Undergraduate Studies: LLB Law Programmes 24pp-Sept15-V20.pdf · Undergraduate Studies: LLB Law Programmes. 98% of students on the Swansea LLB are ... In all degree schemes students

College of Law & Criminology

www.swansea.ac.uk/law

Undergraduate Studies:

LLB Law Programmes

98%of students on the Swansea LLB are

satisfied with the course (NSS 2015).

The College of Law and Criminology at Swansea University has achieved the top position for law in England and Wales in the 2015 National Student Survey (NSS).


Why not like us on Facebook? Search for Swansea Law

You can follow us on Twitter @Swansea_Law

LLB Law Undergraduate Studies at Swansea University

CONTENTSWelcome 4-5

What does the study of law involve? 6

Degree schemes 7

Single Honours LLB Law Programmes 8

Structure of the Degree Schemes 9

Law and Modern Languages: The year abroad 10

Joint Honours LLB Law Programmes 11

Optional Modules 12

Learning and Teaching 13

The International Perspective 14

Student Support 15

Pastoral Support 16

Careers and Work Experience 17

Swansea Student Life 18–19

Swansea: The University and the City 20–21

Further Study 22

Entry Requirements and Contact Details 23

3Undergraduate Legal Studies LLB Programmes www.swansea.ac.uk/law

Thank you for your interest in studying Law at Swansea. Here at the College of Law and Criminology we are very proud of our undergraduate provision and we put a lot of energy into ensuring that our students get the best possible university experience. We seek to ensure that our students have every opportunity to reach their potential. We also work hard at communicating with and listening to our students. We want our students to feel that they belong to part of an academic community here in the College.

Welcome to the College of Law & Criminology

4 Undergraduate Legal Studies LLB Programmes www.swansea.ac.uk/law

We are delighted to report that our students have been giving us very positive feedback. In the 2015 National Student Survey, we achieved the (joint) highest rating in England and Wales for undergraduate Law student satisfaction: 98% of our students were satisfied with their course. In the same survey, 100% expressed the view that our lecturers are effective teachers and 95% reported that the course had been intellectually stimulating. All areas were rated highly. These results speak for themselves!

On the following pages you will find further information about our undergraduate courses. We offer a variety of single and joint honours courses, giving you an unusually wide range of Law courses from which to choose. Some of our courses involve specialising in particular areas of the law, such as Criminal Law; others allow you to combine your legal studies with a language, or other academic discipline.

We hope you will be able to find a course to suit you, no matter what your particular interests or career aspirations.

Law Admissions Team

My time at Swansea University has been second to none; it has provided me with remarkable experiences and fantastic memories.”


The study of law demands a methodical, inquisitive and rigorous analytical approach. You will be required to examine a large volume of diverse legal materials ranging from Supreme Courts judgments to European Community Directives. Through the teaching provided, the academic staff will challenge and inspire you to be an engaged learner. Lectures are intended to enable students to undertake further study. Much independent follow-up work is expected, and rigorous preparation is required for the regular seminars.

While the demands are high, so too are the rewards. From the foundation of learning what the law is, you will develop the intellectual skills to enable you to ‘think like a lawyer’. These include identifying legal issues from facts involving disagreement among a number of parties. You will be required to apply and reason with abstract legal concepts.

A conclusion is also required, even though there will frequently be no absolutely correct or decisive answer to the facts before you. In this process, bare assertion counts for very little. Legal arguments need to be informed by the rules and concepts established by the legislature and the Judiciary. The skill of the lawyer is in identifying and using these sources of law, in a process of legal reasoning, and of convincing us that their view is more persuasive than any opposing view.

Scholarship in law involves placing legal rules in their social, political, economic and philosophical contexts. Legal developments frequently have ramifications for one or more of these perspectives, and these impacts have to be carefully weighed and expressed in policy arguments.

Should a victim of negligence by a railway company be able to recover substantial compensation when scarce resources are required to improve the condition and safety of the rail network? To what extent, if at all, should the criminal justice procedure be different for those suspected of terrorist activities? In what circumstances and to what extent should children be criminally liable for their actions?

We immediately recognise here that laws cannot provide a complete answer, and that the content of legal rules must be informed by considerations reflecting the values of our society.

Choosing law will enable you to expand your intellectual skills in the context of a discipline which touches upon every aspect of human endeavour. As the degree progresses you will notice a marked improvement in your ability to manage large amounts of materials, to express yourself in an organised and convincing manner both in writing and orally, and to evaluate the strength of arguments you encounter. Not only will this give you a sense of personal satisfaction, but you will also have acquired skills which are highly relevant to a range of career options attracting competitive salaries.

What does the study of law involve?

“ My three years studying law at Swansea University has been memorable. Not only have I obtained a degree in a subject that I’m passionate about but I have also made some great lifelong friends, gained valuable experience through work experience placements and an internship and I have developed and matured both intellectually and as a person, all of which will benefit me in my future and chosen career path. I aspire to be a solicitor and I am starting the Legal Practice Course (LPC) in Swansea in 2015.”

Catherine Morse – LLB Law

“ Studying Law at Swansea University has provided me with so many opportunities. From mooting competitions, to an internship, and the chance to participate in a cultural exchange in Nanjing, China, Swansea Law has really helped me in more than just academic terms, and really helped me get a footing in such a competitive industry. Through networking opportunities, Swansea Law has helped me to make crucial contacts, and prepared me for a career in the legal sector.”

