Law and French LLB (Hons)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Edinburgh

Program Overview

The LLB Law and French at the University of Edinburgh is designed for students who want to study law while becoming truly fluent in French and understanding the culture behind it. Over four years, you’ll blend rigorous legal training with advanced language study and a transformative year abroad — perfect if you see your future in international law, diplomacy, or any globally focused career.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

Your first year builds the core foundations of legal study with modules like Scottish Legal System, Contract Law, Family Law, and Public Law. Alongside this, you study French 1B, which strengthens your language skills and introduces you to key moments in French history and society — from post-war politics to cultural movements like May 1968.

Year 2

In second year, your legal training becomes more detailed as you explore Property Law, Delict, Criminal Law, and Commercial Law. Your French modules also step up, helping you work confidently in advanced reading, translation, and writing while diving deeper into French and Francophone literature and intellectual traditions.

Year 3 – Year Abroad

You’ll spend your entire third year studying at a partner university in a French-speaking country. This is your chance to live the language every day while taking approved law and French courses. You’ll also complete Edinburgh’s Advanced Legal Writing module online, helping you refine professional legal communication from an international perspective.

Year 4 – Honours

Your final year lets you specialise in the areas of law that interest you most — such as Commercial Law, Family Law or Criminology. On the French side, you choose from advanced options in culture, literature, or thought, and you can complete a law dissertation if you want to build depth in a specific topic.

Focus Areas : Law, French language proficiency, Francophone culture, international perspectives, cross-border legal thinking.

Learning Outcomes : Strong legal reasoning, advanced written and spoken French, cultural and analytical insight into French-speaking societies, and real international experience built through study abroad.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation) : The LLB is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland, with joint honours students able to complete any required additional courses if they wish to pursue professional legal training in Scotland.

Reputation & Employability : The University of Edinburgh is consistently ranked among the world’s leading universities for both Law and Modern Languages, giving graduates a strong platform for careers in international law, diplomacy, policy, and global organisations.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Studying Law and French at Edinburgh isn’t just about lectures and reading — you’ll constantly be applying what you learn in real, practical settings. The Law School gives you opportunities to work directly with clients, practise legal problem-solving, build advocacy skills, and develop your French in authentic, everyday situations. Your year abroad adds a powerful layer of cultural immersion, helping you understand how language and law work together in real life.

Here’s how the program helps you learn by doing:

Free Legal Advice Centre: Students can join supervised pro bono clinics where they meet real clients, research legal issues, and help draft advice — an invaluable first taste of real legal work.
Virtual Law Clinic: This online advisory project lets you support clients remotely, building practical skills in communication and digital case-handling.
Mooting and competitions: You’ll have the chance to participate in moots and advocacy competitions that strengthen your public speaking, legal reasoning, and confidence in presenting arguments.
LawPALS mentoring groups: Small weekly peer-learning sessions give you a friendly environment to discuss coursework, practise problem-solving, and get guidance from experienced students.
Learning in Old College: Your classes take place in the historic heart of Edinburgh’s legal district, just steps away from the courts and the Scottish Parliament — an inspiring environment for any aspiring lawyer.
Specialist libraries and research spaces: You’ll access extensive law and French resources, including large collections of legal texts, literature, films, and language materials to support both sides of your degree.
Year abroad in a French-speaking country: Living and studying abroad builds fluency, independence, and cultural understanding — all essential for anyone considering international or cross-border careers.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from Edinburgh’s LLB Law and French step into the world with a rare combination of legal expertise and real fluency in French, which opens doors both in the UK and internationally. Many go on to careers as solicitors, advocates, policy specialists, and legal analysts, while others thrive in fields like diplomacy, international organisations, business, and communications. Your year abroad, combined with a respected law degree, makes you especially attractive to employers looking for globally minded graduates.

Here’s how Edinburgh supports your future success:

Dedicated Law Careers Programme: The Law School runs career workshops, employer events, and networking sessions with major law firms and legal professionals, helping you understand the routes to training contracts, internships, and graduate roles.
Full Careers Service Support: You’ll receive tailored guidance throughout your degree — from CV coaching to interview preparation — and continued support for two years after graduation.
Strong Graduate Outcomes: A high proportion of Edinburgh law graduates move quickly into employment or further study, reflecting the programme’s strong reputation among employers.
Competitive Salary Growth: Law graduates from Edinburgh report solid early-career salaries, with earnings rising steadily in the years after graduation thanks to the degree's professional reputation.
Professional Accreditation: Because the programme is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland, your degree carries long-term value and can lead directly into the professional training route — provided you complete any additional required courses.
Versatile Career Paths: Beyond legal practice, many students build exciting careers in international business, government, NGOs, journalism, and European institutions, using both their legal grounding and linguistic skills.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing the LLB, you can continue with the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice if you want to qualify as a solicitor in Scotland. Many graduates also pursue master’s degrees in areas like international law, human rights, European studies, or French studies — perfect stepping stones toward specialised legal careers, research, or work in international organisations.