Undergraduate Courses
Coventry Law School
Welcome A warm welcome to Coventry Law School, part of the Faculty of Business and Law. Law has been taught at Coventry University for more than 50 years and our school is known for its global outlook. Indeed, this outward-facing perspective is one of the many reasons our students give for deciding to study law with us. Here at Coventry Law School, we offer an innovative and employability-focused undergraduate course that is designed to meet the requirements of the modern legal profession, through a variety of final year pathways. We pride ourselves on having excellent student interaction, with the aim of supporting and guiding you to maximise your full potential during your time with us and in your future career. Accordingly, our degree’s final year pathways reflect our expertise in specialist areas of law, such as business, human rights, public and international law, alongside our commitment to clinical legal education which enables our students to gain some real-life legal experience. To that end, we have strong links with local firms and the judiciary who can provide insight and opportunities for our students. Alongside the plethora of practical skills which our LLB offers, the law school has many opportunities to develop your skills in advocacy, interviewing and negotiation. Our mooting and negotiation competitions provide a further opportunity to practise these skills at a high level, and we encourage all our students to gain work experience. You will find helpful and informative details about our course in this brochure. If you need more information, please visit the Coventry University website or contact us using the contact details on the back page of this brochure. We hope that you will widen your horizons and join us at Coventry Law School – a truly international law school. We look forward to welcoming you.
Coventry University
GOOD UNIVERSITY GUIDE 2019 UNIVERSITY OF THE YEAR FOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE
Professor Stephen Hardy Head of School
LLB PhD SFHEA MCIArb Barrister FRSA The contents of this brochure are correct at time of going to press. The course information within it relates to the 2021/22 academic year. We regularly review our courses, to make them relevant and current for the benefit of our students. Please visit www.coventry.ac.uk/study-at-coventry for up-to-date information on courses and other facilities and services described here before making any application or accepting any offer. Where there is a difference between the contents of this brochure and our website, the contents of the applicable website take precedence and represent the basis on which we intend to deliver our services to you.
Awarded Gold for outstanding teaching and learning 2017-20.
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UK City of Culture 2021
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Global opportunities
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Career prospects
10 Teaching excellence 12 Law (with specialist pathways) 16
Rachel Power Law LLB (Hons)
Next steps
Coventry Law School
Contents
UK City of Culture 2021 Coventry University is very much at the heart of the city’s rich history as well as it’s exciting future. The continually evolving cityscape has lots to offer, including a wide variety of places to eat, drink, shop and relax. UK City of Culture Coventry is UK City of Culture 2021. This accolade, awarded by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, means the world will be watching our city in 2021. With Coventry University being a principal partner of the successful bid, there could be so many opportunities for students to get involved, making this a great time to study in Coventry. From ribbon weaving and watchmaking, to being the centre of the motor industry, our city has constantly re-invented itself. Coventry University is well placed to contribute to, and benefit from, the wider cultural developments within the city. We’re already a multicultural city, with the university welcoming students from more than 160 countries, but we can’t wait to see what being UK City of Culture 2021 will bring for us.
Cultural experiences Whatever you’re passionate about, Coventry has something for you. For music lovers, Coventry hosts the annual Godiva Festival, one of the UK’s biggest family music festivals, that’s seen the likes of Biffy Clyro, Kasabian, The Enemy, Jake Bugg and Example taking to the stage in War Memorial Park. There’s also a range of live music venues including the Golden Cross, the Kasbah and `The Tin’ Music and Arts. There are some impressive exhibition spaces too including the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum which is an award-winning venue for celebrating the city’s culture and history, and the best part is that it’s right next to the university in University Square, opposite the iconic Coventry Cathedral. If you’re interested in theatre, the Belgrade Theatre hosts an exciting mix of experiences ranging from locally-produced performances, comedy nights and touring West End shows. There are smaller venues too, like the Shop Front Theatre, a unique theatre space housed in a former fish and chip shop. As the birthplace of the British motor industry, Coventry is also home to the recently redeveloped Transport Museum, which currently houses the fastest car in the world and a 4D Land Speed Record simulator. In addition, the city is home to MotoFest Coventry, an annual motoring festival featuring motorsport demonstrations and live music. Sport Coventry was named European City of Sport 2019, with the vision of promoting and celebrating the benefits of sport and there’s plenty to offer sports fans. The Ricoh Arena, situated at the edge of the city, is a modern development which houses a 32,000-seat football and rugby stadium. It played host to London 2012 Olympic football matches and is home to the Wasps Rugby Club and Wasps Netball, which frequently offers volunteering opportunities to our students. Other sports teams within the city include Coventry Rugby Football Club, Coventry Bears rugby league club - and the Coventry Blaze ice hockey team, which is housed in the city’s Skydome complex, with which Coventry Business School has a particularly close relationship, with players studying with us, and our students frequently volunteering at games and other events.
