The City Law School Prospectus 2023/24

Prospectus 2023/24

Your guide to studying at one of London’s leading law schools

The City Law School

With three levels of study –undergraduate, postgraduate and professional – The City Law School offers courses suitable for anyone interested in or already following a career in law, no matter what stage you are at.

Exceptional history and reputation

Throughout our 170 years of history, we have been at the forefront of legal education. Our courses are designed to meet the needs of our students and the modern legal profession both today and in the future.

Our alumni include leading figures in law and international politics:

– Rt Hon Sir Tony Blair

– Baroness Peta Buscombe

– Sir Christopher Butcher

– Rt Hon. Baroness Chakrabarti CBE

– Dame Linda Dobbs DBE

– Mahatma Gandhi

– Muhammad Ali Jinnah

– Mrs Justice Jefford, DBE

– Rt Hon Lord Justice Leggatt

– Michael Mansfield QC

– Robert Swannell CBE

– Baroness Margaret

Forward thinking

The City Law School takes an active role in the legal profession, legal research and the wider business community.

World-class research

The School’s internationally recognised experts lead research across a diverse range of areas, including business law, criminal law, human rights, intellectual property and information technology, maritime law and public law. The primary purpose of this research is creating value for society, both locally (in London and the UK) and globally.

Our lecturers are leaders in their respective fields and the impact of our academic research helps inform the development of legal education, the practice of law and influences UK and international policy.

Academic staff have published several works that are used by the profession including The Modern Law of Evidence by Paul Mckeown.

Recent publications:

• Collins, D. Foundations of International Economic Law (Edward Elgar)

• Fahey, E. Framing Convergence with the Global Legal Order (Hart)

• Bennett, T. (co-edited) Law and Imagination in Troubled Times – A Legal and Literary Discourse (Routledge)

• Ahmed, T. and Fahey, E. On Brexit – Law, Justices and Injustices (Edward Elgar)

• Bonadio E. The Cambridge Handbook of Copyright in Street Art and Graffiti (Cambridge University Press)

• Chuah, Law of International Trade (Sweet & Maxwell, 2019)

• Germain, S. Justice and Profit in Health Care Law (Hart, 2019)

• Rogers & Chuah, Carriage of Goods by Sea (Routledge, 2019).

Leading academics and alumni

Our relationship with leading academics give students access to the best legal minds available today. We involve practitioners directly in the delivery and development of our courses and many of our academic staff remain active in the profession, ensuring that you leave us with the skills and knowledge relevant to today’s legal world.

• Our courses feature visiting lecturers from the academic, legal and business worlds.

• Academic staff also regularly advise UK and international governments on policy matters relating to their specialist areas.

Expert support

We are committed to giving each student a fullyintegrated, modern learning experience. You will benefit from a range of learning tools and facilities designed to grow and improve your legal skills and knowledge.

• Our award-winning legal research portal, Lawbore provides online access to all the legal reference material needed on demand.

• Our Future Solicitors Careers Advice Services (FSCAS) and Pupillage Advisory Service (PAS) give advice to both intending solicitors and barristers and support them in transitioning into the profession.

• Our “Law IRL” (Law In Real Life) programme (see page 11) gives our students the opportunity to develop their employability skills through a range of activities.

• Our extensive legal links give us access to internship opportunities for our students to apply to, and other career-enhancing opportunities.

Features include:

– Business structure and incorporation – Contractual agreements – key issues in contracts

– Intellectual property issues – copyright/ trademarks/patents

– Preparation for an investment

– Recruiting students across a range of subject areas including IT, business, law, journalism or social media through the City Careers Hub.

A place to build your career

Whether you want to be a solicitor, a barrister, or use your legal training in another profession, we have the support and links to help you reach the next step in your career.

Becoming a barrister

As the original provider of Bar training, we have a long history in training barristers. We help you to make contact with chambers, arrange mini-pupillages and gain real-life legal experience. Throughout the year members of the Bar come in and talk directly to our students or invite our students to their own events. This has included:

• Atkin Chambers

• Erskine Chambers

• Hailsham Chambers

• Hardwicke Chambers

• Henderson Chambers

• Keating Chambers

• Landmark Chambers

• South Square Chambers

• XXiV Old Buildings

• 2 Temple Gardens

• 6KBW College Hill.

Pupillage Advisory Service (PAS)

Students have access to dedicated careers support from our in-house Pupillage Advisory Service (PAS). Specialists can provide you with individual advice about building links with the profession, applying for mini-pupillages, completing pupillage applications, preparing for interviews (including offering mock interviews) and getting ready for pupillage.

The Pupillage Advisory Service is managed by a team of experienced barristers and careers professionals to guide you to pupillage.

Becoming a solicitor

We prepare aspiring solicitors for practice with one-to-one specialised careers support. We work individually with you to assist you in forming relationships with law firms, applying for internships and preparing training contract applications.

Throughout the year, representatives from firms and in-house legal services visit the School to talk and give advice about the profession to students. Past visitors include representatives from the following firms:

• Allen & Overy

• Berwin Leighton Paisner

• DMH Stallard

• Eversheds

• Leigh Day and Co

• Macfarlanes LLP

• Olswang LLP

• Travers Smith.

The Solicitor’s Qualifying Exam

From 2023, The City Law School will offer a new programme which will prepare students for the SRA’s external Solicitor’s Qualifying Exam (SQE). This will be the Solicitors’ Practice Programme, which will incorporate preparation for the external SQE assessments with vocational modules, providing the foundations that employers are looking for. Diploma and LLM pathways are available. For more information, please visit: www.city.ac.uk/sqe

Future Solicitors Careers Advice Services (FSCAS)

The Future Solicitors Careers Advice Services (FSCAS) provides dedicated advice to help students to secure the workplace experience they will need in order to qualify as a Solicitor. Legal experts are trained to guide students through the process of finding employment both within the legal profession and in the public and commercial sectors of the economy. Students can start using the service as soon as they accept a place on the Solicitors’ Practice Programme (SPP) at City. Students can make individual appointments throughout the year with the service for one-to-one advice. The (FSCAS) advisors are there to help students prepare for interviews, assessment days or presentations.

