Postgraduate Law Brochure

University of Wolverhampton Law School

Part-time and Professional Courses

Contents 1

02 Welcome 03 A University to be proud of 04 History of the Law School 06 Professional bodies and accreditation 07 Research-informed courses 08 Strong partnerships with businesses 09 Experience and employability 10 International Law School 11 Supporting your studies 12 Our courses

2 Welcome

Welcome Welcome to the University of Wolverhampton Law School at the University of Wolverhampton. We pride ourselves on providing a high quality undergraduate and postgraduate education to our students. We draw on many decades’ experience in providing both academic and professional postgraduate courses in addition to our very popular undergraduate courses.

We have the benefit of a unique and diverse group of staff, many of whom have previously been in professional practice for many years, which they use to inform their teaching on professional courses. Other members of the teaching team are experienced researchers who have carried out major research projects on behalf of, for example, the EU, central and local government departments, the legal and accountancy professions and the police service.

We endeavour to teach courses and subjects which benefit from the wide base of our experience and expertise.

We have a proud heritage in being one of the few Law Schools nationwide to have offered the postgraduate Legal Practice Course, a necessary part of qualifying as a solicitor, since the course was first introduced over 20 years ago. Our experience and knowledge of professional practice underpins and supports our postgraduate and professional courses.

Our researchers specialise particularly in two main areas: criminal justice (which includes police law, criminology, the law of evidence and social policy) and commercial law (which includes company law, banking law, financial services law, insolvency law and alternative dispute resolution). This wide spectrum of experience underpins our postgraduate academic courses such as our LLM International Corporate and Financial Law, LLM International Commercial and Financial Law (Oil and Gas), LLM Common Professional Examination and LLM Professional Practice. We have close links with the legal and accountancy professions and the uniformed services such as the police, the UK Fire and Rescue Service and the British Army.

Our national and international reputation for academic and professional postgraduate courses has led to thousands of our students graduating successfully with enhanced career prospects.

A University to be proud of 3

A University to be proud of Graduates of the Law School have traditionally joined the legal profession, with many following traditional routes to qualification as solicitors or barristers. Some have reached the very top of the legal profession by achieving Senior Partner status in solicitors’ firms, Queen’s Counsel appointment at the Bar and appointment to the judiciary.

We are similarly proud of our graduates who have qualified into other professions such as accountancy, or who have gone on to work for local and central government departments or progressed within the police and prison service.

We are proud of our graduates and they rightly take pride in being University of Wolverhampton alumni. We ensure that whatever postgraduate course a student undertakes, he or she is prepared for the next challenge, whether that is entering professional practice or using his or her acquired knowledge and skills in either the private or public sector.

We are also proud of the research achievements of our staff, many of whom are leading academics in their respective fields. We write leading textbooks and conduct major research projects which inform government policy or affect how the courts interpret and apply the law. These significant achievements underpin our undergraduate, postgraduate and professional provision.  

4 History of the Law School

History of the Law School Law has been taught at Wolverhampton for over half a century. As a Law School we have been offering our undergraduate LLB law degree for over 40 years. We have a proud heritage in being one of the few Law Schools to have offered the postgraduate Legal Practice Course, a necessary part of qualifying as a solicitor, since the course was first introduced over 20 years ago, as well as offering the graduate conversion Common Professional Examination (CPE) for non-law graduates who wish to qualify as solicitors or barristers.

This course now also allows for a student to be awarded an LLM Common Professional Examination by the completion of an optional dissertation.

We also offer other taught LLM courses namely the LLM International Corporate and Financial Law and the LLM International Commercial and Financial Law (Oil and Gas). The single most important factor in our 50 years of success has been a commitment to high quality teaching and learning, and nothing makes us prouder than to hear praise heaped upon our graduates by their subsequent employers.

We have for many decades been a powerful force in moot court trial competitions where our students have had significant success both in national competitions, such as the National Student Law Society Mooting Competition; and international competitions, such as Jessup Moot Court. In addition we have offered our students clinical legal education by volunteering in Wolverhampton Law School’s Legal Advice Clinic, advising members of the public on their legal problems under the supervision of qualified members of staff.

We are, and always have been, committed to giving our students the best educational experience we can and that is not limited to what goes on in the classroom.

History of the Law School 5

6 Professional bodies and accreditation

Professional bodies and accreditation To practise as a recognised legal professional in England and Wales you will need to complete a combination of qualifications accredited by the recognised professional bodies. Wolverhampton Law School offers a number of accredited courses for those interested in pursuing a career in law.

