Why study Foundations in Law at Liverpool John Moores University?
Provides legal knowledge with linked practical skills in the Six Foundations of Legal Knowledge:
- Contract Law
- Crime
- Equity & Trusts
- Land Law
- Public & EU Law
- Law of Tort
About this course
Designed specifically for non-law graduates, this Foundations in Law PG Cert, will provide the legal knowledge and competencies that will allow a student to proceed onto the Solicitors Qualifying Examination preparatory courses.
This programme is designed for non-law graduates who wish to qualify as a solicitor in England or Wales by way of the Solicitors Regulation Authority's SQE (Solicitors Qualifying Examination) examinations.
Delivered by academics and qualified professional practitioners, this postgraduate programme will provide the legal knowledge and competencies needed in the Six Foundations of Legal Knowledge; Contract Law; Crime; Equity & Trusts; Land Law; Public & EU Law; and the Law of Tort.
It aims to provide both legal knowledge and linked practical skills in order to put the non-law graduate in a position to commence onto a SQE prep course in order to complete the vocational phase of qualification as a solicitor.
Course modules
Discover the building blocks of your programme
This course is currently undergoing its scheduled programme review, which may impact the advertised modules. Programme review is a standard part of the University’s approach to quality assurance and enhancement, enabling us to ensure that our courses remain up to date and maintain their high standard and relevancy.
Once the review is completed, this course website page will be updated to reflect any approved changes to the advertised course. These approved changes will also be communicated to those who apply for the course to ensure they wish to proceed with their application.
Your programme is made up of a number of core modules which are part of the course framework. Some programmes also have optional modules that can be selected to enhance your learning in certain areas and many feature a dissertation, extended report or research project to demonstrate your advanced learning.
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Core modules
Contract Law
10 credits
10 credits
This module aims to provide a basis for knowledge, understanding and analysis of the principles of contract law and aligns with the Solicitors Regulation Authority's Foundations of Legal Knowledge. The module includes: existence and formation of a contract; contents of a contract; causation and remoteness; vitiating elements; discharge of contract and remedies; and unjust enrichment.
Criminal Law
10 credits
10 credits
This module aims to provide an opportunity for students to acquire substantive knowledge of criminal law to align with the Solicitors Regulation Authority's Foundations of Legal Knowledge. The module includes: general principles of criminal law; general defences; property offences; offences against the person and; criminal evidence.
Equity and Trusts
10 credits
10 credits
This module demonstrates a critical understanding of the law of equity and trusts in context in order to align with the Solicitors Regulation Authority's Foundations of Legal Knowledge. The module includes: general principles of the law of equity and trusts; creation of valid trusts; charitable and non-charitable purpose trusts; trusts of the family home; Trustee and Fiduciary duties; breach, strangers and tracing.
Land Law
10 credits
10 credits
This module develops critical understanding of both English and Welsh land law, including: Co-ownership; Adverse Possession; Trusts of Land; leases and licences; third party interests and; registered and unregistered land. Students will demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the policy tensions and changes in land law, and the ability to apply legal knowledge to problems in land law.
Public and EU Law
10 credits
10 credits
On this module, students will gain an understanding of both the constitutional and theoretical framework of the UK alongside EU Law to align with the Solicitors Regulation Authority's Foundations of Legal Knowledge. The module includes: an introduction to the nature of UK constitution; separation of powers; Royal prerogative; EU and UK relations; devolution, central government and accountability and; Judicial Review.
The Law of Tort
10 credits
10 credits
The module introduces the fundamentals of the Law of Tort, and aligns to the Foundations of Legal Knowledge prescribed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The module includes: General principles; Defences; Psychiatric damage; Occupiers liability; Employer's liability and; Trespass to the person and land.
Your Learning Experience
An insight into teaching on your course
Study hours
The programme for full-time students will be taught within 1 semester (12 weeks) after a 1 to 2 week induction period. It is taught 2 days a week – usually each day consisting of 6 hours face to face delivery.
Teaching methods
From day one the students will be introduced to the English Legal System and acquire knowledge and understanding of the legal theories and principles which underpin the areas of substantive law that is to be studied. As the course progresses students will demonstrate their achievement of the required learning outcomes through a series of formative assessments culminating in their final examinations.
Students will do an introductory non-credit induction studying the English Legal System and practical legal research to put the basics of law into context before they undertake their 6 compulsory modules.
Applied learning
The acquisition of subject knowledge and legal skills is achieved primarily through student centred transactional seminars supplemented by large group sessions and supported by extensive learning materials. The transactional seminars will be applying knowledge obtained to problem type questions.
How learning is monitored on your programme
To cater for the wide-ranging content of our courses and the varied learning preferences of our students, we offer a range of assessment methods on each programme.
