Brighton Law School | llb course | llb degree

Brighton Law School offers a qualifying law degree, LLB (Hons) Law with Business as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Law. Both will entitle eligible students to enrol onto an LPC (Solicitor) or a BVC (Barrister) upon completion of the degree.

Historically, being in close vicinity of Sussex University, a comparison has always been made between the two universities. Brighton University is slowly but surely rising through the ranks and becoming a well established, respected university.

The Brighton Law Society is in discussion with the Law Society of Sussex University, hoping for a chance to work together by the start of the academic year 2008. The University of Brighton Law department is ever growing and expanding, going from strength to strength. The LLB (Hons) Law with Business Degree has a minimum weighting of 70% Law to 30% Business. This can change to 80% Law and 20% Business depending on the modules elected by the student.

The Law department falls within the Brighton Business School at the University because a straight law degree is not offered. Law Lectures on the llb course take place in theatres which can accommodate approximately 100 students, while seminars take place in small classrooms. Each seminar will have a maximum of 15 students and will last an hour.

The classrooms and lecture theatres contain computers and projectors for interactive PowerPoint presentations. There is also a common room for Law and Business students with easy access to computing facilities. As well as having access to the online library and the library at the University of Sussex, Brighton law school students have a large section of The Aldrich Library dedicated to them, containing up to date law magazines, journals and statute material.

The university also offers each law student free subscriptions to the WestLaw, Lexis Nexis and Lawtel online databases.

The teaching staff at Brighton Law School are friendly and easy to approach. Most, if not all law lecturers are qualified to either a solicitor or barrister level. Each week, a law student can expect six hours of lectures and seven hours of seminars on the llb course.

On top of this you are expected to do at least three to four hours of private study per module per week. Lecturers are easy to get in contact with and are very efficient by e-mail. In the first year Public Law module, there is a great emphasis on Human Rights.

Brighton Law School is located in Mithras House which is approximately a 25 minute bus journey from the centre of Brighton. Parking is easy before 9am and free to students of the university. Brighton town centre has hundreds of shops, bars, pubs and clubs.

When not studying there is always something to keep you occupied. With so much to do in Brighton, the main problems are finding the time and money to do all of them. For those not into clubbing, there is a huge range of museums, galleries and theatres to go to.

Tuition fees are approximately £3000 per year for the llb course. On top of that, books cost between £200 and £300 per year and a four year membership to The Brighton University Law Society costs £20.

There is also a vast range of other clubs and societies to choose from, ranging from the Amateur Film Showcase Society to the Wine & Cheese Appreciation Society. Halls of residence cost between £2500 and £4000 per year depending on where you stay. The average price of a pint is £2.50.

Clubs and societies are always putting on events such as club nights, guest speakers and debates. The Law Society organises trips abroad and to places such as the Houses of Parliament as well as help with mooting and debates. Brighton Law School also offers an invaluable opportunity to take part in a simulated magistrates court where the ‘’lawyer’’ has the opportunity to cross examine a student police officer.

Brighton is renowned for its thriving social scene which is dominated during the week by university students. Being part of the Student Union gives students the opportunity to take advantage of discounts all over the city in shops bars and clubs.

For students on a Sandwich Law Degree, a program is set up in the second year to help students find internships and placements for their third year. Guest speakers frequently come to the university to encourage students to pursue a career in law by taking an LPC or a BVC.

Every other year the university holds a law careers day, where firms of solicitors, the police force, chambers and the government come in to talk to students about careers in these different areas. Brighton Law School is very close to, and in easy reach of Lewes Crown Court and Brighton Magistrates Court.

Visits to these places are encouraged and incorporated into selected modules in the first year of study on the Undergraduate degree.