Law Senior Status

Durham Law School is a world leader in legal education and research. Our two-year LLB Senior Status is an accelerated version of our standard LLB for those who already have a university degree. It provides an in-depth understanding of the law of England and Wales, as well as legal research and practice. It provides the foundations of the professional training you need to qualify as a solicitor or a barrister.

The Law School is home to a number of leading research centres and groups, and all teaching staff are actively involved in research. This research feeds into the curriculum to create a dynamic and intellectually stimulating environment which is in step with developments in the real world. Academic expertise is supported by a range of first-class learning facilities. Alongside your studies, you will have opportunities to engage in extracurricular activities like moot courts, pro bono work, networking opportunities, law societies, and career events.

The LLB Senior Status offers a tailored, core structure of mandatory and optional modules across two years of study. During their studies, students will gain core knowledge in Contract Law, Tort Law, Public Law (Constitutional and Human Rights), EU Law and Criminal Law, as well as optional modules of their choice. They will also undertake a supervised dissertation as part of their degree, gaining skills in independent legal research and writing.
The rigorous academic curriculum, first-class facilities and supportive learning environment provide the legal and academic skills you will need to progress to a career in the legal sector, as well as equipping you with the transferable skills that are in demand across a wider range of sectors including business, local and national government and academia.

Year 1 modules

Tort Law
provides a general understanding of the structure of the law of tort in England and Wales. You will examine the nature of the major torts and the place of tort law within the legal system.

Contract Law
offers an understanding of the nature and functions of the law of contract in England and Wales. You will critically examine key elements of the law of contract and begin to develop an understanding of the common law in action.

EU Constitutional Law
gives an overall understanding of basic institutions, concepts and principles relating to the European Union. This module covers elements such as the historical, political and economic foundations of the EU, institutions of the EC, the legal structure of the EC and judicial protection of ‘community rights’.

UK Constitutional Law
provides an understanding of the basic institutions, concepts and principles relating to the constitution of the UK. This module includes elements such as the nature of the UK Constitution, The Rule of Law, parliamentary sovereignty, and the separation of powers.

The Individual and the State
provides a general understanding of the basic institutions, concepts and principles relating to the relationship between the individual and the State. You will study aspects of The European Convention on Human Rights, The Human Rights Act 1998, and judicial review of administrative action.

Introduction to English Law and Legal Method
gives a hands-on grounding in legal research, analysis, writing and IT skills. It seeks to establish critical analytical and transferable skills essential in your legal studies and beyond. It introduces you to the English legal system and the diverse forms legal analysis can take.

Year 2 modules
Dissertation
In your final year, you will significantly enhance your developing legal research skills by planning and producing a Dissertation. The 12,000-word dissertation is worth one third of your final year credits (40 credits).

Criminal Law
provides an understanding of the nature and functions of criminal law, including the general principles of criminal law and the principles governing selected crimes. You will learn to identify relevant principles of law, apply those principles to problem questions, analyse relevant case law and identify legal and policy issues and arguments concerning various areas of criminal law.

Land Law
provides a sound understanding of the various rights and interests that can affect land and how rights and interests in land are acquired, protected and transferred, encourages an awareness of the social and economic contexts and the systemic goals that influence the regulation of interests in land, and enable students to apply this knowledge in order to resolve competing claims to land.

Trusts Law
provides an understanding of the concept and structure of the trust as a property arrangement and enables students to critically assess the trust and its various uses by reference to social, political and commercial contexts.

Optional modules
In Year 2, students can also pick from the list of optional modules (Subject to availability and timetable compatibility)
Optional modules include:
• International Human Rights
• Competition Law
• Company Law
• Intellectual Property Law
• Law and Medicine
• Media Law
• Private International Law
• Climate Change Law and Policy
• Chinese Legal System
• International Criminal Law
• Comparative Constitutional Law

Course Learning and Teaching

Learning takes the form of lectures, tutorials and seminars. We place great emphasis on high-quality small-group teaching. The small-group teaching format and one-on-one attention from a personal academic advisor are embedded into the learning experience to help you get more out of your studies. You’ll also benefit from one-to-one support and self-directed learning to develop your critical thinking skills.
As you progress through the course there’s an increased focus on self-directed learning and independent research, particularly around the dissertation, as you begin to prepare for professional or postgraduate life.
Specialist facilities in the Law School include an interactive Harvard-style lecture theatre and academic workrooms. The moot court and pro bono room give you the space to develop your skills in a simulated legal environment.

Assessment

We use an array of assessment methods including essays, oral presentations and written examinations completed throughout the year. Throughout their studies students will also have the opportunity for formative assessments in order to scaffold their learning.
You will also complete a 12,000-word dissertation, which makes up one-third of your final-year marks.