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LOCATION
University Square Stratford
Location Fees and Funding
Here's the fees and funding information for each year of this course
Overview
The Royal Docks School of Business and Law is made up of professional experts from the worlds of business, accounting and finance, economics, law and criminology. This new LLB (Hons) Business Law brings that diverse expertise together to create a specialist degree that applies the letter of the law in a modern business context.
The course is a qualifying law degree that prepares you to work as a barrister or solicitor while specialising in areas like employment law, commercial law and company law. It’s ideal for anyone hoping to work as an in-house legal professional for businesses, or as a lawyer or paralegal with specific commercial expertise.
The business and commercial law sector is becoming increasingly competitive, so this course offers the academic rigour you would expect from an accredited law degree, with the practical skills and experience you need to understand the contemporary business world.
Its graduates will be highly employable as a result and our unique locations in Stratford and Docklands give us access to major business and law institutions who can provide networking opportunities, guest talks and mentoring; our links include Ernst & Young, JP Morgan, Barclays, CILEx, The University of Law and the Law Society.
Our Foundation year course prepares students for successful transition to a wide range of honours degree courses in the complementary subject areas in the Law and Criminology department within the Royal Docks School of Business and Law.
What makes this course different
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
As this is a qualifying law degree, you can expect to learn the fundamentals of the profession from day one.
The compulsory modules in your first two years include an introduction to legal skills and methods, and insights into the key specialist areas of the subject. These include contract, land, criminal, human rights, constitutional and administrative law.
In your final year, you'll need to complete one compulsory module on equity and trusts, but will then be able to choose from a wide range of options. These include intellectual property law, commercial law, client practice and civil and criminal litigation.
If you take these last two options, you can gain the Higher Diploma in Paralegal Practice in addition to your degree.
You'll be encouraged to 'learn by doing' by volunteering for the University's much-admired Legal Advice Centre in Stratford and through work placements with local law firms.
You can also choose from a range of business-oriented module options on existing programmes offered by RDSBL in both their second and third years. This is the only qualifying law degree programme at UEL that allows students to choose business option modules at levels 5 and 6.
We consistently review our courses to ensure we are up-to-date with industry changes and requirements from our graduates. As a result, our modules are subject to change.
DOWNLOAD COURSE SPECIFICATIONS
LLB (Hons) Business Law course specification
pdf, 157.33 KB
Foundation Year in Law and Criminology course specification
pdf, 144.34 KB
MODULES
- Core Modules
Mental Wealth: Introduction to Legal Method CloseMental Wealth: Introduction to Legal Method
The module aims to introduce you to learning and studying in Higher Education, and to develop the skills needed for the successful study of law.
Introduction to Key Legal Concepts CloseIntroduction to Key Legal Concepts
The main aim of this module is to explain to you the key legal concepts and principles within the area of law.
Legal Communications CloseLegal Communications
To provide you with the ability to effectively analyse legal materials and to construct legal arguments. To allow you to develop legal analysis and techniques necessary for the successful study of law.
Crime, Surveillance and Society CloseCrime, Surveillance and Society
This module introduces you to crime and surveillance from sociological, criminological and psychosocial perspectives. Surveillance overlaps with many fields, including crime detection and prevention, the management of dangerous spaces and people. This course looks at theories and concepts including crime as a social construct and how surveillance works and how it categorises individuals for their effective management. It draws on theorists, such as Foucault and Lyon. The module includes hands on IT workshop sessions for coursework one to learn software that produces brochures to a high standard of professional quality.
Introduction to Digital Sociology CloseIntroduction to Digital Sociology
This module introduces you to Digital Sociology by exploring what it means to be a sociologist in the rapidly developing technological world. It will also introduce you to digital social research methods, asking what issues there are for social researchers in a digital society; what new material is available to social researchers; how social scientists can harness the new tools available to them and how they can navigate through this space in a secure, mindful and ethical way?
Globalisation and Society CloseGlobalisation and Society
This module introduces you to key issues and debates about globalisation and society. Knowledge of the complexities of globalisation is introduced through [a] topical readings [b] a guided tour of Parliament [c] a visit to the British Museum that you will prepare for and reflect on, using the key concepts of political economy. As well as the two core visits, the topics are presented and examined through lectures, seminars, workshops and film.
