Law with Criminal Justice and Human Rights, LLB (Hons)

Course summary

This programme gives you the opportunity to obtain specialist knowledge and deepen your understanding of criminal justice and human rights, and their challenging interactions.Why study LLB Law with Criminal Justice and Human Rights at Goldsmiths

• We’re one of the highest-rated courses in the country. We're number 1 in the UK for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide Law League Table 2024).

• Goldsmiths has a rich heritage of social awareness and engagement. You'll be part of an environment that champions human rights and social justice

• Not only is this a qualifying law degree, it has been developed in anticipation of the new Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE). Training for these is integrated throughout the degree and you'll also have the option to take a specific SQE2 module in your final year

• LLB Law students have voted the Department of Law to be one of the best in the country. We’ve particularly excelled in areas including ‘intellectually stimulating curriculum’ and ‘programme management. The LLB law lays the foundation for all of our undergraduate teaching across the Department

• This degree is active. You won't just be sitting and reading, you'll learn problem-solving, debating and advocating through a range of experiential learning, extra-curricular and professional development activities, on campus and beyond

• You will gain systematic knowledge and understanding of criminal justice and human rights theory and practice, and be equipped with the ability to critically engage with core debates in these areas

• The programme will provide you with the conceptual and methodological tools required to analyse and explore the ideas, actors, and practices central to criminal justice and human rights law

• This pathway of the LLB Law at Goldsmiths allows you to specialise in a range of areas related to Criminal Justice and Human Rights, including; Domestic human rights law, and European human rights law as applied in the United Kingdom; How human rights norms are implemented in criminal law and the criminal justice system; What are the causes of crime, and what can be done to prevent it; Contemporary developments in criminology and criminal justice; Sociological approaches to crime, and how crime is linked to social inequalities, such as gender, class, ethnicity, etc; Global issues of crime and crime control, populism, and international human rights responses; The use of Artificial Intelligence in policing; State surveillance and Big Data collection; Cybercrime and the regulation of internet communications; Freedom of the press

• You will also hone the essential critical thinking and practical skills needed in representing clients and defending cases as a solicitor or barrister specialised in criminal law and human rights

Specialist activities and career skills Alongside your specialist module choices, you will have the opportunity to take part in a programme of activities designed to expose you to contemporary and historic debates in criminal justice and human rights. You will be invited to participate in events and conferences with leading organisations and experts, and will join visits in and around London that immerse you in the criminal justice and human rights policy world.Clinics, Placements & Summer InternshipsIn our Law and Policy Clinics, students confront challenging societal issues through supervised legal research and public engagement activity. We also offer students access to the University of London’s Refugee Law ClinicStudents can choose a Placement module as an option and are given access to summer internships with internationally leading faculty as well as social welfare placements in law centres and legal advice clinics across London.

• The LLB Law is a qualifying law degree accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board.