Careers outside the legal profession

Even if you choose to not practise, the intellectual skills and knowledge acquired while studying for a law degree will stand you in good stead in a wide range of careers. The skills and confidence gained as an undergraduate or postgraduate law student is highly valuable to a wide range of employers and law graduates are often considered to be some of the strongest candidates in many types of employment.

Alternative career paths include:

• Academic posts

• Hedge funds

• International organisations like the UN

• Investment advisor

• Judicial assistant

• Law Commission

• Licensed conveyancing

• Local Government

• Merchant banks

• Management consultancies

• Regulatory bodies

• Security organisations such as NATO

• Trading standards.

Lawbore Future Lawyer

Lawbore Future Lawyer focuses on the career routes available to law students. The blog also offers an insight into the paths our alumni have taken via articles and video interviews. We have a student team reporting on City events and pieces from our academic staff, legal journalists and careers experts.

For more information visit: lawbore.net.

TL;DR

TL;DR is our ‘less textual legal gallery’. It’s where we showcase resources that communicate the law in a more visual way – via maps, comics, videos, visual explainers and animations. This is a growing collection and one which we actively encourage students to use and contribute to.

For more information visit: tldr.legal/.

City’s Annual Careers Fair

Each year City, University of London holds a Careers Fair where students can speak directly with graduate recruitment advisors and representatives from leading law firms and chambers.

The Fair in 2022 included:

• DWF

• Fieldfisher

• Judge and Priestly

• Kennedys

• South Square Chambers

• Wedlake Bell

• Womble Bond Dickinson.

Graduates of The City Law School have moved into employment with some of the leading national and global legal organisations. For more information on the destinations of our graduates, visit: city.ac.uk/law.

Widening access to justice and the profession.

Experience law beyond the classroom.

The City Law School has a long history of involvement with pro bono activities dating back 20 years to the days when the Law School was based in the Inns of Court. Pro Bono Publico is a Latin term which means “for the public good”. In plain English it translates as the contemporary term “Law IRL.”

We provide our students with the opportunity to experience law beyond the classroom whilst widening access to justice and the profession.

• We run a Community Legal Advice Centre providing advice on areas of law unfunded by legal aid.

• We recruit law students for local not-for-profit organisations supporting access to justice in the community.

• We run in-house clinical legal education projects –for example, the COIN Company Insolvency Project.

• We have a long-standing relationship with the Free Representation Unit (FRU) offering Bar Vocational Course students the opportunity to gain advocacy experience in the social security and employment tribunals.

• We offer a variety of extracurricular opportunities to our law students including court visits and mock trials.

By taking part in the activities and opportunities on offer at The City Law School, you will be developing invaluable employability skills. The experiences are tailored to the legal profession and graduate employment, and open to all students. Many of the skills gained are directly transferrable to alternative careers in the broader legal profession and graduate employment.

Clinical Legal Education

Clinical Legal Education is the academic concept of “learning through doing”. By gaining realworld experience, and reflecting on it, students can understand the link between their studies and Law IRL. All our experiential learning aims to meet the standards of the Pro Bono Protocol. This was developed by the Attorney General’s Pro Bono Coordinating Committee and has been endorsed by the Law Society of England and Wales, Bar Council of England and Wales and Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.

Law IRL offers the following activities:

• City Community Legal Advice Centre

• Legal Work Placements

• Court Visits

• Mock Trials. Law IRL Experience the Law Beyond the Classroom

Community Legal Advice Centre (CLAC) Placements Court Visits Mock Trials

Starting in Year 1, students can attend a court to observe hearings, or join a Community Legal Advice Centre session where they have the privilege of observing lawyers providing legal advice. Final year LLB students are recruited as Assistants who take notes and conduct legal research. Our postgraduate students volunteer as Student Advisors undertaking the client interview, legal research and drafting an attendance note and advice letter. Most advice sessions are conducted via Zoom making the Community Legal Advice Centre accessible to all. The Centre is located in our Law IRL office on the ground floor of The City Law School building.

We run an annual programme of court visits and mock trials aimed at law students to observe hearings and become familiar with court procedure. You can sign up to visit a court as part of a group. You may receive a tour of the building and have the opportunity to observe hearings, and in some cases meet with a Judge! Observing hearings is a great experience of seeing the English legal system in practice.

We arrange a programme of mock trials aimed at undergraduate law students. A mock trial teaches you to present your ideas in public and to assess, examine and criticise information. It also gives you a realistic idea of what working in a courtroom entails. Usually, mock trials are conducted using a simulated criminal case study, although this is not always the case. Students play the roles of witnesses, jurors, and barristers. The ‘Judge’ will conduct the trial as he/she would in real life and you will have the chance to observe and interact when it’s your time to role-play. At the end of the mock trial, the ‘Judge’ will tell you what the ‘Jury’ has decided and give you feedback on how the trial went.

Each year we recruit students to volunteer in our internal placements where they will gain valuable experience either as part of their course or extracurricular.

Opportunities include:

Appeal – One of three pathways Bar Vocational Studies students can choose involves a BVS LLM where students can apply to undertake a one-year placement with Appeal working on miscarriages of justice and policy work.

• Freedom Law Clinic

• Free Representation Unit

• Fitness to Practice Clinic.

COIN (Company Insolvency Clinic) – The Company Insolvency Pro Bono Scheme provides help for Litigants-in-Person appearing before the winding up court.

