Diploma in The Common Law

Laws e-Induction

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Find out more about the Laws Programme using the online e-Induction course.

Note: we also offer the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Diploma in Law

This Diploma consists of four Laws subjects, three of which you will choose for yourself from a wide range of options. You have up to five years to complete the course.

Is this programme for me?

Law plays an increasingly important role in all areas of modern life. Whether you live in a common law or a civil law jurisdiction, a knowledge of the common law is frequently useful and sometimes essential in the business world and, indeed, in many other occupations.

If you wish to gain some knowledge and expertise in the common law of England and Wales, but do not wish to study for a law degree, then this programme is for you.

You will develop a critical awareness of the common law legal tradition and be able to apply analytical and problem-solving skills in a range of legal and non-legal settings. We will help you to enhance key skills of communication, information literacy, analysis and discussion.

Programme aims and values

The Laws Programme is committed to:

Promoting independent learning
We will support you in developing your capacity to manage your own learning.
Providing a wealth of resources
With our Online Library and Laws Virtual Learning Environment, you will have a resource-rich learning environment in which to develop your legal research skills.
Offering expert guidance in law
Our study materials are informed by current research and scholarship and engage with contemporary legal issues. Students are offered the opportunity not only to know the law but to understand it.
Developing ‘transferable’ intellectual skills
You will have many opportunities to develop analytical and problem-solving skills and to learn how to construct arguments.
Enabling you to develop critical awareness
You will learn how to stand back and consider the ‘bigger picture’ and develop an awareness of the context of law both nationally and globally.
Helping you to understand the language of law
Written and oral communication skills are vital and learning how to use legal discourse is crucial for success. You will learn how to develop these skills.

Study materials include:

Studying English Law with the University of London.
Subject guides.
Textbooks for all Intermediate subjects, the Law of tort, Land law and the Law of trusts
Study packs which include key readings.
Learning skills for law.
Recent developments in law.
Student handbook.
Past exam papers and Examiners' reports - these resources are updated annually and are available to download.
Regulations.

You may need some additional textbooks so, before you register for the programme, we do advise you to consider the facilities available to you locally, and how accessible books are likely to be.

Choose subjects to fit your needs

The Diploma in the Common Law consists of four laws undergraduate subjects, only one of which is compulsory. This subject is 'Common law reasoning and institutions' which will help you to understand the common law system and the principles which underlie it in addition to introducing you to some basic principles of legal research. You will then be free to choose three further options that are relevant to your interests. The wide range of subjects available includes Company law, Public law, Intellectual property, Labour law, Elements of the law of contract, and Commercial law. A full list of the subjects offered, and the first four chapters of the subject guides for each subject, can be downloaded from the Current Students area of our website.

Please note that some subjects have pre-/co-requisites. This means that if you wish to study one of those subjects you must have taken or be taking the pre/co-requisite subject. For example, if you wished to study Commercial law you will need to have studied/be studying Elements of the law of contract.

We will give credit for Diploma subjects for those wishing to go on to study for the LLB. Please note that the marks you receive for these subjects will not count towards the classification of your degree.

Prestige

The University of London has been offering internationally recognised 'gold standard' qualifications for more than 100 years. The University of London was the first university to offer a degree in English Law, in the 1890s. The academic direction of the Diploma in the Common Law will be provided by a Consortium of University of London Law Schools. These are Birkbeck, King's College London, The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Queen Mary, University of London, the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and UCL (University College London).

Flexible study options

You will have the flexibility to pace your studies to fit in with your other commitments as you have up to five years to complete this Diploma. Using the specially developed course materials and a wealth of online resources, including an online library and virtual learning environment (VLE), you will be able to study independently, when convenient to you. Alternatively, additional study support may be available from independent teaching institutions in certain countries.

You will have 1-5 years to complete the Diploma. The total fee payable to the University is £1,317. Please note that this figure is at the current costs. It does not reflect any annual fee increase and assumes completion in the minimum study period permitted. (If you choose to study at an independent teaching institution, additional fees will be payable to that institution).

Study support and online resources

You can either study for the Diploma in the Common Law independently, at a pace that suits you, or enrol for additional classes at a local institution, either full-time or part-time, and benefit from the more formal support this will provide.

Note: additional information about the following resources is made available from the Current Students area of our website. Please note the links below will take you to the LLB pages:

Laws VLE. The password protected Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) provides a centralised location for accessing many resources. It hosts Laws subject pages provided by legal academics, subject guides and other course materials, discussion forums, newsletters and a discussion board. The laws VLE will also give you access to news items, Examiners' reports and past examination papers, student handbook, Regulations and reading lists.
Pre-course exercises. Offer a 'taster' so that you can try out the type of skills that you will be expected to develop as you work through the Laws programme. You are strongly advised to try these exercises as soon as possible and certainly before you enrol on the course.
Online legal research exercises. Designed to build and enhance your ability to find primary and secondary legal materials using electronic sources, and to conduct legal research generally. These are available through the Laws VLE and are a compulsory component of Common law reasoning and institutions.
Computer-marked assessments. These assessments are available for all of the Intermediate and Part 1 subjects including Jurisprudence and EU law. Although they are not a course requirement, we strongly advise you to do them as they are designed to allow you to check your progress through a topic and assist in your learning through the feedback we provide. They are available through the Laws VLE.
Online Library. Gives access to Justis.com, JSTOR, ABI/INFORM, LexisNexis Professional, Westlaw, Academic Search Premier, Business Source Premier, Casetrack and UK Statute Law database.
Induction day. A one-day induction held in London in late September each year to introduce new students to studying for the Diploma in Law and LLB. Prospective Diploma in the Common Law students are welcome to attend in order to find out more about the programme.
Weekend courses. There are four weekend courses held in London each year in November/December, February, March and April. Tuition is given by experienced law lecturers, many of whom write or contribute to the subject guides.

Summary of key dates

Application deadline	17 September (non-EU) 17 October (EU) in the year before you intend to sit your first exams
Registration deadline	30 November
Exams take place	May/June