The LLM Common Professional Examination is a qualifying law degree available to non-law graduates...

As such, it is overseen by the Joint Academic Stage Board (JASB), a body comprised of members of the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Council. Any graduate of these courses will have the necessary qualification to pursue further training as a solicitor or barrister.

The Legal Practice Course (LPC) aims to prepare you for practice as a trainee solicitor and to provide you with a solid foundation for subsequent practice as a solicitor.

The University is authorised directly by the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority to provide the LPC. The LPC, which can be studied full-time or part-time, provides graduates who have completed the academic stage of legal training (or who are Members or Fellows of the Institute of Legal Executives), with the professional stage of training as solicitors.

An alternative route to becoming a lawyer is to become a Chartered Legal Executive. There are two possible routes into this profession, depending on whether you hold a law degree. Wolverhampton Law School runs a number of courses, detailed later in this brochure, that are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx).

Research-informed courses 7

Research informed courses Staff teaching on our courses have specialist practical and research experience, and many are authors of major textbooks on their particular area of expertise. Our lecturers’ learned journal articles have been cited in court and relied upon by the highest court in the land.

Staff bring further expertise into the classroom through research projects sponsored by professional bodies and government departments.

Our LLM courses are specially designed to provide you with in-depth subject knowledge that is informed by the specialist research and subject expertise of the members of Wolverhampton Law School. The delivery of this content includes the development of student research skills through module-based research activities looking at the latest topical issues.

Corporate and financial law are fast-moving areas, and Wolverhampton Law School’s LLM’s are taught by experienced specialists who are up-to-date experts. Our research staff have national and international reputations in their fields providing a significantly enhanced student experience underpinned by wide ranging, relevant and practical research.

All of our LLM programmes are underpinned by an individual research project, whereby students prepare a dissertation on a chosen area of law guided by our academic staff.

Many of our LPC graduates go on to complete their LLM Professional Practice with advance standing. The students have a great deal of freedom of choice in the area of law and practice they decide to research in depth.

8 Strong partnerships with businesses

Strong partnerships with businesses Wolverhampton Law School has strong and productive links with legal employers in the local area and beyond. By working in partnership with these businesses we aim to provide students with a well-rounded experience during their time with us and beyond.

We are proud of the opportunities we have been able to offer our students through these relationships. In the recent past students have had the opportunity to enhance their employability skills by taking part in a mock interview process with practitioners. We also regularly welcome legal professionals to the Law School to lead skills workshops and provide insight into the legal profession and the opportunities within it.

Wolverhampton Law School also offers a mentoring scheme which provides an opportunity for LPC and final year undergraduate students to have one-to-one contact with a member of the legal profession. The mentors are current practitioners in private practice, local government and large companies and many are alumni the University of Wolverhampton. The scheme provides students with a valuable insight into the profession, the opportunity to make important contacts and to be given guidance and advice about career progression and interview skills.  

Experience and employability 9

Experience and employability With a number of staff having extensive practical legal work experience, Wolverhampton Law School prides itself on being able to provide insightful careers advice to its students, alongside the University’s specialist Careers Service.

With a regular programme of careers events, featuring external speakers, skills workshops and question and answer sessions, students at Wolverhampton Law School have ample opportunities to engage with the profession.

Wolverhampton Law School holds an annual Law Fair which is attended by a wide variety of legal employers, including firms of solicitors, barristers’ chambers, local authorities and the police who provide guidance and support to our students.

In addition to working with legal practitioners to offer our students access to the legal profession, our students volunteer in Wolverhampton Law School’s Legal Advice Clinic, advising members of the public on their legal problems under the supervision of qualified members of staff and with the assistance of local law firms. Students experience the role of a legal advisor whilst forging relationships with practitioners and developing key skills that employers look for.

10 International Law School

International Law School Wolverhampton Law School has a strong international heritage. Our students come from across the world, and many of our alumni hold senior positions across the globe. The University has a branch campus in Mauritius and the Law School has well-established partnerships with institutions from across the world and we work with them to deliver our programmes internationally.

At present we offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate law courses outside of the UK, these include: • a range of courses at the Mauritius Branch Campus, including the LLB, CPE LLM and LLM International Corporate and Financial Law; • an LLB top-up programme to students in Sri Lanka; and • LLM International Corporate and Financial Law in Hong Kong.

These programmes offer a number of benefits to students at home and abroad. As well as giving students the opportunity to study for a degree from the University of Wolverhampton in their own countries, students in the UK also benefit. Tutors delivering these programmes interact with local practitioners and teachers in these locations, raising awareness of international legal issues and the latest pedagogical techniques which ensure domestic students receive teaching with a truly internationalised edge.