Leah Ellison – LLB Law


Degree Schemes

Qualifying Law Degree Status

All the LLB degrees by Swansea Law are recognised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Council as qualifying law degrees.

LLB Single Honours Degrees

LLB degrees offered UCAS COURSE CODE

LLB Single Honours M100

LLB Single Honours Law (Crime and Criminal Justice) MM12

LLB Law (Business Law) M28G

LLB Joint Honours Degrees

LAW and UCAS COURSE CODE

> American Studies MT17

> American Studies (4 years, year 3 in US) MT1R

> Criminology MM19

> French (4 years) MR11

> German (4 years) MR12

> History MVC1

> Italian (4 years) MR13

> Media MP47

> Politics LM21

> Spanish (4 years) MR14

> Welsh (3 or 4 years) MQ15“ I found Swansea to be my second home, with a welcoming and ever helpful staff, the IT facilities are excellent and you can access them at the spacious library. While studying law as a second year student, I am part of the University’s rifle shooting and Jiu-Jitsu team and the best time I spent was with my flat mates in Preseli during my first year, which was a learning experience plus all facilities were nearby and students are taken well care of.”

“ I thoroughly enjoyed my time studying law at Swansea. The course is well structured and the department and law society provided a range of opportunities for you to get involved in, such as work placements. I carried out a summer work placement in JCP solicitors, a local firm in Swansea. In addition to lectures there are compulsory seminars. The smaller more personal seminars helped increase my confidence and provided the guidance and support needed for me to comfortably apply the law in exams. My personal and module tutors were brilliant; they were approachable and did their best to help with any issues or questions I had.”

Syed Bilal Ali – LLB Law

Harriet Morris – LLB Law


The Single Honours LLB is by far the most popular choice for law students in the UK. The Single Honours degree allows students to focus their study solely on law and to maximise the number of law options that can be selected as part of their degree programme.

A distinctive feature of our Single Honours programmes is that all the compulsory foundation modules required for a qualifying law degree are completed at Levels 4 (first year) and 5 (second year), which leaves our students with a wide range of choices at Level 6 (final year). The benefit of this approach is that it gives our students the autonomy to choose from an impressive array of optional modules (listed at p.12) thereby enabling them to tailor their degree to their interests, career plans and strengths.

All the Swansea LLB schemes adopt a semesterised structure which permits students to spend the second semester of the second year to engage in work experience or undertake study abroad.

For those students who do not ordinarily embark on a year abroad as part of their degree, it is possible to apply to undertake a four year LLB, which includes a year of study (via the medium of English) in a European country, including Universities in Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland.

Single Honours LLB Law Programmes

“ Experience after experience has proved to me that in choosing to study law at Swansea University has opened several doors of opportunities. I am now confident in the ambitious future goals I wish to pursue. I know that I will continue to appreciate the endless aspects, fields and positions that my law degree has empowered me with.”

Jood Alharthi – LLB Law


In all degree schemes students accumulate 360 credits over 3 years/levels or 480 credits over 4 years/levels.

LLB Single Honours

All first year (level 4) students will study Induction/Legal Skills (0 credits).

LLB SINGLE HONOURS

First Year (level 4)

Semester One Semester Two

MODULE CREDIT RATING MODULE CREDIT RATING

Public Law I 15 Public Law II 15

EU Law I 15 EU Law II 15

Law of Contract I 15 Law of

Contract II 15

Law of Tort I 15 Law of Tort II 15

Second Year (level 5)

Equity & Trusts I 15 Equity & Trusts II 15

Criminal Law I 15 Criminal Law II 15

Land Law I 15 Land Law II 15

Optional module 15 Optional

module 15

Third Year (level 6)

Law Options 3 x 20 credits Law Options 3 x 20 credits

For those students who are pursuing a specialist degree in Crime and Criminal Justice or Business Law students must pursue 120 credits in cognate modules during their final year.

LLB Joint Honours

All first year (level 4) students will study Induction/Legal Skills (0 credits).

LLB JOINT HONOURS

First Year (level 4)

Semester One Semester Two

MODULE CREDIT RATING MODULE CREDIT RATING

Public Law I 10 Public Law II 10

EU Law I 10 EU Law II 10

Law of Contract I 10 Law of

Contract II 10

Law of Tort I 10 Law of Tort II 10

Non-law Options 20 Non-law

Options 20

Second Year (level 5)

Equity & Trusts I 10 Equity & Trusts II 10

Criminal Law I 15 Criminal Law II 10

Land Law I 15 Land Law II 10

Non-law Options 20 Non-law

Options 30

Third Year (level 6)

Law Options 60 credits Non-Law Options 60 credits

Structure of the Degree Schemes

“ I had an amazing three years studying law at Swansea University. The excellent teaching and support from the lecturers has enabled me to progress to my fullest potential. Swansea Law offers fantastic opportunities, such as the mooting scheme, that enable students to learn new things, develop skills, and meet new people. I started law at Swansea with a passion for law, and the content of the course and the lecturer’s enthusiasm for their subjects has only enhanced this, and provided for an enjoyable learning environment. The learning experience has been unforgettable and I know that I will leave Swansea, not only with the best grounding in legal academia, but with great friends. Swansea has enabled me to get one step closer to fulfilling my ambition of becoming a Barrister.”

