LLB Hons Law with placement

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Surrey

Program Overview

The LLB (Hons) Law with Placement at the University of Surrey gives you a strong, practical understanding of how the legal system works, while offering an extra year of hands-on professional experience. It’s ideal if you want a career in law and prefer learning by doing — combining rigorous legal training with a real-world placement that builds your confidence, skills, and employability long before graduation.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

Your first year builds a solid legal foundation. You’ll explore the core pillars of law through modules such as Contract Law, Criminal Law, Public Law, and Tort Law. These subjects help you understand how legal rules shape society — from everyday agreements to the framework of government and justice.

Year 2

In the second year, the course becomes more analytical and specialised. You’ll study Administrative Law, Equity and Trusts, and Land Law, deepening your understanding of rights, property, and public authority. You also begin choosing optional modules, which could include Environmental Law, European Human Rights Law, or Law & Economics, depending on your interests.

Year 3 – Professional Placement Year

This year is a game-changer. You’ll step out of the classroom and into a real legal or commercial environment. Surrey has strong links with law firms, businesses, charities, and public-sector organisations, giving you access to meaningful placements. Students often secure roles in legal departments, local authorities, commercial firms, NGOs, and compliance or regulatory teams.
This year allows you to apply your legal knowledge in practice, build a professional network, and gain experience that employers genuinely value.

Year 4

Your final year lets you specialise and shape your career direction. You can choose from modules such as Medical Law, Commercial Law, Family Law, Intellectual Property Law, Tax Law, and Child Law. Many students complete a Law Dissertation, giving you the chance to dive deeper into a legal area you care about and produce an impressive piece of independent research.

Focus Areas : Law & Technology, Environment & Sustainability, Jurisprudence, Commercial Law, Medical Law, Family Law, Intellectual Property.

Learning Outcomes : By graduation, you’ll be confident in legal reasoning, critical analysis, research, persuasive writing, negotiation, and advocacy. These skills — combined with a full year of work experience — make you stand out in both legal and non-legal career paths.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation) : This program is a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD), meeting the academic requirements of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for progression toward professional legal training in the UK.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings)

Around 93% of Surrey Law graduates progress into employment or further study shortly after graduating.
Surrey is ranked 10th in the UK and 56th worldwide for Law by Times Higher Education.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

1. Access to Justice Clinic

Launched in 2020, the Access to Justice Clinic enables students to work on real-life legal issues, assisting clients who may not have access to traditional legal services. Under the supervision of qualified practitioners, students engage in tasks such as legal research, client interviews, and case preparation, providing invaluable hands-on experience.

2. Digital Law Clinic

The Digital Law Clinic focuses on the intersection of law and technology. Students have the opportunity to work on digital legal issues, developing solutions that leverage technology to enhance access to justice. This clinic prepares students for the evolving landscape of legal practice in the digital age.

3. Business Start-Up Clinic

In collaboration with Stevens & Bolton LLP, the Business Start-Up Clinic offers students the chance to assist entrepreneurs and start-ups with legal matters related to business formation, contracts, and intellectual property. This clinic provides practical experience in commercial law and entrepreneurship.

4. Professional Training Year (PTY)

The Professional Training Year is a distinctive feature of Surrey's law programmes. Students have the opportunity to undertake a year-long placement in a legal or related professional setting, applying their academic knowledge in a practical environment. This experience enhances employability and provides insights into various legal careers.

5. Mooting and Advocacy

Surrey Law School encourages students to participate in mooting competitions, where they simulate court proceedings and develop their advocacy skills. These activities enhance students' public speaking, legal research, and analytical abilities.

6. Employability and Career Support

The university's strong emphasis on employability ensures that students are well-prepared for the job market. With a 95% employment or further study rate among law graduates (Graduate Outcomes 2024, HESA), Surrey Law School provides comprehensive career support, including workshops, networking events, and guidance on job applications and interviews.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from Surrey’s LLB Law with Placement leave university with both strong legal knowledge and a full year of real, professional experience — a combination that really sets them apart in a competitive job market. Many go on to rewarding careers in legal practice, corporate legal teams, public policy, government, or academia. With your placement year already on your CV, you’ll be well prepared for roles such as solicitor, barrister, legal advisor, compliance officer, or policy analyst, as employers value graduates who have proven themselves in real-world settings.

Here’s how Surrey helps you take your next step with confidence:

The university’s Careers & Employability service provides tailored support for law students, including CV and application guidance, mock interviews, and employer networking events specifically designed for future legal professionals.
With around 93% of Surrey Law graduates going into work or further study soon after finishing, the degree shows a strong track record of employability.
Surrey’s strong industry partnerships — including law firms, businesses, local authorities, NGOs, and corporate legal teams — open doors for internships and high-quality work placements during your designated professional year.
As a Qualifying Law Degree, your LLB is formally recognised for progressing toward solicitor or barrister training in the UK, giving you a long-term professional advantage.
The versatility of the degree means graduates also move into areas such as policy research, compliance, human rights organisations, regulatory work, and the wider business sector.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing your LLB with Placement, you could continue your professional journey by taking the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) route, or pursuing Bar training if you’re aiming to become a barrister. You might also choose to deepen your expertise through a specialised LLM, or pursue academic research through a Master’s by Research or even a PhD, depending on your long-term ambitions.