(Full time) 2020 start
Law with German Law Degree
Overview
This law degree allows you to learn about the types of law, in the sense of ‘thinking like a lawyer’ and studying law as a social institution within two legal systems, both at the University of Leeds and at a university in Germany.
As a law student you’ll study key topics within the legal sector, such as contract law, criminal law and international law, as well as the broader context of the law and its relationship with society. At the same time, you’ll be introduced to the German legal system and develop your language skills in preparation for your third year studying law in a German university.
A wide range of optional modules will allow you to pursue your interests in specialist legal areas such as company law, human rights law, environmental law and family law. You could also explore topics in criminal justice and criminology, such as policing or youth crime.
Throughout the course, you’ll gain diverse skills that will be valuable to you as a citizen, as well as in your professional career – whether you choose to enter the legal profession or not.
Studying in the School of Law
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Accreditation
All our LLB courses are currently accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Bar Council*.
Exemptions
This programme is a Qualifying Law Degree*. This status means that graduation from the programme exempts you from the Common Professional Examination: the initial stage of professional qualification as a solicitor or barrister for both the Law Society of England and Wales, and the Bar Council. This shortens your professional training by one year, should you wish to practise in England and Wales.
*The Solicitors Regulation Authority is proposing changes to the system from 2021. To find out more, please visit www.sra.org.uk
Course content
Year 1 provides you with a firm foundation in contract and constitutional law. Our Foundations of Law module equips you to study law at undergraduate level and gives you the chance to practice mooting. Meanwhile, a core language module will help you develop and enhance your German language skills, and you’ll gain an understanding of different constitutional systems within Europe.
In the following year you’ll build on your knowledge and skills with an understanding of criminal law and torts. Additional core modules will develop your research skills and examine the relationships between law, the legal system and wider society. Your choice of optional module will allow you to focus on a topic that suits your interests and career plans, such as financial services law, youth crime or employment law. In addition, you’ll learn about legal systems in different countries across Europe, and continue with more advanced language study to prepare you to spend Year 3 studying in Germany.
Year 3 is spent studying abroad at one of our partner institutions in Germany. Your final year will give you the chance to apply your research skills to an independent dissertation on a topic of your choice, which you’ll work on with your supervisor. At the same time you’ll gain an in-depth understanding of EU law as well as key facets of English law such as land law and equity and trusts. A final choice of optional modules will allow you to refine your language skills or gain specialist knowledge in an area such as war crimes, discrimination law or penology.
Course structure
The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.
Modules
Year 1
Compulsory modules
- German Core Language 1 20 credits
- Contract Law 30 credits
- Foundations of Law 30 credits
- Constitutional and Administrative Law 30 credits
- European Constitutional Systems 10 credits
Year 2
Compulsory modules
- German Core Language 2 20 credits
- Criminal Law 30 credits
- Torts 20 credits
- Law and Society 10 credits
- European Legal Systems 10 credits
- Preparation for the Year Abroad 5 credits
- Researching Law 10 credits
Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)
You will study 20 credits of optional modules from a list which may include:
- Company Law 20 credits
- Transnational and Comparative Criminology 20 credits
- International Human Rights Law 20 credits
- International Law 20 credits
- Lawyers, Ethics and Society 20 credits
- Family Law 20 credits
- Competition Law 20 credits
Year 3
Compulsory modules
- Study Abroad: Law with German Law 120 credits
Year 4
Compulsory modules
- European Union Law 20 credits
- Equity and Trusts 20 credits
- Land Law 20 credits
- Long Dissertation 40 credits
Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)
You will study 20 credits of optional modules from a list which may include:
- German Core Language 3 20 credits
- Cyberlaw: Law and the Regulation of the Information Society 20 credits
- Disability Law 20 credits
- Gender and the Law 20 credits
- Law and the Environment I: Pollution Control 10 credits
- Penology 20 credits
- Media Freedom 20 credits
- Intellectual Property Law 20 credits
- Commercial Law: Commercial and Consumer Sales 20 credits
Broadening your academic horizons
At Leeds we want you to benefit from the depth and breadth of the University's expertise, to prepare you for success in an ever-changing and challenging world. On this course you broaden your learning through core and/or optional modules. Find out more on the Broadening webpages.
Learning and teaching
One of the key aims of this course is to teach you to “think like a lawyer”, but we also help you develop the transferable skills that allow you to use and apply the law in different situations.
You’ll learn through traditional methods such as lectures, tutorials, language classes and seminars, supported by materials and exercises provided online through the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). In your first year, the Foundations of Law module will prepare you for the study of law and allow you to gain practical skills such as group working and mooting.
