspiring to take the SQE and qualify as solicitors. This course is also ideal for those who may not be considering a law career, as it offers flexibility to help you achieve your goals and equips you with desirable skills to stand out to employers.

  Please note that elective modules are dependent on student numbers and staff availability. We cannot promise to run all elective modules each year. When module choices are made this will be reiterated to students.

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• Qualifying as a Solicitor

  From September 2021 onwards the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have implemented changes to the qualification process by introducing the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). The SQE replaces the postgraduate qualification gained through completion of the Legal Practice Course (LPC). Please see below for more information.

  What is the SQE?

  The SQE is the Solicitors Qualifying Examination which was introduced in September 2021. In future all those wishing to qualify as a solicitor will need to pass the SQE, as well as holding a degree or equivalent qualification or experience, complete a two-year period of qualifying work experience and meet our suitability requirements. SQE1 primarily tests candidates’ functioning legal knowledge, while SQE2 tests practical legal skills.

  Do you need a law degree to sit SQE1 and/or SQE2?

  No. However, to be admitted as a solicitor, you will need a degree (in any subject) or equivalent in addition to passing the SQE. ‘Equivalent’ means a qualification equivalent to a bachelor’s or master’s degree, such as:

  • a level 6 or 7 apprenticeship
  • a level 6 or 7 professional qualification

  If you don’t have an equivalent qualification, we may be able to count experience in the workplace as equivalent.

  How much will the SQE exam cost?

  The estimated cost of the two stages of assessment is between £3,000 – £4,500.

  SQE1 will primarily test the application of legal knowledge. The fees range estimate is £1,100 – £1,650. SQE2 will test practical legal skills. The fee range estimate is £1,900 – £2,850.

  The costs are based on an estimated 35 hours of assessment, including written tests, computer-based assessments and simulations such as mock client interviews. These costs are indicative, as we continue our work with Kaplan to develop and test the assessments.

  For more information, please visit the SRA website.

  Get more information on transitional arrangements and the solicitors qualifying examination.

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• Qualifying as a Barrister

  Our two year LLB course covers the seven foundations of legal knowledge which are required for the academic component of Bar training. On successful completion of the of the accelerated LLB law degree programme (with a 2:2 or above), students can progress to the vocational component of Bar training.

  For more information please visit the BSB website.

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• Student Perks

  At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

  If you join our full-time LLB Law (Accelerated) degree at Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.

  Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

  To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.

  *UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details).

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• FAQs

  What does LLB stand for?

  LLB is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase ‘Legum Baccalaureus. This translates to Bachelor of Laws degree and is a qualifying Law degree which typically takes three years to complete. With our accelerated two-year programme though, aspiring law graduates can pursue career opportunities faster than they would be able to on the standard three-year course.

  What is the Two-Year Accelerated Law degree programme like?

  The Law Two-Year Accelerated programme is a challenging but quicker route to your LLB, and it means you will achieve your degree in two years instead of three. It is aimed at students with time constraints, such as mature students or graduates in other disciplines. We have a wide mix of students from all backgrounds and careers on the accelerated LLB programme currently.

  Like the title suggests, it is an accelerated law programme. During Year One you will study nine modules; four in semester one, three in semester two and two during the summer period. You will have the normal university breaks over the Christmas and Easter periods, and if you complete your coursework on time, you will have a substantial break over August and September. Then in Year Two, you will study three compulsory modules and four modules of your choice. Finally, in the summer period of Year Two you will complete a dissertation.

  It is a demanding and time-consuming LLB degree, but it is extremely rewarding, and our students do very well on the programme and find it very satisfying that they have achieved their degree in two years rather than three!

  How will I learn on the two year accelerated law degree?

  Our teaching includes a variety of methods underpinned by active learning. This ranges from lectures, tutorials, workshops, online learning, self-directed or collaborative study, experiential and problem-based learning. You, as the student, are at the heart of what we do. Through your participation, you will engage with your peers and lectures in an interactive setting whereby you can critically engage with the syllabus.

  You can expect to put in 200 hours of work on each module that you study. You will normally have two hours of contact time, which could be online or face to face, per week with your tutor for each module.

  How will I be assessed?

  The University of Northampton Law Degree offers you a wide range of assessments to help you develop a diverse set of academic and professional skills. Assessments have been carefully designed to help you build the skills you will need for the future. The skills you will acquire will not only help with preparation for entry to the legal profession but will also be highly desirable to graduate recruiters in a variety of sectors. Our mission is to produce high quality, adaptive and socially responsible law graduates equipped to pursue successful careers in a variety of contexts. The assessment strategy is a combination of formative and summative assignments designed to enable you to learn and develop key academic and employability skills. These are the range of assessments that you can expect across your modules:

  • Client interviews
  • Essays
  • Advocacy
  • Commentaries on current legal issues both in a national and global context
  • A range of presentations individually and in groups
  • Multiple choice questions/exams/time constrained assignments

  Are there any extra-curricular activities available?

  As an accelerated two year LLB law student at the University of Northampton you will have the opportunity to attend extra-curricular activities including:

  • Street Law Projects
  • Mooting, negotiation and client-interviewing competitions
  • Access to the Moot Room where you can practice and develop advocacy skills
  • Guest lectures from Judges and human rights advocates.
  • Opportunities to conduct research projects as student researchers to develop your academic skills which will also be useful for if you are considering other professions.
  • An active Student Law Society where you can take part in social and professional activities.

  Who are the Student Support Team?

  The Student Experience Support Team are a team of previous graduates of the University of Northampton, they are here to support all Faculty of Business and Law students by offering a friendly listening ear and ensuring students are aware of the numerous support systems that the University has to offer. The team provide confidential 1-1 meetings in person and online where they will signpost the students to the relevant support teams to ensure they are aware of the support available for them throughout their studies. You can follow the Student Experience Support Team to see the services they offer.

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