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Revised undergraduate programme specification
School of Oriental and African Studies
The following information forms the programme specification at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. It gives definitive information relating to a programme of study and is written for a public audience, particularly prospective and current students. It is also used for other purposes such as initial programme approval, and is therefore produced at the start of the programme development process. Once approved, it forms the base-line information for all statements relating to the programme and is updated as approved amendments are made.
CORE INFORMATION
Programme title LAW
Final award LLB
Intermediate awards NONE
Mode of attendance Full time
UCAS code M100 LLB
Professional body accreditation Joint Academic Stage Board representing the Solicitors Regulatory Authority and Bar Standard Board Date specification created/updated September 2013
WHY CHOOSE THIS PROGRAMME?
Why study at SOAS? SOAS is unique as the only higher education institution in the UK specialising in the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The School also has the largest concentration of specialist faculty concerned with the study of these areas at any university in the world. SOAS is consistently ranked among the top higher education institutions in the UK and the world and it also offers a friendly, vibrant environment for students in a diverse and close-knit community. Click here for more information.
What is special about this programme? The Law Department at SOAS is one of the most highly-regarded law departments in the UK for the quality of both its teaching and research. The Department has an unrivalled concentration of specialists in the laws of Asian and African countries, with additional areas of expertise in the areas of comparative law, human rights, transnational commercial law, environmental law, international law and socio-legal method.
Who would it suit? The degree provides students with a wide range of analytical and transferable skills and is suitable for any profession in which a non- specialised degree is required. In addition, provided the correct options are chosen, the LLB is a qualifying law degree for the purposes of both the Law Society and Bar Council and exempts any intending solicitor or barrister from the necessity to complete the Common Professional Examination, which is the first stage of professional training that must be undertaken by any non-law graduate intending to qualify as a solicitor or barrister_._
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
SOAS has general minimum entrance requirements for registration for an undergraduate degree and these can be viewed at ( http://www.soas.ac.uk/admissions/ug/entryreq/ )
A-levels – A*AA IB - 38 points
Candidates with non-standard qualifications may be invited for interview. The School looks for high motivation, good communication skills, and an interest in Asia and/or Africa as well as Law. Students are taken from a wide variety of backgrounds, and mature applicants and those with qualifications other than A-levels or International Baccalaureate are encouraged to apply. Among these applicants those with Access to Law qualifications and SOAS Intermediate Certificate Course students are preferred. – copied from UG Law handbook on web
PROGRAMME AIMS What will this programme give the student an opportunity to achieve?
To introduce students to the skills essential for an understanding and analysis of law in various contexts. To encourage the development of specialized knowledge and understanding of particular fields of law. To develop skills of analysis and expression, both oral and written. To develop additional skills and knowledge in other subjects available at SOAS. To develop additional skills and knowledge in accordance with the requirements of the legal professional bodies as issued from time to time.
PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES
What will the student learn?
Knowledge: Knowledge and understanding of the fundamental doctrines and principles which underpin the law of England and Wales particularly in the Foundations of Legal Knowledge as specified from time to time by the professional bodies; A knowledge of the sources of that law, and how it is made and developed; of the institutions within which that law is administered and the personnel who practice law; The ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a wide range of legal concepts, values, principles and rules of English law and to explain the relationship between them in a number of particular areas; Students are also expected to acquire specialist knowledge in course units outside the Foundations of Legal Knowledge. This includes, but is not necessarily confined to, knowledge and understanding of the following: a) the theoretical, practical and comparative underpinnings of legal doctrine; b) the context in which legal initiatives take place; c) the role played by law in different social, cultural and economic environments; d) the role and function of legal institutions, including those in selected legal systems in Asia and Africa, and those of the international community; e) the weight and significance of different sources and methodologies; f) knowledge of how to locate relevant materials and assess their relevance and/or importance.
Intellectual (thinking) skills: Students should become precise and careful in their assessment of legal arguments, and understand the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to legal issues. Students should be able to engage in theoretical and conceptual debate concerning the role of law and legal institutions.