- Core Modules
Mental Wealth 1: Academic and Digital Proficiency CloseMental Wealth 1: Academic and Digital Proficiency
The module will equip you to succeed in both your studies and subsequent career. This includes the development of individual non-cognitive intelligence; digital proficiency; and cultural intelligence.
English Legal System CloseEnglish Legal System
There are two main aims of this module: one is to gain an understanding of the institutions and processes of the English legal system. The second is to provide you with the ability to effectively analyse legal materials and to allow the development of your legal analysis skills and techniques.
Legal Skills CloseLegal Skills
The main aims of this module are twofold: to gain an understanding of the institutions and processes of the English legal system. Also, to provide you with the ability to effectively analyse legal materials and to allow the development of legal analysis skills and techniques.
Contract Law CloseContract Law
Contract Law governs the legal relationship between buyers and sellers of goods and services. You will acquire an understanding of the general principles of the substantive English law of contract through an appreciation of extensive case law and modern legislation. A practical approach is adopted throughout so you will develop the knowledge and skills required to advise a client in a typical contract dispute.
Public Law ClosePublic Law
You will examine the core constitutional arrangements in the United Kingdom. You will explore the principles of constitutionalism and the role of the law in the regulation of government through an investigation of the structures of Government, the rule of law, the impact of Europe, the role of judicial review and human rights. You will also consider the relationship between citizens and the State with particular attention to constitutional reform.
Business Law CloseBusiness Law
This module will provide you with knowledge of the constitution and forms of business entities. You will understand the relevant principles of UK law and the legislation governing the formation, structure, and operation of a business and its obligations. As part of the module, your will explore the legal obligations of a professional practitioner and of a professional practice in respect of employees. As you study the module and attend the law clinic, you will be able to analyse problems confronting a business, identify applicable legislation and apply appropriate legal principles.
- Core Modules
Mental Wealth 2: Graduate Employment Competencies CloseMental Wealth 2: Graduate Employment Competencies
This module will provide you with the opportunity to document the development of core employability skills and allow students to acquire tangible evidence to support your employability narrative at interviews.
Introduction to Land Law CloseIntroduction to Land Law
This module is designed to introduce you to key principles in English land law. You will examine the legal relationship between individuals and land by looking at concepts of possession, ownership, enjoyment, use and control. You will have the opportunity to develop your analytical skills and the ability to think critically about problems related to land.
Public Law II: Human Rights Proceedings ClosePublic Law II: Human Rights Proceedings
This module aims to provide a substantial introduction to the concepts of human rights and equality and their relevance to domestic law. It will explore the theory of rights and an understanding of human rights following the incorporation of certain Articles of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) by the Human Rights Act 1998. You will undertake a detailed examination of the provisions of the 1998 Act and attendant case law of both the domestic courts and the European Court of Human Rights.
Tort Law CloseTort Law
This module aims to facilitate your acquisition of the common law principles and statutory provisions (as well as policy considerations) forming the Law of Tort. It also aims to develop your critical perspective on the areas of Tort Law forming the syllabus, together with your critical understanding of the role of policy in the Law of Tort.
Equity and Trusts CloseEquity and Trusts
This module aims to introduce you to the basic principles and remedies of Equity and the law of trusts. It aims to consolidate skills of legal reasoning, in particular, to offer supervised practice in case analysis and problem solving. It encourages you to reflect upon the continued evolution of the law of Equity and trusts.
Optional ModulesFinancial Management CloseFinancial Management
This module is intended to introduce you to the ideas and techniques of running a financially successful business. You appreciate and learn that in order to grow and expand, businesses must both find profitable investments and obtain funds to make those investments.
Learning and Development CloseLearning and Development
The main aims of this module are to provide you an appreciation of the factors to be considered when implementing and evaluating inclusive learning and development (L&D) activities within varying organisational.
Consumer Behaviour CloseConsumer Behaviour
The main aim of this module is help you to understand the behaviour of people as consumers by analysing the practices and processes involved in the act of consumption. This understanding precedes all marketing actions and is one of the critical components of marketing analysis essential for strategic decision making within a business context.
