Nottingham Trent University

What you'll study

The Senior Status LLB condenses the core elements of a qualifying law degree into an accelerated programme, covering foundational legal subjects alongside practice-focused modules. You study the substantive areas required for a qualifying law degree together with professional skills and applied experience.

• Core substantive modules: Contract Law, Criminal Law, Tort, Public/Constitutional Law, Property Law (including Land Law), Equity and Trusts, and Administrative Law.
• Commercial and practice modules: Company/Commercial Law, Commercial Remedies, Intellectual Property and Employment Law options reflecting business-facing practice.
• Skills and practice: Legal Research and Writing, Civil Litigation and Advocacy, Negotiation and Interviewing, Professional Ethics and Practice, and a module preparing students for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)-style skills.
• Applied learning: Mooting, mooting competitions, clinical legal work or pro bono placements, and simulated court and client exercises to develop courtroom, drafting and client-care skills.
• Independent project: A dissertation or extended research project on a legal topic, consolidating research competencies and specialist knowledge in a chosen area.

The programme is typically delivered through a mix of lectures, seminars, skills workshops and assessed practical work. As a Senior Status student you will follow an intensive timetable that integrates the required qualifying law subjects with opportunities for experiential learning and employability support.

Entry requirements

Entry to the Senior Status LLB is intended for applicants who already hold recognised higher education qualifications or demonstrate equivalent prior learning. Typical entry routes include a Higher National Diploma (HND), foundation degree, or an undergraduate degree in another subject. Admissions will consider academic performance in prior study and relevant experience.

Applicants are normally expected to provide:

• Evidence of a completed higher education qualification at an appropriate level (for example HND, foundation degree or degree) with credit or classification aligned to undergraduate progression.
• A personal statement explaining why you want to convert or extend prior learning into a qualifying law degree and how your background prepares you for accelerated study.
• Satisfactory references and, where relevant, evidence of work or voluntary experience that demonstrates commitment to legal studies or client-facing skills.
• For applicants whose first language is not English, a recognised English language qualification at the level required for undergraduate study at Nottingham Trent University.

Specific entry criteria and any module exemptions are confirmed during the admissions process, and mature applicants with significant relevant professional experience may be considered on an individual basis.

Career prospects

The Senior Status LLB prepares graduates for a wide range of legal and law-related careers. The degree provides the academic foundation required for those intending to progress to vocational training for legal practice.

• Legal practice: Many graduates go on to pursue training to become solicitors (via SQE routes) or seek further training and pupillage pathways to the Bar.
• Paralegal and legal executive roles: Graduates are well placed for paralegal, litigation support or Chartered Legal Executive roles in private practice and in-house teams.
• Regulatory, compliance and advisory roles: Opportunities exist in banking, insurance, compliance, human resources and public sector advisory roles where legal knowledge is valued.
• Public and third sector: Roles in local and national government, non-governmental organisations, and advocacy organisations including policy work and rights-based casework.
• Further study and academia: Progression to postgraduate legal study, specialised masters courses, or research pathways.

Nottingham Trent University's career services and Nottingham Law School's employer links support students with placements, interview preparation, and routes into graduate schemes and training contracts.

Why study at Nottingham Trent University

Nottingham Trent University houses Nottingham Law School, which delivers a strongly vocational and practice-oriented legal education. The School emphasises practical skills through legal clinics, mooting, simulation courts and assessed client work, helping students develop the attributes sought by employers.

• Access to practical legal facilities, including simulation courts and clinical placements that provide real-world experience.
• A curriculum designed to align academic study with the contemporary demands of legal practice and professional routes such as the SQE.
• Strong engagement with local and national legal employers, offering opportunities for internships, placements and recruitment events.
• Dedicated employability support, student law societies and skills coaching to build advocacy, drafting and client-care abilities.

The LLB (Senior Status) is therefore suited to motivated learners who wish to achieve a qualifying law degree in a focused timeframe while gaining the practical skills needed for legal careers or related professions.