LLB Law

Compulsory modules

Contract

Develop a critical understanding of the key principles of contract law. You’ll learn to identify the basic structure of the common law contract as well as how to recognise and respond to a series of legal issues commonly associated with contract law. As you study, you’ll analyse reported cases and develop articulate arguments for and against particular conclusions.  

Criminal Law

Explore the application of a range of criminal offences and defences as you learn the fundamental principles of criminal law in the English Legal System. You’ll gain an appreciation of the development of the criminal law by precedent and statutory interpretation, focusing on  law in theory and practice and the need for reform.  

English Legal Systems and Skills

Gain the relevant understanding and skills required to study law as you examine the interrelationship between law and other social and cultural elements. Additionally, you’ll develop employability skills and learn how to carry out legal research, analysis, writing, and oral presentation.  

Public Law 1

Study the field of constitutional law, administrative law, and protection of rights. You’ll be introduced to the essential features of the British constitution, including its legal and political institutions, and how it relates to the enactment, enforcement, and amendment of laws.  

Tort

Develop an understanding of tort within common law tradition as you apply  relevant case law, judgments, and statutes to critical analysis. You’ll learn to identify the basic structure of tort and its fundamental principles.  

Optional modules

Law and Society

Discover the role that law plays in modern society as you examine some of the profound changes that have taken place in society over the last 200 years. You’ll critically analyse the ways law has evolved to meet the changing needs and values of our society and assess whether the legal system has been successful at keeping pace.  

Research and Writing Skills 

Undertake work on a set topic in response to a problem scenario presented by a ‘client’. You'll develop the ability to apply legal concepts and rules to ‘real-world’ problems and learn to formulate an argument and communicate it clearly.  

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/2025 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods. 

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. 

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading. 

Compulsory modules

Equity and Trusts

Discover the fundamental concepts of equity and examine the main principles of express, resulting and constructive trusts, and purpose trusts. You’ll learn to apply the principles to fact situations, defending your arguments with critical analysis and relevant materials.  

EU Law

Develop a thorough understanding of the main institutional and constitutional features of the legal system of the EU. You’ll gain knowledge of core principles of the internal market and citizenship in the EU legal order and develop a deep understanding of contemporary challenges and successes of the EU.   

Land Law

Discover how rights in and over property are created, transferred, and disposed of within the frame of the law in England and Wales. You’ll consider land registration, co-ownership, leases, mortgages, and how courts enforce legal and equitable obligations in relation to land.  

Public Law 2

Further develop your understanding of constitutional law, administrative law and the protection of rights. You’ll rely on your existing knowledge of legal and political institutions and constitutional principles as you study judicial review of administrative action in the UK and study specific instances where human rights have been threatened. 

Optional modules

Banking Law

Cultivate your understanding of banking law in the UK as you study the banker and customer relationship, the duty of banks to maintain confidentiality, and other issues related to transactions.  

Research Project

Cultivate your understanding of banking law in the UK as you study the banker and customer relationship, the duty of banks to maintain confidentiality, and other issues related to transactions.  

Legal Writing Credit

Embark on a piece of assessed written work that will allow you to independently research a set topic and produce a critical essay. You’ll rely on relevant legal materials to develop a critical, original argument in response to your chosen topic.  

Religion and Law

Study the intersectionality of law within a variety of different religions. You’ll consider how different religions have impacted the law and cultivate a critical understanding of the relationship between the two. Considering theoretical stand points, you’ll develop an enhanced knowledge of religious freedom in the English legal system and its relation to international human rights.  

Law of Evidence 

Study the modern law of evidence in criminal and civil cases and gain an appreciation of the approach taken by the courts to evidential issues. You’ll take part in practical activities and scenarios to develop an understanding of the purpose and nature of legal rules of evidence.

War in Ukraine

Examine the war in Ukraine as you focus on the range of legal issues that have arisen as a result of the global crisis. You’ll explore the history of Ukraine and the laws on state sovereignty, as well as the relevance of international laws and institutions on armed conflict, criminal law and human rights.   

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/2025 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods. 

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. 

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading. 

