THE LITTLE BOOK OF LAW AT BROOKES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Which courses are available? Oxford Brookes offer the following law courses: Undergraduate: LLB Law LLB International Transfer Programme Postgraduate: Graduate Diploma in Law LLM International Law LLM International Economic Law LLM International Human Rights Law LLM International Law, Globalisation and Development LLM International Trade and Commercial Law
Our courses explained QLD* accreditation Apply via Course length Our LLB course covers all requirements set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board to form the academic stage of legal training. It is the first necessary step to becoming a solicitor or barrister. We also offer a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) for graduates of non-law degrees who wish to move into the legal profession. Our range of postgraduate LLM courses in International Law are for those who have already completed an undergraduate degree, and are ready to specialise in a particular area of Law. LLB Law P UCAS 3 years LLB International Transfer Programme Graduate Diploma in Law LLM Masters in International Law P UCAS 1 or 2 years P Central applications board (LawCabs) 1 year O UKPASS 1 year *Qualifying Law Degree
Undergraduate study LLB Law The LLB is a three year, full-time Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) course. In year 1 you learn the fundamentals of law. You tackle case studies and learn the process of legal reasoning, as well as the role of law in society. In years 2 and 3 you will take more advanced modules, specialising in particular areas such as criminal law, immigration and asylum, commercial law, and employment law. As well as legal research skills, we also teach you practical skills like advocacy and communication.
Brookes is one of the few universities that runs an undergraduate module called Communication Skills for Lawyers. This involves advocacy and client interviewing giving students a head start for the Legal Practice Course and the Bar Professional Training Course. LAWRENCE DESOUZA, LAW ALUMNUS
In addition to the wide range of optional modules on our LLB Law degree there are also specialist degree pathways available to you in your second and third years. This will lead to a qualification in either LLB Criminal Justice or LLB Commercial Law, all of which aim to enhance your career prospects.
LLB International Transfer Programme The School of Law offers an international transfer degree programme. This allows you to transfer to us part way through your law course, and complete your degree at Oxford Brookes. We offer both a 2+1 pathway (2 years at a partner university and then your final year at Oxford Brookes). Or a 1+2 pathway (1 year at a partner university, and then 2 years at Oxford Brookes). This programme gives you a thorough grounding in all the core subjects you need to practise as a lawyer, along with the opportunity to improve your language skills whilst you live and study in Oxford one of the world s most celebrated student cities.
Applications to this programme are via credit entry, and we will only accept you if your partner university programme fits in with the Oxford Brookes programme. Upon completion of this programme you will be awarded an LLB from Oxford Brookes University. This qualification is recognised by the legal professional bodies of Malaysia, and England and Wales (as well as a number of other jurisdictions). This means that you are able to take the Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP) in Malaysia, the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) in England. If you pass a BPTC in the UK you are exempt from the Malaysian CLP.
I really like the lectures and how easily available and accessible the taught materials are on this course and most importantly the willingness of the lecturers to offer one to one consultations to their students. I feel like I have learnt a lot of skills that will make me more attractive to employers: particularly research, multi-tasking, time management and creativity. BAVINIARAJ RAJENDRAN, MALAYSIA, INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER STUDENT AND LAW ALUMNA
Whether you choose to study with us for the full three years, or just join us for a single year, you will find our cohort incredibly friendly. There is an active student law society which organises a variety of events from the annual Christmas Ball and visits to the Old Bailey and Royal Courts of Justice, to talks and discussions with leading lawyers.
One of the best things about the moving process was how good Oxford Brookes were at providing opportunities for making friends. For instance, the freshers week they organised was a great opportunity to meet people in a similar situation to you, and they ran some really fun events. CHIU YEE LIM, MALAYSIA, INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER STUDENT AND LAW ALUMNA
Postgraduate study Graduate Diploma in Law The Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) is a conversion course for both non-law graduates and graduates with non-qualifying law degrees. It is taught over three terms with assessment (coursework and examinations) spread throughout the year. This unique feature enables you to spread the workload and monitor your progress across the course as a whole.
What will I study? Legal study skills necessary for successful completion of the GDL, including legal problem solving and essay writing Foundations of legal knowledge modules as required by the professional bodies Practical legal skills such as mooting and client interviewing A Legal Research Project that will complete your legal training, and give you the freedom to write a research project on a topic of your choice. The GDL fulfils the academic stage of your training for a career in law either as a solicitor or barrister. Once you have passed it, you will then be eligible to take the professional examinations and obtain training contracts and pupillage. We pride ourselves on maintaining strong links with major law firms, and we have an excellent reputation for creating high calibre and sought-after trainees.
