Law
Law
Our aim is to help you secure a successful job after your studies by providing you with a comprehensive and professionally relevant legal education. At the University of West London, we have over 50 years of experience in teaching law and our law degrees are designed with vocational skills in mind and informed by industry.
Our highly qualified staff, who are experts in law and legal practice, deliver law courses that provide a well-rounded, skills-based education. As a law student, you will have access to dedicated facilities including a law library, mock courtroom, computing facilities, and virtual support via Blackboard.
Our alumni are working in senior positions as barristers and solicitors, providing you with a valuable network of contacts. We also offer a range of professional and social events, student societies, and University initiatives to support your studies.
Our LLB (Hons) Law degree is ranked 2nd in the UK in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2022, and we also offer a range of postgraduate law degrees to boost your legal knowledge and allow you to focus on specific areas of interest.
Take a step towards a successful career in law and explore our undergraduate and postgraduate law courses below.
Law undergraduate courses
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LLB (Hons) Law (West London Campus)
West London Campus
Law postgraduate courses
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LLM International Banking and Finance Law (West London Campus)
West London Campus
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LLM International Business and Commercial Law (West London Campus)
West London Campus
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LLM International Studies in Intellectual Property Law (West London Campus)
West London Campus
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LLM Legal Practice (West London Campus)
West London Campus
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PgDip Legal Practice (LPC) (West London Campus)
West London Campus
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LLM Legal Practice (Top-up) (West London Campus)
West London Campus
Employability
At UWL, we strive to equip our students with real-world experience and expertise through a plethora of exciting opportunities. Check out some of the incredible opportunities recently offered to our students studying a law degree:
Sky offices visit
UWL’s School of Law students visited media and entertainment company Sky’s offices in Isleworth. Students heard from two trainee lawyers about a day in their lives at the media giant and their career journeys.
Students heard presentations from the lawyers who helped bring Sky Glass - a streaming TV with Sky inside - to life, including lawyers from the content, distributions and partnerships, tech, operations and consumer teams. They also visited the Innovation Lab to see Sky Glass and had a tour of the offices.
Pinsent Masons insight day
Pinsent Masons, a leading City law firm, offered first-year law students hoping to pursue a career in commercial law in the City the opportunity to attend an in-person insight day.
Participants enjoyed presentations and meetings with partners, as well as a commercial awareness workshop from graduate recruitment. The Pinsent Masons' graduate recruitment team provided tips and guidance on applications and interviews, while also sharing information about the Pinsent Masons 1st Year Programme.
Additionally, the insight day included a networking reception that allowed participants to connect with associates, trainees, and graduate recruitment.
Macfarlanes Scheme open to first-year LLB students
Macfarlanes offers two work experience placements to first-year LLB students. Students who have participated in the past have described it as a wonderful experience that provided an opportunity to learn more about working for a top City law firm. Additionally, they have noted that the experience has given them an advantage when seeking roles.
The Student career compass
NatWest and a group of UK employers held an event for final-year students in January. The event covered various opportunities in Finance, Investment Banking, Real Estate, Cyber Security, Management Consultancy, and more. The event was held in London and streamed via Zoom. Attendees gained insights into career trajectories, graduate and non-graduate schemes, how to make strong applications, and more. The event also provided CV and personal statement critiques by experts.
Quadrant Chambers - Opening Evening (virtual event)
Student, especially those interested in the Commercial Bar, applying for pupillage in 2023, were able to attend the Open Evening. The evening featured workshops and talks that covered pupillage, life at Quadrant, the commercial bar, and other relevant topics. Attendees also had the opportunity to watch the final of the Virtual Speed Moot.
The Women in Chambers event open to students of all genders at any stage of legal study who were interested in a career at the Commercial Bar. The event took the form of a panel discussion where some of the female barristers at Quadrant discussed the reality of life at the Commercial Bar. They were at different stages in their careers, from pupils and new tenants through to our female Head of Chambers, Poonam Melwani KC. They gave a range of perspectives on their work, the challenges and rewards, and how the career affected their work/life balance.