Top 5 UK Student City QS Best Student Cities index 2019
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Ranked as the 5th best UK student city and named the UK City of Culture 2021, this a great time to study at the university.
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Global opportunities Opportunities to travel and/or work in the UK and overseas are a real benefit of choosing Coventry Law School. We aim to help you stand out from the crowd when you graduate by offering a range of overseas experiences throughout your degree. Field trips You will have the opportunity to go on a field trip each year to help broaden your subject knowledge, put the theories you have learnt into practice, network and experience other cultures. Recent trips for some of our students from this school have included the Hague in the Netherlands, and trips to understand the legal systems of different countries, including to the Instituto Superior de la Carrera in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago. Coventry Law School is currently a proud member of the International Association of Law Schools, an association of more than 160 law schools and departments from over 55 countries, representing more than 7,500 law faculty members. Having this status allows our law students the opportunity for a variety of international experiences, including with our partner institutions across the world. Global Leaders Programme (GLP) This exciting, members-only programme aims to develop our leaders of the future. Expand your global skills in our specialist workshops, experience new cultures and different countries, and undertake behind-the-scenes industry visits around the world. You will also be able to take advantage of opportunities to meet global leaders, which have in the past included networking events with the likes of Google, Microsoft and Facebook. This programme is optional and involves an additional fee. For further information, please visit www.coventry.ac.uk/globalready
Placement/study abroad year Our Law LLB course gives you the opportunity to undertake an optional additional year gaining experience on a work placement, in the UK or abroad, or studying overseas. Students do compete for placements but many are placed through our Talent Team and there is support available to improve your chance of success. You can find out more on page 8. If you are interested in studying abroad, Coventry Law School currently has strong links with the South West University of Politics and Law (SWUPL) in Chongqing, China and the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. We have currently also got established links with the Universities of Liege in Belgium, University of Nebrija in Madrid, University of the West Indies, Brunswick European Law School in Germany as well as the Universities of Castellon and Leon in Spain (Spanish-speaking), The Hague University in the Netherlands and the University of Orebro in Sweden. Collaborative Online International Learning projects Collaborative Online International Learning is the term that we use at Coventry University to refer to ‘virtual mobility’ experiences. These are included within the curriculum and provide an opportunity to interact with international universities and industry professionals. You can use these experiences to develop your intercultural competences and digital skills, while working with others on subject-specific learning tasks or activities. Recent projects have included working with a partner institution’s legal clinic in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The students were given a real client’s case and then discussed the issues ‘face to face’ using the Faculty of Business and Law’s learning ‘robots’, which allow for real-time video conferencing. Working together, they then interviewed the client and helped to resolve their issue. For further information, please visit: www.coventry.ac.uk/coil
Go Abroad scheme Our Go Abroad scheme offers multiple opportunities to gain international experience. The scheme aims to help you acquire the knowledge, attitudes and skills to go on to become a globally-agile citizen and globally-employable graduate. The scheme offers opportunities to ‘Go Study’, ‘Go Work’, or ‘Go Explore’ to gain experiences beyond those offered on your course or by your school. For further information, please visit www.coventry.ac.uk/go-abroad
Learn a language Coventry University’s innovative Linguae Mundi programme offers the opportunity to learn a new language. With more than 30 languages available through face-to-face classes by native speakers, and even more to choose from online, you could gain cultural knowledge and add a key global skill to your portfolio. A global city Coventry offers the opportunity to gain global skills and experiences too – it’s a multicultural city that has welcomed students from more than 160 countries around the world. Internationally-flavoured events are run on campus throughout the year, such as Tai Chi classes by the Confucius Institute and gatherings by student societies. We’ve already helped thousands of students to gain a competitive edge in the employment market with the global skills and knowledge they gained with us.
1st for overseas student experiences 4 years running Based on student trips abroad from HESA 2014/15-2017/18 UK data
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Please note that any opportunities or experiences referred to on this page may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability and meeting any applicable visa requirements. Please check our website for further information.