The faculty is not only dedicated to the success of students when it comes to academics, but they trained us in gaining the practical skills that would make us employable. When I began studying the GDL, I had no legal experience on my CV. I graduated from Brookes having secured three vacation schemes and a training contract and was nationally ranked in various legal competitions. NICOLE KAPU, AMERICA, GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN LAW ALUMNA
LLM International Law The LLM is an academic postgraduate qualification for students looking to gain expertise in a specialised field of law, or start an international career. We offer five LLM pathways: International Law International Economic Law International Human Rights Law International Law, Globalisation and Development International Trade and Commercial Law
What will I study? Advanced Legal Research Methods - a compulsory module that will cover the groundwork research skills you will need to complete your LLM A mixture of compulsory and optional modules dependent upon the pathway you choose. There is a wide range of options, designed to let you tailor the course to meet with your individual career aspirations. A dissertation based upon a particular aspect of international law you wish to present a legal argument on. Knowledge of international law in all its aspects is becoming ever more necessary, not only for those seeking a career in law, but also for those wishing to work in business, in government, and for NGOs involved in development and humanitarian work. We offer a diverse programme which is flexible enough to accommodate both those who wish to specialise in particular areas of international law, and those who prefer to gain a broader understanding of a range of topics in international law.
The LLM offered by Oxford Brookes has already helped me very much. It has given me that international profile that is required by all the bodies and agencies of the United Nations. Without this course I would not have had the opportunity to undertake an internship with the UN and finally understand what path I want to follow in my professional career. STEFANO CONSIGLIO, ITALY, LLM INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW ALUMNUS
Studying in Oxford All our postgraduate programmes feature excellent tuition with exceptional levels of 1:1 support. You also receive access to the legal holdings in the world-renowned Bodleian Law Library for the research phase of your degree. There are also opportunities to participate in mooting competitions and student research conferences. Oxford is a centre for debate on a wide range of law topics, with conferences, seminars and forums taking place within the universities, the city of Oxford and nearby London.
The Law School The Law School is based in Headington Hill Hall, a magnificent nineteenth century building set in beautiful grounds. It includes a fully-functioning moot court with courtroom furniture donated by the Ministry of Justice for mooting competitions, workshops on communication skills for lawyers, and other events. Law at Brookes has received global recognition, and is currently classed as amongst the world s elite QS WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS.
94% of our research is internationally recognised SOURCE: REF 2014 Research and expertise You will be taught by active researchers with strong reputations. They draw on their own research to create a stimulating programme. Our current areas of staff research expertise include: 88% of Law students were satisfied by the overall quality of the course 2017 NATIONAL STUDENT SATISFACTION SURVEY. SOURCE: UNISTATS The Interaction of Law and Religion International Criminal Law and Human Rights Civil Liberties and Criminal Justice International Environmental Law International Humanitarian Law International Trade and Commercial law Legal Theory Property law Migration and Citizenship The Law of Small Jurisdictions Cybercrime
Support for international students We recognise that coming to live and study in the UK may be a new experience for you, so we offer the following support services: The International Student Advice Team (ISAT) help advise you about issues such as visas, finance and employment before you arrive here and throughout your time at Brookes. Free English language support is available throughout your studies at Oxford Brookes. There are a range of options available to help you with the specific language skills you will need to succeed in your studies. Our Careers and Employment Centre will support you in looking for work both in the UK or in your home country. Our Student Support Co-ordinators (SSC) will provide you with both academic and pastoral support during your time at university. Our Peer Mentoring Scheme links current law students with incoming law students to help you feel settled from the moment you arrive. For more information about studying at Brookes as an international student see: www.brookes.ac.uk/international
Mentoring and preparation for practice At Brookes we do our best to make sure you re highly qualified, and ready for the workplace. We run both barrister and solicitor mentoring schemes. They will give you insight into practice and the experience of a legal environment that employers look for in graduates. Each year we host the Oxford Brookes Law Fair, and bring a host of chambers, practices and other providers to the university to speak about pupillage opportunities and the training contracts they can offer to promising candidates.
Practical legal skills Mooting Mooting is the discussion of a hypothetical case, argued against an opposing candidate and held in court-like conditions. It s a valuable opportunity for aspiring barristers to test their advocacy skills, learn from the questioning of judges, and to hear other students debate and reason. We run internal mooting competitions and mock trials so that you can practice and improve your debating skills within a supportive learning environment. We also have a specially built Moot Court, designed to make staged moots feel even more realistic.
Client Interviewing Client interviewing is one of the most important skills required of a lawyer it is the practice of communicating with, and advising, a client. You ll learn how to establish a relationship with a client, how to identify the nature of the legal problem, and then how to obtain information from a client in order to reach a solution. You ll be able to take part in client interviewing competitions. Join up with a friend to work in teams of two, interviewing and advising a client (a role-playing actor) whilst being observed and judged on criteria like interpersonal skills and ability to handle the legal problem.
Pro bono work Pro bono is derived from Latin, meaning for the public good, and it s a great way for you to practice your legal skills and gain invaluable experience whilst benefitting the local community! Through our pro bono scheme, students have volunteered at a local prison advising inmates on education and employment opportunities, taken internships with the Missouri capital sentencing project in America, and run Summer Law Schools for refugee communities to help them better integrate into British society and education system.
Employability Some students see a law degree as a route to professional practice, while others choose not to practise law. A law degree is a suitable education for a wide variety of careers because of its intellectually demanding nature. As an Oxford Brookes law graduate you will be confident in communicating legal knowledge and you will have the techniques of research, analysis and articulation that are transferable to a wide range of careers. Whether you choose a career in finance, commerce, government, the armed forces, or management positions in industry, your law degree will open many doors.
School of Law For more information about Law at Brookes: www.brookes.ac.uk/school-of-law brookes.law @brookes_law oxfordbrookeshss