Birmingham City University : Legal Studies - HND

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Legal Studies - HND

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Summary
  • Campus
  • Birmingham Metropolitan College and City North Campus
  • Tariff
  • 160
  • Duration
  • Full Time: 2 years

Key Facts

  • A rigorous and satisfying appreciation of legal studies, a stepping stone to the full LLB (Hons), and perfect for mature students with relevant work-based experience.
  • Gives you two qualifications: the HND, and a Certificate in Higher Education entitling you to progress to Level 5 of the LLB (Hons) Law at the University.
  • Recognised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board as providing exemptions from the academic stage of training.
  • Placement module enables you to gain valuable work experience and useful contacts with legal professionals, as well as achieving academic credit.
  • Strong professional links with Birmingham Law Society (the UK’s largest Law Society outside London), the four Inns of Court, especially Lincoln’s Inn and Inner Temple.
  • You attend both the University and Birmingham Metropolitan College, enjoying the facilities of both institutions, with access to all libraries and IT resources, and sharing experiences and activities alongside full-time LLB students.

Why Choose Us?

  • University’s outstanding law facilities include a Virtual Solicitors’ Office, and two mock law courts let you taste the atmosphere of legal cut and thrust.
  • Employability is embedded into our HND programmes with a compulsory skills module - Skills, Process and Scholarship. 
  • The University’s Thriving Mooting Society who:
    • Organise a range of internal mooting and social activities throughout the academic year.
    • Enter mooting teams in a variety of pretigious national mooting competitions including the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting, Oxford University Press, English Speaking Union and the Inner Temple Inter-Varsity Competition. 
    • Have reached five finals of national mooting competitions in the past eight years.
    • Have beaten eight of the elite Russell Group of universities in the past eight years.
    • Are sponsored by LexisNexis Butterworths for the School of Law Internal Mooting Competition.
  • The Student Legal Society, run by students for students, arranges social and academic activities throughout the year.
Course Outline

This programme attracts students from a range of backgrounds:

  • Those who have studied law at GCSE or A Level, or who have studied the subject as part of another course;
  • Those who have an interest in Law, but have not achieved the A Level grades to allow them to join the LLB degree;
  • Mature students who have acquired relevant work-based experience.

You will have the opportunity to gain an HND qualification which is widely regarded by employers. If you wish to continue your legal studies, you may complete your LLB degree at Birmingham City University.

Course Structure

You will study all the core modules from Level 4 of the LLB degree at Birmingham City University. These modules are split between Year 1 and Year 2 of the HND Legal Studies programme, and successful completion of these LLB core modules will give students a Certificate in Higher Education and entitle them to progress to Year 2 of the LLB.

Additionally, you will choose from a range of module options related to aspects of Law. These will enable you to further your interest in psychology, forensic science or litigation. Successful completion of the HND-specific modules, as well as the LLB core modules will give you an HND in Legal Studies. Assessment of HND-specific modules is varied; you will be writing reports, engaging in research and making oral presentations.

Once enrolled at Birmingham City University you will attend both Birmingham Metropolitan College and the University for lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops. You will enjoy the facilities of both institutions and have access to and borrowing rights from all university libraries and IT resources. This collaboration of teaching and learning arrangement enables you to experience educational and social activities alongside full-time LLB students.

Many former HND students have completed their degrees and gone on to qualify as solicitors. Students must appreciate at the outset, however, that entry into the legal profession is very competitive and that the hard work necessary for success must begin on entry to the HND Legal Studies programme.

Modules

Module options in years 1 and 2 include:

  • Crime and Deviance
  • The Justice System In the UK
  • Civil Litigation
  • Criminal Litigation
  • Scenes Of Crime
  • Forensic Psychology
  • Citizens Rights 
Module Credit
YEAR 1
Skills, Processes and Scholarship 30
Criminal Law 30
Option 15
Option 15
Option 15
Option 15
YEAR 2
Law Of Tort 30
Law Of Contract 30
Work Placement 30
Option 15
Option 15

Placements

The Work Placement module in Year 2 of the HND Legal Studies programme enables you to gain valuable work experience, yet at the same time achieve academic credit. By finding suitable work experience in a legal environment, you will forge contacts with legal professionals which could prove invaluable at the end of your studies when you are seeking full-time positions.

Assessments

Assessment of core stage one LLB modules is identical to that of the LLB (Hons) Law programme at Birmingham City University. Option modules are assessed through a combination of examinations, coursework and oral and written presentations. Considerable emphasis is placed upon the achievement of common skills by all students.

Your Career

Career Prospects

The HND is a vocational qualification highly regarded by employers. This course will prepare you particularly, although not exclusively, for employment in the expanding field of paralegal work.

If you wish to qualify as a solicitor or barrister, you will have the opportunity to complete an LLB degree at Birmingham City University. The core modules studied are recognised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board as forming part of a ‘qualifying’ Law degree if you complete your LLB with us.

Further Study Options

As a successful graduate of the HND you would be eligible to continue to stage two of any of the LLB degrees. For more information please see the courses section of the website.

Entry Requirements & Applications

Entry Requirements

  • 160 points, which must include one subject at A2 Level and GCSE English Language at Grade C or above (or equivalent).
  • Applicants with BTEC National or GNVQ Advanced qualifications will also be considered, as will mature students without formal entry qualifications and students with professional qualifications such as ILEX.
  • Mature applicants with non-standard or Access to Higher Education course qualifications are encouraged to apply.
  • Advanced Diplomas and Progression Diplomas in appropriate disciplines (such as Business) are acceptable as all or part of the required tariff points.

Application Details

FT UCAS Course Code: 039M

Search for this course on UCAS.

Enquiries

Prospective students from the UK or EU may enquire online by using the Course Enquiry Form or call +44 (0)121 331 5595.

Prospective students from non-EU countries may enquire via the International Enquiry Form or call +44 (0)121 331 6714.

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