Law (SQE1)
Entry requirements
A second-class honours degree (2:2) or above in law. We will also consider law graduates with less than a second-class honours degree where they also have other legal qualifications and/or substantial professional legal experience.
We will also accept a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) or LLM covering the seven foundations of legal knowledge (as recognised by the Bar Standards Board).
Non-law graduates may be considered on the basis of exceptional professional experience (of at least five years) in a legal area, or an area directly related to their programme of study as well as a minimum of a 2:1 undergraduate honours degree.
We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.
Months of entry
October
Course content
The LLM Law (SQE1) at Birkbeck is a professionally focused master’s degree designed to combine essential professional preparation alongside internationally recognised, research-led teaching. As well as offering you the opportunity to follow a specialised pathway, this postgraduate degree allows you to undertake comprehensive preparation for Part 1 of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE1) with expert support from BARBRI, a global leader in professional legal education.
Why choose this course?
- This LLM Law (SQE1) is ideal if you already hold a qualifying law degree (LLB) or a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and wish to take the first major step toward qualification as a solicitor.
- With employability at the heart of this course, it is particularly suited to motivated students who want to secure their Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) for the SQE1 exam while dedicating significant time to a specialist area of law.
- It will appeal to legal professionals looking to validate their legal knowledge for the SQE1 while gaining a master’s qualification in their specific area of interest. It will also appeal to those seeking a career change and wanting a structured, academically rigorous foundation before proceeding to qualifying work experience.
What you will learn
This LLM Law teaches you the Functioning Legal Knowledge required for SQE1 alongside a specialist pathway to equip you with a rigorous grounding in black-letter law, expertise in specialist topics, and commercial and contextual awareness.
You can also choose to specialise by taking one of the following pathways through this course:
- Commercial and Business Contexts
- Technology and Sustainable Governance
- International Law, Justice and Human Rights.
Whether you focus your attention on commerce, governance or international law and human rights, you will graduate from this course ready to pass the first stage of your solicitor qualification exams and to offer strategic value in your chosen sector.
How you will learn
This is an intensive course, taught via lectures and seminars, in which you will balance postgraduate coursework with SQE1 preparation. You will need to be organised, committed, and ready to engage deeply with both black-letter law and advanced academic topics. You will gain access to industry-leading SQE preparation materials and mock assessments through Birkbeck’s partnership with BARBRI.
This course can be taken either full- or part-time, with classes in the evening, and some modules available to study as Hyflex with on-campus or online attendance. The SQE preparation module is delivered fully online and asynchronously.
Please note that if you require a Student visa to study in the UK, you will not be able to apply for this course as the online study element may affect the conditions of your visa.
Highlights
- This course offers you the chance to undertake the SQE1 assessment while also gaining a prestigious, specialised LLM degree.
- This course is taught in partnership with BARBRI, to offer students expert professional support in their preparation for the SQE1.
- Birkbeck's Law School is internationally renowned for its pathbreaking theoretical, political and humanities-based scholarship.
- You will be able to attend our Law School Annual Lecture and specialist research seminars which feature international scholars speaking on current issues and their interdisciplinary research.
- We are home to the Birkbeck Law Press which publishes Law and Critique. You can also take advantage of the rich research collections nearby, including those of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Senate House Library, the British Library of Political and Economic Science (LSE Library) and the British Library.
On successful completion of this LLM Law (SQE1) you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including developing your ability to:
- demonstrate self-direction, effective time management and resilience in balancing the demands of intensive master’s-level academic study
- apply critical thinking, adaptability and professional judgement in addressing novel or uncertain legal problems and communicate complex legal ideas clearly and persuasively to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
You will find LLM Law (SQE1) graduates pursuing career paths in the following kinds of roles:
- Solicitor - qualifying through the SQE route to practise in England and Wales in commercial, criminal or private client work
- Barrister - combining the LLM’s advanced legal research and advocacy skills with Bar training to practise as a barrister
- In-house legal counsel - advising corporations, charities or public bodies on contracts, compliance and risk management
- Paralegal or legal executive - gaining professional experience that counts toward SQE qualifying work experience (QWE)
- Compliance or regulatory officer - working within financial services, healthcare or data protection to ensure organisations meet legal and ethical standards
- Policy adviser or legal policy officer - influencing legislation, justice reform or human rights initiatives in government or NGOs
- Legal researcher or academic - contributing to research, teaching or public legal education in universities or think tanks
- Legal technology or innovation specialist - developing or managing digital tools and AI systems transforming modern legal practice
- Human rights or NGO legal officer - providing legal advocacy and casework in international or social justice organisations
- Contracts or risk manager - overseeing legal agreements and managing compliance risks for companies or institutions
Legal reasoning, research and analytical skills gained from the LLM and SQE training are highly valued within and beyond the legal profession, so graduates may also pursue career paths in areas such as dispute resolution, corporate governance, project management or consultancy.
We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.
Information for international students
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, the requirement for this course is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.
If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.
Qualification, course duration and attendance options
- LLM
- part time24 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- full time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
Course contact details
- Name
- Student Advice Service
- studentadvice@bbk.ac.uk
- Phone
- +44 (0)20 3907 0700