Law

Law is the system of rules and principles that governs how individuals, organisations, and the state relate to each other, and studying it means developing a particular kind of intellectual rigour: the ability to read complex texts closely, to identify the legal issues in a set of facts, to apply rules and principles to reach defensible conclusions, and to construct and present arguments clearly and persuasively. A law degree is both a preparation for the legal profession and an education in one of the fundamental structures of social life, training habits of mind that are valuable far beyond the courtroom or the solicitor's office.

At the University of Northampton, law is studied over three years of full-time study, with the programme including a sandwich year and a work placement. The law curriculum covers the foundational areas that constitute a qualifying law degree in England and Wales, including contract law, tort law, criminal law, land law, equity and trusts, constitutional and administrative law, and European Union law. As the degree progresses, there is opportunity to study more specialised areas of law that reflect your interests and career direction.

The work placement, embedded in the sandwich year, gives you direct professional experience in a legal or related environment and develops the practical awareness that complements the academic training of the degree. Northampton's links with local legal practices and regional employers support the placement process.

Graduates from the law degree at Northampton hold a qualifying law degree, which is the academic foundation for entry to the legal profession in England and Wales. Those who want to become solicitors can proceed to the Solicitors Qualifying Examination, and those who aspire to the Bar can take the Bar Course. The placement year experience is a significant advantage when seeking training contracts or pupillage.

Beyond the legal profession, law graduates are valued across a wide range of careers, including compliance and risk management in the financial and corporate sectors, public policy, the civil service, human resources, and many other fields where legal knowledge and analytical skill are useful. Postgraduate study in law or a related field is available for those who want to develop greater depth or specialise in a particular area.