- Core Modules
Mental Wealth 3: Global Enterprise and Consultancy CloseMental Wealth 3: Global Enterprise and Consultancy
This module will develop core employability skills and allow you to develop and demonstrate skills in (i) the analysis of a problem (ii) planning and organising a task, including time management (iii) exercising judgement in the light of observed and published data (iv) compiling a report, (v) teamwork and collaboration and (vi) use of appropriate technologies.
Criminal Law CloseCriminal Law
This module introduces you to the general principles of criminal law and the essential elements of criminal liability in England & Wales. You will learn how to work with criminal rules through the study of some key offence and defence definitions. You will also acquire the practical skills necessary to apply the criminal law and to evaluate its scope. Criminal law is a core module if you are on the LLB Law programmes.
European Union Law CloseEuropean Union Law
You will acquire an in-depth understanding of how European Union law has developed through the unique procedures of the key institutions and the role of the European Court of Justice. You will also explore the substantive law of the EU through an analysis of the free movement of goods.
Optional ModulesCompany Law CloseCompany Law
To provide you with an in-depth and, on some aspects, a critical understanding of some of the major topics in Company Law; to develop an ability to analyse problems of some complexity and to apply principles to their solution.
Law Project CloseLaw Project
The purpose of the Project option is to offer you a space in which you may initiate and follow an in-depth academic inquiry, without a structured programme. If you enjoy thinking and working on your own and writing/rewriting essays this is suitable for you. You will have the opportunity to develop organisational and research skills by undertaking a piece of work of your own choice, which must be organised, researched and completed as a written project. You also need to be able to work well with a supervisor (a member of the Law School staff).
Corporate Finance CloseCorporate Finance
This module aims to develop your understanding of corporate financial management decisions in the context of profit seeking organisations. You will also have the opportunity to examine and evaluate how such decisions may contribute to maximising shareholder value.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics CloseCorporate Social Responsibility and Ethics
The aims of the module are to develop a critical appreciation of the key principles of business ethics, corporate responsibility/citizenship and sustainability, and the relation of these to the workplace and encourage you to critique theories of management and leadership from the perspective of ethics.
Applied Business Project CloseApplied Business Project
The aim of this module is to enable you to conduct a live applied business project. This could include a work-based project, report on internship or placement (paid or unpaid), business simulation, Bloomberg project, project management report, or case study.
Client Practice CloseClient Practice
This is a practical course that introduces you to a number of procedural and practical issues dealt with by lawyers. It includes examination of some of the more specialist areas of professional advisory work. The module aims to equip you with the necessary skills for effective practice in the selected areas. This module develops a wide range of skills and is particularly useful for those of you wishing to go into practice as lawyers or paralegals but the skills developed are highly transferable and will be very useful and attractive in many careers. This module may be taken with Civil & Criminal Litigation by students wishing to obtain the National Association of Licensed Paralegal's Higher Diploma in Paralegal Practice (available only to LLB students).
Civil & Criminal Litigation CloseCivil & Criminal Litigation
This is a practical course that introduces you to a range of procedural and practical issues dealt with by lawyers. It includes examination of some of the more specialist areas of professional advisory work. We equip you with the necessary skills for effective practice in the selected areas. We develop a wide range of range of skills and this is particularly useful for you if you wish to go into practice as lawyers or paralegals, but the skills developed are highly transferable and will be very useful and attractive in a wide range of careers. This module may also be taken with Client Practice by those of you wishing to complete the National Association of Licensed Paralegal's Higher Diploma in Paralegal Practice (available to LLB students only).
Evidence CloseEvidence
This module will develop your knowledge and practical skills in the law of evidence. The main focus in this module will be on ‘criminal’ evidence. As part of this module, you will undertake practical drafting activities through the submission of (practice)skeleton arguments on the various substantive areas of law covered in this module. In addition, you will engage in advocacy training with a view to presenting your legal submissions at a hearing before a jury trial takes place, for example, to argue about the admissibility of evidence. The hearing on the voir dire, or ‘trial within a trial’, is the procedure whereby the court determines disputed preliminary facts. As a result, this module will enable you to develop the skills to effectively argue (both in writing and verbally) in a formal court setting. For students wishing to qualify for the Nigerian Bar course, this module must be taken in combination with Commercial Law.