Environmental Law Foundation (ELF) – Work closely with solicitor-advocate Dr Paul Stookes in the Environmental Law Advice & Policy Clinic.

The City Law School has a number of valuable partnerships with the not-for-profit sector. This includes a long-standing relationship with the Free Representation Unit (FRU) who provide our students with training to represent clients in the employment and social security tribunals. Bar Vocational Studies students generally undertake FRU as part of their course, however they can also undertake FRU as a volunteer, subject to places being available.

Refugee Law Clinic (RLC) – Established in 2020 at the University of London’s ‘School of Advanced Study’, this innovative project provides pro bono legal advice for refugee clients. Some of our students are selected to take part in this activity each year.

We also recruit for not-for-profit charities where you can volunteer your time. We recruit for these opportunities regularly at the start of each term, allowing the maximum number of students to get involved. Examples of organisations we have worked with include, Citizens Advice, Law Centres Network, Vocalise, the Schools Consent Project, Leducate, National Centre for Domestic Violence, Amicus, Reprieve, and Appeal. Each year we develop these relationships, allowing students the opportunity to gain relevant pro bono experience*.

Our students have the opportunity to work with lawyers who volunteer in our Community Legal Advice Centre providing legal advice. Currently, we are proudly partnered with the following law firms and chambers: Travers Smith, Taylor Wessing, Lewis Silkin, Irwin Mitchell, Matrix Chambers and 11 KBW Chambers. At City, we are very well connected with the legal profession, and this provides our students with opportunities to network and be inspired!

We bring people together under our common purpose – widening access to justice and the profession. Volunteering gives everyone a sense of purpose and an opportunity to see law in practice. We develop socially responsible lawyers of the future generation.

*Subject to availability

Integrated support

Teaching staff at The City Law School is comprised of leading legal practitioners and academic staff. All students are allocated an academic advisor upon arrival, who can offer one-to-one support and advice.

Mooting and pro bono skills practice

We offer our students a range of opportunities to apply their skills in a real-life environment by taking part in mooting competitions and participating in our extensive pro bono programme.

Mooting

Mooting is one of the most effective ways for students to develop the skills they need to be successful lawyers. Mooting helps you to gain important legal skills, such as research and analysis, whilst also developing expertise in public speaking and advocacy.

City mooters have a strong reputation.

The City Law School is proud of its student success in both national and international competitions previously winning the FTB Kingsland Cup and Prize Moot, the Oxford International Intellectual Property Moot, the Landmark Judicial Review Moot and the Master’s Award for the best law school at the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators Arbitration Competition.

The School also runs several internal mooting competitions every year, with the finals taking place at the Supreme Court. Students are also given the opportunity to attend a series of training workshops at the start of term.

City Student’s Union

The City Student’s Union provides independent advice to students on anything that may affect them whilst studying at The City Law School. This ranges from academic issues through to housing and finance issues.

Law Society

The student Law Society at City is a thriving group who organise a range of beneficial events, workshops and the annual end of year Law Ball for its members. They also invite law students from undergraduate to PhD level, to prepare law related features for the Law Society Student Journal. Events have included a special visit from Baroness Hale of Richmond, the first woman appointed as the UK’s most senior judge.

Specialist library services

City law students have access to a dedicated law library to cover their specialist needs, including specialist legal collections dedicated to law students undertaking our SPP, BVS and LLM courses.

Our printed collections are enhanced by a suite of online legal databases with many resource journals, law reports and legal texts available electronically for easy access off-campus.

A team of professional staff, qualified in law librarianship and trained in legal research are available to assist you with sourcing legal materials, researching the law and answering queries.

Student Centre

If you are considering applying to City, have been accepted on one of our courses or are a current student, our award-winning Student Centre is there to answer your questions. From practical help with your finances, finding somewhere to live and travelling around London, to advice about your course, medical support and just about anything else, the Student Centre can help.

ICT Services

Cutting-edge technologies, 24-hour IT support and widely available wireless access ensure students enjoy excellent connectivity. The ICT Service provides a one-stop shop of expert help and advice.

We provide over 1,000 PCs, 200 Apple Macs and 57 Linux workstations, located in accessible areas around the campus, with 24 hour access to specific areas. You can find out which machines are available at any time.

Centre for Language Studies

Foreign language skills can give graduates a competitive edge in the job market. City’s Centre for Language Studies offers courses designed to develop communication skills in foreign languages

as well as cultural knowledge about how to live, work and be part of a culturally diverse global society. Language courses offered in 2022/23 included: Arabic, French, German, Mandarin and Spanish.

City Students’ Union City, University of London Students’ Union works to improve the experience of City students:

• It provides independent advice on academic issues through the Union Support Service (USS);

• It organises events and supports student clubs and societies, such as Raising And Giving (RAG) and student media activities, so that you can play a full part in the City community and make the most of your time here;

• Elected student officers represent you before the University and nationally: they ensure that your voice is heard on key student issues and lobby to make sure that you have the support you need to excel;

• It supports University academic representation by training and supporting student course representatives.

To find out more about City Student’s Union, visit: www.citystudents.co.uk .

Sport at City CitySport, our sports centre, is the largest student sports facility in central London. Fitted with the latest and most sophisticated fitness equipment across 3,000m2 of floor space, CitySport provides leading-edge sport and well being facilities for our students at competitive rates.

University of London (UoL) – benefits to our students

City is an independent member of the University of London (UoL). Students of City also become members of the UoL, which offers several benefits. Students are able to access UoL library resources and are entitled to membership of ‘Student Central’ (the former University of London Union). UoL membership offers opportunities for greater social interaction, extension of the student community, access to additional libraries, accommodation options and sports facilities and teams.

Our courses

The City Law School offers courses for students and practitioners at all stages of legal education.

