Bedfordshire Law School | llb course | llb degree

Runner up for the prestigious University of the Year in the Times Higher Education Supplement 2007 awards, the University of Bedfordshire has been named one of the best universities in the UK. The University is an innovative, modern and fast-growing university with three main campuses in Luton and Bedford. Much the same can also be same for Bedfordshire law school.

Although a new University, created in August 2006 by the merger of the University of Luton and the Bedford Campus of De Montfort University, it has a long educational heritage dating back to 1882. Bedfordshire law school is a friendly and dynamic teaching unit and although primarily located in the Business School in Luton, from September 2008 the School is also offering the llb course at the Bedford campus.

The team prides itself on its student-centred learning experience - the University of Bedfordshire Business School, home of the llb course, has been placed 21st in the country for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2008 – and there are plans to enhance and diversify the curriculum for 2009.

One of the latest achievements of Bedfordshire law school is the establishment of a pro-bono clinic offering free legal advice to the public. This service was introduced at the start of the academic year 2008 and provides the law students on the llb course with the opportunity to deal with real facts and cases.

Bedfordshire law school is investing heavily in new purpose-built accommodation, providing Law students on the llb course with the opportunity to learn in a ‘real world’ environment. The brand-new state-of-the-art facilities will include a Moot Court equipped with audio visual facilities. In addition, Bedfordshire law school also has a comprehensive dedicated section of the Library with a supportive librarian, who was praised by law students for the high level of support provided.

In Luton, the library is set in a quiet environment overlooking the beautiful medieval St. Mary’s Church, one of the biggest churches in Bedfordshire and a fine example of medieval architecture. The Law section is fully stocked with books, articles and online material and in addition to silent study areas, it offers pioneering group study facilities resourced with whiteboards and overhead projectors and video viewing rooms furnished and equipped to a very high standard. These facilities are also offered at the futuristic learning resources centre in Bedford. All in all, students on the llb course are very well catered for at Bedfordshire Law School.

Bedfordshire law school has an excellent teaching record. Its reputation is based on its exceptional performance in official inspections by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), which was particularly impressed that students were so ready to praise the quality of teaching.

The University is revising and adapting the structure of the academic year and its teaching philosophy to reflect the changing needs of graduates. Students on the llb course will be exposed to the latest thinking and developments in theories in the legal sphere. Befordshire law school endeavours to stretch the student experience beyond the academic stage of training future lawyers. It offers a rich and diverse learning experience that develops student potential, equipping students for the modern commercial world as well as providing life-long skills.

2008-9 is the last year the School will be offering a modular programme on the llb course, with four modules taught in each semester, consisting of two 1-hour lectures and a one hour seminar for each module per week. Students are expected to work an average of 30 hours per week of self-study.

The new structure which will be introduced in September 2009 consists of year long units, offering students the opportunity to specialise in particular areas such as criminology, employment law and accounting. The friendly teaching and support staff offer a high level of assistance to all students.

Every student has a personal tutor, who offers advice and guidance throughout the three years of study. In addition, the Faculty has a drop-in Academic Advisory Centre, which offers students the opportunity to receive prompt guidance and advice with any issues they may have during their university years.

The School’s postgraduate provision is also being reviewed this year with the intention to provide a range of specialist LL.M courses in addition to the existing LLM in Commercial Law.

Luton is the largest town in Bedfordshire, and is surrounded by the beautiful north Chiltern Hills. It has excellent transport links to the rest of the UK and Europe, and lies just 32 miles (50 kilometres) north of London, only a 30 minute train journey away.

Moreover, Luton offers excellent transport links from all parts of the country as well as internationally, with the London Luton Airport about 3 miles from the University– an essential feature for those interested in aviation law. Also, the Luton Crown Court is at a short walk from the University providing law students with the opportunity to experience real court cases.

Luton is the centre for numerous festivals throughout the year, including the Luton International Carnival, which is the largest one-day carnival event in Europe, attracting over 160,000 visitors every year. It also hosts Filmstock, one of the fastest growing film festivals in the UK, as well as the popular St Patrick’s Festival and Parade.

The large collection of pubs, clubs and restaurants with cuisine that reflects the multi-cultural spirit of the town, are well suited to the cosmopolitan student population. The Students’ Union offers a broad range of entertainment and student discounts, as well as the cheapest night out.

The Mall Shopping centre is located in the heart of Luton’s town centre, next to University of Bedfordshire’s main Luton campus. It houses over 120 shops under its roof, offering an extensive range of products and services including fashion, music, food and books as well as a wide variety of café’s and restaurants. Bedfordshire law school itself is but a brief walk from all the amenities the town has to offer.

Tuition fees for 2008 are the standard £3145 per year for the llb course, however the University of Bedfordshire offers the most generous University bursary in the south of England and second best in the whole of UK, according to the Guardian Best University Bursary Guide 2008. Furthermore, the university works in collaboration with publishing companies to offer student discounts on the Law text-books, which are a costly expense. For more information, go to http://www.beds.ac.uk/money.

As for accommodation, the University of Bedfordshire offers individual study bedrooms in the purpose-built halls of residence, priced between £68.50 and £81 per week. All utility costs are included in the weekly rent and all the rooms have internet access. The University halls at both Bedford and Luton are within easy walking distance of the campus.

As a result of substantial investment in the building of student residences at Bedford, many rooms there have en-suite bathrooms. The University aims to accommodate all the first year students in university residences, whilst most second and third year students choose to live in privately-owned accommodation.

The University of Bedfordshire has an active Students’ Union which offers unbeatable prices in town and organises various exciting events, activities, clubs and societies both in Luton and Bedford. The Students’ Union in based primarily in Luton, however it has facilities at both campuses.

Bedfordshire law school has its own Law Society, which organises a variety of events, the yearly Law Society Dinner and Awards night. In addition, the society runs a bi-weekly newsletter, which keeps members up to date with University events and the legal world. The society aims to create strong bonds of collaboration between its students and teaching staff, maintaining and enhancing the good reputation of the School of Law.

The Bedfordshire law school Mooting competition takes place every year and the four best students compete in the mooting final, which is conducted by a County Court judge. The School has also participated and has been successful in the national mooting competition. The new Moot Court will enable students to gain the experience of participating in a real courtroom environment.

Luton boasts a wide range of clubs and pubs, many of which run special Student nights with discounts on entry and drinks. The Galaxy Leisure complex offers an 11-screen cinema, 16 bowling lanes, a bingo hall, an arcade and much more.

Luton accommodates a wide variety of local and foreign cuisine, reflecting its strong cultural diversity. The Galaxy Leisure centre offers Portuguese and Chinese cuisine, whilst in Whitehouse you can enjoy traditional Fish and Chips and Sunday Roasts. Greek Taverns entertain our students with live Greek music, whilst the Italian restaurants and the traditional English pubs offer meal deals not to be missed.

The award winning Centre for Personal & Career Development supports students throughout their time at the University, in all aspects of career development. The Careers Service offers a range of advice and services that will assist you in making career decisions during the llb course.

Furthermore, it offers guidance and information services to students for up to three years after their graduation. Professionals from the centre see students on a drop–in basis offering opportunities to discuss issues concerning assistance for GDL/LPC/BVC applications, as well as guidance and support for internships and work experience.

Bedfordshire law school also arranges regular talks by professionals and hosts an annual Law Careers Day, where a number of successful law firms and individual lawyers participate and share their knowledge and experience with law students.