Law and Business with Foundation Year

The LLB Law and Business is a specialist course that allows you to study towards a career in legal practice and business.

Alongside the main law curriculum, including the seven foundations of legal knowledge essential for professional qualification, you will also gain a foundation in management and business concepts, including:

• strategy

• finance

• people management.

With strong links to both the legal profession and the field of business and management, this LLB Law and Business provides you with outstanding opportunities to gain the skills, knowledge and experience you need to fulfil your career goals in this field. From law clinics to progression agreements with major vocational training institutions, you will be supported 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 Solicitor’s 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.

Lectures, seminars and classes take place in the evening. Some daytime and online teaching is available, depending on the modules you choose.

Highlights

• 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.

• Career development and skills enhancement are a key part of studying this course. You will have access to a huge range of careers support including Birkbeck's Careers Service, Birkbeck Talent and Birkbeck Futures. This comprehensive support links our students and recent graduates with top UK employers and offers you help with job applications, interviews and career planning.

• As a Birkbeck law student, you will be able to take part in our Legal Practice Conversation series. In these workshops, lawyers and Birkbeck graduates discuss their work and offer advice and inspiration 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

A law degree from Birkbeck will provide you with a broad range of transferable skills, as well as knowledge and understanding of the English legal system that will be relevant within a diverse range of jobs and roles. LLB Law and Business graduates can follow career paths in the following kinds of role:

• barrister

• solicitor

• paralegal and legal assistant

• advocate

• policy researcher

• corporate roles in multiple sectors.

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond.  At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

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

Depending on the module, assessment for this course is through independent research essays, problem scenario essays, seen and unseen exams, workbooks, group work, presentations, reflective journals and creative and critical-thinking exercises.