Law with Professional Legal Practice

Law with Professional Legal Practice - LLB (Hons)

Build a foundation of legal knowledge and advance your legal career with our Law with Professional Legal Practice LLB. From client management, interviewing and research, you will develop the essential skills for a successful role in legal practice or related fields. You will build a foundation of knowledge and experience which will help to prepare you for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

Year of entry

2025 - for 2025 entry see here - for 2024 entry see here

Course type

Single Honours

Location

Keele University campus

Subject area / School

School of Law

UCAS code

M101

Duration of study

3 years / 4 years with international or placement year

Enquire about this course Clearing vacancies and entry requirements 2024 Book an open day Chat to students

Why study Law with Professional Legal Practice at Keele University?

Global Top 250 for Law (Times Higher Education World University Subject Rankings, 2023)

Study the Foundations of Legal Knowledge: Contract Law, Tort Law, Public Law, Criminal Law, European Law, Land Law, and Equity & Trusts

Prepare for a career as a legal professional through practical learning via Legal Advice Clinics, CLOCK, and work placements

Designed to provide experience in key areas of legal practice including residential conveyancing and wills, probate and drafting

Global Top 100 for International Outlook, Law (Times Higher Education World University Subject Rankings, 2023)

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Studying Law at Keele

Hear from our students and staff – who share their personal experiences of studying and teaching at Keele.

View video transcript

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Course overview

Whether you are interested in pursuing a traditional career in law or would like to explore a career in another industry, Law with Professional Legal Practice at Keele will help to tailor your programme of study to suit your career aspirations. You will apply legal knowledge and skills to both the theory and practice of law, immersing yourself in practical experiences through opportunities including Legal Advice Clinics, our award-winning community legal outreach programme CLOCK, and mooting.

Our programme offers a wealth of practical experience that will enable you to develop the required attributes for an active career in law or other sectors such as business, finance and more. You will study the seven Foundations of Legal Knowledge: Contract Law, Tort Law, Public Law, Criminal Law, European Law, Land Law, and Equity & Trust, as well as delving into topics such as wills, probate and residential conveyancing.

Our LLB Law with Professional Legal Practice course focuses on developing the skills necessary for legal practice. Modules such as equity and trusts, residential conveyancing, and wills, probate, and drafting provide insights into the professional life of a lawyer. This practical focus will help prepare you for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), ensuring you are well-equipped for a successful career in law.

Our civic Law School offers various practical learning opportunities that put future employability at the heart of your degree programme. These opportunities enable you to work with real clients, practice your legal skills whilst supported by qualified solicitors, and offer free legal advice to help individuals carefully navigate the justice system. Our CLOCK (Community Legal Outreach Collaboration Keele) scheme and Legal Advice Clinics offer valuable training, building your confidence, critical thinking skills and ability to communicate with various audiences.

At Keele, you can enhance your industry experience through a work placement year, gaining valuable insights into the workplace environment and building professional networks. Alternatively, you may wish to take an international year to study at a partner university. You will also have the opportunity to learn a language and become a multilingual graduate which can open up your career prospects on a global scale.

Related courses

Next steps

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Teaching Excellence Framework GOLD

Keele University has been awarded the highest rating of gold in the teaching excellence framework (TEF), 2023. The TEF assessment identifies excellence in the educational experience and outcomes of our students, focusing on all undergraduate courses and students.

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Course structure

Modules for Law with Professional Legal Practice

Our courses are designed to develop the skills, experience and expertise you'll need to succeed in your chosen career, informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student feedback and employer insights. The module details given below are representative of what we intend to deliver on the course.

Please note that modules may change to reflect best practice and academic development. This information should therefore not be seen as a definitive list of available modules.

Compulsory modules

Legal Essentials
This module introduces you to the English legal system and to the legal, academic, and personal skills needed to participate effectively as a Law student, through delivery of four streams of learning and teaching: Thinking Law; Making Law; Doing Law; and Being Law. It develops your skills in finding and working with legal materials and making legal arguments, through individual and group work. You will also reflect on their skills development journey, identifying future development needs and sources of support.

