Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
The LLB as a Qualifying Law Degree in England & Wales
For almost a century and a half, the University of London LLB by External study has provided a route into the world of law in many countries. The University of London LLB by External study is recognised as a Qualifying Law Degree so long as certain specific conditions are met – as outlined below.
Holding a Qualifying Law Degree fulfils the requirements of the Academic Stage of legal training and enables students to proceed to the Vocational Stage of training for legal practice in England & Wales. A number of other jurisdictions internationally also recognise the degree as at least partial fulfilment of the Academic Stage requirements.
We strongly advise you to contact the legal professional bodies in the jurisdiction where you intend to practise to find out the specific requirements, and the extent to which the University of London LLB by External study satisfies them, before you register.
In particular, please note that the LLB degree obtained through the Graduate Entry Routes is not accepted as a Qualifying Law Degree in some jurisdictions (although it is in England & Wales).
Qualifying Law Degree requirements
In order for a University of London LLB degree by External study to count as a Qualifying Law Degree in England & Wales, the following requirements must be satisfied:
- The period of study must not be more than six years (whereas eight years are permitted to pass the LLB as an academic degree).
- The student must have satisfied the examiners in respect of the Foundations of Legal Knowledge subject areas, which includes EU law.
The following subjects in the LLB cover the Foundations of Legal Knowledge subject areas:
- Common law reasoning and institutions
- Public law
- Elements of the law of contract
- Criminal law
- Law of tort
- Land law
- Law of trusts
- EU law
- The student must have passed the ‘foundation’ subjects in not more than three attempts (whereas four attempts are permitted to pass the LLB as an academic degree).
For LLB students with an effective registration date of 1 September 2007 or later (which includes Diploma in Law students who plan to transfer to the LLB):
- The student must have received training in legal research.
- The student must have demonstrated the attainment of various skills including legal research, oral communication and IT skills through production of a satisfactory Skills portfolio. Please see ‘LLB and Diploma in Law subject outlines’ on page 16 of the full Undergraduate Laws prospectus for details.
You will be required to have undertaken legal research exercises. You will be expected to have made use of library resources, including the University’s Online Library, throughout your studies, especially for research purposes.
Decisions for students seeking a Qualifying Law Degree
Students who wish to graduate with an LLB that is a Qualifying Law Degree need to make decisions year by year. The diagram below shows what these decisions are for all the different pathways.
| Scheme A | Scheme B | Graduate Entry Route A | Graduate Entry Route B |
| 2nd or 3rd year of study | 3rd or 4th year of study | 2nd year of study | |
| Register for the optional subject EU law | Register for the optional subject EU law | Register for the optional subject EU law | |
| Choose Laws Skills Pathway 1 or Laws Skills Pathway 2* | |||
| 3rd year of study | 4th year of study | 3rd year of study | |
| Choose Laws Skills Pathway 1 or Laws Skills Pathway 2* | Choose Laws Skills Pathway 1 or Laws Skills Pathway 2* | Register for the optional subject EU law | |
| Choose Laws Skills Pathway 1 or Laws Skills Pathway 2* |
* Laws Skills Pathway 1: register for the Dissertation optional subject and complete the Laws Skills Portfolio.
Laws Skills Pathway 2: undertake a small-scale separate research project and complete the Laws Skills Portfolio.