Courses and structure

At an undergraduate level, our LLB (Hons) provides a foundation in key areas of law. For non-law graduates wishing to convert to the legal profession, we offer the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) or the Graduate Entry LLB (Hons).

Our Bar Vocational Studies (BVS) and Solicitors’ Practice Programme (SPP) prepare graduates for careers as barristers and solicitors respectively Students who take these programmes have the option of completing additional modules to obtain a master’s degree.

Finally, our master’s LLM programme allows students to develop their expertise in specialist areas and enhance their career opportunities.

Courses are delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials and seminars and this faceto-face learning is underpinned by an online environment that allows students to access lecture notes, listen to podcasts and contact academic staff. This integrated approach ensures that students develop the analytical, research and self-study skills needed for future career success.

The City Law School Scholarships

The City Law School is firmly committed to a generous programme of scholarships awarded on the basis of academic excellence. Our scholarships range in value and include both partial and full fee waiver awards. They are open to students across all of our programmes and both home and international students are strongly encouraged to apply. An application form and further details can be found on our website.

Through our scholarships, we celebrate academic achievement and we support outstanding students who choose to study with us. While the primary consideration for the award of scholarships is academic excellence, the School fully recognises that judging past academic performance must include consideration of the wider circumstances of an applicant’s achievements. The Law School’s Scholarships Committee looks carefully at the full range of qualities possessed by each individual and it closely considers the wider context in which academic excellence has been achieved. We also believe that it is important to value the potential of applicants to make a positive contribution to the Law School, the legal professions, and the broader community when we evaluate applications. At The City Law School, scholarships are central to our ongoing commitment to excellence in legal education.

Undergraduate courses

Law LLB (Hons)

UCAS code

M100

Duration

Full-time: three years.

Entry requirements Typical requirements:

A-level: ABB

Tariff: 128 points from the new UCAS tariff (typically ABB or BBB with an AS Level or a relevant EPQ).

BTEC: DDM

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ): We welcome applications that include the EPQ. Where relevant, this may be included in our offer, resulting in an ‘A’ level offer reduced by one grade.

IB: 29 points, including 5 in Higher Level English or 6 in Standard Level English

In addition, the following is required:

GCSE: English Language and Mathematics at grade 4.

English language requirements

IELTS: 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component.

The LLB (Hons) provides students with the essential legal and academic skills to be successful in law and other professional careers. The degree gives students the knowledge and skills to go on to the Solicitors’ Practice Programme (SPP) or the Bar Vocational Studies (BVS) and become a solicitor or barrister. The LLB (Hons) prepares students for future careers by equipping them with a range of essential transferable skills, widely sought by employers within an array of professions.

Graduates leave confident in their abilities and equipped with the skills demanded by today’s employers.

Course content

Year One:

In year one you will study some of the core legal subjects common to all undergraduate law degrees:

• Administrative Law and Human Rights

• Constitutional Law

• Contract Law and Practice

• Debates in the English Legal System

• Foundations of Contract Law

• Foundations of Criminal Law

• Foundations of Tort Law

• Legal Reading, Writing and Research for Degree, Careers and Employability.

Year two:

In year two you will study the remaining core legal subjects common to all undergraduate law degrees:

• Foundations of EU Law

• Foundations of Land Law

• Foundations of Trusts Law.

In addition, students choose one module focusing on valuable professional skills and four modules from a wide range of elective subjects to gain specialised knowledge. The range of subjects offered, which is subject to availability and demand, includes:

• Company Law

• Contemporary issues in EU Constitutional Law

• Family Law

• Foundations of Public International Law

• Further issues in Criminal Law

• Further issues in Tort Law

• Intellectual Property Law

• Introduction to Mediation

• Immigration Law

• Law, Rights and Context

• Legal Career Enhancement and Employability Skills

• Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility

• The UK and the European Union

The LLB (Hons) lets students explore the foundations and specialist fields of law. Students develop their legal skills in mooting, research and debating and graduates satisfy the entry requirements of the professional stage of legal training.

Undergraduate courses

Year three:

In your final year, you will choose eight modules from a wide range of elective subjects (all at 15-credits each) that allow you to study in a specialised field and gain important professional skills for your future career. The range of elective subjects offered, includes several electives rarely offered at undergraduate level:

• Advanced issues in International Law

• Aviation Law

• Canadian Constitutional Law –Foundational Principles

• Canadian Corporate Law

• Child Law

• Commercial Property Law

• Comparative Constitutional Law

• Competition Law

• Constitutional Law of the USA –Foundational Principles

• Constitutional Law of the USA –Modern Controversies

• Criminal Justice

• EU Law and the Global Legal Order

• Forensic Science and the Legal Process

• Foundations of Commercial Law

• Free movement of Goods, Persons and Services in the Internal Market

• Further issues in Commercial Law

• Further issues in Equity

• Further issues in Land Law

• Gender, Sexuality and Law

• Human Rights Law in the UK

• International Commercial Arbitration

• International Criminal Law

• International Economic Law

• International Human Rights Law

• Introduction to the Solicitor’s Professional Qualification

• Introduction to Transnational Law

• Jurisprudence

• Justice, Law and History

• Law and Film

• Law of Evidence – the Evidential Implications of Criminal Investigation

• Law of Evidence: Safeguarding Reliability and Protecting Witnesses

• Law of the European Convention of Human Rights

• Law relating to Public Companies

• Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility

• Legal Skills

• Maritime Law

• Media Law

• Medical Law and Bioethics

• Micro-Placements

• Pro bono Training (academic)

• Pro bono Training (practice)

• Sports Law

• The Canadian Charter of Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

There is also an opportunity to write a 30-credit dissertation if you meet certain specified preconditions. See website for more details.

