Law Online Degree Pathway - Year 1

Law Online Degree Pathway - Year 1

This Course at a Glance

• Globally recognised online alternative to Year 1 of university
• Get on the pathway to obtaining a LLB (Hons) Law and Legal Practice
• In partnership with the international awarding organisation ATHE
• Unlocks Year 2 of your degree pathway with learndirect
• Complete Year 3 at the Bloomsbury Institute or Solent University
• Flexible online study
• Get on the fast track to your university qualification
• Avoid rising loan repayment fees
• Save on expensive living costs while studying your online degree pathway

Achieving a degree in law can lead you towards a career as a solicitor, barrister, and a range of roles within the legal profession. With our Law Online Degree Pathway – Year 1, which consists of the first year of an Honours degree, removing in-person lectures and restrictive timetables, you have the option to complete Year 1 of your degree when it suits your schedule.

About Your Online Degree Pathway

This undergraduate online degree pathway in law is made up of 120 credits and is designed as an online alternative to completing Year 1 at university. Studying with us will fast-track you to the final year of an associated bachelor’s degree, which can be completed at one of our partnered universities.

This has been made possible through our partnership with ATHE, an Ofqual-regulated global awarding organisation that spans more than 55 countries worldwide. ATHE partners with 25 UK and international universities, providing top-up degrees to learners seeking an alternative to traditional university learning.

The course is delivered online, through an engaging array of online learning materials. So, you will find your education both interesting and rewarding. As a self-paced online course, you can also work towards your qualification without pressure, around your existing commitments.

What Will You Learn?

Through Year 1 you’ll begin by building your knowledge of contract, criminal, and public law, as well as legal methods. All of which help you understand the principles of the formation of legal agreements, the features of the UK constitution, and so much more.

Unlock Year 2 of Your Degree Pathway

Upon successful completion of Year 1 of this Law Online Degree Pathway, you will be able to study Year 2 with us as well. If you’d like to save even more on the cost of your education with us, purchase both Year 1 and Year 2 together.

University Progression

Upon successful completion of Year 1 and Year 2 with us, you will be guaranteed progression to Year 3 of your undergraduate degree at the Bloomsbury Institute or Solent University. The fees for your third year are an additional cost and are paid separately to the university. Please contact your chosen university for further details regarding these fees.

Study for a Degree Without the Expensive Fees

If the price of a degree and the commitment to full-time campus study for at least three years have stopped you from pursuing a career in law, this online course provides the perfect solution! By studying Year 1 of our online degree pathway in law, and then Year 2 after that, you can get prepared for your third year from home. Once completed, you’ll progress to your final year of study.

By choosing this alternative route to qualifying, you can study at your own pace and in your own time, from wherever you prefer to be. This is a great option for those who have busy schedules or who cannot commit to a full-time university programme for multiple years.

A More Affordable Alternative

The latest change in student finance rules will see university graduates doubling their student loan repayments. This is in addition to repaying their student loans when they earn an annual salary of £25,000, instead of the £27,660 it was before.

With inflation and interest rates rising in the UK due to the ongoing cost of living crisis, university graduates are affected. For the 2022/23 academic year, there was a risk of student loan interest rates reaching 12%, further hitting the pockets of students.

Due to the current economic uncertainty, a university graduate could end up with an average of £42,900 of student loan debt, with tuition fees costing an average of £9,250 per year.

According to YouGov, 37% of people feel that current tuition fees are unfair, so it’s no surprise that many are looking for alternative options. Here at learndirect, we can offer you an affordable alternative that covers the first year of a degree for a fraction of the cost of the traditional route.

Please note, that once you complete our online degree pathway (Year 1 and Year 2), you will need to pay the top-up fee to your select university to study the third year of your course.

Avoid Rise in Daily Living Costs

Our online degree pathway also helps you side-step the other associated costs of a full-time university. Being studied online at home, you won’t have to worry about student housing costs or travel expenses. You will also be able to easily fit studying into your lifestyle without rearranging your existing commitments. So, if you’re currently working, you won’t have to give that up to get your degree.

Modules

Year 1 consists of 4 mandatory units, these include:

Unit 1: Contract Law

Upon completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand the principles of the formation of agreements
• Understand the rules that govern the content of a contract
• Understand the vitiating elements that may affect the validity of a contract
• Understand how a contract can be discharged
• Understand the remedies available for breach of contract

Unit 2: Criminal Law

Upon completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand the aims and general principles of criminal law
• Understand the elements of the different offences against a person
• Understand property offences
• Understand the general principles of inchoate offences
• Understand the nature and application of defences

Unit 3: Legal Methods

Upon completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand the sources of law
• Understand the principles of legal interpretation
• Understand the structure of the legal profession, the judiciary, the jury and magistrates
• Understand the civil and criminal justice system and the alternative methods of dispute resolution
• Know how to use legal writing and mooting skills

Unit 4: Public Law

Upon completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand the features of the UK constitution
• Understand the meaning and consequences of separation of powers
• Understand the meaning and consequences of the rule of law and parliamentary sovereignty
• Understand the composition and operation of the legislature and the UK governments
• Understand the nature of and procedures for judicial review

Entry Requirements

You’ll need to possess an appropriate level of English and have prior qualifications, which can include:

• A GCE Advanced level profile with achievement in 2 or more subjects supported by 5 or more GCSEs at grades 4/C and above
• A Level 3 qualification in law or legal studies such as the ATHE Level 3 Diploma in Law
• An Access to Higher Education Diploma delivered by an approved further education institute and validated by an Access Validating Agency
• Equivalent international qualifications

For individuals whose first language is not English, we recommend the following English language proficiency standards or an approved equivalent for this qualification:

IELTS: A score of 5.5 or higher

• Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR): Achieving at least B2 level
• Cambridge English Advanced (CAE): Scoring 162 or above
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: Achieving a score between 42-49

Minimum Age Restriction

This qualification is designed for individuals aged 18 and older.

Average Completion Timeframe

ATHE qualifications typically take learners an average of 18 months to complete.

Assessment Requirements

There are no exams included in this study programme, instead, you will complete several written assignments.

Course Fees

All course fees, inclusive of all payment plans including our Premium Credit Limited option, must be settled before certification can be ordered.

*You will have access to the course for 24 months.

You will complete a series of assignments to demonstrate that you have successfully achieved the learning outcomes of each unit.

ATHE

Upon successful completion of this online course, you will achieve two globally recognised ATHE qualifications:

• ATHE Level 4 Extended Diploma in Law - Qualification Number: (603/4890/2)

Awards for Training and Higher Education (ATHE) is a global awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual and other United Kingdom and international regulators

ATHE is a global awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual and other UK and international regulators since 2011. They work with more than 280 recognised centres in over 55 countries to complement our strong brand presence in the UK.

On completion of this Law Online Degree Pathway – Year 1, you can go on to complete Year 2 in the same way with learndirect.

Only on successful completion of Year 2 can you progress to the third year of an undergraduate degree in the subject – or a closely related subject - at an array of UK universities.

This includes:

The Bloomsbury Institute, London - LLB (Hons) Law and Legal Practice 

Solent University, Southampton - Maritime Business and Law (Top-Up)

Following completion of the final year of your degree, you will be equipped with the underpinning knowledge of the law contributing to preparation for the Solicitor’s Qualifying Examination (SQE). Successful completion of the SQE, and the necessary Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) required, is essential for you to work as a Solicitor in England and Wales.

For more insight on what this degree could lead to, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions