Law with Criminology LLB (Hons) sandwich with work placement

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Portsmouth

Program Overview

The Law with Criminology LLB (Hons) with a work placement is ideal for students who want to understand how the legal system works while exploring what drives crime and how society responds to it. It blends academic study with hands-on experience, giving you a strong foundation in both legal reasoning and criminological insight.

Curriculum Structure

Foundation / Year 1
In your first year, you’ll build solid grounding in core legal principles while getting an introduction to the criminal justice landscape. You’ll explore modules such as Legal System and Legal Skills, Public Law, and Introduction to Criminology, which help you develop confidence in legal research, case analysis, and understanding social patterns behind crime. This year is all about helping you adjust smoothly into university study and developing the academic skills you’ll rely on throughout the degree.

Year 2
Your second year takes you deeper into both fields as you begin to see how law and criminology intersect in real-world contexts. You’ll study modules like Criminal Law, Land Law, and Criminal Justice, each helping you see how legal rules are applied, interpreted, and sometimes challenged. You’ll also start engaging in applied criminology tasks, case studies, and group projects that build your analytical confidence.

Placement Year (Sandwich Year)
Your work placement year gives you the chance to step into professional environments and gain genuine experience in law firms, criminal justice agencies, local authorities, or charities. It’s a valuable year where you’ll build your CV, experience day-to-day legal or criminology-related work, and make industry contacts. This hands-on year strengthens your readiness for graduate roles and helps you see how your academic knowledge works in practice.

Final Year
In your last year, you’ll refine your expertise through advanced modules such as Equity and Trusts, Law of Evidence, and specialist criminology options like Penology and Prison Studies or Cybercrime. You’ll also complete a major research project, allowing you to explore a legal or criminological topic that genuinely interests you. By the end of this year, you’ll be confident in applying complex legal principles and understanding crime at a deeper, more critical level.

Focus Areas

Law, criminal justice, criminological theory, legal reasoning, applied criminal investigation, and socio-legal analysis.

Learning Outcomes

Strong legal research and reasoning skills, critical understanding of crime and criminal behaviour, ability to analyse cases and legislation, practical experience from placement, and confidence handling real legal and criminological problems.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The degree is recognised as a Qualifying Law Degree, meeting the academic requirements for progressing toward solicitor or barrister training in the UK.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

The University of Portsmouth consistently performs well in UK employability rankings and is known for strong graduate outcomes in law, criminology, and justice-related careers.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Portsmouth, law and criminology students don’t just study theory — they get hands-on experience that prepares them for real-world legal and criminal justice environments. From the very first year, you’ll engage in practical activities like mock trials, client interviewing, and case studies, helping you build confidence and professional skills while still at university. The program also offers a sandwich year where you can work in a legal or criminology-related placement, giving you invaluable insight into the workplace and industry expectations.

To give you a clearer picture, here’s how you’ll gain practical experience:

Mock Courtrooms & Mooting: Practise advocacy and public speaking in realistic court settings with professional equipment, witness boxes, and jury simulations.
Legal & Criminology Clinics: Work with real clients or community projects, offering supervised advice, drafting documents, and managing cases.
Placement Year: Optional work placement in a law firm, police department, probation service, or other relevant organisations to gain real industry experience.
Group Projects & Case Studies: Collaborate with peers on real-life legal scenarios, developing teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
Digital Tools & Legal Software: Gain proficiency in software used by professionals, such as case management systems and research databases.
Guest Lectures & Industry Events: Learn directly from practising lawyers, criminologists, and law enforcement professionals about current practices and career pathways.
Library & Research Facilities: Access extensive legal and criminology resources, including specialised texts, online databases, and research support.

This approach ensures that by the time you graduate, you’re not just academically prepared — you’re ready to step confidently into the legal or criminology workplace.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from the Law with Criminology LLB (Hons) program leave with a strong mix of legal knowledge and practical criminology insights, giving them a real edge in today’s competitive job market. Many go on to exciting careers in law, criminal justice, or public service, equipped with the skills to make a tangible impact in their communities. Typical roles include solicitor, legal advisor, probation officer, or policy analyst, and the sandwich placement year gives students invaluable professional experience before they even graduate:

Career support services: The university’s dedicated Careers and Employability Service offers tailored guidance, CV workshops, interview coaching, and networking events to help students secure their first role.
Professional experience: The sandwich year allows students to work in legal or criminology-related settings, providing hands-on experience that employers highly value.
Employment stats & salary: Portsmouth graduates enjoy strong employability, with many securing professional roles within six months of graduating, and starting salaries for law and criminology roles typically ranging from £22,000–£28,000, depending on sector.
University–industry partnerships: The program maintains links with local law firms, criminal justice agencies, and non-profits, giving students access to internships, placements, and mentoring opportunities.
Accreditation & professional value: The degree is recognized for its strong academic standards and professional relevance, giving graduates long-term credibility in law and criminology careers.
Graduation outcomes: Students gain not only the qualification but also practical skills in advocacy, legal drafting, research, and case analysis, making them highly employable across multiple sectors.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates who wish to continue their studies can explore postgraduate law qualifications, such as the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC), or criminology-focused master’s programs. They may also pursue specialized certificates in criminal justice, human rights, or forensic psychology to enhance their expertise and career prospects.