What Is the LLB Degree? Your Law Degree Guide

The Bachelor of Laws (LLB) is an undergraduate degree in commonwealth countries like Great Britain. This degree is equivalent to a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree, and it provides the groundwork for students who want to take the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE1) or Bar Practice Course. 

An LLB degree is the first step to becoming a practising solicitor or barrister, two law professionals in the United Kingdom. Upon completion of the LLB, a graduate can apply for a Master of Laws (LLM), where you can complete a general degree or specialise in criminal litigation or employment law.

Explore the LLB degree, including the topics covered by this degree and pathways you can take after graduation.

What does 'LLB' stand for?

'LLB' is short for Legum Baccalaureus, Latin for 'Bachelor of Laws.' 

What is an LLB?

The LLB is an undergraduate programme common in the United Kingdom, India, Australia, and the Canadian province of Quebec. The LLB is a Level 6 undergraduate course for students who are beginning their law education. It’s typically a three-year programme that prepares students to sit for the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE), complete a bar course, or pursue the Master of Laws degree. 

While it's not necessary to have an LLB to practice law in the UK, aspiring solicitors do need to complete the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and two years of legal work training with a law firm. If you don’t have a related undergraduate degree, you’ll need to complete a postgraduate conversion course or related work experience to build relevant experience.

Those who wish to become barristers must complete a law degree, a Bar course, and work-based learning completed in two six-month segments, known as a pupillage.

Solicitor vs. barrister: What's the difference?

A solicitor provides legal advice and support to clients, while barristers can represent their clients in the courtroom and may be called upon to provide specialist advice. Becoming a barrister generally involves more training in subjects like courtroom practice, legal ethics, and laws of evidence. While a solicitor can represent clients if they have the ‘right of audience,’ barristers work at a more advanced level within the course system.

What skills will you develop while attending an LLB programme?

While attending an LLB programme, you will be able to understand the law, which is beneficial even if you don't intend to pursue a legal career. Other skills include:

• Negotiation: Barristers and solicitors need to negotiate verbally and in written communication.

• Conflict resolution: Working in the legal field requires good conflict resolution skills and the ability to understand others' perspectives.

• Working under pressure: The legal field can be fast-paced with strict timelines and deadlines. 

• Research: As a barrister or solicitor, you’ll be doing much research to find evidence, understand case law, or do anything you need to complete a task. 

• Problem-solving: Problem-solving is a significant component of the legal field. The skills you learn in your degree programme can also help you in other careers.

What are the law modules you are likely to study?

You will study a combination of compulsory and elective modules when you study for your LLB. Your university's course offerings will determine these. For a standard entry route (i.e., no previous bachelor’s degree), most programmes cover academic topics such as contract law, criminal law, equity and trusts, EU law, property law, public law, and Tort law. Some programmes also have an optional fourth year for Honours students to write a dissertation and continue deepening their studies, or the programme may be four years in length and include a legal placement during one of the years.  

Example LLB course structure:

Outside of the core modules, structure and elective offerings will vary. For example, you might take mandatory courses in your first two years and devote your third year (and, in some cases, the latter half of your second year) to electives. The exact breakdown of your course structure will depend on your programme, but you can find an example structure below.

First-year required topics:

• Common law

• Legal ethics

• Digital skills

• Contract law

• Law of Tort

• Public law

• Criminal law

Second year required topics:

• Business law

• Critical approaches to legal issues

• Land law

Second and third year elective topics:

• Family law

• Employment law

• EU law

• Real estate

• Practicising law in the digital world

• Wills and succession

• Criminal litigation

• Human rights

• International communications law

Pathways after an LLB

Unfortunately, an LLB alone isn’t enough to begin legal practice. After completing your LLB in the UK, you have several pathways to consider. Two options include going straight into legal practice or continuing your education. 

Legal practice

One prominent option after completing an LLB is to become a solicitor. In this role, you’ll provide legal advice, draft documents, and represent clients in various legal matters. To become a qualified solicitor, you need to take the two-part Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), complete two years of work experience, and pass the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) suitability requirements. 

Alternatively, you might pursue a career as a barrister, specialising in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Barristers often represent clients in higher courts and provide specialist legal opinions. If you want to become a barrister, you need to complete a bar course and study. During training, you need to join one of the four Inns of Court and complete 12 qualifying sessions. In some cases, you can integrate your academic and vocational pathway to combine certain aspects of training. 

Education

You can enter a Master of Law (LLM) programme after completing your LLB or a conversion degree. For admission to a programme, you may need to build an application with additional components, such as reference letters and a statement of purpose. You can choose a specialisation or complete a more general LLM degree. This degree path is typically completed in a year or less full-time, but you may extend this if you are a part-time student.

This pathway is intended for students who want an academic career or a more specialised focus in their law practice. Following this, some students might choose to complete a postgraduate research degree. 

Getting started on your path to a LLB degree

An LLB is a common undergraduate degree focused on law. By completing an LLB, you can prepare for an exciting career as a solicitor or barrister, or further studies in a specialised topic or research area. 

Whether you’re a current LLB student curious about prospects or interested in entering a new programme, explore what it's like to study law (and earn a certificate for your resume) with a course like Introduction to International Criminal Law from Case Western Reserve University, available on Coursera.