lawyer

#LLB (Hons) in England and Wales

There are three different pathways through our law degree (LLB (Hons)) which are suited to your educational experience.

• Those with few educational qualifications or who last studied a long time ago should begin with Y032 People, work and society Access module .
• Those with A-Levels could begin with W101 An introduction to law
• Those who already have a degree can start with W202 Contract law and tort law .

What is a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD)?

If you want your LLB (Hons) to be recognised as a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) for the purpose of completing the academic stage of legal training to become a solicitor or a barrister, it must include all four compulsory law courses. You must also complete all your degree studies in not more than six years from start to finish (this includes both OU study and any study elsewhere that gives you transferred credit of less than graduate level, that the professional bodies will accept for this purpose). If you already hold a degree from a university in the UK, the Republic of Ireland or another recognised overseas degree you can obtain a LLB by studying the four compulsory law courses. In this case, if the LLB is to count as a QLD you have five years in which to complete it.

If your LLB meets the requirements of a QLD in respect of timing and credit transfer, we will let the Solicitors Regulation Authority know, so that you can proceed to the next stage.

Information Services at the Solicitors Regulation Authority confirm that QLDs are valid for seven years for the purposes of eligibility for the Legal Practice Course (LPC), from 1 October in the year in which the degree was gained.

Can I take the law courses even if I don't want to obtain a Qualifying Law Degree?

Yes. You can study for an LLB (the recognised abbreviation for a Law Degree) for interest, or to enhance your existing career or the law courses may be studied as stand-alone. If it is not your intention to obtain a Qualifying Law Degree, the six year requirement for your LLB will not apply and you will not be bound by the requirements of the professional bodies. However, you should bear in mind that if you change your mind at a later stage and you have not met the requirements of the professional bodies your LLB (Hons) degree will not be recognised for the purposes of completing the academic stage of legal training, even if you have successfully completed all four compulsory law courses and have been awarded the LLB (Hons).