Law with Criminology LLB(Hons)

Becoming a legal professional

This course is recognised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board.

As this is a qualifying law degree (QLD), you will be able to progress directly to the vocational stage of training: the Legal Practice Course (LPC) to become a solicitor or the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) to become a barrister.

The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) is an independent centralised assessment, which every training solicitor in England and Wales must undertake.

Trainees need to pass the SQE and complete a minimum of two years’ qualifying work experience at a maximum of four organisations (paid or voluntary) before they can qualify as a solicitor.

BARBRI Opportunities

As a University of Brighton student, you can benefit from a discount for a preparation course with BARBRI which can help you pass the SQE exams with confidence.

• 20% off the SQE1 Prep
• 20% off the Extended US Bar Prep course

More information about this can be found on the School of Business and Law blog.

We continually review the curriculum of our law courses and make changes as necessary to provide an integrated approach to preparing students for the SQE.

Prepare for your career

You will be in a good position to embark on a legal career upon graduating, but good communication, problem-solving, analytical and research skills developed during your law degree are also relevant to many careers such as banking, insurance and Civil Service.

Negotiating

Negotiation is a key lawyer skill – many legal disputes do not end up in the courts, but instead are resolved by some form of negotiated agreement. Our negotiation programme is an opportunity to prepare for a negotiation, and to apply and practise your negotiation skills.

The programme is sponsored by solicitors’ firms who judge the final competition and the top teams go on to represent the University of Brighton at the national negotiation competition sponsored by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution.

Client interviewing
Our client interviewing skills programme enables students to develop the essential skill of interviewing clients, a key component of legal work. The programme culminates in an internal competition, sponsored by a local law firm, and the winning students proceed to represent the university in the national Law Society competition.

In 2016, two of our Law with Business students, Fionnuala Richardson and Chloe Chatton, won the national competition and went on to represent England and Wales in the international competition in Canada, finishing third in the world.

Law Guardians
Our Law Guardians scheme supports new first-year students in their transition to higher education. Each incoming first year is buddied up with a student who will guide and help them with answers to questions and general support. As well as supporting our new students as they begin their studies, it's a great opportunity for second and third year students to develop employability skills and to become part of a cycle of giving back.

University of Brighton Legal Clinic
Participate in the client-facing commercial and employment law pro bono law clinic offering free legal advice to small businesses and employees and assisting charities and not-for-profit organisations with their legal matters.

Placement year

As a student completing a work placement, you are one step ahead when it comes to securing the right job after your course. You will graduate with a year’s relevant, real-life work experience, which employers value highly, giving you a distinct advantage over others when applying for jobs and starting your career.

Our LLB students have completed placements at:

• The Home Office
• House of Lords
• Acumen Business Law
• Alfred James & Co Solicitors
• Devonshires Solicitors and Gaby Hardwicke Solicitors.

As a School of Business and Law student you will also have access to JobTeaser, an online placements system presenting placement options in the UK and across Europe.

Work-related experience

Our School of Business and Law has strong links with the local legal profession and, in addition to the optional placement year, you are encouraged to complete vacation placements with solicitors’ firms, mini pupillages with barristers’ chambers and internships with other institutions.

Solicitors qualifying exam (SQE)

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has introduced the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) from 1 September 2021.

The SRA provide more information and guidance about the transitional arrangements to qualify, so keep checking the SRA website.

On the previous route, to become a solicitor you needed to complete a qualifying law degree (or another degree followed by a Law Common Professional Examination/Postgraduate Diploma in Law), moving on to do the Legal Practice Course (LPC), and then a two-year period of recognised training, usually called a training contract.

The new route is that the SQE will consist of two parts; part one assessing legal knowledge, research and writing and the second part testing practical skills gained after completing a recognised period of training.

We regularly review the curriculum of our qualifying law courses and will make changes as necessary to provide an integrated approach to preparing students for the SQE.

Graduate destinations

Recent Law graduates have joined companies in roles such as:

• Alpha Shindara Legal, Legal Secretary
• Aston Bond, Solicitor
• Bennett Griffin, Trainee Solicitor
• Bernard Chill & Axtell Solicitors, Trainee Solicitor
• Blake Morgan LLP, Litigation Paralegal
• BlueBay Asset Management, Compliance Intern
• Carmelite Chambers, Barrister
• Financial Ombudsman Service, Adjudicator
• Fox William, Trainee Solicitor
• G2 Legal, Junior Consultant
• Howlett Clarke, Legal Assistant
• Mayo Wynne Baxter, Paralegal
• Nationwide, Fraud Analyst
• Turpin Miller, Solicitor

Supporting your employability

Outside of your course, our Careers Service is here to support you as you discover (and re-discover) your strengths and what matters to you. We are here for you throughout your university journey as you work towards a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Connect with our careers team

• Find part-time work that you can combine with your studies.
• Find, or be, a mentor or get involved with our peer-to-peer support scheme.
• Develop your business ideas through our entrepreneurial support network.
• Get professional advice and support with career planning, CV writing and interview top tips.
• Meet potential employers at our careers fairs.
• Find rewarding volunteering opportunities to help you discover more about what makes you tick, and build your CV.

Whatever your career needs, we are here to help. And that's not just while you are a student, our support carries on after you've graduated.

Find out more about our Careers Service...