UDLAWINR - LLB Law (with International Relations)

The Teaching and Learning strategy of the LLB with International Relations degree is designed to: ensure that the subject content meets, and improves on the benchmarks set out by the JASB and the QAA; encourage the acquisition and understanding of knowledge by students, engendering an enthusiasm for the subject and life-skills learning, including the progression from surface learning to deep learning; facilitate students to develop independent skills and responsibilities for their own learning; incrementally strengthen the subject specific knowledge and skills gained by a students, in combination with the awareness and application of skills needed successfully thrive in the workplace.

This degree draws on the Faculty of Law, Governance and International Relations’ reputation for pedagogical innovation, as well as utilising traditional teaching methods. The latter includes a mixture of lectures, seminars, and workshops. Within this a combination of whole group, small group, and student-led and tutor-led teaching occurs. This can included face-to-face teaching and discussion, but there is also an increasing emphasis on the use of blended learning opportunities.

Specific teaching/learning strategies and methods which are used include:

• lectures – which introduce students to legal rules and concepts ; which introduce students to how legal rules operate in, have effect on, and are affected by, their context ; which introduce students to the social, political and ethical dimensions within which legal rules operate; which inform students of the latest developments in substantive law and procedure
• seminars/workshops – which enable students to gain a deeper understanding of key legal rules and concepts; gain a deeper understanding of how legal rules operate in, have effect on, and are affected by, their context ; become aware through discussion with tutor and other students of the social, political, economic and ethical dimensions within which legal rules operate ; gain a deeper understanding of the latest developments in substantive law and procedure
• use of module WebLearn – to enable students to gain a deeper understanding of issues and materials
• independent study in the library and at home using traditional hardcopy material such as statutes, law reports, law journals, textbooks, casebooks, law commission reports
• independent study in the library and at home using electronic sources such as legal databases and use of module WebLearn sites

Many modules already are paper free, with considerable learning materials and resources being placed on relevant module WebLearn sites, e.g. lecture notes, module handbooks, video links, recorded lectures, podcasts, first-hand documents, and blogs. Some teaching staff are already utilising electronic feedback, the electronic submission of formative assessments, and online office hours. A growing number of materials are also available online through the University library, including access to journals and ebooks.

This is all designed to open up the learning space for students to enable them to access the degree 24/7, improving the student learning experience, whilst increasing cost-effectiveness and efficiency.

An additional and important part of the teaching and learning strategy is the academic research which is carried by GIR staff. This is used to support teaching through the transferring of staff research skills and knowledge to enhance the student learning experience, i.e. the research is effectively feedback to students through teaching.

Staff research specialisms are an essential component of the International Relations curriculum, with students benefitting from being taught by specialists.

• The course is designed as a ‘Qualifying Law Degree’ (i.e. the academic stage of qualifying as a barrister or solicitor) but students may choose a ‘non-qualifying’ route requiring fewer compulsory subjects and greater choice of law or International Relations modules;
• The course aims to place questions of international order and decision-making at the centre of analysis;
• The course aims to ensure that students acquire knowledge and understanding in areas of International Relations theory and analysis;
• The course aims to enable students to understand and use the concepts, approaches and research methods and methodologies of the discipline and develop an understanding of its contested nature and the problematic character of International Relations inquiry;
• It covers the knowledge and skills set out in the QAA Benchmark Statements for Law and Politics, and those in the joint statement on Qualifying Law Degrees issued by the JASB, the Bar Council and the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
• It will enable students to develop the graduate attributes of self-awareness, the ability to perform in a variety of idioms and contexts and awareness of ethical and creative considerations.
• To enhance the employability of students, including those who do not intend to practise as a barrister or solicitor but wish to enter other employment in the field of International Relations or elsewhere where the knowledge of Law and International Relations is useful.