Hannah George – LLB Law


As a student on one of these degree programmes, you have a number of options in respect of your year abroad. You can spend the year studying at a European university as part of the Erasmus exchange programme.

The College of Law and Criminology operates such exchange programmes with the University of Geneva, University of Nantes, the University of Mannheim, the University of Saarlandes, the University of Angers and the University of Salamanca. The language departments also have exchange programmes with several European universities as part of the Erasmus programme. As a joint honours student, you can apply to spend your year abroad at a university with which the College of Law and Criminology or the relevant language department operates an exchange programme.

For a full list of partner universities and further information about the Erasmus programme, please visit: http://www.swansea.ac.uk/erasmus/

If you do not want to participate in the Erasmus exchange programme, you can spend your year abroad working as a teaching assistant or on a work placement.

LLB Joint Honours

LLB degrees offered UCAS COURSE CODE

FRENCH (4 Years) MR11

GERMAN (4 Years) MR12

ITALIAN (4 Years) MR13

SPANISH (4 Years) MR14

WELSH (3 or 4 years) MQ15

Law and Modern Languages: The year abroad

Kesena Omakobia – LLB Law and French

“ Swansea University has plenty to offer in terms of a variety of promising academic law options. I chose to do Law and French and it was the perfect choice. Not only did I get the chance to spend my third year in the beautiful city of Nantes in France, at the prestigious University of Nantes I was also able to study French law and improve my French speaking and writing skills. Swansea Law has a very supportive network of staff and each student is allocated a personal tutor who is available to assist you with almost any law related problem. Lecturer’s are also readily available to guide you in specific areas of law that you may need extra clarity with. The Student Law Society and Mooting Society hold many functions such as mooting and social events, including networking dinners, trips to the inns of court and the Houses of Parliament. There is everything you need to build your CV as a budding lawyer, with offers of pro bono work and work experience with local law firms organised by Swansea Law. I would strongly encourage anyone interested in LLB with French to apply to Swansea University.”


Joint Honours LLB Law Programmes

Law and American Studies (LLB)

Students can study this programme as either a 3 year or 4 year degree. On the 4 year programme, year 3 is spent in the United States. This year will be an exciting time in your life; through travel and making new friends it expands horizons and builds confidence, qualities much valued by potential employers. Final destination statistics for careers are amongst the best in the country; a degree with American Studies and the experience of the year abroad makes you stand out from the crowd.

American Studies has exchange agreements with a wide range of US Universities including Colorado State University, University of Illinois, University of Maryland, University of Massachusetts (Amherst) and Washington State University. For further information on the year abroad please visit: www.swan.ac.uk/american

Law and Criminology (LLB)

Some students will already have a particular interest in how society understands and responds to crime. The Law and Criminology degree allows students to explore such questions fully in the course of obtaining a qualifying Law degree.

Law and History (LLB)

The Law and History degree provide students with an opportunity to compliment their legal studies by pursuing a wide range of history modules which reflect the diverse interests of staff within the history department. As disciplines, Law and History are often complimentary in the sense that legal rules are often a reflection of the prevailing societal norms at the time the relevant law was created. Students may opt to study a range of subjects, including modules focused on medieval history, economic history, philosophy and political thought.

Law and Media (LLB)

The LLB Law and Media offers not only qualifying law degree modules but the study of media and communication which has a broad vocational, theoretical and international outlook that reflects the challenges and opportunities of our media-rich world.

Law and Politics (LLB)

This is one of our most popular joint honours schemes, possibly because of the natural interaction between law and politics in any legal/political order. An understanding of the legal world is likely to give a better understanding of the political world and vice versa.

Law and Welsh (LLB)

Law and Welsh may be studied over three or four years depending on whether the student elects to spend a year studying Welsh exclusively.

“ Coming from Greece, here in Swansea I can combine well-structured, international oriented studies, helpful and friendly University staff along with glamorous social life. My LLB degree from Swansea Law is the foundation stone for a successful career path. During the degree I was not only equipped with legal background but had opportunities for work experience and various extra-curricular activities, aiming to help me enter competitively the job market.”

Theodosi Kottas – LLB Law

“ Swansea first caught my eye, like so many others, because of the stunning location and surrounding areas. Yet there is so much more on offer other than the amazing course and location; I am part of several clubs including Athletics and the Law Society. Furthermore, the accommodation in Oxwich on campus is of excellent quality and made my first year a very comfortable one. All these things combined with a great night life and postgraduate opportunities, made Swansea the ideal choice for me.”

