The LLB is the abbreviation for the Law Degree programme offered by the majority of universities around the United Kingdom and beyond. The LLB abbreviation stems from the Latin Legum Baccalaureus, which translates to Bachelor of Laws, meaning that the actual degree classification is equivalent to that of a BA or a BSc.
There’s a number of ways of studying an LLB, from the standard three-year undergraduate course to a part time option which can be completed over up to six years, something that attracts many people searching for a career change to consider the LLB as an attractive option.
The main bulk of the LLB degree consists of a core seven modules, which together comprise the underlying requirements of any qualifying law degree in the UK. These seven components areas are as follows: constitutional and administrative law; contract law; criminal law; equity and trusts; EU law; land law; and public law.
On top of this, there’s a host of supplementary elective modules available over the course of the LLB, where you can specialise your knowledge of particular areas of the legal jurisdiction that interest you. Some Universities are obviously better at particular specialisations than others, so when researching where you want to study your LLB, you should be taking into account the areas that might be of interest to you and then tailoring your search to make sure you have the options to take electives in these areas.
The LLB course is a literature-heavy one, and you’ll be expected to complete a lot of reading over your time studying it. As a lawyer, your ability to scan texts, analyse them and use that information is crucial, and the LLB sets you up to this through an intensive reading list that you’ll be expected to work through comprehensively.
Whilst hard work, the LLB is the backbone and platform from which a high number of law careers are launched. From the completion of the LLB, you can move on to the LPC, BPTC or even an LLM, depending on the route you wish to follow in your career, but the LLB gives you the understanding and knowledge to launch your legal career from solid ground.