The field trip opportunities really drew me to the course - I’ve been to Trinidad and Tobago, China and South Africa. Rachel Power Law LLB (Hons) 7
Career prospects We want you to be able to thrive both now and in the future. To achieve this, our Talent Team provides dedicated employability support services and opportunities to help you apply for placement experiences. We work closely with industry and professional bodies to ensure our courses provide students the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills demanded by employers.
Add+vantage modules
Employability and work placement support
Modules include a range of work experience and career development activities, covering topics ranging from foreign languages and entrepreneurship through to modules led by employers including Jaguar Land Rover and Severn Trent Water. All are designed to help you gain relevant skills to take into your future career.
We have invested heavily in helping our students to progress to successful careers. Our Talent Team aims to give all students support in preparing and applying for graduate employment, as well as offering specific support with applying for work experience and placement year opportunities. Current members of the Talent Team have specialist knowledge of the legal sector and career routes typically of interest to law students, both within and outside the legal profession. They aim to help our students understand the skills sought by employers and provide guidance when they are making work placement, training contract, further study and graduate job applications. This may be on an individual basis or through talks in lectures, group workshops, or employer events. Additionally, our Talent Team usually put on events where you can network with employers and learn more about graduate roles and placements. The Faculty of Business and Law’s Employment Fair, for example, welcomed more than 25 employers in 2020 including legal firms such as Shoosmiths and Brethertons Solicitors. Our links with industry Our school benefits from excellent collaboration arrangements with an extensive range of organisations within the legal sector, at a local, national and international level. We frequently welcome guest speakers from the legal sector and associated fields, and speakers have included representatives from law firms like Clifford Chance, plus Baroness Newlove, the former Victims Commissioner and Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords, and Dave Thompson, the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police. Our industry links could also benefit you when considering your future career, as they help us to provide you with the best possible placement and employment opportunities, with our Talent Team staff having relationships across the sectors we cover. These relationships, plus the ongoing support provided to you by our team, ensure we are able to help you make your placement a success. Please note that placements may incur additional fees, be subject to application processes and be limited in number.
Our Talent Team works closely with our academics and seek to ensure that employability skills are embedded into our curriculum. Most of our courses include the university’s Add+vantage scheme, which allows you to complete career-focused modules at each stage of the course, as part of our employability programme.
For further information, please visit www.coventry.ac.uk/addvantage Student societies In the school, the student experience extends beyond our teaching, with numerous dedicated student societies you can join. These societies are led by our students, and can provide opportunities to network with professional bodies, listen to talks given by guest speakers, or attend social events dedicated to members of the society. Coventry Law School has an active Law Society which arranges various events such as winter and summer balls, debating competitions, industry guest speakers and professional networking events. Part-time work The university also boasts its own commercial recruitment agency, thefutureworks, which aims to offer students the chance to apply for a choice of flexible or temporary opportunities. One option is to become a student ambassador, working part-time at events such as Open Days, giving you the chance to gain employability skills and build up the work experience on your CV. For more information on working while you study, including guidance for international students, please visit www.coventry.ac.uk/working-while-you-study
Placements We know what a big difference work experience and placements can make to your career prospects. Our current students agree, with an increasing number opting to broaden their horizons and gain the valuable experience needed when entering the competitive employment market through an optional year-long placement in their third year, or short placements throughout their course.
97% employed or in further study DLHE survey, UG UK, 2016/17 (published 2018)
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Please note any opportunities or experiences referred to on this page may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability and meeting any applicable visa requirements. Please check our website for further information.
Our Talent Team puts on events throughout the year that allow you to network with prospective employers.