Joel Davies – LLB Law and History


Optional Modules Level 5 (second year) CREDITS

Commercial Sales 15Company Law: Governance, Rights and Liquidation 15Company Law: Incorporation, Constitution and Control 15Employment Law: Enforcing Rights 15Employment Law: Rights and Obligations 15Environmental Law: Regulatory Approaches 15Family Law: Adult Relationships 15Family Law: Parents and Children 15Foundations in Legal Practice 15Human Rights Law 15Human Rights and Social Justice 15International Dispute Settlement 15International Law: Principles and Procedures 15Legislation 15Media Law 15Medical Law 15Multi-Level Governance 15Nature Conservation Law 15Planning Law 15The Human Rights of Children 15World Trade Law 15

Optional Modules Level 6 (final year)All the second year optional modules may be studied instead in the final year. In addition, the following modules are available to final year students only:Competition: Regulation of Agreements 20Competition: Regulation of Dominance 20Criminal Evidence 20Criminal Evidence Law and Psychology 20Criminal Law Theory 20Criminal Procedure and Sentencing 20Cybercrime 20Cymru’r Gyfriath 20Jurisprudence 20Legal Issues in Sport 20Sports Law and Liability 20Start up Law 20Terrorism: the Legal Response 20

Optional Modules Level 6 (final year) Year-long modulesLaw Dissertation 20Work Placements Research Project 20

* Please note that optional modules are subject to availability and occasionally some options may not be offered. Additional optional modules maybe added to the list. Students will be informed of available modules during the course of their studies.

Optional Modules*


Learning and Teaching

Learning and teaching

Reading widely is essential to achieve a mature appreciation of law as a discipline. Understanding law is not simply ‘knowing the rules’; the skilled scholar will appreciate the nature of law as a discipline and be able to engage at a deep level with the principles underpinning the law and the reasoning behind judgments. As a student at Swansea Law, you will have the support of classes and directed reading, but you will also be encouraged to develop as a responsible and reflective learner, giving you attributes that will not only ensure academic success but will also make you attractive to employers.

Lectures

You will receive a series of lectures for each taught module. The purpose of lectures is to enable students to see the broad framework of the subject, to communicate the content of the law as it stands at that point in time and to provide an insight into the values which underpin the subjects covered. Lectures should also inspire enthusiasm for the subject, motivating students to pursue their study of the area in independent reading.

Seminars

Seminars are at the heart of the Swansea Law experience. The format of seminars differs between modules, so that students build a good range of skills. Seminars might involve a discussion facilitated by the tutor, group work, or sometimes individual presentations. All seminars involve detailed consideration of the particular area of law and are designed not only to support students’ knowledge and understanding, but to develop their skills.

Legal database training

As a student at Swansea Law, you will have access to a wide variety of legal databases covering case law, legislation, journal articles, digests and analyses over an extensive range of specialisms and jurisdictions. These include the leading databases Westlaw, LexisNexis, Heinonline and Justcite. Full training is available on the use of the library and the databases.

Assessment & feedback

You will undertake a variety of assessments, to develop a good range of skills. In the first year, most of the assessment is by traditional examination, but you will also have ‘take home exams’ (the question is released in the morning and you can work on your answer anywhere for the rest of the day) and coursework. You will also be given the opportunity to undertake a ‘formative’

assessment (i.e. the marks do not count to your end of year results), so that you can practice your skills and receive feedback. Assessment in the second year is mostly based on traditional examinations, but you will have coursework and we also use other forms of assessment such as open book exams or a multiple choice test. You also have the opportunity in the second year to undertake formative assessment. In the final year, there is more coursework experience, with some optional modules being assessed wholly by coursework. There is also the opportunity to apply to undertake a dissertation, giving you the chance to explore in depth an area of law in which you are particularly interested. First year marks do not count towards your final degree classification, as you are still very much developing as a legal scholar. Your degree classification will be based on an average mark which is calculated using the marks in the second and final years, with final year marks carrying greater weight.

At Swansea Law, we strive to give students feedback which enables them to understand their strengths and weaknesses, with clear guidance on how to improve. We consistently achieve high ratings from students on the quality of our feedback.“ I’ve loved studying law

at Swansea University. Law affects us all every day of our lives so to understand how it works is really important. The lecturers and seminar tutors at Swansea are all so knowledgeable and their teaching has helped me gain good grades so far. I look forward to taking the Legal Practice Course (LPC) after my degree and hope to have a career as a Barrister or Solicitor Advocate when my studies are complete.”

Anthony Poole – LLB Law

AWARDS

OUP Prize: best performance in level one

Sweet & Maxwell Law Prize: best performance in level two

Swansea Legal Charitable Trust Prize: top level three single honours student

Emily Jordan Cup for International Law: Awarded in Memory of Emily Jordan, LLB (2006), for the best performance in level three international law modules

Iscoed Chambers Criminal Law Prize: best performance in criminal law

Public Law Wales Trophy: best performance in public law


Swansea Law may be located in South Wales but it very much has an international flavour. The international influence can be seen in a number of ways.

Four year LLB with a year Abroad

For those students who do not ordinarily embark on a year abroad as part of their degree, it is possible to apply to undertake a four year LLB, which includes a year of study (via the medium of English) in a European country, including Universities in Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland.

Swansea Law Academic Staff

In addition to academic staff from Wales and England, Department of Legal studies staff come from China, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe.

Student Nationalities

Students come to Swansea from all over the world. Whether you are from the UK or Nigeria you can expect to make friends, to share experiences, and to hear about the legal cultures of fellow students not only from your own part of the world but from Europe, Africa, Asia, North and Central America.

Options

International law is an optional module with an obviously international focus but other options including Commercial Law and Competition Law all have a strong international dimensions. The degrees that we provide recognise that the boundaries of our legal worlds are evolving and expanding.

OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDY ABROAD:

Law and Modern Languages / Law and American Studies

These courses provide the opportunity for students to spend a year overseas. For further details please see pages 10 and 11 of this brochure.

The International Perspective

“ As a Canadian student considering the option of studying law in the UK, Swansea Law which enjoys a first rate reputation in Canada, was an obvious choice. Specifically, I found the two-year LLB, open to graduates in any subject, to be particularly appealing. As I already completed my 1st degree in Canada I’ve gained a tremendous amount of knowledge by taking advantage of a friendly learning atmosphere, espoused both by the students and the excellent teaching staff. There is a genuine attempt by the professors to ensure students achieve their goals – no matter how high! If you have a thirst for knowledge, I would say Swansea’s law programme is certainly a hidden jewel.”

Reza Barari – LLB Law


Student Support

Swansea Law prides itself on the academic support and pastoral care that it offers to students throughout their period of study. In addition to a number of University wide services, Swansea Law provides a number of initiatives and policies designed to create an exemplary level of student support.

Access to Staff

All staff teaching on our undergraduate programmes can easily be contacted in person or by email and are readily available to discuss any concerns or difficulties which students might encounter in the study of their respective modules. All academic members of staff have weekly office hours when they are free to discuss difficult points of law that may arise in their lectures/seminars or that may be encountered in the course of individual study.

Staff Student Consultative Committee

A Staff-Student Consultative Committee meets each semester and acts as a point of contact between students and staff in the College. It provides both students and staff with the opportunity to convey information and to draw attention to any particular issues which affect those working or studying within the College.

Students with disabilities

Swansea Law has had many successful students with disabilities and is experienced in providing appropriate support where needed. The responsibility for coordinating such provision rests with the College’s Disability Officer who liaises with academic and administrative colleagues, the University Disability Office, the Recording Centre for the Blind, the Careers Centre, and Library and Information Services.

University-wide student support Mechanisms

Swansea Law works closely with the University’s Student Support Services. Student Support offers a ‘one-stop-shop’ to provide all students with information, advice and support. Further information on student support services is available here: http://www.swansea.ac.uk/student-services/

Welsh Language provision

The teaching and assessment language of the College is predominantly English. However, in accordance with the University’s Welsh Language Policy and Policy on Assessment, students may submit assessments in Welsh. The Welsh Language provision within the College is coordinated by a Welsh Language Officer.

IT facilities

All Swansea students are granted access to over 600 open access PCs across campus. In addition, most of the campus including the law library and College of Law and Criminology building is covered by Wi-Fi so that students may access the internet via a laptop, tablet or smartphone. More information on the facilities provided by Information Services and Systems is available here: http://www.swan.ac.uk/iss/aboutiss/

“ I have enjoyed my time here at the University and would do it all over again! The support offered to students was second to none particularly from personal tutors and teaching staff and the University has excellent IT facilities and the College of Law and Criminology even has its own law library located within the main library. Following my completion of the LLB Programme I plan to work as a Solicitor or perhaps go into Academia.”

“ Swansea is an incredible place to live, work and study. I chose to study law at Swansea after experiencing the real passion the staff have, not only for the subject but also for ensuring hard working students achieve. It’s not all work though, as a student I have the opportunity to fully engage in societies and sports

as well as external activities with the Swansea Community, helping me meet new people and develop new skills. With the fantastic support from tutors and staff, the university offers so many invaluable opportunities that will enable us to get the most from our degrees.”

Kellie Kidd – LLB Student

Hannah Curtis – LLB Law


An experienced member of our academic staff co-ordinates the pastoral side of student life at Swansea Law.

Personal tutors

Upon joining the Department of Legal Studies every student is assigned to an academic member of staff who serves as their personal tutor. The role of the personal tutor is to provide pastoral assistance and guidance for students on issues which may affect their well being, attendance and progress at University. In addition to their weekly office hours, there are several scheduled personal tutee meetings each year.

Student Progress

Attendance at seminars is compulsory and is closely monitored by the Student Progress Team consisting of the Director of Student Progress and Undergraduate Progress Officer. Where absences from seminars are detected, prompt and appropriate action is taken to ensure that students progress academically. However if absences are due to personal problems the Student Progress team will perform a largely pastoral role and will advise the student, where appropriate, of support services on campus, in addition to referring him/her to the personal tutor for ongoing support and advice.

University-wide student support mechanisms

Swansea Law works closely with the University’s Student Support Services. Student Support offers a ‘one-stop-shop’ to provide all students with information, advice and support.

