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Northumbria University was first established in 1969. Nearly 40 years later and it has 30,000 students enrolled on almost 500 courses, across 10 schools. Northumbria boasts the largest law department in the North East, with a new £70m purpose built department.

The city of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne is well known as having one of the best social and night lives in the UK and there is much to offer a prospective student.

The new law building was opened in 2007. This is where all teaching takes place for law courses. The building has 3 large lecture theatres, around 30 seminar rooms and even a fully realised courtroom. This courtroom is fitted with recording equipment, allowing students to practice and review the work they have done, creating a much more productive experience.

On all four floors of the building there are IT and printing facilities, so students can always get on to a computer. The university has a library in the main campus, a 2 minutes walk away from the law building, which has a large selection of law publications such as textbooks, law reports and journals.

As well as the main library, the new building has its own law library containing an equally large collection. As such, books are never short of supply. Northumbria law school also has the Student Law Office, one of the largest of its kind, where students can take part and help real members of the public, advising and representing them with their legal problems.

There are around 100 members of staff who work for Northumbria’s law department. Most of these are primarily academic, acting as either lecturers or tutors. The LL.M can be obtained in three different ways at Northumbria, either Full Time, through distance learning or it can be completed whilst doing the LPC or BVC at Northumbria University.

Full Time

The full time course commences in September of each year and finishes in August. The university offer an induction programme which is essential in preparing the students for the rest of their studies and the hard academic year ahead.

Each programme is divided into blocks during which students study two or three months at a time. This means that students are able to stagger their studies and assessed coursework throughout the programme which is great when trying to deal with the stresses of an intense course.

Distance learning

The option of distance learning is also available. The distance learning programmes are taught over a two year period with optional study days. The structured programme allows participants to manage their own study time around the demands of work and other commitments such as children.

The LLM’s are taught from practical prospective enabling students to understand the law in context and to apply it to real life situations. Students are guided through each subject by comprehensive study materials, written by expert practitioners in the field. Written workbooks are available in hard copy and on the Law School’s eLearning site.

Optional weekend study days enable students to meet subject tutors and fellow students, hear guest speakers and lectures and encourage in practical exercises.

Study for an LLM while completing the LPC or BVC at Northumbria University

This is available to students studying the LPC or the BVC, it is a unique opportunity with the LLM at a discounted rate when studied alongside the LPC or BVC and both programmes can be completed in 12-18 months. The specialist expertise gained upon completing the LLM programme alongside the LPC or BVC will undoubtedly benefit students when they begin their training contract or pupillage giving you an edge over your competitors.

Any student who enrols upon the LPC or BVC at the same time as the LLM must satisfactory complete their LPC and BVC before they can be awarded the LLM.

When you take a break from working, the students union is situated at the main city campus which has a variety of places to eat, drink and meet with friends. Asides from the university, there is much to see and do in Newcastle. The university campus is just minutes walk from the main shopping area and access to the shopping mall. The newest addition to Newcastle’s social life is the Gate, which has a 9 screen multi-plex cinema, bars, restaurants and a casino.

Around Newcastle there are many cultural hot spots, such as the Millennium Bridge, the Sage, the Theatre Royal, the Baltic and many more. At night, the city comes alive with hundreds of bars and nightclubs. The most popular is Digital, which has been voted one if the best clubs in Europe (and also one of the best sound systems in Europe!). If you like to see gigs there are tons of venues for bands of all sizes.

There is a Carling Academy, which has bands on most nights and club nights at the weekend, as well as the Metro Radio Arena for bigger bands, which has a 10,000 capacity and from time to time bands play in Northumbria’s students union in one of two venues.

If you wanted to take part in some law based activities, there are plenty to choose from. There is a yearly mooting championship, in which students are teamed up and put against others to argue through legal problems in front of a judge.

There is also the Mock Trial Society which act out cases in the courtroom, giving students a chance to gain valuable experience and meet new people. As well as all of this, there are many different societies for sports, music, or just fun, which any students can join. The Grey Society (the law society) has a monthly night out in which students from all years get together and have a good time.

All LL.M courses at Northumbria will cost £3996 per year in 2009 and for non-EU students the cost is £8300. All halls of residence are within easy walking distance of the university campus and city centre.

Depending on which halls you choose the cost will range from 60 to 100 pound a week. Factors to consider are whether you want to be on campus, have an en-suite bathroom, catering and internet included. The cost of a drink in the students union is around £2.50, depending onyour drink of choice, but drinks are much cheaper on club nights. Get y’skates on and Wiggle are the most popular where a pint costs £1.30 and a double spirit is only £2.50.

When you take a break from working, the students union is situated at the main city campus which has a variety of places to eat, drink and meet with friends. Asides from the university, there is much to see and do in Newcastle. The university campus is just minutes walk from the main shopping area and access to the shopping mall. The newest addition to Newcastle’s social life is the Gate, which has a 9 screen multi-plex cinema, bars, restaurants and a casino.

Around Newcastle there are many cultural hot spots, such as the Millennium Bridge, the Sage, the Theatre Royal, the Baltic and many more. At night, the city comes alive with hundreds of bars and nightclubs. The most popular is Digital, which has been voted one if the best clubs in Europe (and also one of the best sound systems in Europe!). If you like to see gigs there are tons of venues for bands of all sizes.

There is a Carling Academy, which has bands on most nights and club nights at the weekend, as well as the Metro Radio Arena for bigger bands, which has a 10,000 capacity and from time to time bands play in Northumbria’s students union in one of two venues.

If you wanted to take part in some law based activities, there are plenty to choose from. There is a yearly mooting championship, in which students are teamed up and put against others to argue through legal problems in front of a judge.

There is also the Mock Trial Society which act out cases in the courtroom, giving students a chance to gain valuable experience and meet new people. As well as all of this, there are many different societies for sports, music, or just fun, which any students can join. The Grey Society (the law society) has a monthly night out in which students from all years get together and have a good time.

As a student at Northumbria there is access to student services and careers advisors. These services can help you out in many ways, whether it be creating a CV or applying for a post-grad course. The law school also helps guide students through guest lecturers such as practicing lawyers, Members of Parliament and other groups looking to employ law graduates.

As well as the guest lecturers there are also open days when members from both local and national firms come into the university to talk to students about the role they play, answer any queries and give valuable advice on a career in law. As well as support for entering a law career there are many events throughout each academic year, which help students get local jobs to support them whilst at university.

One example of this is the student job shop, which is a programme run by both Northumbria and Newcastle University which allows potential employers to come and speak to students in the university.