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Teaching excellence We know the difference good teaching can make to your time at university. A great experience can make you happier, help you to learn more and contribute to giving you the edge when it comes to getting a job. Our focus is on learning that is led by experience, with the aim of giving you the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the practical application of what you are taught. We are proud of our teaching achievements, which saw us awarded Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2017, the Government’s first major assessment of teaching quality in universities, and also saw us awarded maximum 5 Stars for both our teaching and our facilities (QS Stars 2020). Learning through exploration We take an innovative approach to teaching and learning. By experiencing and exploring simulated scenarios, you can gain a deeper understanding of the theory and practical application of knowledge, as well as having the opportunity to enjoy an engaging learning experience. Our focus on practical knowledge sees our students study a second-year module dedicated to legal skills, which will see you can gain hands-on experience in skills such as advocacy, interviewing, negotiation and drafting. You could also have sessions in our Moot Room or get involved with our Legal Clinic during your studies. Our LLB Law course may be assessed by a number of different methods including written coursework, examination, portfolio, mock interview or negotiation or a moot in our designated court room. Coventry Law Centre Legal Clinic The Coventry Law Centre Legal Clinic provides you with a powerful professional element to your learning. The aim of the Clinic is to provide practical legal experience by integrating you in an office environment and working with clients alongside trained lawyers. Direct access to clients can enable you to develop skills such as:
Communicating with and interviewing clients Drafting legal documents Problem-solving Understanding employment law in practice Telephone advice calls Dealing with clients’ emotions
A moot provides the setting of a court, where students act in the role of barristers, based on a legal scenario that they are given in advance. The mooters act in pairs, two for the appellants, and two for the respondents. The moot takes place in the ‘Court of Appeal’, with between one and three judges presiding and asking questions. To effectively answer a judge’s question, students need to be able to think on their feet and to know and understand their arguments and authorities inside out. Court etiquette and dressing appropriately is as important in a moot as it would be in a real-life court. Mooters wear full-length gowns and there is a public gallery, to make the moot as realistic as possible. For further information about our Moot Room, please visit www.coventry.ac.uk/moot-room Professional accreditations From 2021, to become a solicitor and/or barrister in England and Wales, you must either have an undergraduate degree or equivalent experience (for example, by completing a degree level apprenticeship). Importantly, a Coventry undergraduate law degree should prepare candidates for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination Stage 1 test, as required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to become a solicitor, and for the Academic pathway, as required by the Bar Standards Board to become a barrister. Please see the relevant course webpage for further details. Coventry Law School is also currently a member of both the International Association of Law Schools, an organisation that represents more than 160 law schools around the world, and the European Law Faculties Association – with both memberships showcasing our outward-looking and international focus.
Expert staff
For more information on the Coventry Law Centre Legal Clinic, visit www.coventry.ac.uk/legal-clinic
Staff within the school are drawn from a variety of backgrounds. You could be taught by staff with professional experience in your chosen career field, as well as staff who are research active. This diversity can give you the opportunity to gain fresh perspectives on the topics you study, and can also help you to understand how skills and knowledge can be applied to real-world situations.
The Moot Room
Learning support
Coventry Law School is very proud to have its very own mock courtroom located centrally on campus, where our students can practise their legal skills in a realistic environment. Law students can have their teaching sessions in the Moot Room, as well as the opportunity to get involved with our annual Mooting competition, the final of which was staged in the UK’s Supreme Court in 2019.
The university’s Centre for Academic Writing (CAW) is an innovative teaching and research centre that can help you to become a better academic writer. Through workshops and one-to-one sessions, you can access the advice and guidance you need on topics such as essay writing, reports, dissertations and theses. This service is free to all students and is located within the Lanchester Library.
Each year, 12 to 15 students from Year 2 and Year 3 are recruited and are prepared for commitment to the Clinic.
2nd for Teaching Excellence Times Higher Education UK metrics ranking 2017
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What is mooting?
Our law students have the opportunity to take part in our mooting competition every year – in 2019, the final was held in the UK’s Supreme Court. 11
Law (with specialist pathways)
Course information Law LLB (Hons) with specialist pathways UCAS: M100 / INT: FBLU023 www.coventry.ac.uk/ug/M100 Study options: 3 years full-time 4 years full-time including optional placement/study abroad year 4-6 years part-time Overview Whether you have a passion for law or business, studying law can help to sharpen the mind, build an analytical skillset and develop problem-solving abilities. Drawing on the experience we have accrued in more than 50 years of teaching law, and designed to challenge, our versatile LLB Law degree requires no previous knowledge of law. The course will focus on the ‘foundations of legal knowledge’ in Year 1 and 2, allowing you to specialise in a specific area of law in your final year through one of our six specialist pathways:
Business Law Trade and Finance Law International Law Criminal Law and Justice Social Justice General Law
Each of these pathways will include a suite of complementary modules relating to the particular area of specialism. Upon successful completion, this pathway model allows you to complete the course as a well-rounded legal graduate, but with sector-relevant knowledge that can help differentiate you in the employment market. At Coventry Law School, we take pride in providing friendly, accessible support and guidance as well as inspirational teaching. We benefit highly from our International Association of Law Schools and European Law Faculties Association memberships. The LLB Law degree provides an opportunity for you to develop your subject knowledge, alongside both legal and transferable skills in accordance with the QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Law (2015). This degree aims to contribute to your preparation for Stage 1 of the Solicitors Qualification Examination, as required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or preparation for the Bar Professional Training Course if considering a career at the Bar.
