Lancaster University

What you'll study

The programme delivers the foundational subjects required of a qualifying law degree alongside optional modules and practical skills training. In your first year you will normally take core modules in Contract Law, Tort, Criminal Law, Public (Constitutional and Administrative) Law and Legal Skills, which introduce statutory interpretation, case analysis and legal research.

In the second and final years you will study further core topics such as Property Law, Equity and Trusts, and a choice of options that may include Commercial and Company Law, Employment Law, Family Law, Evidence and Procedure, Human Rights and International Law, Intellectual Property and Competition Law, and Jurisprudence. Many cohorts also have the opportunity to write a substantial dissertation or research project in a topical area of law.

The course emphasises practical skills: mooting, negotiation and advocacy exercises, professional ethics, client interviewing, legal writing and drafting. Students can take clinical or pro bono placements where they work on supervised advice projects and may undertake a placement year or a year abroad through exchange partners, depending on the pathway chosen.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to have a strong academic profile from secondary education and to satisfy English language requirements where applicable. Typical UK entry routes include A-levels, BTEC qualifications or an Access to Higher Education Diploma; international applicants commonly present an International Baccalaureate or equivalent qualifications. Admissions consider personal statements, academic references and evidence of commitment to legal study.

Lancaster welcomes mature applicants and those with relevant work experience; these candidates should provide details of prior learning or experience in their application. Some applicants may be invited to interview or asked for further information as part of the selection process. Specific grade requirements and English language thresholds vary by offer and country—applicants should consult the university's admissions pages for the precise entry profile for their year of application.

Career prospects

Graduates with an LLB from Lancaster progress into a wide range of careers. As a qualifying law degree, it enables graduates to move on to vocational training routes required for legal practice in England and Wales, such as the Solicitor Qualification Examination (SQE) or Bar training courses for those pursuing the Bar. Many students first secure roles as paralegals or legal assistants while completing professional training.

Beyond traditional legal practice, alumni work in in-house legal teams, compliance and risk management, public sector and policy roles, commercial and financial services, consultancy, and the civil service. The programme’s emphasis on research, argumentation and communication also prepares graduates for careers in academia, journalism, human rights organisations and non-governmental organisations.

Why study at Lancaster University

Lancaster University combines a campus environment with a research-active law school that focuses on both doctrinal and applied work. Students benefit from small-group teaching for key modules, access to skills workshops, moot and advocacy training, and opportunities for supervised pro bono activity. The law school has links with regional and national employers which support placements and graduate recruitment.

The university offers student support services including careers advice targeted at law students, help with securing vacation schemes and pupillage applications, and mentoring from academic staff. Lancaster’s modular structure and options for a placement year or study abroad give students the flexibility to tailor their degree to particular legal interests and career plans.