BA (Hons) Criminal Law and Criminal Justice

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Liverpool John Moores University

Program Overview

The BA (Hons) Criminal Law and Criminal Justice gives you a focused, career-oriented education in how legal, social and justice systems work — ideal if you’re passionate about crime, law enforcement, justice, and social change. Over three years, you’ll study criminal law, criminal justice theory, policing, human rights and social policy — preparing you for roles in law enforcement support, advocacy, legal services or criminal justice reform.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 (Foundation + Core Basics):
In your first year, you’ll build a solid grounding in how law and justice systems operate. You’ll study core topics such as Introduction to Criminal Law, learning the fundamental principles of crime, liability, defences and prosecutions. Alongside that, you may take a module like Foundations of Criminal Justice, where you explore how policing, courts, prisons and probation work — giving you context for how individuals move through the justice system. You’ll also likely have a module on Social Policy and Crime, helping you understand crime not only as a legal concept but also in social and economic contexts, preparing you to see the bigger picture behind criminal justice issues.

Year 2 (Intermediate Law & Justice Studies):
As you enter the second year, you’ll deepen your understanding. Modules may include Advanced Criminal Law and Procedure, where you examine more complex offences, sentencing, evidentiary rules, and legal procedure. Another module like Policing, Crime and Society would help you study the role of law enforcement, the challenges policing faces, and the relationship between society and crime. You might also study Human Rights and Criminal Justice, learning how rights, justice and state power intersect — and how criminal justice must balance public safety with individual rights. This year will sharpen your critical thinking and give you tools to analyze real-world legal-justice problems.

Year 3 (Specialisation & Applied Justice):
In the final year, you’ll get to specialise and apply everything you’ve learned. You might take a module like Criminal Justice Policy and Reform, studying how laws evolve, how policy addresses crime, rehabilitation, and justice. Another likely module is Youth, Crime and the Legal System, where you explore juvenile justice, social reintegration, and modern justice challenges. Additionally, there may be a module such as Applied Criminal Justice Research Project, giving you the chance to research a justice issue, apply academic skills and produce a substantial piece of work — preparing you for either further study or a justice-related career.

Focus areas

Criminal law, criminal justice systems, policing and enforcement, human rights in justice, social policy & crime, justice reform, applied justice research.

Learning outcomes

Ability to understand and apply criminal law principles; insight into how criminal justice institutions work; critical awareness of social, legal and ethical dimensions of crime and justice; capacity for legal-social analysis and policy evaluation; readiness to work in law enforcement support, advocacy, social justice, research or legal-justice services.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

This degree offers a clear route into careers in criminal justice, law enforcement support services, social policy organisations, advocacy/non-profit sectors or further legal or criminology study — giving you both academic grounding and professional relevance.

Reputation (employability & standing)

With a specialised degree in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, you’ll stand out for employers looking for candidates with legal insight, social awareness, and analytical skills. Graduates from such programmes are often recruited by government agencies, NGOs, legal support services, parole and probation services, policy institutes, and advocacy organisations — giving you a wide field of opportunity thanks to the strong combination of law + justice + social context.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At LJMU you’re not just studying criminal law and justice socially or theoretically — you get opportunities to practice, discuss, and simulate real-world legal and justice situations. The University offers law-school facilities and extracurricular projects so you can build practical skills, gain insight into real-life justice work, and get a feel for how law operates outside the textbook. You’ll combine your studies with experiences that mimic real legal/justice tasks, which helps you grow into a confident, capable graduate ready for the workplace or further study.

Here are some of the key practical and hands-on learning opportunities available to you:

Mock courtrooms & advocacy practice: Within the School of Law & Justice at LJMU, students have access to courtroom-style spaces where you can practise advocacy, mooting, presenting legal arguments, and engaging in realistic legal procedure simulations — essential training if you are interested in criminal justice, legal advocacy or court work.
Legal advice & pro-bono clinics / community justice work: As part of your criminal law studies you may have the option to volunteer or participate in projects that involve legal-aid, community justice, offender support or policy-oriented outreach — giving you real-life insight into social justice, rehabilitation, and the justice system in action.
Interdisciplinary group work & crime-society projects: Many modules will involve group assignments, case studies, research on social policy, crime trends, legal reform and justice issues — helping you develop teamwork, research, critical thinking and communication skills, useful for roles in policy, advocacy, or criminal justice support.
Research skills and use of legal databases / resources: Through the justice-focused curriculum and university libraries, you’ll gain experience using legal research tools, criminology databases, academic and social-justice literature — giving you a strong foundation for analysis, policy work, or further academic study.
Opportunities to engage with real-world justice issues: The programme’s combination of law and criminal justice means you’ll be encouraged to explore current justice challenges — such as human rights, social inequality, crime policy — through essays, projects or dissertation work, connecting academic learning to the community and contemporary debate.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating with a BA in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice opens a variety of career avenues — many students find roles as probation officers, criminal justice policy analysts, legal support officers, or community justice coordinators. This degree blends legal insight, social awareness and analytical skills, giving you the flexibility to work in justice, public service, or social-policy sectors:

Support through university employability services: LJMU offers tailored careers support, including help with CVs, interview preparation, and guidance on placements or volunteering opportunities in legal and social-justice fields — which can help you get a head start in organisations focused on criminal justice or public policy.
Entry into justice, legal-support, or public-service roles: With the combination of law and criminal justice training, graduates may qualify for entry-level positions in probation services, youth justice, community rehabilitation programmes, or legal-aid support services.
Strong relevance for social policy, advocacy, or NGO work: The knowledge you gain about criminal law, justice systems, human rights, and social justice can position you well for work with non-profit organisations, advocacy groups, or community support agencies — roles where legal awareness and social empathy are essential.
Long-term value from degree flexibility: Because the degree bridges law and criminal justice, you have the flexibility to move between sectors: from government or public administration to charities, legal-support services, or research institutes — giving many different career paths.
Graduation outcomes with broad potential: Alumni have the foundation to pursue careers in probation and rehabilitation, youth justice, criminal-justice policy and reform, social-justice NGOs, legal-support services, or further academic or professional training.

Further Academic Progression:
After finishing this BA, you could opt for further study — for example a master’s in criminology, criminal justice policy, human rights law or social justice. You might also choose to train as a social-justice practitioner, legal-support worker, or move into roles requiring advanced studies in policy, advocacy or criminal justice research.