MLaw Law with Professional Practice

Program Overview

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Coventry University's MLaw Law with Professional Practice program prepares students for legal careers as solicitors, CILEx professionals, or related paths. It combines academic study with simulated professional practice, developing practical skills, ethical awareness, and legal networks. Graduates are equipped for careers in law and beyond, with transferable skills in compliance, policy analysis, and research.

Program Outline

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MLaw Law with Professional Practice at Coventry University

Degree Overview

This four-year program aims to prepare students for the Solicitor’s Qualifying Examinations (SQE) and CILEx Professional Qualification (CPQ) professional stage by providing them with the necessary skills and knowledge for legal careers as solicitors, CILEx professionals, or other related paths.

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Objectives:

• Provide a dual award course: Upon completion, students receive both the MLaw Law with Professional Practice and LLB Law with Professional Practice (Hons) awards.
• Blend academic study and simulated professional practice: The course offers hands-on experiences through a simulated law firm environment, blending theoretical knowledge and practical legal skills development.
• Develop ethical awareness: Students gain a thorough understanding of professional ethics and codes of conduct essential for thriving in legal practice.
• Cultivate legal networks: Access to the Law School's ‘Raising the Bar’ scheme allows students to network with legal professionals and gain insights into the profession.

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Additional information

• Students who choose to start the program in January will follow a condensed curriculum in Year 1.

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Outline

This course follows a common first-year structure alongside other law courses. Years two to four focus specifically on legal practice and professional skills development.

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Common First Year

• Law LLB (Hons)
• Commercial Law LLB (Hons)
• Criminal Law and Justice LLB (Hons)
• International Law LLB (Hons)
The modules focus on foundational legal knowledge, critical thinking, and key legal skills, preparing students for their chosen legal path. Switching to another degree is also possible within this year, subject to meeting progression requirements.

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Years Two to Four - Content:

• Practical Legal Skills - Develop practical skills and ethical awareness in advocacy, drafting, client interviewing, and negotiation.
• Client Care and Professional Ethics - Learn how to navigate client relationships, ethical considerations and responsibilities of legal professionals, including confidentiality, integrity, and competency.
• Tort Law - Explore legal principles and liabilities arising from breaches of obligations owed by individuals and organizations.
• Land Law - Understand the principles, concepts, and statutory schemes governing land law in England and Wales, with an emphasis on property law.
• European Union Law - Gain an understanding of EU law within the English legal system and the legal frameworks that operate within the EU.
• Equity and Trusts - Learn the principles governing the creation, operation, and administration of public and private trusts.
• Family Law - Explore the legal framework governing relationships between partners and between parents/carers and children, including family dispute resolution and child protection.
• Company Law - Gain a critical understanding of statutory provisions and common law principles governing registered companies, their formation, administration, financing, and governance.
• Employment Law - Examine the law governing the individual employment relationship, rights and duties of employers and employees, and legal issues throughout the employment lifecycle.
• Criminal and Civil Litigation - Develop an advanced knowledge and understanding of criminal (under Criminal Procedure Rules) and civil law (Civil Procedure Rules) in practice, including advocacy skills development through practical sessions and roleplay.
• Wills, Trusts and the Administration of Estates - Explore the legal principles and practical aspects related to wills, estate administration and trusts, including succession of property, probate, inheritance tax, and estate management and distribution.
• Property Law and Practice - Gain practical skills in property transactions and property law, with a focus on conveyancing in residential and commercial contexts, leasehold property, and planning and taxation principles relevant to property transactions.
• Business Law and Practice - Learn about legal and ethical issues encountered in business, including formation, funding, liability, company structure, governance, business termination, business ethics, corporate social responsibility, and decision making.
• Dispute Resolution - Explore alternative dispute resolution methods, such as arbitration and mediation, used for settling legal disputes outside court proceedings, develop negotiation skills, and apply legal knowledge to realistic case studies.
• Solicitors Accounts and Tax - Learn accounting principles used in legal practice and various legal issues related to taxation, analyze financial transactions, record financial data, prepare financial accounts, apply ethical decision-making in relation to tax, and understand income, capital gains, inheritance, corporation, and value-added taxes.
• Advocacy - Develop advanced courtroom advocacy techniques through rigorous training and practice, effectively represent clients, handle complex legal issues and procedures in criminal litigation and dispute resolutions, maintain professional ethics and courtroom etiquette, present compelling legal arguments, analyze client issues, prepare for oral advocacy, identify relevant facts and legal principles.
• Client Interviewing and Case and Matter Analysis - Develop essential client interview skills and techniques for effective communication and trust building, gather relevant information from clients, adapt interview approaches based on cultural considerations, analyze legal issues, identify client needs, formulate appropriate strategies and options for negotiation, prepare client-focused advice in various formats.
• Legal Research, Writing and Drafting - Develop effective legal research skills and utilize research in drafting legal correspondence and documentation, act in the interests of fictitious clients within a simulated law firm, communicate effectively in writing to diverse audiences, draft legal documents with and without precedents.