LLB Law with Pathways

In addition to the LLB Law degree we provide the opportunity for

you to graduate with a degree in a specialised area of Law in one of the four pathways below. You can make this choice at the end of your second year.

If you enter a specialised pathway you will need to study at least 4 15-credit modules related to this pathway in your final year.

The additional pathways and respective degree titles are:

• LLB Law with Commercial Law

• LLB Law with International Law

• LLB Law with Human Rights

• LLB Law with Professional Practice.

Study abroad

The School has established student exchange programmes with universities in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey and Spain. The programme may provide the opportunity to spend part of your second year or all or part of your third year studying at one of these universities.

How to apply

Applications open in September 2023 and must be submitted by January 2024. Late applicants run the risk that the course may be full after the initial offers have been made. All applications must be received through the UCAS applications system: visit: ucas.com or: city.ac.uk/law/ llb for more information.

Cristina DeSouza Law LLB (Hons) 2017-2020

“Studying the LLB at The City Law School was an exciting and challenging experience. It solidified my decision to pursue a career as a solicitor, and the skills I gained –including thinking laterally and creatively –helped in my vacation scheme and training contract applications.

My advice to future LLB students would be to ask as many questions as you can – this is your golden opportunity!”

Graduate courses

Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)

First developed in 1977, our nationally renowned Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) was one of the first of the Common Professional Examination courses for non-law graduates wishing to pursue a career in law.

Duration

Full-time: one year

Entry requirements

A degree (in any subject), of at least an upper second class honours (2:1) standard, conferred by a university in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland, or by the Council for National Academic Awards, or an approved degree conferred by a university outside the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, and a very good knowledge of the English language.

English language requirements

IELTS: 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in writing and 6.0 in all other components.

International applicants

The rules governing admission to practise law vary from country to country. Before applying, students wishing to take the GDL as a step towards becoming a lawyer outside England and Wales are strongly advised to check with the appropriate body in the country in which they wish to qualify and practise that the diploma is acceptable for this purpose.

The GDL covers the seven core foundation subjects that are prerequisites for taking the professional examinations. Our GDL course has an unrivalled reputation within the profession for the quality of the education, the ability of its students and the preparation it provides for students seeking pupillage or a training contract.

Successful completion of this course qualifies students to progress to one of the two professional courses that all UK lawyers are required to take: the Solicitors’ Practice Programme (SPP) for solicitors and the Bar Vocational Studies (BVS) for barristers.

Course content

GDL candidates study the seven core foundation subjects that would normally be covered during a qualifying law degree. The academic programme and examinations are largely at first degree level with some postgraduate elements and involve material that is normally studied by undergraduates over at least 18 months. The course is delivered by The City Law School’s own lecturers and by visiting lecturers from other prestigious universities.

The foundation subjects are:

• Contract Law

• Criminal Law

• Equity and Trusts

• European Union Law

• Land Law

• Public Law

• Tort Law

In addition to the foundation subjects, students take another academic law subject unique to City: Introduction to legal ethics. This subject directs students’ attention towards the ethical challenges which lawyers might face in practice and to the values which characterise the profession.

Students have the option to convert their GDL to an LLB degree by taking further law modules after they have completed the GDL. This option is usually done in conjunction with students taking the SPP or BVS at The City Law School.

Career opportunities

Successful completion of the GDL qualifies students to progress onto the SPP (intending solicitors) or the BVS (intending barristers). (Please note: the Bar Standards Board does not allow providers to guarantee places on this course)

Other courses you may like Solicitors’ Practice Programme (SPP) Bar Vocational Studies (BVS)

Graduate Entry

LLB (Hons)

The GE LLB (Hons) lets students explore the foundations and specialist fields of law. Students develop their legal skills in mooting, research and debating and graduates satisfy the entry requirements of the professional stage of legal training.

UCAS code

M110

Duration

Full-time: two years.

Entry requirements

A degree (in any subject), of at least a second class honours (2:2) standard, conferred by a university in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland or by the Council for National Academic Awards. Or, an approved degree conferred by a university outside the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.

Applications must be made online at ucas.com

English language requirements

IELTS: 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in all components.

International applicants

For applicants who have studied for their degree in North America, we usually require a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

The rules governing admission to practise law vary. Before applying, applicants wishing to take the GE LLB as a step towards becoming a lawyer outside England and Wales are strongly advised to check with the appropriate body in the country in which they wish to qualify or practise, that this course is accepted.

Students can gain skills and knowledge in the core legal subjects and learn about specialist areas of law. Students have the additional option of participating in mooting competitions to further strengthen their legal and debating skills.

Course content

Year one:

In year one, Graduate Entry LLB (Hons) students study four of the seven core foundation subjects that are usually covered in an undergraduate law degree. Subject to availability and demand.

• Constitutional and Administrative Law

• Contract Law

• Criminal Law

• English Legal System

• Tort Law.

Year two:

In year two, students take the remaining three core subjects and have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of particular areas of law by choosing six elective subjects:

• Equity and Trusts

• European Union Law

• Land Law.

Year two elective modules include:

• Advanced Issues in International Law

• Canadian Law of Business Organisations

• Competition Law

• Cross Border Commercial Law

• Global Issues in Corporate Law

• International and Comparative Intellectual Property

• International Commercial Arbitration

• International Economic Law

• International Human Rights Law

• Introduction to the Solicitor’s Professional Qualification

• Justice, Law and History

• Labour Law

• Law, Race and Colonialism

• Media Law

• Medical Law & Bioethics

• Movement of Products and People into and within the EU

• The Canadian Charter of Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

You can also write a 30 credit dissertation. This is classed as a ‘double’ module so students

choosing this option will be limited

to choosing four additional elective modules only.

