Programme And Module Handbook
 
Programme Specification


Date Specification Approved 26/09/2023
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 CIHT IHE ICE IStructE PWI (partial)
Aims of the Programme 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.
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 young French people at a French university (in the third year) and sharing some of their own 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 responsibility for their own learning and aim to become effective life-long learners, with opporunties to review and reflect upon their academic and personal achievements through personal development planning.
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 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 Eurpean 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.
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.
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:
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 speciailised legal tecnical 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
According to the module, one or more of the following: lectures; seminars; individual supervision; WebCT; 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.
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 in