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Possible careers for graduates The utility of the course is not just restricted to those who wish to pursue a career within the legal profession. The skills and attributes developed and acquired throughout the course are transferable to many other positive career destinations. Some of our graduates start their legal careers at organisations such as the Criminal Cases Review Commission or Crown Prosecution Service. Others have chosen to become specialist advisors in commercial and business law for high street, national and international firms. Examples of recent graduate employers include Brethertons LLP, a growing Midlands firm with six offices; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, a leading multinational law firm; and Ince and Co, a specialist international commercial firm with offices around the world. Equally, not all law students wish to enter the legal profession as a solicitor or barrister and a law degree can provide an excellent foundation for many other careers within business or similar areas. Some of our graduates have pursued careers in local government or professional services, as trainee accountants with top firms such as PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), or as management trainees with large ‘blue chip’ companies.
There are so many opportunities made available to students across the board; whether it’s a ‘meet and greet’ with solicitors or workshops on the world of employment. Caitlin Abbott Law LLB (Hons) 13
Law (with specialist pathways) (continued) Indicative course content Year 1: Legal Method 1 Contract Law Public Law Legal Method 2 Tort Law Continuing Professional Development 1 Law Course Level Assessment Add+vantage module Year 2: Criminal Law Land Law Introduction to Practical Legal Skills Equity and Trusts European Union Law Continuing Professional Development 2 Add+vantage module Optional placement/study abroad year: Following your second year, you will have the option to apply for either a one-year professional work placement or to study abroad in a partner institution. Final year: In the final year of your degree, you can pursue the standard Law LLB final year as detailed below, or you can choose to follow one of the five specialist pathways outlined in the next column. Law Client Care Company Law Family Law Law of Evidence Project Continuing Professional Development 3 Add+vantage module
Business Law pathway Transactional Skills, Negotiation, Arbitration and Drafting Company Law Employment Law Intellectual Property Law Project Continuing Professional Development 3 Add+vantage module Trade and Finance Law pathway Transactional Skills, Negotiation, Arbitration and Drafting International Trade Law Sale of Goods and Agency Banking and Finance Project Continuing Professional Development 3 Add+vantage module International Law pathway International Arbitration Public International Law Comparative Law Conflict of Laws Project Continuing Professional Development 3 Add+vantage module Criminal Law and Justice pathway Criminal Advocacy Sentencing and Punishment International Criminal Law Law of Evidence Project Continuing Professional Development 3 Add+vantage module Social Justice pathway Alternative Dispute Resolution Family Law Medical Law and Ethics Equality and the Law Project Continuing Professional Development 3 Add+vantage module
Please note any opportunities or experiences referred to on this page may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability and meeting any applicable visa requirements. Please check our website for further information.
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The staff at Coventry are approachable, friendly and helpful. You can feel the genuine interest they have in you as a student.
Theophila Akpenyi-Hilary Law LLB (Hons) 15
Next steps Virtual Open Days
Virtual Experience
As our campuses are currently closed, we are holding a number of Virtual Open Days. In addition, you can also chat directly with one of our advisers, or ask questions to members of staff and current students on our forum in The Student Room.
If you can’t make it to one of our Virtual Open Days, our Virtual Experience lets you discover the highlights of studying with us. Take a virtual look around some of our facilities, accommodation and the city of Coventry itself. www.coventry.ac.uk/virtualtour
www.coventry.ac.uk/opendays
Flying Start
How to apply
Our Flying Start scheme offers some great resources and experiences to meet the needs of your specific course, at no extra cost.
Please check the individual course web pages listed in this brochure for detailed information about course entry requirements.
www.coventry.ac.uk/flying-start
www.coventry.ac.uk/ugapplynow
Scholarships and bursaries If you are a truly outstanding candidate, we may be able to offer you a Coventry University Scholarship. The faculty may also have scholarships and bursaries available for students. www.coventry.ac.uk/scholarships
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Coventry Law School
“Through volunteering at the Coventry Law Centre Legal Clinic, I have gained valuable hands-on experience. I have developed a clearer understanding on how to get the best information out of a case.� Oluwafunbi Ogunrin Law LLB (Hons)
Coventry University
GOOD UNIVERSITY GUIDE 2019
Coventry Law School Coventry University Priory Street Coventry CV1 5FB T: +44 (0)24 7765 2222 E: info.fbl@coventry.ac.uk
UNIVERSITY OF THE YEAR FOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE
Awarded Gold for outstanding teaching and learning 2017-20.
/covbusinessandlaw @covunifbl
www.coventry.ac.uk
J1417-20 © Coventry University.