The University of Law

Summary

University Environment 

The University of Law is split over six sites across England. They have facilities in Birmingham, Bristol, Chester, Guildford, Leeds and Central London. 

Birmingham

At their site in Birmingham, The University of Law is situated in the Jewellery Quarter, within walking distance of the city centre. The area provides a wide range of accommodation and local amenities with good transport links to other parts of the city. 

Bristol

The University of Law Bristol is located at the heart of the city’s legal and financial area. It’s just a few minutes’ walk from Bristol Temple Meads railway station, with good local amenities and a wide range of accommodation. 

Chester

Set in 14 acres of beautiful parkland, The University of Law Chester centre has all the facilities of a modern business school, with free parking and plenty of accommodation within walking distance. Chester is an historic city, which offers a wide range of amenities and great transport links to the rest of the country.

Guildford

The University of Law Guildford is a modern university in an historic setting, set within acres of parkland. The University is only five minutes away from the centre of town, where there is a wide choice of accommodation and excellent local amenities.

Leeds

The University of Law Leeds is located in state-of-the-art premises at the heart of Leeds legal and business community. It’s just five minutes’ walk from the railway station. The city’s wide range of amenities is right on the doorstep and there is a choice of accommodation. The University’s new Leeds centre is in close proximity to a wide range of potential legal employers, helping students’ employability prospects. 

London Bloomsbury

Situated in the heart of London, the campus in London Bloomsbury is the University’s largest centre. Offering the widest choice of amenities and accommodation, London is an exciting place to live and work.

Manchester

The University of Law Manchester is located in the centre of the city, close to many of the North West’s leading law firms. The centre offers professional, modern, study facilities in a city with one of the largest student populations in the UK. There’s a wide choice of accommodation in the city, along with extensive amenities.

History

The University of Law has its roots in the tutorial firm Gibson & Weldon, founded in 1876, and The Law Society School of Law, founded in 1903. In 1962, the two institutions merged and became The College of Law. In 2006, The College of Law became the first private higher-education institution to be granted degree-awarding powers. 6 years later, The College was granted university status and changed its name to reflect this. In the same year, the University was sold. This created a fund of around £200 million, which was used to found The Legal Education Foundation, a charity dedicated to promoting the advancement of legal education and study for future generations. It also allowed the University to establish their £400,000 a year scholarship fund. 

Further Information

The University of Law is a private university, but this does not greatly impact its students.

Academics

Fees & Finance

Scholarships

The University of Law has a £400,000 a year scholarship fund; last year they awarded over 90 awards to undergraduate and postgraduate students. 

Bursaries

A number of bursaries are also available to those whose circumstances may otherwise prevent them from studying law. This may include those who do not possess the traditional qualifications or means to study at university, and includes an Articled Apprenticeship Programme.

Currently the University is reviewing its scholarships and bursaries for the next academic year. Students who would like to be considered for an award should contact the University directly. 

Facilities

Learning Facilities

The University of Law’s facilities are the same across each of their six sites. They include well-stock law libraries with both silent and group study zones and a number of online resources. Online resources include legal databases, i-Tutorials, i-Guides and the University’s online learning resources ELITE. There is free Wi-Fi available across all learning areas and students have the use of IT suites and PCs. All libraries also offer legal research support through Library Information Officers. 

As well as the libraries, all learning sites have mock-court rooms to prepare future barristers for appearing in court.

Sporting Facilities

Only one of the University of Law’s sites has its own sporting facilities. In Chester, the University has a number of football and rugby pitches. There are, however, sports centres near all of the Universities learning facilities and many of these offer student rates. Furthermore, there is a range of University sports teams and clubs from bowling, to rugby, to tennis.

Students' Union

Students’ Union

The University of Law does not have its own students' union, or students' union facilities. However, all students gain free membership of the union closest to their campus.  In Birmingham, this is the Aston Students Guild; in Bristol, it is the Bristol University Students’ Union; in Chester, it is the Chester Students’ Union; in Guildford, it is the Union affiliated with the University of Surrey; in London, it is the University of London Union and in Manchester it is the Manchester Students’ Union.  Students will have access to all of these unions’ facilities, clubs, societies and events, although they will not be able to play for their sports teams. 

As well as this, there are a number of events, clubs and societies run by The University of Law itself, at each of its sites. These include Balls, quiz nights, language clubs, sports teams and wine tasting evenings, to name a few. 

Furthermore, students of the University of Law, are represented by their own Representative Committee. This Committee allows students to make their voices heard to course leaders and other staff members. The committee is made up of elected student representatives, from each course.