Career opportunities

Find out more: law@city.ac.uk

7040 3309

• Canadian Constitutional Law –Foundational Principles

Graduates are qualified to progress to one of The City Law School’s two professional legal skills courses: the BVS, for those wishing to practise at the Bar of England and Wales, or the SPP, which prepares students for the (external) Solicitors Qualifying Exam.

Other

courses you may like Solicitors’ Practice Programme (SPP) Bar Vocational Studies (BVS)

Professional courses

Bar Vocational Studies ( BVS )

PGDip/ PGDip with Specialism/ LLM

Our Bar Vocational Studies programmes provide a rigorous and highly skills-focussed training that qualifies graduates for Call to the Bar of England and Wales.

Bar Vocational Studies

Duration

Full-time: one year.

Part-time: two years.

Entry requirements

The minimum entry requirement is an undergraduate degree classified as not less than a lower-second class honours (2:2) or equivalent. This can be either a law degree or a non-law degree plus further graduate/postgraduate study in Law and in either case must cover the seven foundations of legal knowledge and satisfy the Professional Statement competence. The Bar Standards Board can advise on non-standard qualifications.

Additional requirements laid down by the professional regulator are:

• Membership of one of the four Inns of Court

• Fluency in English at a minimum of 7.5 in each category of the IELTS test (or equivalent).

The four Inns of Court have wellestablished scholarship schemes that students can apply for.

This programme offers the choice of three different routes depending on whether students wish to study the modules that are compulsory in order to be eligible for Call to the Bar of England and Wales, or to further enhance their employability and develop specialist knowledge and skills. The Postgraduate Diploma comprises the subjects that form the compulsory vocational qualification for Call to the Bar. The Postgraduate Diploma with Specialism allows students to continue their studies with two elective modules in a specialist area of professional practice. Students also have the option of obtaining an LLM by also completing a practice-focused dissertation or (for full-time students only) a clinical legal education module. This route aims to enhance students’ knowledge of substantive law and/or legal skills in relation to a particular area of professional practice.

The programme can be studied full-time over one academic year, or part-time over two academic years. Part-time students attend classes one day a week (1.5 days for students who choose the LLM route) in the first year and two days in the second year.

Specialism modules

If you choose to complete the LLM or PG Dip (with specialism) you will need to complete two additional electives that are drawn from the following specialist areas of practice:

• Advanced Advocacy Skills

• Advanced Civil Practice

• Advanced Criminal Practice

• Corporate Law and Practice

• International Commercial Trade and Dispute Resolution

• Social Justice and Public Law

Please note that specialisms/ modules will only run if sufficient numbers of students choose them. Please visit the website for a full list of electives within these specialist areas.

Solicitors’ Practice Programme PGDip/LLM

Our Solicitors’ Practice Programme is excellent preparation for becoming a solicitor and incorporates all the elements required to prepare you for the external Solicitors’ Qualifying Examination (SQE).

Duration

Full-time: one year.

Entry requirements

To enter the course, you must have:

A UK honours degree in law, normally with a classification of 2.1 or above; OR

A UK honours degree in a subject other than law, normally with a classification of 2:1 or above, AND a UK Graduate Diploma in Law (or equivalent graduate or postgraduate course that covers the necessary foundations of legal knowledge), normally with an average of at least 50%; OR

An overseas degree (in any subject), normally with a classification equivalent to 2:1 or above, AND a UK Graduate Diploma in Law (or equivalent graduate or postgraduate course that covers the necessary foundations of legal knowledge), normally with an average of at least 50%;

OR An overseas degree in law, normally with a classification equivalent to 2:1 or above, which is based on common law and is specified in the list of exceptionally permitted overseas degrees.

English language requirements

IELTS: 7.5 or above with a minimum of 7.0 in each area.

The Solicitors’ Practice Programme is designed for those preparing for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), the new route to qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales. The programme has been carefully designed in collaboration with leading law firms who have outlined exactly what they seek in newly qualified solicitors. Students will build on their existing legal knowledge and will acquire the knowledge and skills required both for the SQE assessments and for practising as a Solicitor.

Training to be a solicitor is an exciting, yet challenging undertaking. The Law School has been training solicitors for decades, many of whom have gone on to achieve prized positions in the legal world, so you can be assured that we have the ideal programme to help you excel in the SQE.

Course content

Over two 10-week terms, students will study material that will help prepare them to pass SQE1 and SQE2. Students may exit at this stage with a Postgraduate Diploma.

The Master of Laws (LLM) pathway provides an additional 5-week elective term and submission of a legal practice research project to deepen students’ understanding of an area of legal practice that is of particular interest.

This is a blended learning programme that is taught through face to face workshops supported by a range of online resources.

Career opportunities

The City Law School has a long tradition of training solicitors. Many of our graduates have taken up in employment in prestigious firms. The programme has been designed with the benefit of advice from a range of solicitors’ firms and is tailored to equip students with the knowledge and skills that firms seek, especially commercial acumen.

Other courses you may like Bar Vocational Studies (BVS)

LLM and specialist LLMs

Taught Masters

Master of Laws ( LLM; Specialist LLMs )

The Master of Laws is a flexible programme which enables students to develop a critical understanding of specialist or linked areas of the law, with seven specialisms to choose from.

Duration

Full-time: one year.

Part-time: two years.

Full-time or Part-time: two intakes per year: September and January.

Entry requirements

Applicants should normally hold an upper second class honours (2:1) degree in law or the equivalent from a recognised higher education institution. Applicants with a degree in a subject other than law will be considered, but such a background may restrict the choice of modules where content is dependent on a prior knowledge of law.

