LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of East Anglia

Program Overview

The LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology at UEA blends the foundations of legal training with a deep exploration of crime, justice, and society — perfect for students who want a strong legal education while also understanding why crime happens and how the criminal justice system responds. Across four years, you’ll study core law modules, criminological theory, and real-world justice issues, preparing you for careers both inside and beyond the legal profession.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

Your first year introduces the essentials of legal study and the major ideas behind criminology. You explore modules such as Legal Method, Skills & Reasoning, Constitutional & Administrative Law, and Criminal Law, while criminology units help you understand how crime is defined, measured, and interpreted. This year builds your legal writing, analysis, and research skills, giving you the academic foundation you’ll rely on throughout the degree.

Year 2

In second year, you deepen your knowledge of both legal systems and the social drivers behind offending. You study subjects like Tort Law, Land Law, and Criminal Justice, alongside criminology modules that examine policing, punishment, and crime prevention. This year helps you understand how legal rules work in practice and how society responds to crime at institutional and community levels.

Year 3

Your third year gives you room to shape the degree around your interests. You choose from optional modules such as Evidence, Family Law, International Criminal Law, or criminology options like Social Policy, Victimology, and Crime & Inequality. Many students also take advantage of UEA’s practical learning opportunities through the Law Clinic, mooting, and internships during this year.

Year 4

In your final year, you complete the remaining core subjects required for a Qualifying Law Degree while selecting advanced options that match your career goals. You might explore areas such as Human Rights, Medical Law, Criminal Litigation, or specialised criminology units. This final year consolidates your legal expertise and your understanding of real-world criminal justice issues.

Focus Areas

Criminal law, criminological theory, justice systems, legal method, social deviance, victim studies, policing and punishment.

Learning Outcomes

A strong command of legal reasoning, a critical understanding of crime and justice, advanced research and analytical skills, practical problem-solving abilities, and confidence in applying law within real-world criminal justice contexts.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The degree provides a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD), meaning it meets the academic requirements for progressing toward solicitor or barrister training in England and Wales. The criminology component strengthens your knowledge of the justice sector, making you well-prepared for roles across policing, policy, rehabilitation, and legal services.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings)

UEA’s Law School is known for its supportive teaching, its active employability network, and strong student outcomes. A large majority of graduates progress into professional roles or further study soon after completion, helped by the university’s law-specific careers team, practical legal opportunities, and partnerships with regional legal and justice organisations.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At UEA Law School, you’re not just learning the theory of law — you’re actively applying it. From your first year, you can get involved with the Law Clinic, where you work on real cases and help real clients, giving you an early taste of legal practice. The school’s dedicated employability team works closely with you throughout your degree, connecting you with law firms, barristers, and public-sector organisations so you can build confidence and experience long before you graduate. And with the UEA Law Society driving competitions and skills-based activities, you’ll constantly sharpen your advocacy, communication, and problem-solving abilities in a supportive, hands-on environment.

Here are some of the concrete, real-world opportunities you’ll experience:

UEA Law Clinic Volunteering: Work directly with clients on issues such as welfare, housing, and criminal matters, developing your research skills, communication abilities, and understanding of how legal advice works in practice.
Community / Street Law Projects: Take part in community outreach by delivering workshops, mock trials, and legal awareness sessions in schools and local organisations — a great way to build teamwork, confidence, and public-speaking skills.
Law Society Competitions: Challenge yourself through mooting, mediation, negotiation, client interviewing and mock trials, as well as multi-event “legal triathlon” competitions that mirror real professional scenarios.
Career Events & Workshops: Join regular skills sessions and networking events, including CV guidance, interview prep, employer talks, and panel discussions with legal professionals and alumni.
One-to-One Employability Support: Access personalised advice from employability leads — many with legal backgrounds — who guide you toward internships, placements, mentoring opportunities, and industry contacts.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from UEA’s LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology step into the world with a strong mix of legal knowledge, investigative thinking, and real-world experience — a combination that employers genuinely value. Many go into roles that blend law and justice, while others move confidently into broader legal careers. Typical career paths include Solicitor, Barrister, Criminal Investigator, Probation Officer, and a wide range of roles across legal services, public protection, and social justice.

To support your progression, UEA offers a range of tailored opportunities that help you stand out when you graduate:

UEA Law Employability Team: You’ll receive one-to-one guidance from employability experts who help you prepare for applications, interviews, networking, and securing internships with legal and public-sector organisations.
Career Success Outcomes: According to official graduate data, a strong majority of UEA Law graduates enter professional work or further study within 15 months of finishing their degree, reflecting strong employability across the school.
Professional Partnerships: The Law School works closely with local law firms, barristers' chambers, public-sector bodies, and justice-sector organisations — giving students access to internships, mentoring, guest lectures, and volunteering experiences.
Long-Term Accreditation Value: The degree is a Qualifying Law Degree, meaning it meets the academic requirements for legal training in England and Wales and holds long-term professional value across legal roles.
Graduate Outcomes: Students who combine law and criminology often move on to roles in the criminal justice system, policy work, rehabilitation services, compliance departments, legal practices, or investigative agencies.

Further Academic Progression:
If you choose to continue your studies, you’ll be well prepared for postgraduate routes such as the SQE preparation courses, Bar training programmes, LLM degrees in areas like Criminal Justice or Human Rights, or research-focused pathways including a Master’s in Criminology or a PhD.