Student Support

Health & Wellbeing

There is extensive wellbeing support available to students across the University of Law’s sites. Counselling and pastoral support is available for students at all centres.

There is also a Disability Support Service, which aims to provide information, advice and support to students who have a disability, medical condition, mental health disability or specific learning difficulty. The Disability Support Service can also advise students on applying for a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA).

Career Facilities

The University of Law is well known for its extensive careers support. During the LL.B course, students devote at least 48 hours to an employability programme comprised of a mixture of practical activities, taught workshops and large group sessions. The activities are designed to develop valuable skills that will be of use in the workplace. Activities include, attending talks and events, observing proceedings in local courts and visiting law firms and employers.

In addition to this programme, the University has its own dedicated careers service.  The Employability Service consists of qualified and experienced careers professionals who help students progress their careers, in whatever direction. They offer one-to-one careers appointments either in person, by phone or e-mail. They provide access to information about a range of careers, as well as opportunities to meet speakers and recruiters from different industries and employment sectors. This means that even students who do not decide to pursue a career in the law are properly supported. 

Through The Employability Service, students have access to an online Student Employability Programme (StEP), face-to-face appointments with careers consultants, advice on CVs and job applications, updates on what’s happening in the recruitment market, opportunities to meet prospective employers, careers workshops and talks, support in securing work experience and placements and a ‘JobSearch’ vacancy database providing over 4,000 opportunities every year.

Other ways in which the University prepares its students for their future, include adding them to their extensive network of local and global law firms and chambers and guaranteeing graduates of the LL.B programme a place on their LPC programme. 

In addition to this, The University of Law is strongly committed to pro bono, offering a variety of opportunities designed to help students enhance their learning and career prospects through practical, real-life experience. Pro bono offers an important opportunity for them to put their legal skills into practice, as well as providing vital access to justice for members of the public in the local community.

Accommodation

The University of Law does not have any of its own accommodation. However, they do nominate accommodation in halls run by the UK’s leading student accommodation providers. They guarantee all students accommodation in the first year of their LL.B.

Accommodation is usually in shared flats of 3-5 rooms, with shared kitchens and lounge areas. Most have en-suite bathrooms. There are also some studio flats available. 

Birmingham

The accommodation in Birmingham is at the Mansion Canalised, a ten-minute walk from Birmingham city centre, The University. Rooms are available from £105 a week.

Bristol

Hotwells House is the University nominated halls in Bristol. It is in the city centre, a ten-minute walk away from the University, near the Clifton area of the city. Rooms cost £130 a week.

Chester

In Chester, the accommodation is at Abbeygate, which is a ten minute walk to Chester city centre and a 25 minute bus ride to the University. Rooms cost between £125 and £130 a week.

Guildford

In Guildford, there are two University approved halls. The Y centre is in the centre of Guildford, a ten-minute walk to The University of Law, and rooms cost £149 a week. Scape Surrey is a short walk from Guildford train station and a short bus ride from the University of Law campus. Rooms here are studio flats and cost £235-£245 per person, per week.

Leeds

The Plaza, the university’s accommodation in Leeds is a few minutes’ walk to Leeds city centre and ten minutes from Leeds railway station the University. The price for an en-suite bedroom in a shared flat is £131 per week.

London Bloomsbury

The halls in London are called Paris Gardens and are located in the heart of London’s South Bank. It is close to several underground train stations, and a ten-minute ride from the University. Rooms cost £245 a week.

Manchester

In Manchester, the University nominates two halls, Mansion House, situated near to Victoria Station, a 20 minute walk from the University, and Mansion Court, a 15 minute walk from the University. In Mansion Court, bedrooms in shared flats are priced at £122.50 per week and Studio rooms are £155 per week. In Mansion House rent is £142.50 per week.

International

English Language Requirements

If English is not a student’s first language, they will need an IELTS score of at least 6.5 for the three-year LL.B course or 7.0 for the two-year LL.B course. They can also apply with the same level in an equivalent qualification. To find out more about the requirements for other course, see the University’s website. 

International Support

With more than 1,200 students from over 100 countries outside the UK, The University of Law is one of the biggest UK legal training providers for international students.

The Student Support Services team advise international students on everything from getting a UK bank account or mobile phone, to finding accommodation. They can also organise a meet and greet service at the airport when students arrive in the UK. In addition, there are a range of clubs and societies which help students make friends, settle in and feel at home. The University of Law also has a dedicated International Visa Office, which can provide professional support and advice on matters relating to international student visas.