Awards

Target Award

Award Description:Bachelor of Laws with Honours - LBH
Alternative Exit
Alternative Exit
Alternative Exit

Programme Offerings

Full-Time

F2F-SEP

Educational Aims of the Course

The aim of the LJMU LLB Law and Criminal Justice programme is to create a positive learning environment which will allow students: To develop a fundamental understanding of subjects of English law related to the study of criminal law, in theory, policy and practice; To develop their knowledge and understanding of legal and criminal justice subjects which are intellectually and professionally complimentary to their core modules by providing a wide variety of option modules; To develop the highly transferable intellectual skills of coherent description, synthesis, logical analysis and criticism in relation to legal and criminal justice-related materials: To develop an understanding and critical appreciation of the interface between law, politics, social justice, criminal justice, human rights and ethics: To develop an ability to carry out independent research, analyse and present information on any subject relating to the English legal system without previous study; To develop as an independent learner; To develop and enhance their written and oral communication skills; To prepare for employment through the development of transferable skills such as the ability to solve problems, to work independently and with others, to make independent critical judgements and to come to decisions based upon them; To develop an awareness of the professional values and ethics associated with law, and To encourage students to engage with the development of employability skills by completing a self-awareness statement.

Learning Outcomes

1.
Understand the basic concepts, values, principles and rules of the English legal system, EU law, and international systems of criminal law and criminal justice.
2.
Apply gained legal knowledge to complex problems, to reflect upon and evaluate this application and to draw logical reasoned conclusions that are supported by argument and legal authority.
3.
Produce an accurate and up-to-date picture of core and option areas of study from various sources, and to produce an overview of the relevant doctrinal and policy issues.
4.
Evaluate and rank unfamiliar arguments in the light of established statute law, judicial decisions and authoritative legal commentary.
5.
Use appropriate legal terminology and language both orally and in writing.
6.
Present an argument in a way which is comprehensible to others and which addresses their particular concerns or questions.
7.
Appreciate the complexity of crime and victimisation, and an ability to assess the relative merits of different explanations for crime and punishment.
8.
Appreciate the range of responses to crime and deviance and an ability to interpret the values and practices of the agencies which administer them.
9.
Understand how to design research appropriately in relation to a specific problem, how to gather, retrieve, and synthesise information, including comparative data; an understanding of how to evaluate research data including both quantitative and qualitative data.
10.
Understand the nature of law and criminological questions and investigate them.
11.
Analyse, assess methodologically, and communicate, information and empirical research findings about criminal law, crime, victimisation, and responses to crime and deviance.
12.
Show awareness of the main institutions involved in the operation of the English, EU and international systems of criminal law and criminal justice.
13.
Identify a range of different strategies and methods and use appropriate research tools in relation to legal and criminological problems, including quantitative, qualitative, and evaluative techniques.
14.
Investigate legal and criminological questions in relation to victimisation, crime, responses to crime and deviance, and representations of these.
15.
Undertake and present scholarly work in a professional way.
16.
Examine the relevance of legal frameworks and criminological work to criminal law, crime, victimisation, and responses to crime and deviance including representations of these in relation to issues of social, public and civic policy at a national, international and global level.
17.
Develop independent learning by taking responsibility for the preparation of work for tutorials, seminars, coursework, presentations and examinations, management of personal study time and the use of a wide variety of information sources.
18.
Evaluate personal performance and to identify and act upon weaknesses in learning, use of resources and the presentation and formulation of legal or criminological argument.
19.
Use standard word-processing packages, legal and social science electronic databases, e-mail, and the internet in support of their learning.
20.
Use and interpret basic statistical information in a legal or criminal justice context where the opportunity arises.
21.
Communicate effectively when working in a group and fully contribute to such activities.
22.
Organise and prioritise time and work to meet strict deadlines.
23.
Demonstrate depth of understanding of the main policy and doctrinal issues in, and development of, substantive law and criminal justice core and option subjects.
24.
Take control of personal career development opportunities by utilising the personal tutor system, work-placements, the university careers information service and other organised career events.
25.
Understand the distinctive character of criminal justice as an academic discipline, and its relationship to other social science disciplines, including law.
26.
Understand the key concepts and theoretical approaches that have developed and are developing in relation to crime, victimisation, and responses to crime and deviance.
27.
Understand the social and historical development of criminal justice institutions, including courts and hearings for adults and young people; the governance and values of the relevant institutions; the theory and practice of sentencing; prison and community based penalties; and the place of human rights in these processes.
28.
Understand the nature and appropriate use of research strategies and methods in relation to issues of crime, victimisation, and responses to crime and deviance.
29.
Critically appreciate the relationship between criminological theory and empirical evidence in relation to the investigation of issues relating to crime, victimisation, and responses to crime and deviance.
30.
Use a wide variety of standard and legal and other electronic sources of information.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Via lectures, tutor-led tutorials, student-led seminars and problem-based seminars. Assessment is by way of different combinations of unseen/seen, closed/open book examinations, essays, dissertations, online assessments and some oral presentations

Opportunities for work related learning

Students are given the opportunity to engage with LJMU's CareerSmart programmes, which aim to equip students with the skills required for the legal and criminal justice workplace, throughout their courses, and in particular via teaching on the Skills for Success in Law and Criminal Justice module (4028LAWCJ - including CareerSmart training and assessment), the optional Professional Development (5020LAWCJ) module at level 5, the optional Criminal Advocacy module at level 6 (6024LAWCJ) and through personal tutor work at all levels. Students also have the opportunity to make work-based learning, via a work placement relevant to legal or criminal justice study, part of the research for their independently-developed dissertations on the optional Dissertation module (6016LAWCJ) at Level 6. The optional Level 6 Criminal Advocacy module gives students further valuable insight into the skills needed to practice as a solicitor or barrister. In addition, the 4-year mode of the programme allows students to study on a one-year placement abroad (see award outcomes section above), thereby increasing students' knowledge of legal systems outside the UK, and enhancing their employability and work-related skills as a result.

Programme Structure

Programme Structure Description

The programme can be studied over three years (360 credits) or four years (480 credits) full time. On the three year model, study is undertaken at three levels, one for each year of study. 120 credits are required for the completion of each level and 360 credits for the completion … For more content click the Read More button below. Students who started the programme in September 2020 are able to take the following optional modules: 6000LANDCJ Land Law, 6000TORTCJ Law of Tort, 6000EQUICJ Equity and Trusts, 6101LAWCL Remedies in Contract, Tort and Restitution.

Structure

Entry Requirements

A levels
Alternative qualifications considered
BTECs
International Baccalaureate
Other international requirements

HECoS Code(s)

(CAH15-01) sociology, social policy and anthropology
(CAH16-01) law