Programme Specification


Date Specification Approved 04/08/2025
College College Arts and Law
School Birmingham Law School
Department Law
Partner College and School Modern Languages
Collaborative Organisation and Form of Collaboration
Qualification and Programme Title LL.B. Law with French Law Full-time
Programme Code 707A
Delivery Location Campus
Language of Study English
Length of Programme 4 Year(s)
Accreditations LSNI, SRA and BSB
Aims of the Programme Programme aims marked with an * apply to students commencing Level C (first year) or Level I (second year) of the programme in 2025/26 or later:

*The LLB Law with French Law programme aims to provide a broad education about law and legal processes in England and Wales and the European Union and a familiarity with French law in its national context. It equips students with knowledge and skills for a variety of careers - including in the legal professions, public sector, commercial and international organisations.

*The programme meets the need for a generation of lawyers equipped both legally and linguistically to deal with the legal business created by the United Kingdom’s close connection to the European Union, and by the increasing volume of British commercial and institutional intercourse with France, Belgium and Luxembourg.

*Students are exposed to a wide range of approaches to the academic study of law - including analysis of the creation and application of legal rules, the impact of law on individuals, organisations and intersections within society, the theoretical underpinnings of the concept of law, and the moral and political values expressed or hidden in the law and legal processes. *The programme provides opportunities to compare the English legal system with that of another European country, and to do this not only by reading and attending lectures about the French system in the Birmingham Law School but also by studying alongside French people at a French university (in the third year) and sharing some of their courses there.

*In addition to legal training, the programme develops the student's ability to speak and write good French, an increasingly valuable cultural and professional asset for anyone aspiring to participate in the life of European society.

*The LLB Law programme provides a supportive environment in which students take individual responsibility for their learning, with the aim of becoming intellectually curious and discerning life-long learners. Through independent and collaborative work, the programme also aims to build students’ negotiation and listening skills, creative problem solving skills and the importance of taking managed risk.

Programme aims for students who completed Level I (the second year) of the programme in or before the 2024-25 academic year:

The LLB Law with French Law programme provides a broad education about law and legal processes in England and Wales and the European Union and a familiarity with French law in its national context. It equips students with knowledge and skills for a variety of careers - including in the legal professions, public sector, commercial and international organisations. For students seeking to become practising lawyers in England and Wales or Northern Ireland, the LLB Law with French Law degree gives exemption from the first stage of professional examinations of the Law Society and Bar Council.

The programme meets the need for a generation of lawyers equipped both legally and linguistically to deal with the legal business created by membership of the European Union, and by the increasing volume of British commercial and institutional intercourse with France, Belgium and Luxembourg.

Students are exposed to a wide range of approaches to the academic study of law - including analysis of the creation and application of legal rules, the impact of law on individuals, organisations and society, the theoretical underpinnings of the concept of law, and the moral and political values expressed in law and legal processes.
Programme Outcomes
Students are expected to have Knowledge and Understanding of: Which will be gained through the following Teaching and Learning methods: and assessed using the following methods:
The following learning outcomes marked with an * apply to students commencing Level C (first year) or Level I (second year) of the programme in 2025/26 or later:
1. *The substantive legal rules, principles and concepts relating to the "core" branches of the law of England and Wales.
2. *The main legal institutions and law-making processes in England and Wales and the European Union, and the significance of social, political, economic or commercial contexts which influence these institutions and processes.
3. *The French Constitution and institutions of the French Republic
4. *Aspects of contemporary French culture, history and/or literature (according to the optional modules selected by the student).
5. *A range of cross-disciplinary and specialised methodological and theoretical frameworks for conceptualising and critiquing law, and its material consequences.
6. *A range of subject-specific techniques to critically analyse and creatively solve complex legal problems, as well as methods of comparative law analysis.
The following learning outcomes apply to students who have completed Level I (second year) of the programme in or before the 2024-25 academic year:
The legal rules, theoretical concepts and social, economic and political contexts of the core areas of law: Public Law (including constitutional law, administrative law and human rights); Law of the European Union; Criminal Law; Civil rights and obligations (including contract, tort and restitution); Property Law.
The main legal institutions and law-making processes in England and Wales and the European Union.
The French Constitution and institutions of the French Republic
Aspects of contemporary French culture, history and/or literature (according to the optional modules selected by the student).
Methods of comparative law analysis. A range of other areas of law, legal processes and legal techniques (according to the optional modules taken by the student)
The significance of social, political, economic or commercial contexts in which legal rules and principles are developed and operate and of ethical issues and dilemmas and legal professional skills which arise for those making law and engaging in legal decision making.
For students commencing Level C (first year) or Level I (second year) of the programme in 2025/26 or later:

*According to the module, one or more of the following: lectures; group tutorials; seminars; problem-based learning opportunities; individual seminars; project supervision; self-directed reading and thinking; practice written work; reflection, engagement with various forms of media and source material linked to the Canvas learning platform, and collaborative peer engagement; seminars in French language; assessment exercises.

For students who have completed Level I (second year) of the programme in or before the 2024-25 academic year:

According to the module, one or more of the following: lectures; seminars; individual seminars; Canvas; self-directed reading and thinking; written work; peer assessment exercises; lectures, seminars in French language.
For students commencing Level C (first year) or Level I (second year) of the programme in 2025/26 or later:

*According to the module, one or more of the following: the completion of: formal examinations; essays; continuous assessment in German language; dissertations; group or individual portfolio/project work; re-writes of other texts such as legal judgments, Law Commission reports or text generated by Generative AI; multiple choice tests; professional letters of advice; personal reflections on own learning; group or individual oral presentations; oral examination; and pre-recorded video submissions.

