Foundation Year Foundation in Law

In this module, you’ll gain a strong understanding of the English and Welsh Legal System. You’ll gain the knowledge you need to study law at degree-level and the role of the courts. You’ll have a firm grasp of the sources of law in a common law system, and how the courts work in England and Wales. You’ll also visit a court, and gain an understanding of how courts operate.

You'll develop an understanding of the key principles of criminal responsibility and build essential legal skills by learning how to solve complex legal problems.

You'll enhance your legal, problem-solving, case reading and statutory interpretation skills as you explore the principles that underpin criminal liability. You'll examine offences such as murder, manslaughter, theft, fraud, offences against the person and sexual offences, alongside key legal defences including self-defence, duress, insanity and automatism.

Using case law and real legal scenarios, you'll learn how criminal law is applied in practice while developing the analytical and legal reasoning skills that underpin both your degree and future legal practice.

In this module, you’ll gain the core knowledge to succeed in your Foundation in Law course. You’ll develop key skills in how to undertake a research project in law. You’ll get to know legal databases, and the process of managing and carrying out a research project.

In this module, you’ll develop the tools you need to study Law successfully at university. You’ll gain excellent organisation and time management skills, crucial to studying the law in the full workload of an LLB Degree. You’ll gain the critical skills to read widely and purposefully. You’ll also learn how to take notes effectively while reading, as well as write clearly and correctly.

In this module, you’ll develop key skills for practising law. You’ll develop core knowledge of criminal advocacy, which is when you make your client’s case to the court. You’ll get to know the criminal procedure of a Crown Court Trial, and develop your ability to communicate confidently and persuasively when speaking in public. You’ll gain the oral presentation skills you need for criminal advocacy in the Crown Court, and you’ll learn these skills through video recording, feedback and analysis.

In this module, you’ll gain core skills in legal writing, accelerating your chances of success in your Foundation in Law course, and later LLB degree. You’ll learn how to use journal articles to enhance your legal analysis. You’ll also have the opportunity to practice your legal writing, allowing you to improve continually.

In this module, you’ll get to understand the law of Contract, which governs and enforces how, and when, we make legal agreements. You’ll understand Contract Law from the point of view of a consumer, and understand the most recent law on consumer rights. You’ll gain a strong understanding of statutory interpretation - how courts interpret and apply the law. You’ll also gain key skills in problem solving, vital to practicing the law.

This module gives you the chance to do independent research on a fascinating legal subject. You’ll gain core skills for studying the law at degree-level, as you identify, define and complete your own research project. You’ll base your project on one of three topics, centered around our staff’s research interests, meaning you’ll always be taught by an expert. You’ll have expert guidance and one-to-one support from your supervisor, who will help you as you get to know your topic.