Law (JD Pathway) LLB
2 years
Start date:
Course information
UCAS code M103
International fee £18,950
Institute code L34
20th in the UK for Law (Guardian 2024)
Best society for Pro Bono (LawCareers.net Awards 2022)
Course description
Course description
This two-year accelerated qualifying law degree is tailored to the needs of Canadian university graduates. You will develop your legal reasoning and problem-solving skills while learning to apply both English and Canadian law in its context. By studying ‘Foundations of Canadian Law’ and ‘Canadian Constitutional Law’, you will be equipped with a critical understanding of the framework and fundamentals of Canadian law, as well as prepared for the Canadian National Committee on Accreditation exams. This degree is recognised in England, Wales and Canada and will provide an excellent foundation to pursue a legal career in these countries.
You will join our community of over 300 Canadian law students – the largest group in any UK university. Our student-run Canadian Law Society will not only support you during your time with us, but also provide you with a wealth of opportunities to enhance your prospects as a law graduate. With more than ten years' experience supporting students on their transition to a legal career in Canada, we have the expertise to get you to where you want to go.
See our webpages for Canadian applicants to find out more about studying with us.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
You will need a Bachelors degree with at least a high 2:2, and usually a CGPA ranging from B+ to B-, depending on the institution from which you have applied.
No LNAT or LSAT required - Unlike some universities, at Leicester we do not require applicants to have taken the National Admissions Test for Law or the Law School Admission Test. We are not convinced that LNAT and LSAT scores provide any information we cannot get from your exam grades and school report.
Other national and international qualifications considered.
Selection Process
Applicants are not normally interviewed. If you receive an offer you will be invited to visit the Leicester Law School.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 including 6.0 in writing (or equivalent). If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
Fees and funding
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in 2025
Tuition fees for 2025/26 are yet to be confirmed. As an indication of what you might pay, the fees for students who started in 2024/25 were:
- £9,250 in your first year. Tuition fees are subject to government regulations and may change in future years
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
International Students
Starting in 2025
- £18,950 per year
If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
If you are an EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, you may qualify for the UK fee (subject to criteria).
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
Whether you're looking for a career in law or are not yet sure where your degree will take you, our dedicated team of Careers Tutors are here to help. With a huge array opportunities to take part in, you'll discover the range of paths available and find the one that's right for you. Along, the way, you'll develop a portfolio of professional skills and also learn what employers are looking for in applications and job interviews.
Some of the careers initiatives within the School include:
- Pro bono projects: Our student-led Pro Bono Group offers hundreds of volunteer roles across an extensive range of projects. Advise real clients in our Legal Advice Clinic or at the courts in Leicester, managing your own case load. Help a local or global community or be part of something really different and carry out research to support vulnerable people on death row in the USA – we’re one of only two universities doing this. As the projects are student-managed and supported by professionals and experts, you could even be the next leader of a new project.
- Legal competitions: The Leicester University Law Society organise mooting, debating, client interviewing, negotiation and mediation competitions for you to develop key transferable skills. For aspiring barristers, we have a brand-new dedicated moot court room and grand debating chamber, in which you can compete in national and international mooting competitions.
- Guaranteed Entry Scheme for progression to the professional training courses for solicitors with the University of Law and a programme of support for the bar course interview from the University of Law and other leading providers of the bar course.
- Networking events: With strong links to local, regional and national law firms, we'll help you to get your foot in the door. Make connections at our annual law fair which attracts over 40 top law firms (including magic circle firms) and through our meet-and-greet sessions with successful graduates.
- Workshops: Applying for jobs is a skill in itself and we’ll help you to succeed with tailored workshops on CV-writing, applications, psychometric tests, interviews and assessment centre techniques.
- Vacancy alerts and weekly newsletters to help you find vacation placements, work experience and a job after graduation.
- Commercial awareness programme run by the Leicester University Law Society ensuring you know what employers and clients really need from you.
- Practice-focused assessments: We’ll teach you how to draft a letter to a client in your first year – an essential skill for any solicitor. You can take this further in practice-based optional modules.
Our courses satisfy the entry requirements for the professional courses to prepare you to qualify as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales and permit exemptions from the legal executive qualification. Applicants wishing to become lawyers outside of England and Wales should consult the appropriate country’s legal statutory body to check the requirements. Leicester Law School LLB degrees are recognised by the Legal Practice Qualifications Board of Malaysia and are qualifying degrees for Canada.
For more information about professional qualification, consult:
- The Legal Practice Course and Solicitors Qualifying Exam
- Bar Professional Training Course and Bar Training Pathways
- Legal Executive Exemptions
Graduate destinations
Graduates from our Law degrees have gone on to work for a wide range of employers including:
- Office of Childrens’ Lawyer
- McCarthy Tetrault
- Aird & Berlis
- Fasken Martineau
- Howie Sachs & Henry
- McInnes Cooper
- DLA Piper
After graduating from Leicester Law School, Jamelah went on to become a personal injury lawyer in Toronto.