Obligations
The Law of Obligations examines liability in both contract and tort law. You will have the opportunity to learn how contracts are formed and when contracts do not go to plan! You will also learn about the tort of negligence and available tortious remedies. This module is the foundation for numerous legal specialities, including medical law, employment law and family law. You will develop the skills to effectively analyse cases and statutes and apply your knowledge to real world scenarios.

Public Law
This module critically introduces key principles of UK public law. It explores foundational concepts of the UK’s constitution such as parliamentary sovereignty, the separation of powers, and the rule of law. It analyses the relationship between the state and the individual, human rights, and the role of administrative law in controlling governmental power. This module enables you to critically analyse the UK’s constitution and to use legal research and reasoning to solve constitutional and administrative law problems.

Critical Legal Studies
This module offers you an introduction to some of the major classic and modern legal theories, including critical legal studies, socio-legal approaches, feminist legal studies, and critical race theory. Through engaging critically with a range of different approaches to legal study, you will build on and further develop your academic legal skills, including group work and debating. You will gain a strong theoretical grounding in the major academic legal traditions, providing an essential foundation for your future legal studies.

Optional modules

Lawyers in Society
This module will introduce you to the different roles that lawyers play in society and reflect on the contemporary challenges facing the profession, from increasing diversity and globalisation to the growing influence of AI and legal technology. You will also meet guest speakers from the profession and ask them questions. This module will give you the opportunity to reflect on your own legal identity, career aspirations and skills development, and be able to critically analyse specific case studies.

Compulsory modules

Criminal Law
This module introduces you to the role of criminal law in modern society and encourages them to appreciate criminal law within its theoretical, social, and political contexts. You will learn to access, review and critically evaluate criminal law concepts through engaging with legal and academic materials. You will build on and further develop your skills in analysing problems and in critically evaluating the law, including theoretical issues and current controversies.

Law of Real Property
The module starts by considering the meaning of ‘property’ and the consequences of using property-based rules to regulate the use of land. It then critically considers the legal and equitable rules relating to the creation, protection, transfer, and shared enjoyment of rights in land. You will explore the relationship between law and equity and between case law and statute. Particular attention is given to developing practical skills, including reading and interpreting statute law and problem solving.

Law of the European Union
This module introduces key institutions, methods, and principles of EU law, and looks at how power is defined, exercised, and distributed among EU institutions and Member States. It explores different forms of regional integration and considers the EU’s evolution. The significance of EU citizenship and the Internal Market are also introduced. The module will enable you to acquire detailed knowledge of substantive legal principles underpinning EU law and to undertake independent legal research to analyse key issues in EU law.

The Practice of Litigation
Litigation is an adversarial type of law. If parties to a dispute cannot agree, the matter will ultimately be decided by the courts. In this module we explore the procedures in place to protect parties and ensure justice is not only done, but also seen to be done. We do so through workshops, where we consider case studies to develop skills in interviewing, drafting, negotiations and advocacy. Authentic assessment and experiential learning mean this is an interesting and exciting module.

Optional modules

Contemporary Issues in Law
Through engaging with research-led teaching from academics at the forefront of current legal controversies and challenges, you will develop critical awareness of a range of issues currently being debated in the legal field. You will also develop your understanding of the law reform process in practice. The module will equip you with advanced legal research skills and a broad theoretical understanding that is important for your Level 6 modules.

Legal Professional Development (University Placement Module)
In a competitive job market, practical skills and understanding workplace dynamics are crucial. This module allows you to gain hands-on experience, enhancing your employability, and the opportunity to gain valuable professional insights via a 75-hour placement. You will be supported by various activities to secure a role and can source your own placement or apply to university-sourced roles. This module offers flexibility on when and how you complete your placement, enabling you to balance your placement around existing demands. 

Compulsory modules

Project – 1 option MUST be picked from the 4 choices
This module offers the choice of independent academic study or practical legal experience. You can choose:
(i) Dissertation: research, in depth, an area of academic interest.
(ii) Law Reform: undertake a detailed analysis of a case or statute and propose law reform in that area.
(iii) Streetlaw: work with the local voluntary sector, with support from the Law School. This includes the CLOCK community legal companion scheme.
(iv) Legal Advice Clinic: advise real clients under supervision from our qualified solicitors.

Equity & Trusts
As one of the key foundations of legal knowledge, Equity & Trusts will ensure that you have the skills and confidence to engage in critical analysis, working with case law and problem-solving in this important area of law. Dealing with testamentary and life-time trusts, private and charitable trusts, breach of trust and associated remedies, its scope is broad and its utility clear. This module is essential should you wish to pursue a career in legal practice.

Wills, Probate and Drafting
This module introduces you to an important area of private client practice and provides an opportunity to develop core skills in drafting and the use of precedents. Using seminars, team-based activities, and drafting exercises, you engage with the key issues in drafting and validly executing a will; applying for a grant of representation; and distributing the estate, taking due account of potential liability for inheritance tax and possible claims against the estate from unhappy family and dependents of the deceased.

Residential Conveyancing
This module provides you with a foundation in the legal practice of residential conveyancing. This builds on the core Property module but takes you in a more practical direction and expects a higher level of analysis and greater accuracy in your legal advice. You will develop skills in client interviewing, legal drafting, and research; and you will be able to recognise the key stages within a transaction and provide practical legal advice in client scenarios.

Business Law and Practice
This module explores the central features of company law with focus on the doctrine of separate corporate personality, the changing nature of shares, the company constitution, the statutory duties of directors and shareholder protection. Furthermore, the module addresses the company as a socio-economic actor through the study of corporate theory, and, finally, the module explores corporate law practice. You will be enabled to appreciate, evaluate and apply the law, theory and practice of corporate regulation.

Optional modules

Criminal Evidence
This module allows you to further develop your knowledge of legal rules as they are applied in the context of criminal trials in England and Wales. It offers the opportunity to explore how trial courts manage statutory legal rules and exceptions, codes of practice, and case law. You will gain a fuller appreciation of the appropriate exercise of judicial case management skills, and judicial discretion, in the efficient management of trials within the context of human rights, particularly the ECHR.

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"I learned and developed during my time on the law degree key skills such as legal research, problem solving and the ability to critically think and analyse which are all important for any future careers. Being an undergraduate student at Keele I was able to learn from academics who were at the cutting-edge of their research and tutors who were genuinely interested in helping us as students to develop and challenge ourselves."

Shamin, Law

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Additional opportunities

Foundation year Learn a language Placement year International year GCP Elective Pathways Explore more

There are a range of additional opportunities available when studying this course.
Please note, undertaking one may impact upon the availability of another.

Legal Advice Clinics

At Keele, we have dedicated Legal Advice Clinics offering optional training and supervision by experienced Solicitors to deliver legal services, from the start of the client enquiry through to resolution. You will learn how to interview and advise clients, research the law using practitioner databases, and give practical legal advice. You may be involved in drafting legal documents and court forms as well as advising clients in writing and in meetings.

We have three clinics at Keele: Divorce, Commercial and Small Claims. You may work with underrepresented individuals, small business, and employers, gaining real life experience and helping clients with legal proceedings. Having the opportunity to gain hands-on work experience supports your professional development and allows you to build key skills through practical learning.

You can record your experience on your HEAR (Higher Education Achievement Report) to showcase your volunteer work at university and use as your portfolio when you graduate. Your work experience may also count towards Qualifying Work Experience should you wish to train as a solicitor.

Community Legal Outreach Collaboration Keele (CLOCK)

Community Legal Outreach Collaboration Keele (CLOCK), co-created a multi-agency collaboration with the Stoke Family Court, law firms, mediators, Citizens Advice, Domestic and Sexual Abuse survivor support services, to design the unique and innovative role of the Community Legal Companion to assist litigants in person through the court process.

The programmes enables you to build key interpersonal skills that are crucial to a career in law and beyond. You will learn to collaborate with others, communicate effectively with various audiences and apply your skills to real-life cases which will support you in preparation for your career.