THERE ARE FOUR SPECIALIST UNITS:

• The International Students Advisory Service caters for international students and their families

• The Money Advice and Support Office provides information, advice and financial help, in the form of grants and loans, to students who may be facing financial difficulties

• The Disability Office provides and co-ordinates support for students with disabilities

• The Student Counselling Service offers a confidential service to students experiencing social, personal or emotional difficulties

Pastoral Support


Careers and Work Experience

Careers Advice at Swansea Law

All Law Students should seek to gain some experience in a legal environment during the course of their studies, whether or not they intend to work in legal practice. The University Careers & Employability Service provides students with high quality advice on employability opportunities and offers a wide range of services that are designed to develop the key skills and qualities needed to secure employment after graduation. Students with Swansea degrees are particularly well placed in the job market. Swansea Law has its own Employability lead to coordinate the link with the Careers & Employability Service and other Colleges – this ensures students receive the necessary advice and make the most of the networking opportunities on offer: by engaging in the services we provide and the opportunities available, students will be able to make informed choices as to the career opportunities within the legal profession and develop their own connections for securing suitable work placements while studying. The Employability lead also oversees the delivery of a range of initiatives that have been designed to address your questions on a range of topics including your career options, the job application process, how to choose the right employer for you, what to put in

your application form/CV and covering letter and what to do when attending for interview or on work placement.

In addition, staff within the College have utilised their links with practice to add to the extra curricular activities on offer including client interviewing, mooting and pro bono advice (where students can practice and enhance their skills). Members of the College’s Legal Practice Course team are also an invaluable source of advice on careers.

Work Experience

In conjunction with local employers, courts and criminal justice agencies, Swansea Law offers a number of exciting opportunities for students – some of these are module and/or level specific (e.g. for students who have completed the criminal law module during Second Year (Level 5) of their degree), others might have an age requirement due to insurance (e.g. volunteering with the Personal Support Unit), with others open to all students. Previous opportunities have included mini-pupillages at chambers in Swansea, observational placements in institutions like the Swansea Office of the Crown Prosecution Service and at the Swansea Crown Court, and ‘one-day a week placements’ with local firms and businesses.

’Year-out in practice’ at the end of Level 2

In conjunction with a leading regional firm of solicitors we have arranged a one-year long, paid placement, which is open on a competitive basis to students who have successfully completed Second Year (Level 5) of the undergraduate programme. Students who secure a place on this scheme have the opportunity to work in a law firm and gain valuable experience, before going on to Third Year (Level 6) of the undergraduate programme.

Summer Overseas Placements

As a College of Law & Criminology student, there are a number of options available to you in terms of overseas placements. The College of Law & Criminology has links with a variety of Universities worldwide, more information can be found here: www.swansea.ac.uk/international/opportunities/

You may also be able to take advantage of one of the University-wide study abroad links.

“ My experience at the Public Defender Service was altogether fantastic. There was a friendly atmosphere which made me feel immediately at ease. The cases and practices within the courts that I got to observe were fascinating, and these were all explained to me. I have gained a valuable insight into working for the government, also how a solicitor operate with a client. This experience has really made me want to go back for more, and to possibly look into more work experience on the other side with the CPS!”

Megan Parry – Completed a Placement at the Public Defender Service


Swansea offers one of the best places in the UK to combine living and studying. Its enviable location in beautiful parklands opposite the 6 mile stretch of Swansea Bay provides the perfect setting for student life. Swansea stands on the edge of the Gower peninsula, Britain’s first area of outstanding natural beauty. It is only 192 miles from London and less than an hour from Cardiff the capital city of Wales.

Swansea is a vibrant student city with a thriving cultural and sporting scene. It proudly boasts both a premiership football team and a first class rugby team competing at the highest levels in Europe, as well as top sports facilities including the Welsh National Pool based at the university sports ground. For entertainment choose from beachside cafés to stylish bars and restaurants, or visit one of the cities theatres, cinemas or museums. Watch outdoor plays and music events in the many award winning parks or merely indulge in some shopping in the large pedestrianized precinct housing a large variety of shops and the largest under covered market in Wales.

Venturing out from the city the popular fishing village of Mumbles can be reached via the cycle/path way which offers stunning views across the bay and a multitude of activities including nature conservation sites, a fitness trail, a golf course and a lido. The Gower coast is merely a short bus journey away and the Brecon Beacons National Park offering mountain ranges and huge open spaces provides the perfect setting for walking, caving and climbing.

Swansea Student Life

“ I have greatly enjoyed my time at Swansea University. The support and guidance from my tutor and the Department of Undergraduate Legal Studies combined with the great campus and beautiful beaches has been outstanding.”

Shina Animashaun – LLB Law


The University Students’ Union

The students union is where it’s all going on at the University. The union is run by students offering a range of services, support and entertainment and opportunities for training and development. The union operates a number of bars, clubs and shops on and off campus. It also runs its own day nursery and letting agency. With over 60 societies to choose from there is something for everyone from dance to debating and wine appreciation to war gaming. The union also runs a newspaper and a radio station and there are opportunities to get involved at all levels. Their entertainment programme is rich and diverse and includes film nights, club nights, top bands and dj’s, dance, sports events, charitable fundraising and awareness campaigns.

The union also provide dedicated professional advice on a range of matters including personal issues, financial difficulties, housing matters, welfare benefits, consumer affairs, employment and criminal proceedings. The student union officers work tirelessly to make the students union of every benefit to the students they support.

The Student Law Society

The Student Law Society combines both academic and social activities. The student run body aims to provide support to students during their studies and in starting their careers. One way of achieving this is through the innovative buddy scheme where new students are paired up with returning students who provide academic advice and support relating to anything from preparing for seminars to writing assignments. The society also focuses on career development by running advocacy training programmes and networking dinners and events where students can chat to solicitors, barristers, QC’s, judges and other prospective employers in an informal environment. Mooting is also a fun and challenging activity for students to engage in and the society enters teams into National mooting competitions enabling students to demonstrate their advocacy skills.