Careers and Employability Service
Get career-ready at Leicester with guidance from our award-winning Careers and Employability Service. We're here to give you a lifetime offer of support, even after graduation. Our team of specialist careers advisers and mentors will help you every step of the way. From supporting you with CVs and interviews, to volunteering opportunities and placements, we're here to help you reach your professional goals.
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Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goals
We are committed to providing skills and knowledge to help prepare you tackle global challenges. We have mapped our undergraduate degrees for learning which aligns to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
This degree includes learning which relates to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
- Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
What our students say
“The JD Pathway program includes mandatory Canadian courses, taught by Canadian professors, that help prepare students for their return to Canada. I thoroughly enjoyed all of my courses, and found that all of the professors went above and beyond to help their students with any questions that they may have.”
- Alicia, JD Pathway, 2020
Course structure
Year 1
Year 1
Your first year covers the fundamental principles of the English legal system with three of the seven foundational law subjects. You are introduced to the Canadian legal and governmental systems and the role of law in Canadian society. You begin to build upon the academic skills acquired during your previous degree, as well as develop your legal reasoning by solving real problems and critically analysing the suitability of current laws. This degree recognises your existing skills, permitting you to learn to a greater depth of analysis than is considered on a 3-year degree, bringing you quickly up to speed for a future career.
Modules
- Analysing Law (advanced)
- Constitutional and Administrative Law (advanced)
- Contract Law (advanced)
- The Law of Tort (Advanced)
- Foundations of Canadian Law
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year 2
Year 2
You will complete your study of the seven foundation subjects, broadening your understanding of the English legal system and learning about the law of the European Union, including its influence over Canadian law. You will study the Canadian Constitution and be introduced to its application in Canadian legal practice.
Modules
- Legal Foundations of EU-UK Relations
- Criminal Law (advanced)
- Land Law (advanced)
- Equity and Trusts (Advanced)
- Canadian Constitutional Law
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
We have over 300 Canadian students, more than any other UK law school. Our Canadian Law Society will help you to feel at home and support you in adjusting to living abroad.
We have a network of over 1,000 Canadian Law alumni. They enjoy careers with local, regional and top national firms across Canada and a number have even founded their own firms.
You can take part in a range of pro-bono projects, extracurricular competitions, events and workshops to help you to develop practical legal skills and support your return to Canada.
We offer two Canadian Law modules taught by Canadian faculty members to prepare you for the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) exams. Your tutors are experienced in assisting with progression to LLM courses at Canadian law schools and if you decide to stay in the UK, your degree qualifies for the guaranteed entry scheme for the solicitors’ professional course for England and Wales.
Reading list
See the types of resources you might read, over the summer, to get a feel for a Law degree and arrive well-prepared and ready to go.
Teaching and learning
Teaching is delivered in two main styles: lectures and small group tutorials. With two lectures in each module per week and a tutorial once a fortnight, you will have approximately 12 contact hours each week.
Lectures provide you with the framework for each subject, whereas your tutorials are an opportunity for you to engage with the subjects in more depth. Tutorials test your understanding by planning how to advice a client or critically discussing pre-set problems amongst a group of students led by a member of academic staff. In a small group of around only 12 to 15 students, you can really have your opinion heard and ask questions to make sure you've fully understood the topic. Through this personalised experience, you'll receive more individual support with your learning, as well as learn how to confidently articulate your arguments.
We use web-based and electronic course materials to supplement traditional teaching methods and support student learning. There is easy access to computers in the David Wilson Library next to the Law School and quiet study space in the historic Harry Peach Law Library. You will be able to access information about your courses and tutorials electronically.
Assessment methods include assessed essays/coursework, exams and multiple choice question papers. Professional legal writing - for example, writing a letter of advice or opinion addressed to a client or a briefing for a supervising solicitor or pupil-master - is also built into our curriculum. You will start developing these practical skills from your very first year with us.
Independent learning
Outside of your teaching, you continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this involves reading journal articles and books, preparing for tutorials, working on individual and group assignments, undertaking research in the library, and preparing for exams. To help with your independent learning, you can access the Library and our social study spaces in halls of residence.
Your contact hours will depend on the option modules you select. You can see details of the contact hours on individual module pages.
Academic support
Our Centre for Academic Achievement provides help in the following areas:
- study and exam skills
- academic writing
- presentations
- dissertations
- numerical data skills
- referencing sources
Leicester Law School is made up of a vibrant international community of academics, many with leading reputations in their field. We have expertise in a broad range of areas across the legal spectrum, which offers you access to a wide variety of optional modules. We strongly believe in research-led teaching, which allows our modules to draw on the latest thinking and cutting-edge developments. You can learn more about our supportive community of experts and professionals by visiting our staff profiles.
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | UCAS Code | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Law (JD Pathway) | Qualification LLB | Duration 2 years, full-time | UCAS Code M103 | Availability How to apply |
Really enjoy the fact that your learning is supported by small sized tutorial groups, which allow you to take part in intense discussions and ensure you understand all areas of the law.