This 'Streetlaw' programme is an optional module in your final year, which allows you gain practical legal experience. Training is delivered by court staff, solicitors, barristers, mediators and domestic abuse and sexual abuse support services to understand the complex needs of litigants in person, in a variety of civil legal issues, including:

Child arrangements
Suspending evictions
Non-molestation order
Small claims

Community Legal Companions signpost for legal aid and where not available, support within the remit of the McKenzie Friend principles to assist with a range of tasks.

Mooting (A mock appeal hearing on a point of law)

Challenge your peers through optional mooting competitions and showcase your knowledge through practice. You will apply your research, writing and presentation skills in the staged legal environment we have here at Keele as a traditional court room setup. This experience will help you to build confidence when working independently as well as a team. You will learn how to work effectively under pressure and how to meet deadlines but you will also develop and refine your public speaking skills and ability to convey robust arguments which is critical within the legal profession.

You may have the opportunity to get involved with national and international mooting competitions which you can document and use to support future job applications. These events sometimes attract members of the bar and legal academics, providing a great networking opportunity.

Stand out from the crowd

Placement Year

Taking a placement year between 2nd and 3rd year is a valuable opportunity to make connections and build a network of professionals within your chosen field. Your experience will help you with deciding on your career path and allow you to showcase your abilities in the workplace. We have a dedicated placements support team who will support you to find an appropriate placement and help you prepare for it.

International Year

Enhance your career prospects with an International Year at one of our partner institutions. This opportunity between 2nd and 3rd year can help in your employment search to stand out from the crowd and broaden your horizons, potentially working across the globe.
You will evidence your experience with a project submission and on successful completion of all modules across the year, you will graduate with an enhanced degree title. Given the international demand and necessity for legal professionals, this opportunity can be highly beneficial in demonstrating your awareness of the international legal context but also your ability to immerse yourself into a different culture. You can find more information here.

Learn a language

Discover languages at Keele. Whether you are a complete beginner or already have a foundation of knowledge, we offer a flexible and guided route to developing your skills. We currently offer British Sign Language, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. Upon successful completion of a series of elective language modules, you may have the opportunity to gain an enhanced degree title.

Being multilingual can assist with your career prospects and encourage you to stand out against competition, as well as increasing your employment prospects overseas. This is also a fantastic opportunity for your personal development where you can practice your reading, writing and oral skills and build key characteristics such as time management, adaptability, and motivation.

Entry requirements

The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don’t see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications. If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

Typical offer

Please ensure that you read the full entry requirements by selecting your qualifications from the dropdown menu below. This will include any subject specific, GCSE/Level 2 Maths, and English language requirements you may need.

A Level: ABB

BTEC: DDM

T Level: Distinction

Please select your qualification from the drop-down list below for the full entry requirement information

A Level

ABB in three A Levels.

Contextual offer: BBC.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

BTEC Extended Diploma / National Extended Diploma

DDM in any BTEC Extended Diploma / National Extended Diploma.

Contextual Offer: DMM in any BTEC Extended Diploma / National Extended Diploma.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

BTEC National Diploma / Diploma

Distinction and Distinction in any BTEC National Diploma / Diploma and C in one A Level, or Distinction and Merit in BTEC Diploma and A in one A Level.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

BTEC National Extended Certificate / Subsidiary Diploma

Distinction in any BTEC National Extended Certificate / Subsidiary Diploma and BB in two A Levels, or Merit in any BTEC National Extended Certificate / Subsidiary Diploma and AA in two A Levels.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

T Level

Distinction in any T Level.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

International Baccalaureate Diploma

655 in three Higher Levels or 32 points.

Contextual Offer: 554 in three Higher Levels or 29 points.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme

We encourage applications with the IBCP but recognise that your combination of qualifications may differ depending on where you are studying.

If you are taking a BTEC National Diploma / Diploma with one or more Higher Levels, your offer will be similar to our BTEC + A Level offer (see 'BTEC National Diploma / Diploma') but with an HL requirement of 6 for A, 5 for B, or 4 for C.