Subject-based practical skills: To apply knowledge to complex situations; To recognise potential alternative conclusions for particular situations, and provide supporting reasons for them; To select key relevant issues for research and to formulate them with clarity; To use standard paper and electronic resources to produce up-to-date information; To make a personal and reasoned judgement based on an informed understanding of standard arguments in the area of law in question; To use the English language and legal terminology with care and accuracy; To conduct efficient searches of websites to locate relevant information; to exchange documents by email and manage information exchanges by email; To produce word-processed text and to present it in an appropriate form. Write good essays and dissertations.
Programme structure diagram Below is a structure diagram for this programme.
Level Year of study
Course code
Course title Credit Status Notes
4 1 155200029 Legal Systems of Asia and Africa
30 Compulsory
4 1 155200049 Introduction to Law & legal Processes
30 Compulsory
4 1 155200034 Criminal Law 30 Compulsory & Exemption course unit
Exemption unit must be passed for your degree to be recognised by the professional bodies in England and Wales.
4 1 155200004 Law of Obligations I (Contract)
30 Compulsory & Exemption course unit
Exemption unit must be passed for your degree to be recognised by the professional bodies in England and Wales.
5 2 155200005 Public Law 30 Compulsory & Exemption course unit*
Exemption unit must be passed for your degree to be recognised by the professional bodies in England and Wales.
5 2 155200019 Law of Obligations II (Tort)
30 Compulsory & Exemption course unit
Exemption unit must be passed for your degree to be recognised by the professional bodies in England and Wales.
4 or 5 or 6 2 A course in the Year 2 Option diagram (which may include a level 4, 5 or 6 open option from another department)
6 2 A course in the Year 2 Option
5 or 6 3 A course in the Year 3 Option list below (which may include a level 5 or 6 open option from another SOAS department or another Law School within the University of London)
6 3 A course in the Year 3 Option list below
A course in the Year 3 Option list below
Up to one 30 credit Level 5 or 6 LLB course in Law taught at another University of London Law School; (Kings College, London School of Economics, Queen Mary, University College and Birkbeck) provided that a similar course is not taught at SOAS.
Up to one 30 credit level 5 or 6 course offered within another SOAS department (open option).
TEACHING, LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT
Knowledge Students are required to attend all classes, study extensively on their own and together with other students, and prepare themselves to participate in an informed way in discussions. Students are also required to undertake assessed coursework and, in the ILLP course, to participate in assessed mooting (oral legal argument). The usual format of classes is 2 hours of lectures per week, plus 1 hour of tutorial per week in professional exemption course units, or 1 hour of tutorial per fortnight in other course units. Some course units, usually for final year students only, consist of a weekly seminar with no separate tutorials. Particular importance is accorded to the needs of first year students. The convenor of the ILLP course has less teaching hours than normal in order to be able to combine his/her convenorship with the pastoral care of the first year students. Assessment: These skills are assessed as part of the normal assessment of coursework and unseen examination. Final year students may, with permission, undertake an Independent Study Project of a 10,000 word essay.
Intellectual (thinking) skills Critical thinking is fostered in all course units offered in the Programme, in that all units introduce information and ideas that need to be assessed critically and analysed in context. Students are encouraged not simply to summarise evidence and arguments but also develop their own assessments as to the relative value of different strategies/ arguments/ evidence. Assessment: These skills are assessed as part of the normal assessment of coursework and unseen examination. Final year students may, with permission, undertake an Independent Study Project of a 10,000 word essay.
Subject-based practical skills Through tutorials and coursework, particularly in instruction concerning the answering of problem questions and the compulsory mooting component of the Introduction to Law and Legal Processes (ILLP) course unit. The production of word-processed text and its presentation is not taught as such, but coursework is required to be produced in word-processed form; Some subject based Practical skills are specifically taught in the ILLP course unit. Assessment: These skills are assessed as part of the normal assessment of coursework and unseen examination.
Transferable skills Through preparation for seminars, essays, course work, and examinations. Through individual and /or joint seminar presentations and class participation. Through preparation for seminars, through discussion in seminars, through correction of course work by tutors and through preparation of answers to exam questions. Through the formation of study groups. Assessment: These skills are assessed as part of the normal assessment of coursework and unseen examination.
REFERENCE POINTS
What has been the basis for the design of this programme?
The programme was designed to provide undergraduate students with a sound basis in English law at the same time as introducing them to law, legal thinking and law
