Law, Criminology and Criminal Justice (with Foundation Year) LLB (Hons)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Teesside University

Program Overview

The Law, Criminology and Criminal Justice (with Foundation Year) LLB (Hons) at Teesside University gives you a supportive start into the world of legal study, helping you build confidence before stepping into the full law degree. It’s ideal for students who want a structured path into university-level law, developing the academic, analytical and practical skills needed to thrive throughout the programme.

Curriculum Structure

Foundation Year – Building Confidence & Essential Skills

Your foundation year gently introduces you to the core skills required for successful law study. You’ll explore modules such as Preparing for University, Introduction to Law and the Legal System, and Academic Development, which help you strengthen your writing, research, critical thinking and understanding of how legal frameworks operate. This year ensures you feel ready and fully prepared to progress into Year 1 of the degree.

Year 1 – Core Principles of Law

In your first year of the main degree, you begin to build your legal foundation through key subjects like Criminal Law, Contract Law and Public Law. You’ll learn how laws are formed, interpreted and applied, and you’ll start developing legal reasoning skills through real cases and scenarios. This stage of the course helps you understand the structure of the UK legal system and the essential principles that guide it.

Year 2 – Expanding Knowledge & Legal Application

Year 2 deepens your understanding of how the law operates in everyday life. You’ll study modules such as Tort Law, EU Law and Human Rights Law, all of which strengthen your ability to analyse legal issues and construct clear, persuasive arguments. This year also helps you apply theory to more complex cases, preparing you for advanced study and professional pathways.

Year 3 – Advanced Legal Skills & Professional Readiness

In your final year, you move into specialised areas and refine the skills needed for professional legal training. You’ll take modules like Equity and Trusts, Property Law and a Final Year Research Project where you explore a legal topic of your choice in depth. This final year brings together everything you’ve learned, strengthening your analytical abilities and preparing you for career or postgraduate progression.

Focus areas (in a string):

Legal reasoning, criminal and civil law, human rights, legal research, case analysis, professional communication.

Learning outcomes (in a string):

Develop strong foundational legal knowledge, analyse and interpret legal principles, construct effective legal arguments, and apply law confidently to real-world situations.

Professional alignment (accreditation):

The degree provides the academic foundation required for future solicitor or barrister pathways and aligns with the core legal knowledge expected in professional legal training.

Reputation (employability rankings):

Teesside University is recognised for its supportive teaching approach and practical focus, helping students graduate with strong employability skills valued across the legal and public-service sectors.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Teesside University, this law degree is built around the idea of learning by doing — not just learning from textbooks. From the moment you start, you’ll develop practical legal skills, work through real-world scenarios, and spend time in professional-style environments that reflect what it’s really like to work in the legal and justice sectors. You’ll be supported by excellent facilities, collaborative projects and hands-on opportunities that help you grow in confidence as you progress through your studies.

Here’s how your learning becomes real throughout the programme:

Law Clinic experience: You’ll have the chance to work on genuine legal enquiries through the university’s Law Clinic, supporting local communities while gaining practical experience in legal research, client communication and supervised casework.
Replica courtroom and policing spaces: You’ll practise advocacy, questioning and case analysis in realistic courtroom settings, and explore the processes behind policing and justice through dedicated simulation spaces.
Partnership-led projects: Strong links with legal professionals, charities and justice organisations mean you’ll learn directly from people working in the field, giving you valuable insight into how law functions outside the classroom.
Group work and collaborative learning: You’ll work closely with classmates on shared projects, strengthening your teamwork, problem-solving and communication skills — all qualities that employers look for.
Law Society and extracurricular opportunities: You can join student law groups that arrange talks, debates and networking events, helping you build community, confidence and professional connections.
Supportive study environments: You’ll have access to well-equipped learning spaces, including open computing areas and a comprehensive university library, giving you everything you need to research, prepare and succeed.

All of these experiences are intentionally built into your degree so you graduate not only with strong academic knowledge, but with the practical skills and self-belief that help you step confidently into your future career.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from the Law, Criminology and Criminal Justice (with Foundation Year) LLB (Hons) at Teesside University gives you a strong springboard into a wide range of legal, justice and public service careers. With your solid grounding in law and experience from practical learning, you’ll be prepared for roles such as legal assistant, paralegal, probation officer or court administrator: this degree builds the knowledge and confidence employers value in the legal world and beyond.

Here’s how Teesside supports your journey into the next stage of your career:

Personalised career support: The university’s dedicated careers team offers tailored guidance, interview preparation, CV help and access to job opportunities so you feel ready and supported as you begin your professional path.
Career outcomes that matter: Many graduates from Teesside’s law programmes move into meaningful employment or further study soon after finishing their degree, showing that employers recognise and value the practical skills and legal insight you develop.
Connections with industry: Through links with legal practices, justice organisations and community partners, you’ll have opportunities to build professional networks, gain insights from practitioners and explore workplace experiences that enhance your employability.
Long-term relevance: This degree equips you with strong analytical skills, clear communication and a deep understanding of how law operates — abilities that remain valuable whether you work in legal support, public policy, compliance or community services.
Strong graduation outcomes: Teesside graduates are known for their readiness to step into roles across legal support services, justice agencies, government departments and other sectors where legal knowledge and critical thinking are in demand.

Further Academic Progression:
Once you complete this degree, you have many options if you want to continue your academic journey. You could move into postgraduate study in areas such as legal practice, human rights, criminology or public policy, or choose specialist master’s programmes that deepen your expertise. There are also routes into professional legal training and qualifications, helping you build toward careers as a solicitor, barrister, legal consultant or research specialist — giving you both flexibility and long-term opportunities for growth.