However, this is a demanding course geared towards self-motivated and independent learners, and you’ll spend most of your time in independent study doing research and preparatory reading. We have excellent library resources with over 50,000 volumes in the Law Library, in addition to extensive electronic access to legal materials and journals.
On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.
Assessment
To help you develop the variety of skills you will need in your future career, we assess modules using a range of different methods. These include seen and unseen exams, coursework, group work and oral participation e.g. in discussion groups.
Entry requirements, fees and applying
Entry requirements
A-level: AAA including German, excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking.
Two of your A-levels must be in traditional academic subjects. Please see our accepted A-level subjects document to check your subjects.
If your choice of A-level subjects has been constrained by factors outside your control (such as if your school or college did not offer certain subjects), please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office to discuss your application.
When an applicant is taking the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) this can be considered alongside A Levels and may attract an alternative offer in addition to the standard offer. If you are taking A Levels, this would be AAB at A Level (including A in German) plus your EPQ with a grade A.
GCSE: We expect applicants to have a substantial number of GCSE passes at a high standard. Applicants from countries where English is not the first language will also need a grade 5/6 (B) in GCSE English language, or another appropriate English language qualification, see below.
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Access to HE Diploma
Complete 60 credits with 45 level 3 credits at Distinction Grade.
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BTEC
D,D alongside an A at A-level in one of our List A accepted A-level subjects document.
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Cambridge Pre-U
D3, D3, D3.
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International Baccalaureate
35 overall (6,6,5 higher including German).
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Irish Highers (Leaving Certificate)
AAAAAA.
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Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers
AAAAB overall (AA at advanced level including German).
Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.
Alternative entry
We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.
Access to Leeds is an alternative admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.
Find out more about Access to Leeds and alternative admissions.
Pathways to Law
Pathways to Law provides opportunities for students from state schools in England who are interests in a career in law and who will be the first generation of their family to go to university. It offers support to students from under-represented backgrounds throughout years 12 and 13 and into university. Find out more about Pathways to Law
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.
Improve your English
If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.
How to apply
Apply to this course through UCAS. The institution code for the University of Leeds is L23. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.
International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK/EU students. Our network of international representatives can help you with your application. If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.
Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.
Admissions policy
School Of Law Undergraduate Admissions Policy 2020
Fees
UK/EU: See fees section below
International: £19,500 (per year)
Undergraduate tuition fees for 2020 entry
For UK and non-UK EU full-time students starting in 2020, the fee for 2020/21 will be £9,250.
The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation, and as permitted by law. Fees for UK and non-UK EU undergraduate students are decided by Government and may vary if policy changes.
The UK government has confirmed that non-UK EU students starting in the 2020/21 academic year will have home fee status and be eligible for UK government student loans for the duration of their course. The UK government has not confirmed the situation for future years, so keep checking our website for updates.
UK undergraduate tuition fees for 2021 entry
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students starting in 2021/22 have not yet been confirmed by the UK government. In other years, the government has confirmed fee levels in summer. When the fee is confirmed, we will publish an update on this website.
Tuition fees for a study abroad or work placement year
If you take a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll pay a reduced tuition fee during this period. For more information, see Study abroad and work placement tuition fees and loans.
Read more about paying fees and charges.
Brexit
Visit our Brexit page for the latest information on the effect of the UK's exit from the EU on current students and applicants to the University.
There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs
Financial support
If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.
Career opportunities
As a graduate of law and German law there are many professional and academic pathways available to you, whether you envisage utilising your legal knowledge in the UK or in Germany the analytical and linguistic abilities you’ll gain will prove invaluable. Graduates from our programmes have pursued diverse law careers in the UK and abroad, for companies such as Eversheds, Pinsent Masons, Clifford Chance, Freshfields, The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the NHS.
As a student in the School of Law we will provide you with a host of opportunities to help boost your career prospects; from developing skills in mooting and negotiating, hearing from prospective employers at specialist talks or career fairs or taking part in career mentoring.
The support you will receive at the School of Law will help you kickstart your career, whether in law or another field
Careers support
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.
Study abroad and work placements
Study abroad is a compulsory part of this programme. You’ll spend Year 3 studying different aspects of German and European law at one of our partner universities in Germany. As well as gaining an in-depth understanding of German law, the legal system and legal culture, you can also immerse yourself in German culture and enhance your language skills – especially your grasp of German legal terminology.
During your year abroad, you’ll complete a dossier and learning journal for the School of Law to evaluate.