Qualifying an LLB: Elective Module Provision and LLB Curriculum Design

Abstract

Historically, the structure of LLBs in England and Wales has been described as ‘fairly uniform’ focusing on a specific range of “core” subjects: with a significant proportion of undergraduate law degrees being predetermined—in recent years—by the requirements of Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) status. The recent demise of QLD status as a requirement of qualification as a Solicitor and the curtailed involvement of the professional regulators in shaping the content of the undergraduate curriculum has not, or not yet, been met with a widespread ‘radical curriculum remodelling’. Yet, there is already a degree of diversity within contemporary curricula. In this paper, we explore the provision of elective modules at providers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We argue that the traditional QLD subjects continue to play a significant role, not just in terms of the “core” undergraduate curriculum but also the wider elective curriculum. However, there is also a broader range of subjects beyond those seen in past curriculums—requiring us to question what qualifies as a “law” degree in 2024—which creates additional complexities for providers (re-)designing curricula to facilitate these broader electives and considering these subjects’ significance in shaping the future of legal education.