By the end of their course students are expected to have developed the following skills:

• understand the nature and significance of international relations and the global context of world politics;
• apply concepts, theories and methods used in the study of international relations to the analysis of ideas, practices and issues in the global system;
• demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the origins, evolution and current nature of the international political system, including the tension between power and ethics in the global arena;

In addition By the end of the course, the student is expected to:

1. acquire knowledge and understanding of legal rules and concepts ;
2. acquire an understanding of how legal rules operate in, have effect on, and are affected by, their context ;
3. be aware of the social, political, economic and ethical dimensions within which legal rules operate ;
4. be aware of recent developments in substantive law and legal procedure .
5. analyse legal issues ;
6. develop the skill of synthesis in reading and categorising a variety of legal materials ;
7. develop the critical skills to evaluate legal materials ;
8. engage in problem solving by applying relevant legal rules ;
9. study and learn independently .

The student will also be expected to develop a the following transferable skills in the course :

10. written communication skills ;
11. oral communication skills ;
12. IT skills;
13. teamwork skills ;
14. numeracy skills;
15. problem-solving skills .

The course enables the student to develop the following practical skills:

16. the ability to use IT to access legal materials from legal databases;
17. the ability to do research to find solutions to legal problems ;
18. the ability to present oral arguments to solve legal problems ;
19. the ability to present written arguments to solve legal problems .

- Understand the nature and significance of international relations and the global context of world politics:

e.g. GI4005: Introduction to International
Relations.

- Be aware of the contested nature of inquiry within the discipline of International Relations and be able to evaluate different interpretations of key issues:

e.g. GI4005: Introduction to International
Relations and GI5005: Approaches to
International Relations and Foreign Policy.

- Apply concepts, theories and methods used in the study of international relations to the analysis of ideas, practices and issues in the global system:

e.g. GI5005: Approaches to International
Relations and Foreign Policy and GI6005:
International Security in an Era of Globalisation.

- Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the origins, evolution and current nature of the international political system, including the tension between power and ethics in the global arena:

e.g. GI5003: Shifting Global Power .

- acquire knowledge and understanding of legal rules and concepts:

LL4001;LL4002;LL4004;LL5001;LL5003;LL500
4;LL6001;LL6002;LL6003;LL6004;LL6005;LL60
08;LL6051;LL6052;LL6054;LL6P51;

- acquire an understanding of how legal rules operate in, have effect on, and are affected by, their context:

LL4001;LL4002;LL4004;LL5001;LL5003;LL500
4;LL6001;LL6002;LL6003;LL6004;LL6005;LL60
08;LL6051;LL6052;LL6054;LL6P51;

- be aware of the social, political, economic and ethical dimensions within which legal rules operate :

LL4001;LL4002;LL4004;LL5001;LL5003;LL500
4;LL6001;LL6002;LL6003;LL6004;LL6005;LL60
08;LL6051;LL6052;LL6054;LL6P51.

- be aware of recent developments in substantive law and legal procedure:

LL4001;LL4002;LL4004;LL5001;LL5003;LL500
4;LL6001;LL6002;LL6003;LL6004;LL6005;LL60
08;LL6051;LL6052;LL6054;LL6P51;

- Analyse legal issues :

LL4001;LL4002;LL4004;LL5001;LL5003;LL5004;LL6001;LL6002;LL6003;LL6004;LL6005;LL6008;LL6051;LL6052;LL6054;LL6P51;

- Develop the skill of synthesis in reading and categorising a variety of legal materials:

LL4001;LL4002;LL4004;LL5001;LL5003;LL500
4;LL6001;LL6002;LL6003;LL6004;LL6005;LL6008;LL6051;LL6052;LL6054;LL6P51;

- Develop the critical skills to evaluate legal materials:

LL5001;LL5003;LL5004;LL6001;LL6002;LL6003;LL6004;LL6005;LL6008;LL6051;LL6052;LL6054;LL6P51

- Engage in problem solving by applying relevant rules:

LL4001;LL4002;LL4004;LL5001;LL5003;LL5004;LL6001;LL6002;LL6003;LL6004;LL6005;LL6008;LL6051;

- Study and learn independently:

LL4001;LL4002;LL4004;LL5001;LL5003;LL5004;LL6001;LL6002;LL6003;LL6004;LL6005;LL6008;LL6051;LL6052;LL6054;LL6P51;

- Written communication skills:

