Course summary

• Learn about legal and criminal justice principles, rules and practice. 
• Understand the effect of law in society from academic and practical perspectives.
• Gain legal experience throughout your degree in our on-campus environments.
• Develop employability skills through working with legal sector professionals. 
• Consider the possibility of undertaking placements in the UK and overseas. 

On this course you’ll gain practical skills and see the real-world application of what you learn. You’ll develop an excellent knowledge of law and criminal justice – alongside the experience to prepare you for professional qualifications in law and other sectors.

How you learn

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

You’ll learn and gain experience in a variety of areas of law in our on-campus environments – SHU Law and the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice (HKC). Our award-winning tutors are experts in their fields. You’ll be taught by lecturers who are expert researchers, and who have years of experience in their professions.

You learn through

• lectures and interactive workshops
• independent research
• case studies in both simulated and live client environments
• practice-based learning centred around live client case work, conducted in small groups under the supervision of legal professionals
• work placements in SHU Law and elsewhere

From your first year, you’ll gain applied foundational knowledge in law and criminology – plus a detailed induction in our on-campus law firm, SHU Law. In your second year, you’ll continue to learn the core areas of law and you’ll begin to specialise – choosing areas such as criminal appeals, prisoners' rights, or private client work through SHU Law.

In your final year you’ll take on more responsibility for your learning and developing your portfolio – through SHU Law and a variety of elective modules in both law and criminology. You’ll also have opportunities to branch out into placement settings across the UK and overseas, cementing your knowledge not just as a student, but for your future career.

You will be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled graduate employment in a number of ways. These include

• support throughout your studies from your own dedicated academic advisor, committed to your personal and professional development as a confident, reflective and autonomous learner
• access to our Skills Centre with one to ones, workshops and online resources to help you to plan and structure your assignments
• employability opportunities such as project work, networking and field trips – and expert advice and guidance from our careers and employability team

Course leaders and tutors

Peter Griffith

Senior Lecturer in Law

As a senior lecturer in Law Peter contributes to teaching and curriculum design in a range of subjects

Applied learning

Work placements
Our regulated and supervised on-campus law firm – SHU Law – offers you a unique chance to get ahead with your solicitor qualifications. You’ll gain vital industry experience working alongside solicitors on real cases. Uniquely, your work with SHU Law is fully integrated into your course from your first year, and will continue throughout your studies.

In your final year you can choose to apply for our Law in Practice placements in external legal settings as part of your studies. Previous students have had placements at major national and internaional law firms – such as Irwin Mitchell and DLA Piper – and often involve sitting in on real hearings and court cases with solicitors. You may also have the chance to do a placement in areas such as local government, coroners’ offices or local law firms.

There are also international work placements available in the USA – including at the Public Defenders’ Office in Savannah, and the Innocence Project in San Diego. Your placement supervisor will help you find the right fit for your career, and will provide support throughout your experience.

Social justice
Throughout the course, you’ll help advocate for those who don’t have or can’t afford representation. 

In your third year, you’ll be able to work in the award-winning Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice on a range of projects relating to immigration, asylum and human rights. There’s also the opportunity to help reunite families through our own Refugee Rights Hub.

Future careers

Your degree can be the first step towards a career in law, public sector and criminal justice professions – as well as the wider business and commercial sector.

This course prepares you for a career in

• solicitors' firms
• barristers' chambers
• the police, probation and prison services
• financial services
• local government
• Crown Prosecution Service
• victim support

Where will I study?

You study at Collegiate Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

Collegiate campus

Collegiate Campus can be found just off Ecclesall Road, a bustling student district.

Collegiate Campus map | Campus facilities | Keeping safe on Campus

Location

Collegiate Crescent
Sheffield
S10 2BP

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Collegiate library

Collegiate Library can be found just off Ecclesall Road. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.

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Entry requirements

Modules

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

Fees and funding

Additional course costs

This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.