Degrees Offered

• LLB Honours Law (UCAS Code: M100)
• LLB Honours Law with Politics (UCAS Code: M1L2)
• LLB Honours Common and Civil Law with French (4 years) (UCAS Code: M2R1)
• LLB Honours Common and Civil Law with Spanish (4 years) (UCAS Code: M2R4)

Contact Information

For entrance requirements
E: admissions@qub.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)28 9097 3838

For course information
Professor Gordon Anthony 
School of Law 
T: +44 (0)28 9097 3874 
E: law-enquiries@qub.ac.uk 
W: www.law.qub.ac.uk

Entrance Requirements

LLB Honours
Law 3 yrs (M100)
Law with Politics 3 yrs (M1L2)
Common and Civil Law with French 4 yrs (M2R1)
Common and Civil Law with Hispanic Studies 4 yrs (M2R4)

Entrance Requirements

Law
A-level: AAB
Irish Leaving Certificate: AAB2B2B2B2

Common and Civil Law with French
A-level: AAB including A-level French
Irish Leaving Certificate: AAB2B2B2B2 including Higher Level grade A in French

Common and Civil Law with Hispanic Studies
A-level: AAB including A-level Spanish
Irish Leaving Certificate: AAB2B2B2B2 including Higher Level grade A in Spanish

Law with Politics
A-level: AAB
Irish Leaving Certificate: AAB2B2B2B2

Applications from those returning to education after a break and those offering qualifications other than A-levels or AS-levels are considered individually on their merits.

For students whose first language is not English
An IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each test component or an equivalent acceptable qualification, details of which are available at: http://go.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs

If you are an international student and you do not meet the entrance requirements, you should consider a preparation course at INTO Queen's University Belfast, which will prepare you for successful study on these degree courses. INTO Queen's University Belfast is based on the University campus and offers a range of courses. For a full list click here

The Subject

The primary degree within the School of Law is the LLB (Honours), which takes three years to complete. In conjunction with the School of Modern Languages, we provide a four-year degree in Common and Civil Law with a European language (French or Spanish), and in conjunction with the School of Politics, International Studies and Philosophy, we also provide a three-year degree in Law with Politics. 

Course Content

The undergraduate law degrees offered at Queen's are accredited by legal professional bodies in Northern Ireland, England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland. 

Legal skills are introduced and developed through the pattern of study and assessment for both the three- and four-year degree programmes. 

Law 
All modules in the first and second years of the LLB Single Honours degree are compulsory. Third year study comprises a mix of compulsory and optional modules. 

Common and Civil Law with French 
Law represents two-thirds of the modules studied and French one third. The emphasis in the French modules will be on the French language and French society, although there is also the opportunity to study French literature. The programme includes a year at a French university. 

This four-year degree offers students the opportunity of studying a modern language together with the core Law modules necessary to obtain a recognised Law degree. 

Common and Civil Law with Hispanic Studies 
This degree follows a pattern similar to the Common and Civil Law with French LLB, except that Spanish modules will be substituted for French and students will spend a year at a Spanish university. 

Law with Politics 
This three-year degree offers students the opportunity of taking two Politics modules each year together with the core Law modules necessary to obtain a recognised Law degree.

Learning and Teaching

The course offered in Spanish Studies provides a sound grammatical basis to the language as well as a broadly communicative type of language tuition which looks at specific language situations, and inculcates specific linguistic skills.

Students taking Law with Spanish also follow a specialist language course designed to develop the linguistic skills necessary within the Spanish and international context that relate to both the theoretical and the practical application of law gained in their other modules. This course also introduces them to aspects of the legal environment of Spanish-speaking countries.

A special feature of the Law with Spanish programme is the Year Abroad, where students spend their third year in a Law Faculty at a Spanish University.

The Law School at Queen's is ranked as one of the top Schools in the UK and Ireland. Teaching quality within the School was judged to be 'excellent' and our research was awarded a 5B (excellent) by the UK Higher Education Funding Bodies. There are over 1,000 undergraduate students enrolled in the School, 250 postgraduates, 30 PhD students and almost 50 members of academic staff. You will be taught by scholars from all over the world, many of whom have international reputations in their fields and all are committed teachers and researchers. Students will also have access to an excellent law section in the new library and extensive IT facilities. In addition, the School has active relationships with universities in Ireland, France, Spain, the USA, Canada, South Africa, India, Latin America and Australia through which opportunities for study abroad and staff exchanges are fostered.