English language requirements

IELTS: 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in all components. Find out more: law@city.ac.uk +44 (0)20 7040 3309

Students benefit from learning in small groups led by experienced academic staff who are leaders in their fields. Lawyers in practice support the LLM through a series of talks over the course of the programme. Expert careers advice is available from personal tutors and City’s Careers Service which provides a range of events and advice. Each year, the School also welcomes distinguished professionals, judges and government officials through its guest lecture programme, underlining the emphasis placed on the applicability of the LLM to developments in the legal profession. Students also have the opportunity to participate in the School’s extensive pro bono activities.

Scholarships are available to exceptional candidates.

Mode of delivery

The programme is designed to be flexible, to meet students’ differing study objectives and needs. It can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. You can join the programme in either September or January. The programme is also delivered via blended learning, offering students the opportunity to study on campus in London, join and participate in live and interactive classes online from anywhere in the world (noting that classes will be scheduled between 9am and 6pm UK time) or study via distance learning by watching

recordings of classes and accessing online materials. Whichever mode of study you chose you will receive a tailored and supportive learning experience.

Course content

Students embarking on the LLM have two course options. They may complete the Master of Laws (LLM) by choosing any five taught modules from the lists that follow and writing a dissertation, or they may obtain a Specialist Master of Laws (Specialist LLM) by completing at least two modules (of the five required) from one of the defined specialist areas listed below (as well as any three other modules from those listed) and a dissertation or research project in that area.

LLM in Criminal Litigation

• Advocacy in the Criminal Trial

• International Criminal Law: Crimes & Institutions

• International Criminal Law: the Practitioner Perspective

• Advocacy: Trial Stories

• Forensic Psychology for the Criminal Practitioner.

Master of Laws (LLM; Specialist LLMs)

LLM in International Banking and Finance

• International Banking Law

• International Corporate Finance

• International Corporation Law

• International Investment Law

• International Tax Law

• Money Laundering Law

• Project Finance and Law.

LLM in International Commercial Law

• International Banking Law

• World Trade Law

• Admiralty Law

• Marine Insurance

• Carriage of Goods by Sea

• International Trade Law

• International Corporate Finance

• International Corporation Law

• Project Finance and Law

• International Commercial Arbitration

• Oil & Gas Law

• International Investment Law

• International Intellectual Property Law and Policy

• Mergers

• Contemporary issues in Intellectual Property

• International Tax.

LLM in International Human Rights

• Public International Law

• International Criminal Law: Crimes & Institutions

• International Criminal Law: the Practitioner Perspective

• International Human Rights in Law and Practice

• Law and War

• Minorities and Indigenous Peoples in International Law.

LLM in International Litigation and Dispute Resolution

• Advocacy: Trial Stories

• Litigation Dispute Resolution Options

• Arbitration

• Mediation and Negotiation

• International Commercial Arbitration.

LLM in Maritime Law

• Admiralty Law

• Carriage of Goods by Sea

• International Trade Law

• Marine Insurance

• World Trade Law

• International Law of the Sea

• International Commercial Arbitration.

This course is academically demanding and beneficial in the shipping sectors, including the civil service or government, insurance companies, law firms, maritime regulators, ports and terminals, shipbrokers, shipping companies and more. It has typically been of interest to those with an international outlook, and from overseas jurisdictions such as Dubai and Greece.

LLM in Public International Law

• International Law of the Sea

• Public International Law

• International Human Rights in Law and Practice

• Minorities and Indigenous Peoples in International Law International Criminal Law: Crimes & Institutions

• International Law: the Practitioner Perspective

• Law and War

• World Trade Law

• International Investment Law.

Career opportunities

In a highly competitive job market, the LLM provides students with a solid platform for establishing a successful career in general or specialist legal practice, business, finance, government, international organisations, NGOs, journalism, politics, education and research, among other professions.

By the end of the course, students have acquired advanced knowledge in key areas of law and transferable skills essential to understanding and succeeding in the world of legal work and professional practice.

Please note: Not all modules will run each year. Modules are offered subject to minimum numbers; where it is not possible to offer a module because of low student demand, you will be given the opportunity to write a dissertation around that subject area instead.

Vivian Venizelou LLM in Maritime Law 2016-2018

“I come from Athens and, after graduating from the University of Piraeus with an MSc in Maritime Studies, worked in the shipping industry in Greece and UK. This experience helped me realise that I needed to broaden my knowledge by pursuing my studies at a university with an excellent reputation in the field of maritime law. The City Law School has academic experts who create the perfect environment for students to improve their performance, so my choice was easy.”

Research degrees

MPhil/PhD

An MPhil/PhD allows an individual to stand out as a thought-leader in his or her area of expertise in both academia and practice.

Course content

• Commercial Law

Duration

MPhil full-time: one year minimum three years maximum.

PhD full-time: two years minimum four years maximum.

MPhil part-time: two years minimum five years maximum.

PhD part-time: three years minimum seven years maximum.

Entry requirements

Applicants should contact the School before making an application to find out if they meet our entry requirements and to check that we are able to support the proposed research.

Applicants should have a track record of high academic achievement, demonstrated by an LLB degree with an upper second class honours (2:1) classification (or international equivalent) and a Master’s degree in Law or a related discipline with a merit or equivalent. Applicants are expected to demonstrate a suitable aptitude to undertake a course of independent research.

English language requirements

IELTS: 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in the reading and writing components.

All students are initially registered for the MPhil degree. Students who wish to proceed to a PhD must upgrade within 12 months (18 months for part-time students). Students are assigned two supervisors to support them throughout their research, with one of these supervisors taking primary responsibility for their progress. The award of an MPhil or a PhD requires the submission of a thesis for examination at a viva voce (oral examination) by two examiners, at least one of whom is external to the University. A PhD thesis (up to 100,000 words) must be an original and substantial piece of work which makes a contribution to the relevant literature. An MPhil thesis (up to 50,000 words) must be an original work or a critical exposition of existing knowledge.