Supporting your studies 11

Supporting your studies Learning and teaching Our courses utilise a variety of teaching and learning activities. You will attend a mixture of lectures, workshops and tutorials and will develop practical skills including legal research, presentation and team working.

Employability Wolverhampton Law School operates a number of initiatives to boost your employability, including mentoring schemes and interview workshops with legal practitioners. A regular programme of events gives you the chance to engage with practitioners and there are also work experience opportunities. The University offers support on interview skills and all elements of the job application process.

Excellent resources Wolverhampton Law School is located on our City Campus in the heart of Wolverhampton, providing advanced teaching facilities, social learning spaces and a specially designed court room facility. The Harrison Learning Centre houses four floors of electronic, online, hardcopy and audio-visual materials providing you with flexible ways to study. For more information, visit: www.wlv.ac.uk/acafacilities

Student support The School has an excellent student support team with a dedicated course administration teams who can offer general advice on wide range of course issues.

What our students say Charanpreet Atti - Legal Practice Course From the moment you enrol on to the LPC, you are kept well informed of the course structure and if you have any queries the tutors are always happy to help. The teaching staff consciously make an effort to ensure each student is confident to deal with the task at hand. The careers tutor is proactive in seeking opportunities available to the students, and dedicated to providing general guidance on your CV and going through interview preparation with you.

12 Our courses

Postgraduate and professional courses • LLM Common Professional Examination • Legal Practice Course (LPC) • LLM Professional Practice • LLM (Law) • LLM International Corporate and Financial Law • LLM International Commercial and Financial Law (Oil and Gas) • Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) Level 3 Certificate / Diploma in Law and Practice • CILEx Level 6 Diploma in Law and Practice • CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law & Practice • CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificate Qualification • CILEx Graduate ‘Fast-Track’ Diploma • LLB (Hons)

LLM Common Professional Examination Course length: 2 years (part-time) Campus: City Accreditation: Joint Academic Stage Board (JASB) Overview

The LLM Common Professional Examination is ideal if you are a non-law graduate wanting a professional law qualification and Master’s qualification. The course consists of seven compulsory foundation modules which are prescribed by the JASB to ensure that you have the relevant knowledge base in each of the following areas: Public Law; Criminal Law; Equity and Trusts; European Union Law; Land Law; Law of Contract and Law of Tort. Commencing with an induction programme undertaken over two weeks, the course is designed to introduce you to techniques for the study of law, such as using the law library and research methodology. You will also have the opportunity to carry out a dissertation on an area of law other than that studied within the core modules.

Employability

Successful completion of the course provides exemption from the academic stage of solicitors’ and barristers’ professional exams. You will be able to progress on to the LPC to train as a solicitor, or the Bar Professional Training Course if you want to train as a barrister.

Completion of the LLM Common Professional Examination at Wolverhampton leads to priority placing on our Legal Practice Course.

Our courses 13

Legal Practice Course (LPC)

LLM Professional Practice

Course length: 2 years (part-time) Campus: City Accreditation: Solicitors Regulation Authority

Course length: 1 year (part-time) Campus: City and by distance learning

Overview

Overview

The LPC is the vocational stage of training for becoming a solicitor in England and Wales. We offer both Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the LPC. In order to qualify as a solicitor, you must pass both Stages and complete a training contract with an accredited firm of solicitors.

The LPC is structured to cater for students who wish to enter general practice and gives equal weight to the core practice areas of Business Law and Practice, Property Law, and Practice and Litigation. Vocational Electives (studied in Stage 2) are offered in both ‘High Street’ and ‘Commercial’ areas of practice, currently including: Commercial Law; Commercial Property; Employment Law and Practice; Family Law and Practice; Housing Law and Practice; Immigration and Welfare; Insolvency and Personal Injury.

Employability

The LPC is specifically designed for people wishing to qualify as solicitors. Students who subsequently decide not to go into practice find they have acquired skills and knowledge which have a wide application to managerial and administrative positions, particularly those requiring knowledge of the law.

Aimed at those with either a Legal Practice Course or Bar Professional Training Course qualification, this course allows you to design a bespoke qualification in order to gain in-depth knowledge of your selected specialist area of law. The topic of your legal research may be one arising from academic interest or a legal issue pertinent to your current area of legal practice. The course is underpinned in many areas by internationally recognised research, in addition to emerging research and advanced scholarship. You will be provided with one-to-one supervision to support you as you undertake a dissertation. Upon completion, you will possess valuable academic and research skills, as well as a range of transferable skills designed to enhance employability in a law-related career.