Commercial Law CloseCommercial Law
To provide you with a critical understanding of the types of commercial transactions and of their regulation by law; the nature of personal property and its transfer; Agency in commercial transactions.
Banking Law CloseBanking Law
This module will introduce you to the regulatory and private law aspects of banks and banking including both commercial banks and investment banks, as well as financial conglomerates (or complex groups) made up of banking, securities and insurance firms. Banks are among the most important financial institutions within any economy, nationally and internationally. This module examines basic aspects of law concerning the structure, operation and function of banks. The module is also taught on a comparative basis with reference to significant international standards as well as European and other national country models including in frontier markets in Africa and Asia. It is as such, not an exclusively UK module.
HOW YOU'LL LEARN
Teaching methods vary throughout the course but you'll find them all stimulating and challenging. You'll learn by lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops and individual supervision, supported by digital materials, notes and handbooks.
You'll also have the chance to learn through moots and mock trials in our own chambers.
You'll be expected to carry out your own independent study to build on your learning, so don't expect to be spoon-fed. You'll find that you get out of the course what you are willing to put in.
Our lecturers have strong links with the legal profession, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to learn outside of the lecture theatre and seminar room. If you play an active role throughout the course, joining in with debates and attending guest talks, conferences and events, you'll reap the rewards.
Many of our students take the chance to help local people with real legal problems in our Legal Advice Centre, where practicing solicitors give up their time to supervise and support you. This much-admired law clinic is a shining example of civic engagement in action – taking learning out of the classroom and, at the same, making a real difference to society. It's highly popular with our students as well as the public, and the experience will give you a taste of what being a legal professional is all about.
HOW YOU'LL BE ASSESSED
We'll assess you with a mix of coursework and exams. Coursework includes essays, a reflective diary, oral presentations, practical exercises and answering hypothetical problem questions. Throughout the course you'll be given plenty of feedback to help you improve.
If you choose the final-year project option, you'll conduct independent research on a legal topic of your choice and complete a 4,000-word dissertation.
CAMPUS and FACILITIES

University Square Stratford, University Square Stratford
WHO TEACHES THIS COURSE
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
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What we're researching
At the University of East London we are working on the some of the big issues that will define our future; from sustainable architecture and ethical AI, to health inequality and breaking down barriers in the creative industries.
Our students and academics are more critically engaged and socially conscious than ever before. Discover some of the positive changes our students, alumni and academics are making in the world.

I love law and my time at the University was really positive and has opened up new horizons – one of them being a place on the prestigious Civil Service Fast Stream graduate scheme."
Zain Ulmer,
Law (LLB Hons)
YOUR FUTURE CAREER
This course is highly career-focused, giving you not only a professional legal qualification but also a strong, practical specialisation that is greatly in demand.
You will gain specialist knowledge of the law relating to the regulation and commercial activities of businesses, large and small. Whether you're interested in a career in the legal profession, business, or the law-related areas of accountancy, financial regulation, insurance and government services, our Business Law degree is for you.
Organisations of all sizes need employees with a broad understanding of corporate and other laws, as well as people with good corporate awareness, initiative and communication skills. This degree will give you the legal background you need to get ahead in business, as well as equipping you with analytical, presentation, research, written and project management skills, all of which are highly transferable.
Our unique locations in Stratford and Docklands give us access to major business and law institutions that can provide networking opportunities, guest talks and mentoring; our links include Ernst & Young, JP Morgan, Barclays, CILEx, The University of Law and the Law Society. Our student placement opportunities at UEL include:
- Amnesty International
- Citizens' Advice Bureau
- Crown Prosecution Service
- Liberty
- Shelter.
Both our Business and Law departments are experts in creating job-ready graduates. We ensure our degrees are professionally aligned through accreditations and we embed employability throughout our programmes. We do our best to introduce you to major employers and professional bodies while you're a student at UEL, and offer extensive support to graduates looking for employment or hoping to start their own business.
You'll have access to our renowned Law Clinic, which gives students the chance to work on real cases and offer practical legal advice to the local community, while the Knowledge Dock on our Docklands Campus is an innovative hub that provides resources for students and graduates to incubate their own businesses.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.