Law with Business LLB (Hons) sandwich with work placement

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Portsmouth

Program Overview

This LLB (Hons) Law with Business programme gives you a solid grounding in both legal principles and business practice, while also offering a full-year work placement to gain professional experience. It’s perfect for students who want to combine academic learning with real-world exposure, preparing them for careers in law, corporate settings, consultancy, or public service.

Curriculum structure

Year 1
In your first year, you’ll build a strong foundation in core legal and business concepts. Key modules include English Legal System, Contract Law, and Criminal Law, alongside Introduction to Management and Principles of Marketing, helping you understand both legal reasoning and the basics of business operations.

Year 2
The second year deepens your knowledge in both areas. You’ll study Land Law, Tort Law, and Equity & Trusts, alongside Business Law and Financial Management, giving you the skills to analyse complex legal and business scenarios, and preparing you for practical applications in placements.

Year 3 (Placement Year)
This year is focused on professional experience. You’ll undertake a full-year work placement in a law firm, corporate environment, or relevant organisation, applying your academic knowledge in real-world settings, developing practical skills, and building a network of professional contacts.

Year 4
In the final year, you return to campus to specialise and consolidate your learning. Advanced modules such as Commercial Law, International Business Law, and optional topics allow you to explore your interests in depth, while project work and case studies help integrate your placement experience with your academic knowledge.

Focus areas:
Legal and business integration, contract law, commercial law, tort law, equity and trusts, corporate governance, financial management, international business law.

Learning outcomes:
Graduates will be able to analyse and solve legal and business problems, advise clients, draft professional documents, interpret regulations, and apply combined law-business knowledge in practical settings.

Professional alignment (accreditation):
The degree covers core legal knowledge required for future qualification as a solicitor or barrister, while providing business insights that enhance employability across corporate, consultancy, and regulatory sectors.

Reputation:
The sandwich format, combining rigorous academic study with a full-year placement, is highly valued by employers and provides graduates with a competitive edge in law, business, and professional services.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

This programme is designed to give you real-world experience alongside your academic studies, ensuring you graduate with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. From your first year, you’ll take part in interactive activities that mimic professional legal and business practice, including client interviews, mock trials, group projects, and case studies. The full-year sandwich placement gives you a unique opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in a professional environment, gain confidence, and build a network of contacts before you even graduate. The combination of practical modules, facilities, and professional guidance ensures that you leave fully prepared for your career.

Key ways you gain practical experience include:

Replica courtroom and mooting trials: Practice advocacy, courtroom procedures, and public speaking in a realistic courtroom environment, enhancing your confidence and legal skills.
Legal Advice Clinic & community projects: Work with real clients under supervision, drafting documents, giving advice, and applying legal knowledge to solve practical problems.
Business simulations and group projects: Take part in projects that combine law and business challenges, developing teamwork, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
Full-year sandwich placement: Gain hands-on experience in a law firm, corporate organisation, or consultancy, applying your academic knowledge to professional tasks and building valuable industry connections.
Guest lectures and networking opportunities: Learn from practising lawyers, business professionals, and industry experts, gaining insight into real-world careers and trends.
Digital tools and learning resources: Access legal databases, financial software, and online platforms to support your research, case preparation, and project work.
Libraries and study facilities: Benefit from law-focused libraries, collaborative spaces, and resources to support research, group work, and independent learning.

This approach ensures that your studies are not just theoretical but deeply practical, helping you graduate with the skills, confidence, and experience that employers are looking for.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from this programme leave with a unique combination of legal knowledge, business insight, and practical work experience from their placement year. This makes them highly employable across a range of industries, able to step confidently into professional roles that require analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills. Typical career paths include solicitor, legal adviser, business consultant, and compliance officer.

To support your transition from study to career, Portsmouth provides a range of services and opportunities:

Dedicated employability support: Tailored guidance from the Faculty’s career advisors, including CV workshops, mock interviews, and personalised career coaching specific to law and business roles.
Professional networking & industry partnerships: Collaborations with local law firms, corporate organisations, and regulatory bodies offer guest lectures, workshops, and placement opportunities.
Hands-on experience from the sandwich placement: The full-year placement allows you to apply your academic knowledge in real professional settings, gaining confidence, skills, and industry contacts.
Positive graduate outcomes: Many graduates secure positions in law firms, corporate governance, consultancy, public sector organisations, or continue into regulatory and compliance roles.
Accreditation and long-term value: The programme provides core legal knowledge required for qualification as a solicitor or barrister, while business skills broaden career prospects across multiple sectors.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the LLB, students can continue into postgraduate studies such as a Master’s in Law (LLM), specialisations like Corporate Law, International Law, or Human Rights Law, or professional training including the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) or Bar training. These pathways allow students to further specialise or expand career options in law, business, or consultancy.