Law with Criminology

The approach to teaching and learning is 'student-centred': this means responsibility for achieving learning outcomes is placed on you to self-manage your own programme of study. Staff facilitate this process by providing appropriate learning materials and support, such as module handbooks, lecture outlines, reading lists and online student support. You will be encouraged to adopt an independent approach to learning through effective use of private study time in researching information and responding to tasks and questions.

The School’s teaching environment is designed to stimulate learning. For large group teaching, we make use of the many modern lecture theatres across campus all of which have first-rate audio visual support and presentation facilities. All small group teaching rooms, contain the latest audio-visual equipment to enhance and support the learning experience.

As you would expect from a Law School committed to enhancing the employability of its graduates, there are a number of dedicated skills development rooms with recording and play back facilities within the School itself. There is also an impressive moot court room, which looks just like a real court, providing you with an invaluable real-life educational experience. The moot court room is also used extensively for extra-curricular activities such as mooting competitions, advocacy training and visiting speakers.

The Library contains a dedicated Law Library with a whole host of textbooks, law reports and journals as well as providing a quiet space for you to study both individually and as part of a group. The School of Justice extensive e-law library facility gives access to many legal and academic sources from the UK and beyond and is available on-campus and remotely.

There is a dedicated Blackboard page for each module which provides extensive online support, from module handbooks and lecture outlines to self-test quizzes and interactive revision materials.

Assessment is undertaken in a variety of ways, from the traditional unseen exam, to seen examinations; end of module and in-course formative coursework assessments; e-quizzes; e-case studies; group and individual presentations; portfolios; pod casts; personal development reflective diaries; moots and debates and oral performance in seminars.

The School of Justice has strong links with the legal profession and with a range of other professional employers. You will enjoy regular visits and talks from leading practitioners, academics, barristers, solicitors and judges. This ensures that the skills you develop are directly relevant to those required by employers.

The Criminology element to the programme provides academic study of the nature of crime, criminality and responses to crime in contemporary society. It considers how crime is defined, perceived as a problem, and managed in modern society.

A significant feature of Law study in the School of Justice is the emphasis from the outset on relevant legal and transferable skills, including research, oral and written, e-communication and critical reasoning skills, advocacy, personal development planning and group work.

We adopt a wide range of learning and teaching methods, designed to support you to develop as an independent learner. These include interactive online sessions, e-learn activities, workshops, reflective clinical legal education, group work, research exercises, presentations, mooting and debating as well as the more traditional seminars and lectures. You will have more structured class contact in Year 1 of your programme to support your transition to Higher Education.

You will be supported in finding legal placements and have numerous opportunities to visit relevant legal establishments, both locally and beyond. In Year 2 you are able to visit many of the European Institutions during a week-long study tour in Brussels.