The School operates a proactive system of student support. Advisers of Studies are allocated to each degree programme tasked to guide and support you throughout your time with us, together with the School's experienced and helpful administrative staff. In addition,students are allocated a Personal Development Programme Tutor for their time in the School. We place considerable emphasis on facilitating good communication between staff and students. To this end, a Staff-Student Consultative Committee, comprised of elected student representatives, the Advisers and the Director of Education, meets twice each semester. This Committee provides students with a forum in which to raise matters of concern to them and also enables the School to keep students informed about matters affecting the School and wider university.

At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable student to achieve their full academic potential.

On the LLB programmes we do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enables our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world class library that enhances their development as independent, lifelong learners.   Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this course are:

• Lectures: provide information about topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading.  Lectures also provide opportunities to ask questions, gain some feedback and advice on assessments (normally delivered in large groups to all year group peers).

• E-Learning technologies:   Information associated with lectures and assignments is communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Queen’s Online.  A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the degree through, for example:  interactive group workshops in a flexible learning space; IT and statistics modules; podcasts and interactive web-based learning activities; opportunities to use IT programmes associated with design in project- based work etc.

• Seminars/tutorials:  Significant amounts of teaching are carried out in small groups (typically 10-20 students).  These provide an opportunity for students to engage with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess their own progress and understanding with the support of peers.  Students should also expect to make presentations and other contributions to these groups.

• Self-directed study:  This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s Law student when important private reading and research, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out.

• Work placements:  The School of Law facilitates a number of summer internships.   These provide significant learning and employability enhancement opportunities.

• Work-Related Study Tour:  The School sponsors a Law Study Tour to London which is run annually by Careers, Employability and Skills Department.   Selected students spend a week in London visiting the City’s commercial and corporate law firms.  Time is spent taking part in workshops in the various firms and allows students to get an insight into the work undertaken and how these firms operate as well as appreciating what the London firms are looking for in potential employees.

• Personal Development Programme Tutor:  Undergraduates are allocated a PDP Tutor during their time in the School.  Tutors meet with their students on several occasions during the year to support their academic development.

Assessment and Feedback

Assessment (general):  The way in which students are assessed will vary according to the Learning objectives of each module.  Some modules are assessed solely through project work or written assignments.  Others are assessed through a combination of coursework and end of semester examinations.  Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Student Handbook which is provided to all students during their first year induction.

Feedback (general):  As students progress through their course at Queen’s they will receive general and specific feedback about their work from a variety of sources including lecturers, module co-ordinators, placement supervisors, personal tutors, advisers of study and your peers.  University students are expected to engage with reflective practice and to use this approach to improve the quality of their work. Feedback may be provided in a variety of forms including:

• Feedback provided via formal written comments and marks relating to work that students, as individuals or as part of a group, have submitted. 
• Face to face comment.  This may include occasions when students make use of the lecturers’ advertised “office hours” to help address a specific query.
• Placement employer comments or references.
• Online or emailed comment.
• General comments or question and answer opportunities at the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.
• Pre-submission advice regarding the standards you should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid.  In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which students can review in their own time. 
• Feedback and outcomes from practical classes.
• Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as, Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service.

Once students have reviewed their feedback, they are encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of their work. 

Careers

Overview: Studying for a Law degree at Queen’s will assist students in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers, professional organisations and academic institutions.  Graduates from this degree at Queen’s are well regarded by many employers (local, national and international) and over half of all graduate jobs are now open to graduates of any discipline, including Law.

Although a large percentage of our graduates are interested in pursuing careers in Law, significant numbers develop careers in a wide range of other sectors.  The following is a list of the major career sectors (and some starting salaries) that have attracted our graduates in recent years:

• Management Consultancy: £20,000 - £30,000
• Corporate Banking: £20,000
• Purchasing Offier: £21,000
• Export Marketing (NI Programme): £15,000
• Publishing, Media and Performing Arts: £16,000 - £25,000
• Fast Stream Civil Service: £24,500
• Advertising
• Finance
• Law Enforcement and Public Prosecution
• Varied graduate programmes (Times Top 100 UK Graduate Recruiters/ AGR Association of Graduate Recruiters UK)

Employer Links – Consultations: The Law School at Queen’s has a long and well established tradition of regular consultation with legal professional bodies, employers etc.  This includes, for example, The Law Society of Northern Ireland, The Law Society of England and Wales, The Law Society of Ireland, the Institute of Professional Legal Studies and employers from significant legal and other professional firms or organisations (see examples in placements and other employer links below).