For any other combination, please contact the University Admissions Team for advice.

Access to HE Diploma

128 UCAS points in any Access to HE Diploma including Distinction in at least 30 Level 3 credits and Merit in at least 15 Level 3 credits.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

Welsh Baccalaureate / Bagloriaeth Cymru

The Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate is equivalent to one full A Level at the same grade and can be included alongside 2 other A Levels in a standard A Level offer for this course (see A Level). All subject specific requirements will still need to be met.

Scotland - Highers and Advanced Highers

BBBBC in five Highers, or BC in two Advanced Highers and CC in two Highers, or BCC in three Advanced Highers.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

If you have B or higher in the EPQ and are studying A Levels, BTEC, the International Baccalaureate Diploma, or an Access to HE Diploma, you will typically receive an alternative offer which will be lower than the standard offer. Please see 'Alternative and contextual offers' below.

Core Maths

If you have B or higher in Core Maths and are studying A Levels, BTEC, the International Baccalaureate, or an Access to HE Diploma, you will typically receive an alternative offer which will be lower than the standard offer. Please see 'Alternative and contextual offers' below.

Ireland - Leaving Certificate

H3, H3, H3, H4, H4, H4 in the Irish Leaving Certificate.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

China - Gaokao

75% in the Gaokao.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

India - Standard XII

Average of 75% from four subjects in the ICSE, CBSE or Western Bengal Standard XII, or average of 80% from four subjects in any other Standard XII.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

Germany - Abitur

2.0 overall average in the Abitur.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

France - Baccalaureate

14 in the French Baccalaureate/International Option Baccalaureate or 13 in the Baccalauréat Français International.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

Hong Kong - Diploma

544 from two electives and one core subject in the HKDSE.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

Spain - Bachillerato

Overall average of 7.8 in the Título de Bachillerato.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

Italy - Diploma di Esame di Stato

85% in the Esame di Stato.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

Cyprus - Apolytirion

18.5 / 88% in the Apolytirion.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

Portugal

Overall average of 16 in a Secondary Certificate.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

Canada - Diploma

70% / BBBBC in five courses in the Grade 12 Diploma.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

Kenya - KCSE / Diploma

We do not accept the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education for direct entry. However, you can apply to study an International Foundation Year at Keele University International College. On successful completion, you can progress to an undergraduate degree at Keele.

We may accept a two year Diploma. Please contact the University Admissions Team for advice.

Nigeria - Senior School Certificate / OND

We do not accept the Senior School Certificate (WAEC or NECO) for direct entry. However, you can apply to study an International Foundation Year at Keele University International College. On successful completion, you can progress to an undergraduate degree at Keele.

We may accept an Ordinary National Diploma with GPA of 2.5 or a Merit / Lower Credit. Please contact the University Admissions Team for advice.

USA - Advanced Placement

544 from three Advanced Placement subjects.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

Ghana

We do not accept the West African Senior School Certificate Examination for direct entry. However, you can apply to study an International Foundation Year at Keele University International College. On successful completion, you can progress to an undergraduate degree at Keele.

Sri Lanka - Advanced Level

ABB in three Advanced Levels.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

Malaysia - STPM

ABB in three Principal Level subjects in the STPM.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

Pakistan - Secondary School Certificate

We do not accept the Secondary School Certificate for direct entry. However, you can apply to study an International Foundation Year at Keele University International College. On successful completion, you can progress to an undergraduate degree at Keele.

Singapore - A Levels (H2)

ABB in three H2 Levels.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

European Baccalaureate

75% overall.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

NCUK

Pass NCUK Foundation Year with ABB and grade B in EAP English Language module.

Uganda - Advanced Certificate of Education

ABB in three Principal Level subjects in the Advanced Certificate of Education.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

Zimbabwe - Advanced Level GCE

ABB in three Advanced Level subjects.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below).

English language requirements

All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from Group B.

Alternative and contextual offers

We're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of alternative offer schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer.

General information

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.

