Law (Graduate Entry)

Ready to embark on a career in law? Whether you have prior study in a law discipline or in a different subject area, this course allows you to apply your current graduate skills and knowledge to complete a law degree in preparation for a career in legal and non-legal fields. You will study the required content to practice law in Canada and other commonwealth countries.

Our two-year programme provides a grounding in the seven Foundations of Legal Knowledge: Contract Law, Tort Law, Public Law, Criminal Law, European Law, Land Law, and Equity & Trust as well as training in practical skills applicable to various careers. You will explore contemporary issues facing the law such as technology and climate change, and combine your academic expertise and practical experience to become a well-rounded legal professional.

With a theoretical focus, you will be able to tailor your programme to suit your interests and career aspirations. In your final year, you will have the opportunity to focus on a research project of your choice through a dissertation, or law reform, involving detailed analysis of a case study and proposal for change. This will enable you to apply your learning and demonstrate your practical skills in critical thinking, problem-solving and communication.

Our civic Law School offers various practical learning opportunities that put future employability at the heart of your degree programme. These opportunities enable you to work with real clients, practice your legal skills whilst supported by qualified solicitors, and offer free legal advice to help individuals carefully navigate the justice system. Our CLOCK (Community Legal Outreach Collaboration Keele) scheme and Legal Advice Clinics offer valuable training, building your confidence, critical thinking skills and ability to communicate with various audiences.

For Canadian applicants, successful completion of the course will qualify you to apply for NCA assessment.

At Keele, we have dedicated Legal Advice Clinics offering optional training and supervision by experienced Solicitors to deliver legal services, from the start of the client enquiry through to resolution. You will learn how to interview and advise clients, research the law using practitioner databases, and give practical legal advice. You may be involved in drafting legal documents and court forms as well as advising clients in writing and in meetings.

We have three clinics at Keele: Divorce, Commercial and Small Claims. You may work with underrepresented individuals, small business, and employers, gaining real life experience and helping clients with legal proceedings. Having the opportunity to gain hands-on work experience supports your professional development and allows you to build key skills through practical learning.

You can record your experience on your HEAR (Higher Education Achievement Report) to showcase your volunteer work at university and use as your portfolio when you graduate. Your work experience may also count towards Qualifying Work Experience should you wish to train as a solicitor.

Community Legal Outreach Collaboration Keele (CLOCK), co-created a multi-agency collaboration with the Stoke Family Court, law firms, mediators, Citizens Advice, Domestic and Sexual Abuse survivor support services, to design the unique and innovative role of the Community Legal Companion to assist litigants in person through the court process.

The programmes enables you to build key interpersonal skills that are crucial to a career in law and beyond. You will learn to collaborate with others, communicate effectively with various audiences and apply your skills to real-life cases which will support you in preparation for your career.

This 'Streetlaw' programme is an optional module in your final year, which allows you gain practical legal experience. Training is delivered by court staff, solicitors, barristers, mediators and domestic abuse and sexual abuse support services to understand the complex needs of litigants in person, in a variety of civil legal issues, including:

Community Legal Companions signpost for legal aid and where not available, support within the remit of the McKenzie Friend principles to assist with a range of tasks.

Challenge your peers through optional mooting competitions and showcase your knowledge through practice. You will apply your research, writing and presentation skills in the staged legal environment we have here at Keele as a traditional court room setup. This experience will help you to build confidence when working independently as well as a team. You will learn how to work effectively under pressure and how to meet deadlines but you will also develop and refine your public speaking skills and ability to convey robust arguments which is critical within the legal profession.

You may have the opportunity to get involved with national and international mooting competitions which you can document and use to support future job applications. These events sometimes attract members of the bar and legal academics, providing a great networking opportunity.

All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from Group B.

95% of Keele students are in employment or further study within 15 months of finishing their studies (HESA Graduate Outcomes, 2019/20)

With your practical experience in law, you will be open to a range of careers upon graduation and will have the opportunity to pursue a traditional legal profession as a lawyer, solicitor or barrister, or utilise your transferable skills in other related industries such as business, human resources and journalism.

Your theory of knowledge will assist in your writing, reading and presentation skills that will inform a range of tasks and projects in the workplace. Having analytical and problem-solving skills will showcase your ability to communicate effectively and share creative ideas with colleagues.

Employer engagements

Our Law community at Keele is supportive and inclusive, providing opportunities to network with academics, peers, alumni and employers. Building links with local and national employers can help to support your journey within the legal field and beyond.

Law Fair: Scope your legal career and graduate opportunities. Meet with employers and organisations to understand the graduate attributes required across the legal field, with guidance on applications and recruitment.

Legal Dining: A formal dining event where we aim to pair you with potential employers and inspirational alumni. A great opportunity to network with professionals and an example of the type of events you may attend as a legal professional.

We’re proud to equip you with key professional skills that enable you to embark on your professional career in legal and non-legal roles such as:

• Solicitor
• Barrister
• Lawyer/paralegal
• Mediator/Arbitrator
• Legal Researcher
• Human Resources
• Business
• Teaching and education
• Civil Service
• Charities
• Politics
• Journalism

Keele’s Careers and Employability team (Shortlisted for Best University Careers Employment Service - National Undergraduate Employability Awards, 2021), offers a variety of personal and career development opportunities to enhance your employability.

From mock interviews, careers guidance and CV advice, to careers fairs, alumni mentoring and networking events, along with helping you find part-time and graduate employment - the team will support you throughout your studies and beyond.

Find out more about our careers and employability services, including career planning, alumni mentoring, jobs, internships, starting your own business and much more.