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Years Two to Three - Structure:

The second and third years focus on building a solid foundation in the law and developing key legal skills through a combination of workshops, seminars, and lectures. Contact hours average around 15 per week, with additional independent study of around 25 hours.

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Year Four - Structure:

The final year focuses on putting legal knowledge and skills into practice. This culminates in the participation in a simulated law firm exercise, where students apply their knowledge to simulated client and courtroom experiences. Contact hours reduce to around 12 per week, emphasizing independent learning.

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Assessment

This program uses various assessment methods depending on the module. These methods include:

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Phase tests:

Multiple choice quizzes

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Essays

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Presentations

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Reports

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Coursework

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Exams

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Practical assessments

The assessments are designed to fairly evaluate student progress towards achieving the learning outcomes for each module and degree level.

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Teaching

This course utilizes various teaching methodologies, aiming to provide a well-rounded and immersive educational experience. These include:

• Workshops: Interactive sessions focusing on practical skills development and applying knowledge to real-life scenarios.
• Seminars: Smaller group discussions for in-depth analysis and critical thinking, facilitating student participation and engagement.
• Lectures: Delivered by subject experts to convey key concepts, theories, and principles, providing a foundation for further study and discussion.
The program also emphasizes independent study, enabling students to deepen their understanding and develop critical thinking and research skills.

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Additional information

The university may incorporate emerging technologies into the student experience. Contact hours and delivery methods are subject to adjustments based on public authorities' guidance, and the program prioritizes the safety of staff and students.

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Careers

This program prepares graduates for various legal careers, including:

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Solicitor:

Providing legal advice and services, representing clients in legal proceedings, drafting legal documents and contracts.

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Barrister:

Representing clients in court, specializing in specific areas of law, presenting legal arguments, conducting legal research.

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CILEx Lawyer

Providing legal services directly to the public, handling various legal matters, advising clients, conducting litigation.

• Legal Executive: Supporting solicitors and lawyers, conducting research, drafting documents, managing client files.
• Paralegal: Assisting lawyers with legal tasks, conducting legal research, preparing documents, managing legal databases.
Graduates also develop transferable skills, making them competitive for careers outside the legal profession, including:
• Compliance Officer
• Policy Analyst
• Mediator/Arbitrator
• Journalist/Writer (legal topics)
• Researcher/Academic

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Additional information:

The program offers various international experience opportunities, such as field trips and online collaborations with international universities. These opportunities aim to provide students with global perspectives and enhance their cultural understanding. International opportunities may involve additional costs, a competitive selection process, meeting visa and travel requirements, and are not always guaranteed.

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Other

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Additional Information:

• The university reserves the right to modify course content, module availability and assessment methods as necessary to ensure relevance and quality.
• Students should also consult with an advisor regarding fee information, application processes, student finance options and international student considerations, as these aspects are not covered in the program overview and may be subject to changes.