Law

Law is among the oldest and most demanding academic disciplines, examining the rules that govern society, the principles on which those rules are built, and the processes by which they are made, interpreted and enforced. Studying law develops skills that are genuinely transferable: the ability to read complex material with precision, to construct and evaluate arguments, to identify the relevant from the irrelevant, and to communicate clearly under pressure. These are qualities that are valued well beyond legal practice itself.

At the University of Derby you will study law over three years of full-time study, with a foundation year available as an integrated starting point for students who want to build academic confidence and skills before engaging with the full degree curriculum. The programme is delivered within Derby Law School and covers the core areas of law that form the basis of qualifying law degrees in England and Wales, including contract, tort, criminal law, constitutional and administrative law, land law, equity and trusts, and European Union law. Specialist pathways allow you to deepen your knowledge in areas that align with your interests or career aspirations.

The typical tariff of 88 reflects a programme that welcomes students from diverse educational backgrounds, and the foundation year route further broadens access to a legal education at degree level.

Graduates of law programmes go on to a wide range of careers. Many pursue the vocational routes that lead to qualification as a solicitor or barrister, progressing through the Solicitors Qualifying Examination or the Bar course after graduation. Others take their law degree into careers in business, finance, the civil service, human resources, compliance, journalism, policing, or the voluntary sector.

The analytical and communication skills developed through legal study are highly regarded by employers across sectors, and law graduates consistently achieve strong outcomes in competitive graduate recruitment processes.