Magistrates' courts Work Shadowing and Mentoring Programme
Law students had the opportunity to participate in a Work Shadowing and Mentoring Programme with HMCTS, offered through a new initiative with HM Court Services. The programme provides work experience at 10 different court locations, including magistrates' courts, crown courts, county courts, and tribunals. Participants observe a variety of court cases, such as remand cases, trials, domestic abuse cases, and breach courts, and may shadow a court usher. The programme aims to offer students the opportunity to experience multi-jurisdictional courts and work with a legal team.
Accordion
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Why study law at the University of West London?
At the School of Law, our courses have been designed to provide you with a well-rounded, skills-based and professionally relevant qualification. We provide numerous opportunities for work experience and simulate real legal procedures and debates in our mock courtroom, ensuring you develop strong knowledge of how the law works in practice.
We have strong links with the judiciary, local firms, barrister chambers and Middlesex Law Society. Our campus is only a short distance away from central London, the centre of the legal world, where you'll find the Inns of Court, Royal Courts of Justice and Old Bailey.
Our Student Law Society has a lively and well established Mooting Society which hosts regular mooting events, including competitions against teams from other institutions. We’re also proud of the social side of our School, with regular events and speakers from our impressive network of partners across the city.
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What do I need to study law?
The exact entry requirements are specified on each course page. If you would like to study one of our undergraduate law degrees but do not quite have the subjects or grades at Level 3 you need, you might be interested in completing a foundation year course. These four-year degrees have an integrated foundation year to prepare you for undergraduate-level study.
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What law careers are there for graduates?
A law degree could set you on the path to becoming a solicitor, barrister, chartered legal executive or paralegal. Solicitors specialise in many different areas of law, they can be employed by companies or charities, local or central government. Such individuals are known as in-house lawyers, while those who work at law firms are known as private practice solicitors. Solicitors may work in a variety of firms, ranging from two-partner niche practices to those with hundreds of partners and offices in several different countries.
Other forms of lawyers:
- legal executive
- licensed conveyancer
- paralegal
There are many other careers where legal expertise and related skills are valued. You could work in advice and guidance, the civil service, crime prevention or human resources amongst other areas, high street firms - advising on the purchase of a new house or on a divorce, or representing accused in criminal matters, or employment.
Browse our law courses to find the one that interests you and learn more about your career progression and potential law jobs.
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How will the modules be taught?
Each module has three phases for each week of teaching
Investigate:
You will engage in face-to-face lectures which include interactive activities plus MCQs, reading and videos
Apply:
`You will have the opportunity to engage through working in a small group in seminars/tutorials, as well as through group work, peer-work and feedback.
You will use case studies to evaluate problem-based tasks and link them to professional/work practice.
Consolidate:
You will practice through follow-up tests/tasks, reading and discussion forums and further feedback. You will extend your understanding through research journals and further study
Forms of Assessment
- Essays, usually 1500 words
- Pre released exams
- Timed exams (unseen) – only levels 5 and 6
- Multiple choice questions
- Presentations
- Portfolio
- Short answer questions
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What transferable skills will I gain on the law course?
Legal practice is not just about academic ability, you will gain additional valuable skills:
- professional responsibility
- commercial awareness
- flexibility and a positive approach to new ideas and concepts
- numeracy skill
- commitment to continuous personal development
- problem-solving skills
- dedication, commitment and a capacity for hard work
- communication skills – written and oral
- IT skills
- an ability to deal with a high and unpredictable workload
- interpersonal skills.
Legal work experience opportunities
If you decide to enrol with us, you'll have the chance to participate in several legal work experience programs. These programs offer valuable hands-on experiences in the field of law, enabling you to develop essential skills, expand your professional network, and boost your confidence.
Our courses are designed to provide you with unique opportunities to immerse yourself in the practical aspects of law, gain valuable insights, and enhance your employability.
Here are some of the programmes we are involved with:
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West London Equality Centre
The School of Law partners with one of the most successful law clinics in the country: West London Equality Centre (WLEC)
Based in Ealing, West London, this legal charity has been running the Community Advice Programme (CAP), which provides free legal advice and casework assistance to members of the community, for over 30 years.