Compulsory modules

You must choose one of these three research-based modules:

Dissertation

Embark on a research journey that allows you to implement all you‘ve learned about law and legal theory. You’ll identify your own research question, conduct research, and analyse relevant law and literature to organise and articulate an extended written project.  

Research Writing Credit

Embark on a piece of written work that allows you to independently research a selected topic and produced an extended essay. Use key research and analytical skills to develop a critical argument and format it in a conventional legal style.  

Writing Credit Pro Bono and Professional Practice

Undertake work in an approved pro bono organisation or professional setting, developing your practical legal skills and experiencing  a real-life environment that will enhance your employability skills.  

Optional modules

Commercial Law

Study the fundamental principles of commercial law through a critical examination of relevant case law, legislation, business practice, academic work, historical influence and public policy. You’ll primarily focus on the law surrounding contracts for the sale of goods, with particular reference to commercial transactions in England and Wales.  

Family Law

Study the private area of law relating to the family and the consequences of = familial breakdown. You’ll apply the law analytically to understand the process of dissolution and how arrangements for children are made.  

Gender and Law

Critically analyse contemporary issues relating to sex and gender in a range of legal areas. You’ll develop a deep understanding of theoretical approaches related to the study of gender and law and learn to use them as critical tools to apply a gender critique to established legal concepts and categories.  

International Law and Global Security

Examine the role and relevance of international law to fundamental questions of global security. You’ll assess the law’s ability to respond to global security concerns as you’re exposed to a range of perspectives and roles of different actors such as states, regional organisations, NGOs and corporations.   

Jurisprudence

Study legal and political philosophy as you tackle questions related to the law and morality. Must we obey laws just because they are law? Are unjust laws ever valid? Why are we governed by law? You’ll explore and critique a selection of theories from the past and the present, arriving at your own understanding of our legal system and our own morality.  

Labour Law

Examine the law governing employment relationships and consider the broader context of the labour market and environment as a whole. You’ll consider dispute resolution, access to justice, the concept of ‘employment’, working conditions and human rights. 

Children, Families and the State

Explore how the law is used to protect and promote the best interests of children and the duty of local authorities to assist children in their area. As you study, you’ll develop your presentation and research skills and have the opportunity to participate in a mock case.  

Company Law

Discover the fundamental principles of company law in England and Wales as you consider the formation, structure, operation and activities of companies. You’ll consider the regulation of companies and engage deeply with case law, legislation and legal reform.   

Intellectual Property Law

Gain an in-depth knowledge on the law of copyright, performers’ rights, trademarks and passing off. You’ll identify and explore rationales of intellectual property protection and learn to assess their practical, day-to-day implementation to  understand the interface between legal rules and physical realities.  

Medical Law

Gain an in-depth knowledge on the law of copyright, performers’ rights, trademarks and passing off. You’ll identify and explore rationales of intellectual property protection and learn to assess their practical, day-to-day implementation to  understand the interface between legal rules and physical realities.  

Revenue Law

Learn the general principles, detailed rules, and pervasive problems of classification related to the UK’s law of direct taxation, with particular emphasis on the taxation of business income. You’ll learn the importance of existing case-law doctrine and  apply rules of precedent to formulate critical legal arguments encompassed of important published commentaries.  

Technology, Privacy and Internet Regulation 

Discover the modern legal issues concerning new technologies, data and information privacy, and the internet, and critically evaluate the current regulatory issues in these fields. You’ll consider a range of regulatory theories that work to manage the evolving legal issues related to cybercrime, cyber-security, blockchain and data protection.   

International Children’s Rights

Discover the theory and practice of international children’s rights, learning the relevant international legal frameworks, concepts and theories. You’ll develop an understanding of the complex interactions of international law and domestic politics, economics and cultural norms that limit the legal framework as we know it.  

International Human Rights Law

Gain a solid understanding of the principal international human rights treaties, conventions and resolutions, and examine them in the context of the international systems that enforce, implement and monitor international human rights standards. You'll explore current issues of controversy in international rights law, the difficulties of realising international human rights law standards, and the different means of responding to situations of mass human rights violations.

Environmental Law

Take a broad, comparative and transnational approach to the study of national and international environmental law and regulation. Alongside a main focus on English environmental law, you'll gain insights from countries across both the Global North and Global South.

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/2025 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods. 

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. 

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.