For students who have completed Level I (second year) of the programme in or before the 2024-25 academic year:

According to the module, one or more of the following: formal examinations; course essays/project work; longer dissertations; presentations; group work; reflections on own learning

Informal assessment (not counting towards credit) takes place through written assignments in every module and tutors assess the capacity of students effectively to participate in group seminars.
Students are expected to have attained the following Skills and other Attributes: Which will be gained through the following Teaching and Learning methods: and assessed using the following methods:
The following learning outcomes marked with an * apply to students commencing Level C (first year) or Level I (second year) of the programme in 2025/26 or later:
1. *Precision in the use of voice to cogently analyse the law and law-related content, both orally and in writing.
2. *The capacity to thoughtfully synthesise and critically evaluate a diverse range of English and French legal source material and argument, including, for example, judicial techniques of precedent, statutory interpretation and academic commentary to distinguish between what the law ‘does’ in a particular area and what remains unresolved.
3. *The ability to draw upon legal research methods to identify a range of pertinent material relating to England & Wales, France and the European Union (including legislation, case law and academic commentary).
4. *Oral and writing skills in the English and French languages necessary to communicate facts and ideas and to offer advice about law. Certain modules are taught in the French Language equipping students with the necessary language skills for their year abroad.
5. *The ability to proactively and independently interrogate relevant primary and secondary source material for its authority, authenticity, and contextual effect(s).
6. *The ability to exercise positive, discerning judgment when making use of digital resources, data sets, and AI generative systems to build an ethically-minded digital literacy.
7. *The ability to embrace self-managed risk and learn from setbacks/failures to find areas of personal and professional growth.
8. *The ability to effectively collaborate and negotiate within teams to reach creative solutions.
9. *Ability to work and live in another country of the European Union/or in Canada for a limited period of time, adapt to different study circumstances and to develop inter-cultural competence, self-reliance, initiative and flexibility in a different cultural environment
The following learning outcomes apply to students who have completed Level I (second year) of the programme in or before the 2024-25 academic year:
Ability to identify and locate a range of legal material relating to England and Wales, the European Union and France (including legislation, case law and academic commentary) using printed and electronic sources.
Ability to analyse legal material by: bringing together relevant information; understanding judicial techniques of precedent and statutory interpretation; dealing with and applying problem solving skills to complex facts; judging what is relevant or irrelevant; advising on the application of legal rules to facts in real or hypothetical problems; articulating arguments whether in writing or orally in a coherent and logical manner.
Capability to evaluate and discuss law and law-related material by synthesising and critically evaluating arguments; assessing whether significant information is not available or presented in argument; evaluating the impact of law; considering possible policy options; presenting a reasoned and personal perspective on theoretical and practical issues examined considering the relevant parts of the law’s context.
Oral and writing skills in the English and French languages necessary to communicate facts and ideas and to offer advice about law. Certain modules are taught in the French Language equipping students with the necessary language skills for their year abroad.
Some basic skills in numeracy (including scepticism about data and the ability to use numerical/statistical data in argument)
Team work skills needed to work effectively as a member of a small group.
Ability to carry out, working independently with limited guidance, small scale research projects (including identifying accurately the issues that require research)
Ability to use basic information technology and specialised legal technical resources for legal research and writing (including word-processing, email, the Internet; electronic databases of legal material).
Ability to monitor, reflect and build upon learning experiences and plan for personal and career development
Ability to work and live in another country of the European Union/or in Canada for a limited period of time, adapt to different study circumstances and to develop inter-cultural competence, self-reliance, initiative and flexibility in a different cultural environment
For students commencing Level C (first year) or Level I (second year) of the programme in 2025/26 or later:

*According to the module, one or more of the following: lectures; group tutorials; seminars; problem-based learning opportunities; individual seminars; project supervision; self-directed reading and thinking; practice written work; reflection, engagement with various forms of media and source material linked to the Canvas learning platform, and collaborative peer engagement; seminars in French language; assessment exercises.

*Lectures, talks and individual sessions (with personal tutor/programme director) preparing for living and studying abroad; seminars, lectures, etc at a French University/Laval whilst living in

For students who have completed Level I (second year) of the programme in or before the 2024-25 academic year:

According to the module, one or more of the following: lectures; seminars; individual supervision; Canvas self-directed reading and thinking; practice written work; peer assessment exercises; training sessions in the use of information technology for legal research and writing; lectures, seminars and supervisions in the French language.
For students commencing Level C (first year) or Level I (second year) of the programme in 2025/26 or later:

*According to the module, one or more of the following: the completion of: formal examinations; essays; continuous assessment in German language; dissertations; group or individual portfolio/project work; re-writes of other texts such as legal judgments, Law Commission reports or text generated by Generative AI; multiple choice tests; professional letters of advice; personal reflections on own learning; group or individual oral presentations; oral examination; and pre-recorded video submissions.

For students who have completed Level I (second year) of the programme in or before the 2024-25 academic year:

According to the module, one or more of the following: formal examinations; course essays/project work; longer dissertations; presentations; group work; reflections on own learning.

Informal assessment (not counting toward credit) takes place through written assignments in every module and tutors assess the capacity of students effectively to participate in group supervisions.

Lectures, talks and individual sessions (with personal tutor/programme director) preparing for living and studying abroad; seminars, lectures, etc at a French University/Laval whilst living abroad