Employability

The LLM Professional Practice course will enhance the career prospects of those already working in legal practice, as well as those who have not yet secured a training contract.

14 Our courses

LLM (Law)

LLM International Corporate and Financial Law

Course length: 2 years (part-time) Campus: City

Course length: 2 years (part-time) Campus: City

Overview

Overview

This programme equips you with specialist knowledge and critical analysis of key themes across a range of specialist legal areas. It will encourage you to challenge current intellectual thinking and each module is designed to provide advanced knowledge and skills.

Course content is underpinned in many areas by internationally recognised research, which enables you to critically analyse and understand complexities that can arise in these areas, as well as challenging and informing global and comparative perspectives. The research methods and dissertation modules give you the opportunity to explore an area of law within your chosen field.

Employability

The LLM course is designed for those seeking career development to gain a deeper understanding of specialised areas of the law. Upon completion of the course, you could also consider further study at MPhil/PhD level. The LLM modules may be suitable for practitioners looking to obtain Continuing Professional Development points.

This unique course will provide you with a view of corporate and financial law, set against an international backdrop that will allow you to develop the skills to succeed in the global commercial environment. Typical modules may include: International Commercial Awareness; Law Relating to Capital Markets and International Banking Law; International Project and Corporate Finance Law; International Corporate Governance; International Corporate Liquidation; Contract Planning and Claims Mitigation; and Financial Services and Financial Crime. As well as researchfocused assignments, presentations and formal examinations, you will undertake a dissertation on a topic tailored to your personal development needs and career focus.

Employability

This course is well suited to those who are seeking career progression, including those planning a career in law, investment banking, international accountancy, commerce, or the financial services industry.

Our courses 15

LLM International Commercial and Financial Law (Oil and Gas) Course length: 2 years (part-time) Campus: City

Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) Level 3 Certificate / Diploma in Law and Practice Course length: 2 years (part-time) Location: Birmingham City Centre Accreditation: Chartered Institute of Legal Executives

Overview

This highly specialised course is designed to prepare and support people working in oil, natural gas or mineral extraction who wish to gain an understanding of the legal and commercial issues involved in their area of work. The course is designed to be practical and interactive, providing an international and global perspective of key legal and commercial aspects associated with the gas, oil and mineral extraction industries in the UK, Europe, USA, China and Russia.

The course covers key principles of contract planning and claims mitigation, identifying potential areas of risk and conflict; develops effective processes, procedures and strategies to limit exposure to claims and increase the ability to create and implement action and improvement plans to help mitigate and manage international contracts.

Employability

This course is well suited to those seeking career progression, as well as those planning a career in law, the oil or gas industries, investment banking, international consultancy firms, commerce; and those who wish to concentrate on academic study.

The CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice is the first stage of academic training to become a legal executive lawyer (unless you already hold a law degree).

The CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma is made up of a total of ten units, and is designed to give prospective legal executives a good grounding in all core areas of law and the flexibility to tailor the legal practice element of the qualification to their requirements.

Overview

The University of Wolverhampton is proud to work in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) to offer an alternative route to becoming a lawyer. Driven by flexibility, the course offers opportunity to further your career and qualification ambitions. Each part of the CILEx Level 3 Certificate/Diploma lasts one year. In Year 1 you will study five modules, which if passed counts as the CILEx Level 3 Certificate. The following year you will study five more Level 3 modules, successful completion of which leads to the award of the CILEx Level 3 Diploma. You must pass all 10 modules to get the Diploma award.

Employability

Being a legal executive lawyer is a fulfilling and rewarding career.

In a law firm you could be a partner (to share in the firm’s profits), or a senior member of staff or department head with a significant client following. Opportunities also exist for senior roles in the legal departments of commercial organisations, charities, government agencies and local authorities.

All modules offered are subject to student numbers and enrolment.

Examples include: Introduction to Law and Practice; Legal Research Skills; Client Care Skills; Contract Law; Civil Litigation; Criminal Law; Criminal Litigation; Conveyancing; Land Law; and Law of Torts.