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Community Legal Outreach Collaboration Keele (CLOCK)

Founded 10 years ago, CLOCK began as a research project, listening to 'Voices of Experience'; a group of women from a domestic violence refuge, who shared their fears and proposals for how to support women going to court alone following the significant withdrawal of legal aid under LASPO, the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act, 2012. CLOCK has been Highly Commended by the Attorney-General National Access to Justice Award, 2016, and the Green Gown Awards for 'Benefitting Society', 2019.

The Community Legal Companion role has been endorsed by the President of the Family Court and has been cascaded to 12 University Law Schools to operate in 8 court centres; Stoke, Brighton, Canterbury, Wolverhampton, Leicester, Oxford, Liverpool and York.

At 24-years-old, Victoria became one of the youngest qualified solicitors her firm had ever seen - "I find myself doing something different every day at work, whether that be going to court, taking a witness statement or drafting correspondence to clients and medical experts. I work on a whole variety of cases and building up relationships with medical experts is an important part of my job. The skills I gained at Keele, including all the networking I did, have been useful as I grow in my career. Keele played such a big role in getting me to where I am today and I’m so proud to be Keele alumni."

Victoria, Law graduate

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"Studying Law at Keele meant that not only did I learn the black letter law but also, due to the hard work of the Law School, meant that upon graduating I knew fully what to expect from the current legal market. I got involved with the Community Legal Outreach Collaboration programme which enabled me to give something back to the community whilst also strengthening my key employability skills. I have found that the skills I developed here have been really useful to discuss in job interviews or on applications for training contracts."

Alice, Law

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Your future career

95% of Keele students are in employment or further study within 15 months of finishing their studies (HESA Graduate Outcomes, 2019/20)

Law with Professional Legal Practice will equip you with the practical skills to help prepare you for employment and transition into the working environment following graduation. Having developed various skills during your studies from writing, presenting and researching, you will be equipped with a hands-on approach towards your professional legal career.

Our Professional Legal Practice pathway provides insight into the legal skills and practice you will require on the route to qualify as a Solicitor via the Solicitors Qualification Examination. It can support you to build a competitive edge in the employment market, having knowledge of the forms, procedures, professional conduct and/or client care issues that commonly arise in legal practice.

Preparation for your career

During your studies, you will learn how to research, read and analyse case and statute law. Answering the legal problem questions, used in many of our law modules, will help develop your problem solving skills and give you experience applying the law to real-world scenarios.

We offer a variety of additional opportunities for you to prepare for your career including Legal Advice Clinics, our CLOCK initiative and legal skills competitions. These are valuable, practical experiences that will allow you to develop your skills in preparation for employment.

We also have links with partner organisations including Citizens Advice, the Crown Prosecution Service and law firms in Birmingham, Manchester and London that enable you to gain industry insights and learn from professionals working in the legal field.

Employer engagements

Our Law community at Keele is supportive and inclusive, providing opportunities to network with academics, peers, alumni and employers. Building links with local and national employers can help to support your journey within the legal field and beyond.

Law Fair: Scope your legal career and graduate opportunities. Meet with employers and organisations to understand the graduate attributes required across the legal field, with guidance on applications and recruitment.

Legal Dining: A formal dining event where we aim to pair you with potential employers and inspirational alumni. A great opportunity to network with professionals and an example of the type of events you may attend as a legal professional.

We’re proud to equip you with key professional skills that enable you to embark on your professional career in legal and non-legal roles such as:

Solicitor
Barrister
Lawyer/paralegal
Mediator/Arbitrator
Legal researcher
Human Resources
Business
Teaching and education
Civil Service
Charities
Politics
Journalist

Keele’s Careers and Employability team (Shortlisted for Best University Careers Employment Service - National Undergraduate Employability Awards, 2021), offers a variety of personal and career development opportunities to enhance your employability.

From mock interviews, careers guidance and CV advice, to careers fairs, alumni mentoring and networking events, along with helping you find part-time and graduate employment - the team will support you throughout your studies and beyond.

