What is an LLB?

Mar 04, 2019

Written By Simi Gupta

Aspiring lawyer? Thinking of going to university? It's crucial that you know what the LLB is so you can weigh up your options.

What does LLB stand for?

You always come across a particular individual who is slightly baffled by the term “LLB”, presuming the abbreviation to be well out of the ordinary compared to the BA or BSc.

The majority knows that the BA stands for the Bachelor of Arts and that the BSc stands for the Bachelor of Science.

A law degree, however, is not abbreviated in the same way and this leads to great uncertainty.

The reason? Well, we would have to go further back and research the development of the LLB, although really it’s not that complicated. The LLB initiates from the Latin abbreviation of Legum Baccalaureus (also known as the Bachelor of Laws). Similarly, the law masters is the LLM, the Legum Magister.

Ever considered studying law online?

There are so many study mode options available to aspiring lawyers now. But which one is right for you? Find out with Arden University's handy decision-making tool.

START NOW

Types of LLB

This can be studied in a variety of forms: in the usual three year, full-time law degree format; as a two-year graduate course; or as a part-time degree over four to six years.

This level of flexibility present in the LLB attracts many aspiring students, especially those who desire a change in career.

The course content of the LLB

Regarding the content of the LLB programme, the course consists of seven core modules, which form the basic requirements for a qualifying law degree in England and Wales.

This includes contract law, criminal law, constitutional & administrative law, EU law, land law and equity & trusts.

As part of the LLB, students have the opportunity to supplement these core units with a variety of optional modules. It is important to have a thorough look at the course content to see whether it suits you and to find out about the additional modules you can take. This will help you to decide which university would be best for you to graduate from.

How hard is the LLB?

As for the course itself, be prepared for a lot of reading. Being able to analyse and refer to various texts and developing this vital skill throughout your degree is crucial. By the time you’ve graduated, this should all be second nature.

However, during your degree, value its importance otherwise it will cost you high marks. Remember, there is a big difference between a 2.1 and a First. Don’t be foolish enough to miss out!

The LLB is hard work. The more work you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it. Nicholas J McBride in his Letters to a Law Student advises you to “fall in love” with your degree and, if you do, you really will have hit the jackpot!

Simi Gupta also blogs for Career Geek. Her blog profile can be found here.

LLB