For more details please visit the CILEx website: www.ilex.org.uk

16 Our courses

CILEx Level 6 Diploma in Law and Practice Course length: 2 years (part-time) Location: Birmingham City Centre Accreditation: Chartered Institute of Legal Executives Overview

This course provides you with a route toward eligibility to seek work as a graduate of CILEx and work towards attaining full Chartered Legal Executive status. You will also develop a number of transferable skills during the course. The University of Wolverhampton offers three routes of studying the CILEx qualification:

CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law & Practice

We offer both Law and Practice units at Level 6 taught by experienced practitioners and lecturers. Successful completion of the Law and Practice route (which requires successful completion of study at Levels 3 and 6) entitles you to Graduate Membership of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives. Following completion of a qualifying period of legal employment, as a qualified CILEx lawyer you will be entitled to use the term Legal Executive and use the designatory letters F.CInst.L.Ex.

CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificate Qualification

Studying for a Level 6 Single Subject Certificate allows those who do not wish to pursue the Professional Higher Diploma in Law & Practice to gain an individual subject specialism. Should you wish to study more than one Single Subject Certificate, then these could be taken into account if you decide to embark upon the full qualification.

CILEx Graduate ‘Fast-Track’ Diploma

The University of Wolverhampton is one of only a few institutions in the West Midlands offering this new route of study aimed at recent LLB graduates. If you have achieved a qualifying law degree within the last seven years, then you are only required to study two practice units (one of which must be linked to a subject area studied on your law degree) and the CILEx Level 6 Client Care Skills unit. Upon completion of the fast-track route you become a Graduate Member of CILEx and able to pursue opportunities as a trainee legal executive. After a qualifying period of work you will then achieve Legal Executive Status.

Successful completion of any of these recognised routes of study will provide you with a nationally accredited qualification.

Having the opportunity to study both law and legal practice provides not only the ability to develop subject specialist knowledge but also the practical skills required in today’s legal environment.

Employability

We are proud to work in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) to offer a new route to becoming a lawyer. Driven by flexibility, the course offers opportunity to further your career and qualification ambitions. Qualifying as a Legal Executive lawyer gives you opportunity to work in the legal profession, corporate in-house legal departments, or in local or national government.

Studying with CILEx can also be a flexible and realistic route of study into the legal profession. If you are a Fellow of CILEx before you complete the Legal Practice Course (LPC) you may be exempt from the two-year training contract specified by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

For more details please visit the CILEx website: www.ilex.org.uk

Our courses 17

LLB (Hons) Course length: 5-6 years (part-time) Campus: City and by distance learning Accreditation: Joint Academic Stage Board (JASB) Overview

This course is ideal if you want to achieve a law qualification which will allow you to take the necessary professional exams to qualify as a solicitor or barrister. You will study a series of core modules which you need to pass to gain exemption from the academic stage of training to qualify as a solicitor or barrister including; Criminal Law; English and European Legal Systems; Equity and the Law of Trusts; Land Law; Law of Contract; Law of the European Union; Law of Tort; and Public (Constitutional) Law. Our on-campus courtroom gives you a taste of life in a real court with purpose-built equipment and special acoustics. Mooting and other legal skills competitions provide the opportunity to experience what it is like to be a lawyer, and there are regular visits to The Inns of Court and Houses of Parliament, as well as career talks from local firms, police, and other relevant organisations.

This course is also available as an LLB (Hons) by Distance Learning option.

Employability

Many of our graduates go on to become lawyers. However, the diverse nature of the degree also means that law graduates can enter a range of alternative occupations including: Policing, Trading Standards, Health and Safety, Personnel, Accountancy, the Civil Service or research and consultancy. It is possible to continue your studies by undertaking the Legal Practice Course or the Bar Professional Training Course or undertake one of the specialist Master’s degrees or a PGCE and qualify to teach law.

For more information regarding all our courses, entry requirements and making an application, please visit: www.wlv.ac.uk/law

What our students say Tan Ikram, District Judge, LLB (Hons) Law You don’t naturally think they make people like you into judges. Thanks to my Wolverhampton degree I was able to compete on merit. Those best suited are appointed judges, and it was my degree education which allowed me to get where I am today.

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University of Wolverhampton Law School Millennium City Building City Campus Wulfruna Wolverhampton WV1 1LY

Tel: 01902 323 518 (course enquiries) Email: FoSS-UGenquiries@wlv.ac.uk OR FoSS-PGenquiries@wlv.ac.uk Website: www.wlv.ac.uk/law

Disclaimer The University of Wolverhampton can accept no liability for the accuracy or otherwise of statements in these publications. It is a general guide and there may be changes following publication, which affect the contents. Courses and modules may be altered or withdrawn without notice. Before accepting any place offered on a course, prospective students should be aware that the provision of education services by the University of Wolverhampton is subject to written terms and conditions of contract set out in full on the University’s website at www.wlv.ac.uk