Find out more about our careers and employability services, including career planning, alumni mentoring, jobs, internships, starting your own business and much more.

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Foundation year

Our Foundation Year provides an excellent alternative route to Keele, providing a unique opportunity to better prepare for your chosen degree, and with guaranteed entry onto your undergraduate course once you successfully complete your Foundation Year.

This extra year of study can improve your academic skills, expand your subject knowledge, give you a better understanding of higher education and, perhaps most importantly of all, build your confidence.

Keele University is consistently ranked among the top universities for student satisfaction, and we have over 70 years' experience of teaching a foundation year to students. On the Keele Foundation Year, you'll study on campus, joining our undergraduate community from the outset, with access to all the facilities and support that you'd get as an undergraduate student at Keele.

The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants. Where an international Foundation Year is available, please see the 'Information for international students' tab.

The information within this section is for students wishing to start their studies in September. If you would like to start this course in January, please visit our January pages for further details.

Course content

Our Foundation Year allows you to develop your critical thinking, academic reading, writing, and communication study skills along with subject-specific knowledge and skills which will be invaluable in your academic studies and beyond. Upon meeting the progression criteria and successfully completing our Foundation Year, you will automatically progress into your Keele undergraduate degree with the confidence that you have the skills, and knowledge needed to successfully complete your course.

This Foundation Year is a two-semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the LLB (Hons) Law with Professional Legal Practice course. For example, the Foundations in Law module provides a foundational understanding of English (Common Law) legal methods and how to apply them to disputes and recent or contemporary issues in society. Course content has been developed in collaboration with degree teaching teams, so that by the time you begin Year 1, you will be ready to excel at your studies, as the majority of our Foundation Year students do.

Find out more about the Keele Foundation Year, including information about teaching and assessment methods by visiting the Foundation Year homepage.

Course structure

The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

Semester one modules

FYO-00247	Foundations: Breaking the code - Understanding Academic Writing	15 credits
FYO-00263	Foundations of Social Sciences - 1	15 credits
FYO-00265	Foundations of Social Sciences - 2	15 credits
FYO-00273	Foundations of Law	15 credits

Semester two modules

FYO-00271	University Research Portfolio	30 credits
FYO-00269	Advancing Social Sciences	30 credits

Entry requirements

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate’s application. Read more about our undergraduate entry requirements.

Between 40-48 UCAS points from at least 1 A level/level 3 qualification or equivalent, or
Relevant work experience

AND

GCSE English Language at grade 4 (C), or Level 2 Functional Skills, or
IELTS 5.5 (with 5.5 in all subtests)

How to apply

Students will need to apply for LLB (Hons) Law with Professional Legal Practice with Foundation Year (UCAS code M102) through UCAS at www.ucas.com

Direct entry students

If you already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office directly.

The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants. Where an international Foundation Year is available, please see the 'Information for international students' tab.

We also offer a January start for some of our Foundation Year courses. Adopting a blended learning approach, the January start is particularly useful for students wishing to return to education following time out of studying, or who are seeking a flexible approach to their Foundation Year studies. Our January start is available across most of our Science, Humanities, Social Science, Health and Business courses.

Whilst still being a full-time course, our blended delivery model combines live teaching sessions - both online and on-campus - with self-directed study, enabling you to predominantly study at a time that suits your lifestyle. You will benefit from weekly online taught sessions which encourage you to engage with your teachers and peers.

In addition to online study there will be a series of full study days that you will be required to attend throughout each semester. These sessions may include lab-based activities, group work, review of course and assessment materials studied online. They will emphasise opportunities for you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of your chosen route.

Please refer to the September start tab for more information about the entry requirements and what you will study. The modules that you will take on a January start Foundation Year will be similar to those for the September start, but on a compressed timescale and tailored to a blended learning approach (with the majority of learning taking place online).

For more information, including fees, the UCAS code for this course, how to apply, and how you will be taught, please visit our January Start Foundation Year webpage.

Our International Foundation Year is delivered on campus through Keele University International College (KUIC). Find out more about the International Foundation Year options on the KUIC website.

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