LL4001;LL4002;LL4004;LL5001;LL5003;LL5004;LL6001;LL6002;LL6003;LL6004;LL6005;LL6008;LL6051;LL6052;LL6054;LL6P51;

- Oral communication skills:

LL4001;LL4002;LL4004;LL5003;LL5004;LL6001;LL6002;LL6003;LL6004;LL6005;LL6008;LL6051;LL6052;

- IT skills:

LL4001;LL4002;LL4004;LL5001;LL5003;LL5004;LL6001;LL6002;LL6003;LL6004;LL605;LL6008;LL6051;LL6052;LL6054;LL6P51;

- Teamwork skills:

LL4001;LL4002;LL4004;LL5001;LL5003;LL5004;LL6001;LL6002;LL6003;LL6004;LL6005

Law and Politics

The course combines both formative and summative assessment opportunities, embracing a variety of methods including: essays, exams, seminar performance, seminar presentations (both individual and group), portfolios, blogs, policy documents, and book reviews. The majority will be tutor assessed, but a number will be peer-reviewed in seminars.

The strategy is designed to maximise the development of subject specific skills and employability skills appropriate to each level of the degree.

As part of our Undergraduate Student Promise, every student will undertake accredited work-related learning (in either the form of a work placement or ‘live’ project with a partner organisation or planning to set up small business) as a core, compulsory element within their course programme.

You will have the option of taking the “Work Placement for Professional Experience” or “Create a Winning Business” 15 credit module in the second or third year of your course programme. Work-related learning provides students with:

• the experience of a competitive recruitment process or pitching for an opportunity
• a work-related experience or project which impacts a real organisation
• assessment and feedback on their reflections on their experience of the work-related learning and planning for their future career.

Where required, students will be supported in finding suitable opportunities which can be either be a placement, part-time role or ’live’ project for an external organisation untaken within the University. We have dedicated placements and careers teams who will assist learners with all aspects of their job search and application. The suitability of the opportunities will be assessed by the Module Leader on an individual basis. It is the student’s responsibility to apply for opportunities and engage with the relevant University personnel who to assist them in gaining a suitable role.

Learners may be able to utilise their existing part-time / vacation employment (whether or not this relates to their subject area), providing they can demonstrate that it is personally developmental and involves responsibility (decided upon submission of the role details by the Module Leader).

The course conforms to the framework and University Academic Regulations. For a Qualifying Law Degree to be recognised by the JASB additional specified regulations relating to the number of attempts at core modules and the time taken to complete the degree shall also apply. CURRENTLY THE JASB REQUIREMENTS ARE THAT ALL CORE MODULES MUST BE PASSED AND THERE CAN ONLY BE 3 OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE EACH ASSESSMENT COMPONENT WITH THE DEGREE BEING COMPLETED WITHIN 6 YEARS FROM FIRST REGISTRATION. The LLB may also be taken and the award gained within the University Regulations but without complying with the JASB Qualifying Law Degree Regulations.

Certificate in Higher Education – all Level 4 core modules

Diploma in Higher Education – all Level 4 core modules and the three Level 5 cores plus either one Level 5 30 credit option or two x Level 5 15 credits

Degree without Honours – all Level 4 and Level 5 modules plus at least 60 credits from Level H modules

Degree with Honours – all Level 4 and Level 5 modules plus the two core modules (one x 30 credit and one x 15 credit) plus two more x 30 credit and one x 15 credit modules.

This course is recognised as a qualifying law degree for progression to the Legal Practice Course (solicitors) or the Bar Professional Training Course (barristers).

Legal work placements, mooting and pro bono opportunities enable you to gain relevant experience while studying. Many LLB graduates go on to train as solicitors or barristers, but you could also pursue a career in business, media, voluntary organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Employability skills are also developed through activities including presentations and events organised by the Mansfield Law Society and the careers service, ensuring you're well-equipped for the working world.

Our online vacancy system, Prospects Net, lists opportunities for part-time, full-time, vacation and voluntary work.

In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have:

• GCSE English at grade C (grade 4 from 2017) or above or Higher Diploma (or equivalent)
• at least 280 points, including at least two A-levels or a level 3 Advanced Diploma, or equivalent

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.