Edge Hill Law School | llb course | llb degree

Edge Hill is a newly sanctioned university, situated in the small town of Ormskirk. In comparison to many other universities it is small in itself. The university itself has received substantial investment over the last few years with buildings springing up all over the place. This has particularly benefitted the Law Department, which now has a huge new dedicated building.

The rising status of Edge Hill as a new university is clearly demonstrated by the increasing numbers of students attempting to gain entry on one of the various courses. Edge Hill will be beginning an ambitious future development plan in 2010, where cinemas, bars and other student-related facilities will be added.

The new law building will be built by Christmas 2008. Being solely dedicated to Law students, there won’t be usual the clogging up of facilities normally associated with multi-function buildings.

Once complete, all law lectures and seminars will be held here. The building itself is situated at the heart of the Western Campus in Ormskirk, nicely positioned next to the university’s lake and piazza area. The university seems to have invested a lot in particular to providing IT facilities. As such, there are many computer clusters available, many of which students have 24 hour access to.

Despite being a very young university, Edge Hill has managed to group together a particularly impressive academic roster. Although theoretical study will always dominate the syllabus, the law school seems to place a particular emphasis on the practicalities of it. It can be quite a shock for students once they enter a job at how different studying in practicing can be. The law department seems to prepare its students well for this transition.

With lectures having up to 200 students, it is essential that the students attend the smaller seminars where 10- 15 students get to discuss the issues at hand in greater detail. The students are expected to read 40 hours outside of the 12-16 hours of lectures and seminars. As head of year Franco says, “It is called reading law, not studying law”.

All the students are on first name terms with the lectures, who are all supportive and always strive to help any student with any problem they might have. Each student is given a tutor which they are meant to meet with at least 4 times a year to assist with their studies. If any student has problems with specific learning disabilities the people at the Edge Ahead Centre will help you. These people will help with anything at all and will give you advice based on the information they have about you.

Based in Ormskirk, Lancashire, the University is nearby by the cities of Liverpool, Manchester and Preston. The campus is well serviced by train and bus links as well as the M6 and the M58 running nearby. The university itself is based on a campus in Ormskirk.

The fees at Edge Hill are in line with the UK norm, £3,145, though once enrolled at Edge Hill you are given £200 to spend at the onsite Blackwell’s bookshop. This unique practice is particularly helpful, considering that purchasing texts when studying law can literally build up to hundreds of pounds per year.

Accommodation is about average for the student population of the UK, ranging between £50 and £125 per week. It is recommended you attain residents before you get to university. It is also recommended that you find a house with the bills included; you do not want any surprises at the end of the month. Managing to get acumination in halls is not small feat.

There are 700 rooms on campus, and around 5000 people applying for them each year. If you do want halls, make sure you apply early and have a good reason for wanting to live there.

As with all universities, the Student Union holds regular events and actives. These can be day to day, as well as weekly. The onsite bar is pretty cheap, and has a nightclub attached to it, which we are informed gets extremely busy during the week!

The free uni bus takes you to and from town and university; otherwise it is a 10 minute walk. The local area also provides a lot with regard to night life. Manchester is particularly close though if you are looking for a particularly big night out.

There is a wide variety of sports and societies provided at the university, catering for anything from poker to football and netball. The university is also investing a lot to boost its already impressive sporting facilities, with its onsite gym, The Sporting Edge, receiving many positive reviews.

You may discuss your future with your designated tutor, who will give you the advice that you require, as well as point you in the correct direction. Very often the law society is able to help with law related questions as well. The society is run by experienced students who are given a yearly budget by Edge Hill.

The University also has a general careers centre that provides all the necessary information for hunting that all important job at the end of your studies. Assistance is also provided with CVs, online applications and interview advice.