At The City Law School we offer research opportunities in a wide range of areas in a supportive and vibrant environment. We specialise in the following research clusters:

• EU Law

• Maritime Law and Transport

• Intellectual Property and Information Technology

• Human Rights

• Public Law

• Socio-legal Studies

• Public International Law

• Criminal Law/Criminal Justice.

Our PhD students are a vital part of the dynamic scholarly community at The City Law School who are supported throughout their research. The School runs a Training Programme for MPhil/ PhD students focused on research skills and methodologies. Research students also have the opportunity to present their work in progress at weekly seminars and the annual School Postgraduate Forum. The School also seeks to produce PhD graduates with strong employability skills. The Training Programme therefore gives students the opportunity to acquire both core research expertise and a range of transferable skills.

Career opportunities

An MPhil/PhD can help students to pursue a range of career options. It shows employers that a student has been independently motivated to gain a prestigious and demanding qualification and expertise in a specific area of law.

Find out more: law@city.ac.uk

+44 (0)20 7040 3309

• Trade and Competition Law

In particular, there are opportunities in academia, civil service, corporations, international organisations, journalism, law enforcement agencies, law firms, NGOs, research institutes and think tanks.

Applying to The City Law School

If you are ready to apply to The City Law School, be sure to submit your application through the appropriate channels.

Undergraduate courses

LLB

Applications open in October 2022 and must be submitted by January 2023. Late applicants run the risk that the course may be full after the initial offers have been made. All applications must be received through the UCAS applications system: visit: ucas.com or: city.ac.uk/law/llb for more information.

If you hold qualifications that differ from those specified in the entry requirements, call our admissions team on: +44 (0)20 7040 8716 or email: law@city.ac.uk for guidance.

In assessing your application, we will take into consideration your:

• A-level performance (actual or predicted)

• Personal statement and reasons for choice of course/career

• Evidence of intellectual ability

• Tutor references

• Relevant work experience.

Graduate courses

The rules governing admission to practise law vary from country to country. Before applying, applicants wishing to take the GDL or Graduate Entry LLB as a step towards becoming a lawyer outside England and Wales are strongly advised to check with the appropriate body in the country in which they wish to qualify/practise that these courses are accepted.

In assessing your application, we will take into consideration your:

• Academic performance

• Further evidence of intellectual ability

• Personal statement

• Reasons for choice of courses/career

• Relevant work experience/activity

• References.

Graduate Entry LLB

Applications should be made online through UCAS. Applications open in October 2022 and must be submitted by January 2023. Late applicants run the risk that the course may be full after the initial offers have been made. You can apply online at: ucas.com.

Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)

Applications should be made online through the Central Applications Board. Applications can be made from early November each year. To apply online and for more information visit: lawcabs.ac.uk.

Professional courses

Solicitors’ Practice Programme (SPP)

Applications open in Oct 2022. Please check our website for details on how to apply (city.ac.uk/spp).

Bar Vocational Studies (BVS)

Applications will open in October 2022. Please check our website for details on how to apply (city.ac.uk/lbvs).

In assessing your application, we will take into consideration your:

• Degree performance (actual or predicted) and other academic qualifications

• Evidence of intellectual ability

• Interpersonal skills

• Advocacy and public speaking

• Personal organisational skills

• References.

Taught LLM degrees

Applications for The City Law School’s taught LLM degrees open in September each year for enrolment in the following September. (Applications for the January entry of the LLM (Master of Laws) can be made from January for entry in the following January.)

You can apply online at: city.ac.uk/lmol.

Research degrees

Please contact the School before making an application to find out if we are able to support your proposed research project. If we are able to support your proposal, we will then ask you to complete a formal application form. For further information about applying for this course, please email: legalresearch@city.ac.uk or visit: city.ac.uk/lrds.

International students

Please note that entry for international students is subject to their eligibility for an appropriate visa.

Fees and funding

Please visit the relevant course web page to view course fees for 2023/24 and for more information about the scholarships available for our postgraduate programmes. Some courses are also eligible for postgraduate loan funding via the government’s Postgraduate Loan Scheme.

Reaching City from within London

The nearest Underground stations are Angel on the Northern line (Bank branch) and Barbican and Farringdon on the Metropolitan, Circle and Hammersmith & City lines, for the Northampton Square campus. The nearest underground stations to the Gray’s Inn Place campus are Chancery Lane and Holborn stations, both on the Central line.

Bus routes that pass close to City include the following: 4, 19, 30, 38, 43, 55, 56, 63, 73, 153, 205, 214, 243, 274, 341, 394, 476.

Secure parking for bicycles is available on campus.

Parking in central London is limited and can be expensive. There is metered parking available on the roads surrounding Northampton Square and the nearest National Car Park is on Pear Tree Street. Please also note that almost all of City’s sites are within the congestion charging zone and drivers are liable to a daily charge.

Reaching City from outside London

• Coach and train terminals in London link with Underground and bus networks

• Rail services connect Gatwick and Luton airports with Farringdon station

• The Heathrow Express train service connects Heathrow Airport with Paddington station

• The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) connects London City Airport with Bank station

• The Stansted Express train service connects Stansted Airport with Liverpool Street station.

To plan your journey to City, visit our website at: city.ac.uk/visit.

The Transport for London website also provides up-to-date information on public transport: tfl.gov.uk.

The City Law School

Sebastian Street

City, University of London Northampton Square London

EC1V 0HB

www.city.ac.uk/law

Email enquiries law@city.ac.uk

Telephone enquiries +44 (0)20 7040 3309

Find out more, visit city.ac.uk/about/schools/law

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City, University of London is an independent member institution of the University of London. Established by Royal Charter in 1836, the University of London consists of 17 independent member institutions with outstanding global reputations and several prestigious central academic bodies and activities.