We are one of the only law schools in the UK where you can gain real world experience from your very first year of study and where every student who wishes to gain pro bono experience can do so at all stages of their study. This work can count towards your Qualifying Work Experience should you wish to become a solicitor after your graduate. We are one of the biggest law clinics in Europe - in 2022-23 our students assisted more than 1,000 people and gave advice and representation worth £1.145M.
Every first year student will study a Legal and Professional Ethics module in their second semester based in our national award-winning Legal Advice Centre, which provides free legal advice and representation to the local community. You will observe our clinical work in action, supervised by our in-house legal staff and 60+ external volunteers from top local law firms. If you wish, you can then choose options in your second and third years based in the LAC which will allow you to take on your own, more advanced casework under close supervision.
We act for individuals, companies and charities and collaborate with external partners and policy researchers on a broad range of cases in areas including:
- Family
- Civil disputes
- Exceptional Case Funding – getting Legal Aid for vulnerable clients on human rights grounds
- Community Economic Development – supporting start ups and local entrepreneurs with commercial, commercial property, intellectual property and contract advice
You can also use your clinic time to work on placement at Support Through Court in Liverpool Civil and Family Court – an opportunity unique in the North West; at a local Citizens Advice Bureau; or with Merseyside Law Centre, helping with welfare benefits, debt and immigration matters.
These experiences give you the chance to develop your professional network, along with transferable skills that are vital for the legal profession as well as a wide range of graduate level jobs. We believe that not only should our students gain the best possible legal education for their own benefit, but also that everyone with legal knowledge – even the most junior – can make a difference in their local community.
Whatever you decide to do after graduation, every module you study will have given you the opportunity to develop vital skills – from good communication, critical and analytical abilities and problem solving to digital ability, research techniques and commercial awareness. In your spare time you might volunteer for our national award-winning mooting team to develop your advocacy and public speaking. Perhaps you will research and write an article for our peer-reviewed, open access Student Law Journal, or present a School of Law Podcast episode on current affairs, culture or important cases that matter to you.
Our dedicated Careers team will help you develop your CV and provide guidance at every stage of your study.
Level 5 and 6 students can audition to join Liverpool John Moores University’s Mooting team. Our Mooting team has enjoyed success in various competitions, most recently at the Supreme Court. Final year students, Harry, Lewis, Marcel and Gabriel appeared and argued before Supreme Court judge the Rt Hon Lady Ingrid Simler in a recent highlight of their young legal careers.
Last year, final and second year students Emily and Shay won the prestigious Oriel Chamber competition.
If you are a Graduate Diploma in Law student, you will be offered a Mooting module, which has been designed to help you develop and enhance key skills associated with being a lawyer.
Your degree is just the start of an exciting journey. From your second year onwards (Level 5), you can choose options which have a traditional, liberal arts focus if you think you want to use your law degree as a springboard into further study or research, a career in business or local government, or any other career that needs a wide range of skills involving critical thinking, analysis and communication. If you think you might want to become a solicitor or barrister, we offer a range of options oriented to practice, such as Criminal Litigation and Advocacy. Whichever path you choose, every subject we teach is academically rigorous and taught to the highest standards. Before you start your final year you can review your pathway and, if your career plans have changed, you can choose whichever options are best for you and change focus to suit your needs.
As a School of Law student you can apply to study or work abroad as part of our Erasmus+ scheme. Past students have gone to Malta, Malaga, Hasselt in Belgium and Rome. The Faculty of Arts, Professional and Social Science also fund some of its students to travel and study abroad via their International Bursaries Programme.
The Start-up Hub has been helping students and alumni get their business ideas off the ground since 2003. The Hub can help you with funding, networking, as well as business, legal and financial advice. Find out more about the type of support on offer at the Start-up Hub.
