Law and Language (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese) with Foundation Year

Our LLB in Law and Language (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese) is a specialist course that allows you to study towards a career in legal practice while developing proficiency in a language. In an ever-globalising world and workplace, this combination of legal skills and language proficiency gives you access to unique opportunities for work and further study.

Alongside the main law curriculum, comprising the seven foundations of legal knowledge and taught in the Birkbeck Law School, you will pursue study in the language of your choice in our School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication. You will study the associated culture(s) of this language and gain a good level of competency. You can choose French, German, Italian, Spanish or Japanese, starting at the level of language learning that suits you, whether you are a complete beginner or a native speaker. Korean and Mandarin Chinese are offered starting from beginner level to allow you to reach up to intermediate level.

The law curriculum for this LLB Law and Language is taught by internationally renowned researchers and includes not only the foundations of legal knowledge, but specialist option modules in a broad range of topics. From law clinics to progression agreements with major vocational training institutions, we will support you throughout your career journey during your time at Birkbeck.

This course satisfies the first stage of professional qualification laid down by the Bar Standards Board. It also provides a foundation for the Functioning Legal Knowledge tested on the Single Qualifying Exam (Part One) set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Foundation Year
If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree.

This course has an evening timetable with lectures, seminars and classes taking place in the evening. Some daytime and online teaching is available, depending on the modules you choose.

Highlights

• Our LLB Law students ranked the Birkbeck School of Law first in London for teaching in the 2025 National Student Survey (for multi-faculty institutions). The NSS is a nationwide survey of final-year undergraduate students, capturing their views on the quality of their academic experience.

• Birkbeck is a leading international centre for world-class legal teaching, research and scholarship. You will be taught by field-leading academic staff, alongside experienced solicitors, barristers and judges from across the legal sector.

• Your language modules will be taught by specialists from a centre of teaching and research excellence that prides itself on research-led teaching in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean and Mandarin Chinese, making it an outstanding multidisciplinary department.

• You will be able to take part in our Legal Practice Conversation series, in which lawyers and Birkbeck graduates discuss their work and offer advice to students looking to pursue a law career. Recent speakers have discussed the Pfizer/AstraZeneca takeover bid, international human rights, sports law, and litigation brought on behalf of veterans of the 1950s nuclear testing programme on Christmas Island.

Careers and employability

As well as gaining proficiency in a language, this degree provides you with transferable skills and knowledge of the English legal system that will be relevant within a diverse range of jobs.

Our law graduates follow successful careers in the following:

• barrister

• solicitor

• paralegal and legal assistant

• advocate

• policy researcher.

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Law modules are assessed, depending on the module, via independent research essays, problem scenario essays, seen and unseen exams, workbooks, group work, oral presentations, reflective journals and creative and critical-thinking exercises.

Language modules are assessed through a variety of exercises testing skills in writing, reading, speaking and listening, including short coursework assignments, in-class written tests and oral and listening comprehension tests.