The organisation has seen huge numbers of vulnerable people coming to depend on its services, and the exceptional purpose that having CAP represents to the community cannot be overemphasised, not only in terms of value for the service users but also as a vital training platform for law students and other volunteer cohorts.
Volunteering and Mentoring
Through WLEC's volunteering and mentorship programmes, students from the University of West London are provided practical learning opportunities in a busy legal environment.
From working with and shadowing experienced senior colleagues, you can gain unique employability experience and vital upskilling to help them make inroads into the legal profession.
In fact, several law student volunteers have been mentored unto becoming solicitors through the Solicitors Regulatory Authority [SRA] equivalent means route.
Past and present advisers include many former students, including Karon Monaghan, QC, and Ricky Singh, who was awarded an honorary degree for outstanding contribution to the University and local community.
WLEC assists members of the local community with advice and assistance in the following areas of law:
- employment
- discrimination and human rights
- housing
- family
- consumer
- immigration.
WLEC also assists Ealing Equality Council with its discrimination casework, including employment matters.
When and where
- The fortnightly Saturday service (term-time only) is held between 11 am and 1.30 pm - approximately 18 sessions per year
- Address: West London Quality Centre, Villiers House, Haven Green, London, W5 2PA
- In addition to the Saturday service, WLEC also runs a thrice-weekly advice session in partnership with West London solicitors, MTG. There is also an outreach service at Copley Close estate.
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Ealing Advice Service
The Ealing Advice Service is the main advice provider in Ealing and a leading not-for-profit advice innovator in West London.
They provide generalist advice across various areas of laws including consumer, contract, debt, employment, homelessness, landlord and tenant, immigration and welfare rights. They also provide specialist assistance to tribunal level in benefits, employment and housing.
Volunteering
UWL has a strong relationship with EAS and there may be an opportunity for some voluntary work experience. This could involve:
providing an assessment of enquiries incoming on the telephone advice line
giving advice on social welfare law matters
progressing cases via the adviceline
finding out and interpreting relevant information and exploring options
recording clear, accurate case records.
For those who demonstrate commitment and ability, there is an opportunity to become caseworker assistants and undertake casework.
What will the time commitment be? Volunteers will need to be available for 7- 14 hours per week for three months (14 hours per week for 6 months to receive the accredited training). Days and times are flexible.
What will volunteers get out of this? Bespoke and accredited training is given in all major areas of social welfare law. Expert supervision and support from experienced advisers and on-the-job training with the aim of developing your skills and knowledge.
Person specification - what type of volunteers are needed? You should have good interpersonal and communication skills including a good telephone manner; strong computer literacy skills; be reliable and be able to use your initiative. Knowledge of a community language is also desirable.
Student placements
If you are a student on the LLB (Hons) course, you will be able to apply for placements at WLEC and Ealing Advice Service.
It's a great way to help people, earn legal work experience and strengthen your CV.
Graduate opportunities
Fast Stream graduate opportunities
Get on the Fast Stream and you’ll be encouraged, enabled and empowered to become a Civil Service leader, tackling the issues that matter to you and UK life. Whatever you want to achieve, whatever your degree subject or background, there’s something here for you.
The Fast Stream offers proactive and open-minded graduates a range of schemes, each designed to accelerate your progression to the most senior Civil Service roles. With opportunities nationwide, each scheme offers high-quality structured learning, on-the-job coaching and mentoring, and a career path within a government profession.
This year we’re launching a new Generalist – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) option. While we’re keen to attract more people with STEM degrees, we continue to offer opportunities for graduates across all degree subjects.
You can select up to 4 scheme preferences when you apply. To find out more about our schemes and what the Fast Stream can offer visit: www.faststream.co.uk
Pupillage and Training contracts
Last year our students were able to make applications for pupillage, Training contracts or vacation schemes at the firms and chambers below:
Facilities
Facilities
Mock courtroom
Our mock courtroom is used for teaching trial skills, mooting competitions and other advocacy exercises. Opened in 2015, this facility will give you a realistic experience of life in the courtroom, helping you to hone your skills in presenting arguments to the judge and jury.
The law library
The University of West London Library has an excellent collection of law related resources including:
- printed law reports
- statutes
- the LPC Room for Legal Practice Course students.