History and Law

History and law is a combination that brings the analytical rigour of historical inquiry to bear on the legal frameworks that societies create, and illuminates the law through an understanding of how it has developed and changed over time. History develops your ability to read evidence critically, interpret competing accounts, and construct persuasive arguments from primary sources. Law develops your ability to analyse statutes and case law, apply legal principles to specific situations, and understand the institutional structures through which legal decisions are made and enforced.

The two disciplines reinforce each other: law is always shaped by its historical context, and history is always entangled with the legal frameworks that organised political and social life.

The four-year full-time History and Law programme with Foundation Year at Liverpool Hope University lets you explore many periods from the Early Modern era to today, covering key themes including nationalism, imperialism, colonisation, decolonisation, gender, and identity. The course encourages you to engage with and challenge historical interpretations, recognising that history is always being revised. Your law studies develop the analytical and professional skills needed to engage with legal doctrine and the broader socio-legal questions it raises.

The foundation year supports students who need additional academic preparation before entering the main degree, and a sandwich year, year abroad, and work placement options provide professional and international experience at different stages.

With a typical entry tariff of 88 points, the programme is accessible and inclusive. Graduates pursue careers in law, the civil service, heritage, journalism, public policy, and the voluntary sector, as well as postgraduate study in law, history, or a related discipline.