Modules

This LLB gives you the opportunity to focus on your interests in the second and third years by choosing from a range of law option modules. You will study a wide range of specialisms, drawing on globally leading expertise in the departments of Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Media and Communications, and Art.Please note: Many of the option module lists below are indicative, and updated annually by the department.Year 1 (credit level 4)In your first year, you will study the following compulsory modules:21st Century Legal Skills Contract Law Criminal Law: Theory and Practice Public Law and the Human Rights Act English Legal System in a Global Context Year 2 (credit level 5)In your second year, you'll study the following compulsory modules:EU Law and the UK Law of Tort Land Law Trusts International Law and Politics You'll then choose 1 or 2 from an approved list of modules from the Department of Sociology. This list is updated each year, and may include the following:Criminal Justice in Context Crimes Against Humanity Religion, Crime, and Law Depending on how many credits you decide to take from the Department of Sociology, you can choose up to 1 module from the Department of Law optional modules, or from relevant departments (known as Connected Curriculum) across the University.Department of Law optional modulesYou can select up to 1 optional module from the list below. For the Goldsmiths' Social Change module, you have the option to focus on Immigration Policy Clinic and/or Counterterrorism and Human Rights Clinic.Optional modules may include:The Goldsmiths Elective Intellectual Property LawGoldsmiths’ Social Change Module Immigration LawConnected Curriculum modulesYou will also have the opportunity to select optional modules from departments such as Sociology to broaden your studies. Exact lists of these modules will be available at the beginning of each academic year.You can select up to 1 from the Connected Curriculum modules, or Goldsmiths' Electives. Year 3 (credit level 6)In your third year, you'll take the following compulsory modules:Criminal Justice & Human Rights Dissertation Criminal Evidence (with Advanced Mooting and Advocacy) Human Rights Law and Clinic You then need to select 1 or 2 from an approved list of interdisciplinary modules. This list is published annually and may include modules such as:Confronting climate crisis Media Law and Ethics Anthropology of Rights Crimes of the Powerful Psychology and Law You can then choose 2 or 3 from the following modules:AI, Disruptive Technologies and the Law Work Placement Commercial Law and International Trade Agreements Art Law Company Law SQE2: Practical Legal Skills in Context Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

Assessment method

You’ll be assessed by a variety of methods, depending on your module choices. These include coursework, examinations, reports, case notes, statutory interpretation, critiques of articles, and research projects such as the dissertation.As well as these traditional assessment methods, you'll also have the option in your second and third years to take modules that are wholly assessed in more innovative ways, such as:a portfolio of mooting contributionsclient interviewing, persuasive argumentation, written advice and legal draftingvoluntary and prepared contributions in the classroomtaking part in a human rights clinic and other experiential learning activities

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• Solicitors Regulation Authority
• Bar Standards Board

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This LLB gives you the opportunity to focus on your interests in the second and third years by choosing from a range of law option modules. You will study a wide range of specialisms, drawing on globally leading expertise in the departments of Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Media and Communications, and Art. Please note: Many of the option module lists below are indicative, and updated annually by the department. Year 1 (credit level 4) In your first year, you will study the following compulsory modules: 21st Century Legal Skills Contract Law Criminal Law: Theory and Practice Public Law and the Human Rights Act English Legal System in a Global Context Year 2 (credit level 5) In your second year, you'll study the following compulsory modules: EU Law and the UK Law of Tort Land Law Trusts International Law and Politics You'll then choose 1 or 2 from an approved list of modules from the Department of Sociology. This list is updated each year, and may include the following: Criminal Justice in Context Crimes Against Humanity Religion, Crime, and Law Depending on how many credits you decide to take from the Department of Sociology, you can choose up to 1 module from the Department of Law optional modules, or from relevant departments (known as Connected Curriculum) across the University. Department of Law optional modules You can select up to 1 optional module from the list below. For the Goldsmiths' Social Change module, you have the option to focus on Immigration Policy Clinic and/or Counterterrorism and Human Rights Clinic. Optional modules may include: The Goldsmiths Elective Intellectual Property Law Goldsmiths’ Social Change Module Immigration Law Connected Curriculum modules You will also have the opportunity to select optional modules from departments such as Sociology to broaden your studies. Exact lists of these modules will be available at the beginning of each academic year. You can select up to 1 from the Connected Curriculum modules, or Goldsmiths' Electives. Year 3 (credit level 6) In your third year, you'll take the following compulsory modules: Criminal Justice & Human Rights Dissertation Criminal Evidence (with Advanced Mooting and Advocacy) Human Rights Law and Clinic You then need to select 1 or 2 from an approved list of interdisciplinary modules. This list is published annually and may include modules such as: Confronting climate crisis Media Law and Ethics Anthropology of Rights Crimes of the Powerful Psychology and Law You can then choose 2 or 3 from the following modules: AI, Disruptive Technologies and the Law Work Placement Commercial Law and International Trade Agreements Art Law Company Law SQE2: Practical Legal Skills in Context Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.