On this interdisciplinary law degree, you'll get to understand how legal topics fit within politics, developing your knowledge of how law works within the context of the world around us.
You will learn about the theory and practice of law and develop an understanding of its social, political, historical and comparative contexts. You will explore the importance of politics in society, considering the development of political policy and the principles of freedom and equality.
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 factual situations.
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 demonstrate your knowledge and apply your learning to real-life scenarios.
LEGAL ADVICE CLINICS
At Keele, we have dedicated Legal Advice Clinics where, upon successful application, you will be trained and supervised by experienced Solicitors to deliver legal services, from the start of the client enquiry through to the resolution of their query. 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.
This valuable legal work experience will be advantageous to your professional development. You can record your experience on HEAR (Higher Education Achievement Report) to showcase your volunteer work at university and use as your portfolio when you graduate.
Divorce Clinic - You will meet clients and advise on eligibility to divorce, and continue to help them navigate the various court forms required. You will research the law, draft divorce proceedings, court documents, and gain real life experience of helping clients at a difficult time in their lives. You will be responsible for keeping the client updated throughout the proceedings, learning in a safe supervised environment.
We offer our services online and in person so have a variety of clients across the country.
Commercial Clinic – Based online and at the Smart Innovation Hub (SIH) at Keele University, you will work with small businesses, entrepreneurs and employers to provide advice on a variety of areas of commercial law. You will advise on how to trade, for example as a partnership or company.
You will advise on the duties of directors in a company as well as drafting and amending terms and conditions of business for a variety of businesses. This commercial legal work experience provides an introduction to the work commonly done by general commercial lawyers at many law firms and provides a valuable legal service to start ups and SMEs. You will have the opportunity to have direct links with businesses in a working environment.
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 the Citizens Advice Bureau, 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.
This opportunity is available between your 2nd and 3rd year of study where, upon successful application, you will be trained 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
You will be trained by the partnership as a Community Legal Companion to signpost for legal aid and where not available, assist within the remit of the McKenzie Friend principles to assist:
Filling in court forms
Arrange court paperwork
Accompany in court proceedings
Note taking
MOOTING (A MOCK APPEAL HEARING ON A POINT OF LAW)
Challenge your peers through 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. Such events sometimes attract members of the bar and legal academics, providing a great networking opportunity.
STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD
PLACEMENT YEAR
Get hands-on experience with a placement year between 2nd and 3rd year. This valuable opportunity is a great way to make connections and build a network of professionals within the field. You will be able to demonstrate industry experience and showcase your ability to support the workplace with your expertise in the legal field. This can be a great way of deciding which career path or legal profession you wish to pursue after your degree programme and network with lawyers and solicitors.
We also have work placements with partner organisations including the Citizens Advice Bureau, the Crown Prosecution Service and law firms in Birmingham, Manchester and London. These are short term work placements and therefore remain as part of your 3 year degree programme.
INTERNATIONAL YEAR
Enhance your career prospects with an International Year at one of our partner institutions. Utilising 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, 'with International Year.' 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.
PATHWAYS
We offer a variety of pathways to a qualifying law degree. You can also undertake an LLB in:
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.
Our Course Information Documents (CIDs) are designed to give you all of the details you need to make an informed decision about what and where to study.
The Moot Court Room at Keele University, is home to our mooting activities and a place for you to put the theory into practice and apply your knowledge. This practical element enables you to prepare for your legal career by providing you with an environment similar to that within the legal profession. This will contribute to the valuable experience it provides including developing your public speaking skills, working under pressure and collaborating with fellow aspiring legal professionals.
Mootingis also advantageous as it provides you with a refined skillset and demonstrable experience that is valued by legal professionals. You will find that this practice provides an all round summary of the theory of law and its practical application.
STUDENT SOCIAL SPACE
We have a social space within the Law School which law students use for group work and meetings. Our student societies also use the room for some of their activities.
LEGAL ADVICE CLINIC
Our legal advice clinic room provides a space for confidential group work on client files as well as facilities to enable online client meetings.
TEACHING
You will be taught in facilities across Keele campus and be able to work in central spaces such as the library and independent study spaces. This will enable you to focus on independent assessments as well as encourage group learning. You may also wish to use our dedicated law library for silent study.
Foundation year
You may choose to study this course via foundation year.
If you’re returning to education following a break, wish to study a new subject or don’t have the grades or sufficient equivalent experience for direct entry to this course, a foundation year may be a good option for you.
Following successful completion (including any additional progression requirements) of the foundation year you can progress on to this course.
The foundation year offers September starts across all subjects, and January starts across all science, humanities, social sciences and business routes.
If you do not meet the requirements for direct entry into the LLB (Hons) Law with Politics course, our Foundation Year can provide an alternative route into your degree.
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 community from the outset, and you will have access to a range of support.
Read on to find out about:
Foundation Year indicative modules for the September intake
Foundation Year entry requirements
How to apply
UCAS code for this course
The information within this page 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 Politics 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.
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 for United Kingdom, European Union and International students.
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 Politics with Foundation Year (UCAS code M1L5) 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.
We are interested in a broad range of qualities, not just your points on entry. We would like to learn more about you, your interests, experiences and motivation to study.
We would be delighted to talk to you about your work experience (paid or voluntary) and qualifications, and help you to explore your options for study with us.
Going to university can be a daunting as well as an exciting experience. It can be difficult to understand the true costs of being a student, as well as the financial support that is available to help you meet those costs.
We can help you to manage your funds, create a budget and ensure that you receive any funding for which you may be eligible. We also offer financial support such as the Keele University Hardship Fund and emergency loans.
96% of Keele graduates were in a job or further study within six months of graduating (HESA, 2017)
ENHANCE YOUR EMPLOYABILITY
This degree will provide excellent preparation for a wide range of careers. You’ll study both law and politics as distinct subjects, but you’ll consider where they intersect as disciplines. This programme is accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board and is a qualifying law degree, offering the current professional exemptions you need to train to practise as a solicitor or barrister. It also opens up a range of other careers, some requiring further study or training, including the police, probation, prison or courts services, human rights, transnational law, central or local government, and as an assistant or researcher for an MP.
Our graduates work in a range of different legal and non legal roles and in a wide range of sectors, including:
Solicitor
Barrister
Lawyer/paralegal
Mediator/Arbitrator
3rd sector organisations (charities)
Civil service (both national and international)
Legal researcher
Business and commerce
Politics
Human Resources
Teaching (at all levels of education)
Legal technologist
Journalist
Your degree programme and practical activities and opportunities mentioned above will help to prepare you for your next steps after graduation. At Keele, there are lots of opportunities available alongside your degree programme that will enable you to hit the ground running, including opportunities to discuss your options with potential employers. This includes events such as:
Law Fair: An opportunity to scope your legal career aspirations and graduate opportunities. Meet with employers and organisations to understand the skill set required in the legal world and guidance on applications.
Legal Dining: A formal dining event where we aim to pair you with potential employers and inspirational alumni. This is a great opportunity to network with professionals and is also an example of the type of events you may attend as a legal professional.
Both the theoretical and practical skillset that you will develop throughout the programme are diverse and applicable to a range of sectors. Law has relevance to almost every type of organisation.
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.
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.
There are a range of additional opportunities available when studying this course. Please note, undertaking one may impact upon the availability of another.