Placement Employers:Our past students have also gained work placement with organisations such as:

Other Employer Links:Top international law firms, including the “Magic Circle” law firms, i.e. Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters, Slaughter & May, and many more.

Graduate Careers and Achievements: Many of our former graduates have risen to the top of their fields and include many famous figures; for example:

• Lord (David) Trimble - Former First Minister of Northern Ireland, Nobel Peace Prize Winner and Member of the House of Lords;

• Right Honourable Sir Brian Kerr - Justice of the Supreme Court of UK and former Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland;
• John Larkin QC – Attorney General for Northern Ireland
• Mary McAleese – Former Irish President;
• Lord Eames - Former Anglican Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland;
• Anthony Watson, CBE, Bencher at Lincoln’s Inn.
• Zoe Salmon - Former Miss Northern Ireland and TV presenter;

• Sonia Mac - Cool FM radio DJ;

• Carolyn Stewart - U105 Presenter;

• Wendy Austin - Radio and Television Broadcaster;

• Tim McGarry - Member of the Hole in the Wall Gang;

• Damon Quinn - Member of the Hole in the Wall Gang;

• Michael McDowell - Member of the Hole in the Wall Gang;

• Ciaran Hinds - Actor;

• Kieran Goss - Singer/Songwriter;

• Trevor Ringland - former member of Ulster and Irish Rugby Squads;

• David Humphreys - former member of Ulster and Irish Rugby Squads;

• Peter Dornan - Former Irish League Footballer;

You should also take a look at www.prospects.ac.ukfor further information concerning the types of jobs that attract Law Graduates.

Further study is also an option open to Law graduates. Students can choose to progress to a vocational course (Solicitor or Barrister course) or can choose from a wide range of Masters programmes as well as a comprehensive list of research topics, see: the QUB Law School website.

Other Career-related information: Queen’s is a member of the Russell Group and, therefore, one of the 20 universities most-targeted by leading graduate employers.  Queen’s students will be advised and guided about career choice and, through the Degree Plus initiative, will have an opportunity to seek accreditation for skills development and experience gained through the wide range of extra-curricular activities on offer.  See Queen’s University Belfast fullEmployability Statementfor further information.

Degree Plus and other related initiatives:  Recognising student diversity, as well as promoting employability enhancements and other interests, is part of the developmental experience at Queen’s.  Students are encouraged to plan and build their own personal skill and experiential profile through a range of activities including; recognised Queen’s Certificates, placements and other work experiences (at home or overseas), Erasmus study options elsewhere in Europe, learning development opportunities and involvement in wider university life through activities, such as clubs, societies, and sports. 

Queen’s actively encourages this type of activity by offering students an additional qualification, the Degree Plus Award (and the related Researcher Plus Award for PhD and MPhil students).  Degree Plus accredits wider experiential and skill development gained through extra-curricular activities that promote the enhancement of academic, career management, personal and employability skills in a variety of contexts.  As part of the Award, students are also trained on how to reflect on the experience(s) and make the link between academic achievement, extracurricular activities, transferable skills and graduate employment. Participating students will also be trained in how to reflect on their skills and experiences and can gain an understanding of how to articulate the significance of these to others, e.g. employers.

Overall, these initiatives, and Degree Plusin particular, reward the energy, drive, determination and enthusiasm shown by students engaging in activities over-and-above the requirements of their academic studies. These qualities are amongst those valued highly by graduate employers.

Special Features

Placement: past students have gained work placement with organisations such as the Council of the EU, European Commission, European Parliament, United Nations (UN), Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Council of Europe, and Thomson Reuters. 

Study Abroad: Common and Civil Law with a European language (French or Spanish) students will spend a year at a French or Spanish university.

Last updated 30.09.13