A postgraduate law course designed to support your progress towards legal qualification in England and Wales.

  • Study the seven foundations of legal knowledge and prepare for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination.
  • Work with external partners and gain real-world legal clinic experience.
  • Enhance your future employability in law-related fields.

This Master of Laws is a career-enhancing legal qualification that will position you to become a lawyer of the future. The course is designed to support you to make progress towards legal qualification in England and Wales, covering the seven foundations of legal knowledge and offering preparatory learning for Part 1 of the external Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). Depending on your project module choices, you'll also have the opportunity to obtain preparatory learning and practical experience relevant to the SQE Part 2 Assessment.

Bath Spa University is designated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority as an authorised SQE training provider.

What you'll learn

Overview

You'll undertake eight core modules and select one project module option, covering the seven foundations of legal knowledge and offering preparatory learning for elements of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination.

The learning structure will enhance your academic and organisational skills and develop new legal skills and knowledge. You'll have the opportunity to work with external partners to support clients with a range of legal problems, or to undertake a supervised research project on a legal area of your choice.

Course modules

This course includes or offers the following modules. Please check the programme document for more information on which modules are core, required or optional.

Trimester One

You'll study modules:

  • Legal Systems Research and Skills
  • Constitutional and EU Law
  • Obligations and Dispute Resolution
  • Public Law

Trimester Two

You'll study modules:

  • Property Law and Practice
  • Criminal Law and Practice
  • Business Law and Practice 
  • Trusts, Wills and Estates

Trimester Three 

You'll have the opportunity to choose a Legal Clinic or Legal Research Project module option. The Legal Clinic module option offers the opportunity to gain legal experience in real world client scenarios.

Students that do not wish to complete the project modules can choose to exit the course with a PgDip qualification upon successful completion of the core modules.

How will I be assessed?

You'll be assessed through a range of methods including examinations, tests, reports, essays, practical skill exercises, and portfolio and dissertation writing. The core modules include formative assessments similar to that used on the SQE.

How will I be taught?

You'll be taught using a range of methods including in-person seminars and practical skill workshops, supervision, client-based interaction and digital learning.

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To find out more about how we teach and how you'll learn, please read our Learning and Teaching Delivery Statement.

Opportunities

Work experience and industry links

You'll get the chance to engage with a range of guest speakers and legal practice stakeholders, and you'll have the opportunity to visit the Bath Law Clinic at the beginning of the programme.

The Legal Clinic module option offers experience, learning and support that will enhance your legal practice knowledge and future employability.

Careers

The course has been designed to support you to make progress towards legal qualification in England and Wales. The course will also equip you to follow other law-related career paths.

Competitions and awards

You'll have the opportunity to compete in open competitions across a range of extracurricular activities including debating and mooting.

Adobe Creative Campus

Develop a wealth of indispensable digital skills that you can take into your future career. One of only three Adobe Creative Campuses in the UK, we provide all Bath Spa students with access to the full Adobe Creative Suite, giving you the tools to communicate creatively, whatever your course or chosen professional field.   

Facilities and resources

Where the subject is taught

The course is taught at our Newton Park campus, with an option to visit Bath Law Clinic.

Resources

Our library offers a wide range of relevant materials including electronic sources. This online material can be accessed on and off campus enabling you to work at times that suit you.

Fees

2025 entry
Student Annual tuition fee
UK full time £8,985
UK part time £4,493
International full time £16,625

Additional course costs

You may need to pay additional course costs over and above your tuition fees, for example, for specialist equipment or trips and visits. Please check the course Programme Document (linked under the main image on this page) for details of any additional costs. You can also read our Additional Course Costs Policy for further information.

Interested in applying?

What we look for in potential students

We're looking for applicants with an inquiring mind, an interest in the study and practice of law and a determination to pursue a career in a law-related field.

Typical offers

You'll have, at minimum, a lower second-class honours UK or ROI degree (or equivalent overseas NARIC qualification), or equivalent professional experience through APL or APEL (including at least two years work experience). See our Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) web page to learn more.

For international students: IELTS min 6.5 (min. 5.5 in each category). There may be visa and other regulatory limitations related to the optional Legal Clinic module.

All applicants should be advised of the external character and suitability requirements in respect of future legal professional qualification.

How do I apply?

Please contact our Admissions team for details on how to apply: admissions@bathspa.ac.uk.

Get ahead

Applicants are recommended to undertake preliminary reading around the study and practice of law in England and Wales. A good starting point is Steve Wilson, Helen Rutherford, Tony Storey, Natalie Wortley, Birju Kotecha, English Legal System (4th edition, Oxford University Press (OUP) 2020).

Course leader: Emmanuel Nartey
Email: e.nartey@bathspa.ac.uk