The society also operates a busy social calendar throughout the academic year with events which include a fresher’s social evening, an end of term beach party and plenty more in between. This provides new students with excellent opportunities to socialise with students on other levels of the degree.

Accommodation

Accommodation plays a large part in a student’s life and living in university accommodation in the first year can add a unique element to the student experience. The university can normally accommodate over 98% of first year students in university residences ranging from on campus part catered or self-catered halls to the purpose built student village in Hendrefoelan housing over 1600 students in self cared accommodation just a 10 minute bus journey or a short cycle ride from campus. There are also a number of university managed properties within walking distance of the campus and the city as a whole offers a wide range of quality, affordable accommodation to suit a variety of needs catering for individuals or those arriving with families. For further information on accommodation please visit: www.swansea.ac.uk/accommodation/

“ I thoroughly enjoyed the LLB degree and feel that it encouraged me to grow both academically and personally. After finishing my LLB, Swansea University supported my learning by granting me a scholarship to study for my masters in LLM International Commercial Law. This course was a fantastic opportunity to broaden my knowledge in an area of law I found fascinating in my earlier degree. After an intense but exhilarating year I completed my masters and enrolled on the Swansea LPC. The staff across my 5 years at Swansea have all been fantastic. They successfully support and encourage students to do their best. Swansea University offers an excellent chance to dive into an exciting subject and gives you every opportunity to flourish during your studies.”

George Williams – LLB Law


Swansea: The University and the City

Swansea University

King George V laid the foundation stone of Swansea’s University in July 1920. It was the twenty ninth university to be established in the British Isles, and one of the four original colleges of the University of Wales (created in 1893). Its students numbered 89 in 1920; today there are more than 12,000. The city gave its new civic university an enviable site in rolling, coastal parkland. It also donated Singleton Abbey, the neo-Gothic mansion (dating from 1780) which has been the University’s heart ever since.

Swansea University offers over 500 undergraduate and 130 postgraduate courses in a wide range of subject areas,

from American Studies to Zoology, to Medicine and Law. A full range of social, cultural and sporting amenities complements the campus lifestyle and contributes to the strong sense of community that the University embraces.

Recent surveys and league tables have consistently placed Swansea among the top 20 Universities in the UK for teaching quality and student satisfaction. The results reflect the University’s aim to deliver an outstanding student experience alongside teaching of the highest quality that produces graduates equipped for exceptional personal and professional achievement.


Swansea: a place to live and study

The University stands in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula, Britain’s first ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’. London is 192 miles away, under three hours by train, and Cardiff, the capital of Wales, is less than an hour away. And what a location! From the campus you can travel along the sea front to the Marina and the city centre, or to the vibrant old fishing village of Mumbles. Situated between the lively modern city of Swansea and the unspoiled beaches of the Gower Peninsula the location is unparalleled. The Gower ends at the spectacular three-mile beach of Rhossili, which is a mecca for surfers. The south coast also attracts walkers, wind surfers, rock climbers and hang-gliding enthusiasts.

Alternatively, you can head north to explore the countryside around the Towy Valley, where you will find the dramatic ruins of Carreg Cennen Castle to the south east of Llandeilo, or make for the Brecon Beacons National Park. The park’s mountain ranges and huge open spaces provide the perfect setting for walking, caving and climbing.

Swansea hosts the acclaimed Marina and rejuvenated Wind Street which have given the city a new cultural air, to be enjoyed by visitors both old and new. It is full of surprises, with its pedestrianised shopping centre only a five-minute walk from a promenade along the sweep of the bay.

“ Ultimately I was attracted to Swansea by the forward thinking ethos of the College of Law and Criminology and the clear recognition of the need to provide students not only with passionately delivered lectures, but also with the necessary skills and work opportunities to prepare them for a career post-graduation. The College of Law and Criminology is one of the top in Wales, and puts great emphasis on facilitating employment opportunities via placements for several students every year something that I was privileged enough to be part of during my second year. The unwavering effort and support of my personal and academic tutors has been invaluable in helping me learn and fuelling my passion for the law. I was also attracted to Swansea for its unrivalled location - a stone’s throw away from the beach, Mumbles and the Gower - it really doesn’t get much better than that! My main career aspiration is to be a barrister at the commercial and chancery bar, an aim that has been reaffirmed as part of my recent Scholarship Award from COMBAR (Commercial Bar Association) which provided me with the opportunity to work with a leading commercial barristers’ chamber in London as well as the opportunity to shadow a High Court Judge.”

Jake Loomes – LLB Law


Further Study

“ As a European student, I am glad that Swansea University became the university of my choice. It offers great opportunities for research students in many international as well as domestic areas of law. Due to the large variety of courses offered and the highly specialised teaching staff, Swansea features a number of high-profiled supervisors to support you on your way towards a doctorate degree. Working under and with such capacities is deeply inspiring and allows students to conduct innovative research and to develop their own research style. Discussions are held on eye-level and you are treated as an equal with a viewpoint worth considering. The friendly staff create a pleasant working atmosphere in which new engaged research students are welcome at all times.”