Where you will study
What you can expect from your School
The School is based in the Redmonds Building, in the heart of the bustling Mount Pleasant Campus and Liverpool's growing Knowledge Quarter. Redmonds Building is shared by two Schools within the Faculty of Arts, Professional and Social Studies - Liverpool Screen School and the School of Law - and Liverpool Business School, making for a rich blend of student learning experiences. The building is home to high quality lecture theatres and seminar rooms, a mock court room, social spaces, and a café. It is only a short walk from LJMU's Aldham Robarts Library, which contains all the resources you will require for your studies.
Course tutors
Our staff are committed to the highest standards of teaching and learning
Anita Ellis
Programme Leader
For students who have never studied law before, engaging in such an interesting though challenging discipline and ultimately working to qualify as a solicitor.
For students who have never studied law before, engaging in such an interesting though challenging discipline and ultimately working to qualify as a solicitor.
Qualified Solicitor and Head of Professional Legal Studies (being programme leader for the LPC and the LLM QL – the precursor to this programme). Areas of expertise include: Property, Accounts, Tax, Probate and Commercial Property. Research in the area of succession laws.
Career paths
Further your career prospects
LJMU has an excellent employability record with 96% (HESA 2018) of our postgraduates in work or further study six months after graduation. Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.
As this is designed for those wishing to become solicitors, the programme gives the students both practical and legal knowledge and allows students to become engaged with the law school legal events etc.
Fees and funding
Tuition Fees:
There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students
Fees
The fees quoted at the top of this page cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- access to programme-appropriate software
- library and student IT support
- free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you’ll find all of the information you need on our specialist postgraduate funding pages.
Please be aware that the UK’s departure from the EU may affect your tuition fees. Learn more about your fee status and which tuition fees are relevant to you.
- International fee:
- £6,950
International Scholarships and payment plans
Liverpool John Moores University is committed to supporting international students by providing a range of scholarships and flexible payment plans to help students manage their tuition fees.
Scholarships
LJMU provides a variety of scholarships to support international students. Scholarships are available to self-funded students who have accepted their offer and met all the conditions outlined in their offer letter. Students must also demonstrate that they can cover living costs, travel, and other expenses associated to studying at the university. Postgraduate scholarships include tuition fee reductions and are often offered in partnership with external funding organisations.
All self-funded international students are eligible for an automatic scholarship worth up to £4,000. For more details and to view our full list of scholarships, visit the international scholarship webpages.
Deposit
All students must pay a £5,000 deposit before they can receive their CAS letter.
For more information view our deposit page.
Tuition Fee Payment Plan
After paying their £5,000 deposit, students have the option to pay their fees in full or in three equal instalments minus any internal scholarships and discounts. There are two payment options available for international students. You can either pay your tuition fees in full before enrolment or opt for a payment plan. With the payment plan, you can pay your fees in three instalments after making your £5,000 deposit. The first instalment is due before enrolment.
All payments should be made through Flywire. Full details can be found in the How to Pay Guide.
Early Bird Tuition Fee discount
We are excited to introduce a £500 Early Payment Discount to all self-funded international students. Eligible self-funded students who pay their fees by the required deadlines will get a discount which will be automatically deducted from the 1st year of tuition fees.
To see the required deadlines please visit the webpage
Entry requirements
You will need:
Qualification requirements
Undergraduate degree
Any non-law degree obtained in the UK
Upper second class honours or above
International requirements
-
IELTS
Minimum 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each component)
How to apply
Securing your place at LJMU
LAWCABS is the official application route for this full-time programme. Further information on the application process can be found here https://www.lawcabs.ac.uk. To apply for the part-time programme you are required to complete an LJMU online application.
For those applying for the full-time programme this will be done by way of Law Cabs @ www.lawcabs.ac.uk
Your student experience
There's so much more to university than just studying for a degree.
Postgraduate life at LJMU
See the amazing support you will get from the university, the academic expertise of the staff here, the first-class learning environment, fabulous libraries, excellent career guidance and their ongoing love affair with the city of Liverpool.
Accommodation
As a new student at LJMU, we guarantee accommodation right in the heart of the dynamic city centre, with easy access to the main University campuses.
You can view our approved accommodation to see the halls that we offer to new students.
Your campus
We’re very proud of our campuses. Not only because they provide a modern and inspiring learning space for all our students but also because they’re a place people really want to be.
Living in Liverpool
Liverpool is one of Europe's most dynamic and cultured cities. Come find out why it's a great city to study in.
Go abroad
LJMU aims to make international opportunities available to every student. You may be able to study abroad as part of your degree at one of our 100+ partner universities across the world. You could also complete a work placement or apply for one of our prestigious worldwide internship programmes.
Sports, societies and lifestyle
Getting involved in sports, clubs and societies at Liverpool John Moores University is a great way to challenge yourself, meet people who share your interests, and feel more connected to the University community.
Talk to our students
Connect with a current LJMU student through Unibuddy for insights and advice on university life, courses, and more.
See what our students are saying
At LJMU we want you to know you’re making the right choice by studying with us. You can see what our students are saying about their experience with us through their reviews on the following websites:
News and views
Browse through the latest stories and updates from the University and beyond
The University reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the University. Where this does happen, the University operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.