BA Law and Human Resource Management

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Strathclyde

Program Overview

This BA (Hons) gives you a unique combination of legal studies and people management, blending law with human resource management to prepare you for roles where both legal awareness and organisational insight are key. It’s ideal for students interested in understanding rights, obligations, and legal systems — while also gaining strong HRM skills in recruitment, conflict resolution, and organisational behaviour.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
You begin with core law modules: Legal Methods introduces the fundamentals of legal reasoning, institutions, and sources of law, while Public Law 1 helps you understand how power is distributed in the state. In parallel, on the HRM side, you study Managing People, which offers a solid foundational insight into how organisations operate and how people are managed.

Year 2 & Year 3
Over the next two years, law teaching becomes more varied and flexible: you can pick from a range of options such as Human Rights Law, Criminal Law, Public International Law, Environmental Law, or Law, Film & Popular Culture. At the same time, in HRM, you deepen your understanding of workplace behaviour. In Year 2, classes include Work Psychology, where psychological theory is applied to understand motivation, wellbeing, and performance. You also take Work Psychology for HRM, focusing more on how HR systems such as recruitment, leadership, and performance management affect employee attitudes.

Year 4
In the final year, law study culminates in advanced, specialist modules — for example, Employment Law, Compensation & Succession Law, or Legal Theory — along with the option to write an Honours dissertation on a legal issue that interests you. Meanwhile, the HRM half offers specialist options such as Advanced Organisational Behaviour or HRM & Employment Relations, helping you combine your legal knowledge with strategic people‑management expertise.

Focus Areas

Legal theory and practice (constitutional law, employment law, human rights), obligation and rights in society, organisational psychology, employment relations, recruitment, conflict, HR strategy, and power in the workplace.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will be able to analyse and apply legal principles, critically reflect on statutory and institutional frameworks, and manage people effectively in organisations — understanding how employment relationships are structured, negotiated, and maintained.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The HRM component aligns with professional HR competencies (recruitment, training, conflict management, organisational development), while the law component builds legal literacy and analytical skills useful in business, policy, administration, or further legal study.

Reputation (Employability)

Strathclyde’s HRM teaching is highly regarded, with the HRM department being an accredited centre aligned with professional HR bodies.
Graduates from this degree are well-placed for roles in government services, management and administration, and in HR-related roles in business or public sectors.
While this BA does not directly qualify you for legal practice (it’s not an LLB), it's recognized as a valuable academic qualification and can be a route into the accelerated graduate LLB if you later choose to qualify as a lawyer.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

In this Law + HRM joint degree, you won’t just sit and read — you’ll dive into legal systems, understand how people function in organisations, and apply your learning in practical, real-world contexts. Strathclyde gives you a blend of lectures, seminars, workshops, and team-based HR projects, helping you graduate with both legal reasoning and people-management experience.

Here’s how hands-on learning is built into the programme:

Credit-Bearing Placement: In your third or fourth year, there is the opportunity to take a work-placement module, letting you gain practical experience relevant to either law, HRM, or both.
Study Abroad Option: In Year 3, you can study overseas (in Europe, North America, etc.), giving you international exposure to both legal systems and employment practices.
Research & Dissertation: In your final year, you complete an Honours dissertation/project. This allows you to investigate a legal topic, a work‑management issue, or even cross over both — under faculty supervision.
Group Projects in HRM: HR teaching involves team-based projects, case studies, and collaborative assignments. You’ll work in small groups to apply HRM theory to real organisational challenges.
Interactive Teaching Methods: For both Law and HRM, you’ll learn via a mix of lectures, seminars, workshops, and online teaching — giving you both depth and flexibility.
Conflict & Ethics Module: Modules like Ethics & Justice help you bridge theory and practice by analyzing real-world legal and ethical dilemmas.
Power, Work & Employment Relations: Through HRM modules like Employment Relations and Work, Employment & Society, you engage with critical themes such as power dynamics, conflict, and global employment practices.
HRM Student Society: The HRM Society, run by students, gives you networking opportunities — alumni talks, employer engagement, and peer collaboration all help build your professional profile.

Facilities & Academic Support

To support your learning and development, Strathclyde provides:

Expert Teaching Staff: The Law School’s academics and the HRM department bring both strong research backgrounds and practical experience into teaching.
Seminars & Workshops: Smaller tutorials and seminar-style classes help you debate, reflect, and get feedback — essential for honing legal thinking and HR skills.
Library & Legal Resources: You will have access to extensive legal texts, case law collections, and HR‑management databases via the university library.
Digital Learning Tools: Online teaching materials support your HRM modules, enabling flexible collaboration on projects and coursework.
Careers & Placement Support: The Careers Service helps you explore internships and placement opportunities in legal firms, HR departments, public service, or non-profit organisations.
Student Network: Beyond the HRM Society, you’ll also benefit from cross-disciplinary connections — faculty and peers — that help you navigate both law and HR sectors.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from this programme can pursue careers that combine legal knowledge with organisational and HR expertise. Typical career paths include HR advisor, corporate legal officer, recruitment consultant, or employment law specialist. Over time, graduates can progress to HR manager, corporate compliance officer, or legal and employment relations consultant.

Here’s how Strathclyde supports you — and how this degree prepares you for success:

University Support & Employability Services
- Strathclyde’s Careers & Employability Service provides personalised guidance, CV and interview support, and connections with employers in law firms, corporations, and public sector organisations.
- Students can participate in placements, internships, or work experience projects, gaining hands-on exposure to HR and legal practice.
- Guest lectures and networking events connect students with legal and HR professionals, helping to build industry contacts.
Graduate Employment & Potential Roles
- Law graduates work as legal assistants, paralegals, employment law advisors, or corporate governance officers.
- HRM graduates take roles as HR trainees, HR assistants, recruitment consultants, and administration/management professionals.
- Graduates with combined skills can work in employment relations, corporate compliance, or HR and legal advisory roles.
Industry Connections & Accreditation
- The HRM component provides practical knowledge in recruitment, training, conflict management, and employee relations.
- Strathclyde Business School is triple-accredited (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA), providing strong credibility in management careers.
- The HRM portion is CIPD-accredited, enhancing employability and professional recognition in HR roles.
Long-Term Value
- The combination of law and HR equips graduates to navigate employment law issues, contracts, compliance, and organisational management.
- Analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills are strengthened, making graduates versatile across sectors.
- Placement and practical project opportunities provide professional experience and a strong portfolio.
Graduate Outcomes
- Graduates move into roles in HR departments, law firms, corporate compliance teams, government agencies, and consultancy firms.
- The combined expertise in law and HR opens pathways to graduate schemes, legal advisory positions, and management roles in organisations.

Further Academic Progression:

Graduates could pursue an MSc in Human Resource Management, LLM in Employment Law, or other specialist law or management master’s programmes.
Advanced programmes such as MSc Strategic HR Management or MSc Corporate Law and Governance enable specialist career development in HR and law.
For research-focused careers, a PhD in Work & Employment Studies, HRM, or Law offers opportunities in academia, consultancy, or policy advisory roles.