Jens Krebs – LLB Law and currently studying PhD

The Legal Practice Course (LPC)

The Swansea Legal Practice Course (LPC) is a one year programme for law graduates who wish to qualify as solicitors in England and Wales. It is a practical course that equips students with the vital skills needed for a successful career as a solicitor. The course is delivered by a dedicated team of highly experienced legal practitioners and is designed to meet the training needs of both commercial and High Street legal practice in today’s forward thinking and business-like legal environment.

LPC students benefit from first class amenities including a state of the art Advocacy suite, excellent library resources and a dedicated Resource Room with full network access to extensive electronic legal practitioner resources.

The College of Law and Criminology also offers the LPC part-time. The part-time LPC at Swansea is a two year course taught over one full day and one evening per week. Graduates of Swansea University LLB Programmes are guaranteed places on the LPC if they meet prescribed entry requirements and also benefit from discounted tuition fees.

The College of Law and Criminology also offers the LLM in Legal Practice and Advanced Drafting which combines the Swansea Legal Practice Course with an independent learning module which facilitates the completion of a drafting project by a student which may then be used to evidence enhanced important legal skills to a potential or existing employer for career starts or progression. An LLM is also an internationally recognised qualification that will enhance students CV. Further information on the LLM in Legal Practice and Advanced Drafting can be found here: http://www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/law/llminlegalpracticeandadvanceddrafting/

For further information on the LPC Programme please visit: http://www.swansea.ac.uk/law/professionallegalstudiesgdllpc/legalpracticecourselpc/

Taught Masters programmes (LLM)

Swansea Law offers a variety of taught Masters programmes leading to the award of the LLM (Master of Laws) in the specialist fields of Commercial, Maritime, Trade, Oil and Gas and Intellectual Property Law.

Because all our taught Masters programmes approach the study of law from an international and transnational perspective, they attract high calibre graduates not only from UK universities but from all over the world. Teaching on these programmes is undertaken by a carefully selected team of experts who are at the forefront of scholarship in their respective areas of expertise, which they combine with skilled and innovative teaching.

For further information on the LLM Programmes please visit: http://www.swansea.ac.uk/law/shipping-trade-law-department/

Research degrees

Swansea Law has a well-established postgraduate research programme leading to the advanced degrees of Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Research students engage in a period of supervised research leading to the production of a thesis which is then presented for examination. Swansea Law is home to a number of research centres with particular strengths in criminal law and criminal justice, maritime and commercial law, Legal Wales and children’s rights.

Further information on research degrees together with the interests of staff is available here: http://www.swan.ac.uk/law/research/researchdegrees/


Entry Requirements

Our standard offer for our various Single honours and Joint Honours programmes is 3 A-Levels at grades ranging from AAB - BBB or equivalent. We also accept the Welsh Baccalaureate as an alternative to one A-level and also IB: 32-34. Candidates who have relevant qualifications and or experience outside of the standard entry requirements may be interviewed with a view to determining whether they meet the entry standard.

Overseas Applicants

We have many applicants from outside the European Union and our Admissions team can determine the suitability of your qualifications. Overseas students with a 1st good degree maybe considered for level 2 direct entry and thereby obtain an LLB in 2 years.

Please contact us with a view to submitting an application and visit the University website for specific information about international students: www.swansea.ac.uk/international/

How to Apply?

For information on How to Apply? Please visit: http://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply/

Contact Details

For general enquiries about studying law at Swansea University, please contact our Recruitment & Marketing Officer:

Helen Sumner-Obasi [email protected] +44(0)1792 295859

For more specific queries contact the admissions tutors directly.

Admissions Tutors:

Dr Patrick Bishop Cerys Evans [email protected] [email protected]

College of Law and Criminology Swansea University Singleton Park Swansea, SA2 8PP Wales, UK


Entry Requirements and Contact Details

The information contained in this brochure is accurate as of September 2015. You are advised to check our web-site (www.swansea.ac.uk/law) regularly for any change that might occur in due course particularly in terms of personnel and module selection choices.

“ My time at Swansea University has been second to none; it has provided me with remarkable experiences and fantastic memories. I thoroughly enjoyed my LLB here at Swansea and as a result it influenced my decision to stay at Swansea to partake my Legal Practice Course (LPC). I am enjoying every minute of the LPC and I will be sad when my time at Swansea comes to an end. I am eager to secure a training contract and apply the knowledge and experience that Swansea has provided me with within my future legal career.”

Nia Wyn Evans – LLB Law



You can follow us on Twitter @Swansea_Law

Picture Acknowledgements:Page 4: City and County of Swansea Page 6: Minerva Studio/shutterstock.comPage 10: pogonici/shutterstock.comPage 14: Vitchanan Photography/shutterstock.comPage 16: racorn/shutterstock.com


Our University community thrives on exploration and discovery, and offers the right balance of excellent teaching and research, matched by an enviable

quality of life.

College of Law & Criminology Swansea University Singleton Park Swansea, SA2 8PP Wales, UK


[email protected]


@Swansea_Law

Documents

Undergraduate Studies: LLB Law Programmes 24pp-Sept15-V20.pdf · Undergraduate Studies: LLB Law Programmes. 98% of students on the Swansea LLB are ... In all degree schemes students