Career development in the LLB

Abstract

This article presents a case for the inclusion of a career development module in the LLB curriculum. The context for this is the development of a new law degree. In 2007 BPP Law School was granted degree awarding powers, and it was intended that its undergraduate law degree should reach out to working and “non-traditional” students. Part of the approach to designing the new degree involved a benchmarking exercise, which consisted of research into the content and structure of undergraduate LLB programmes offered in England and Wales. The findings indicated, among other things, that there has been an increase in the provision of professional skills courses for undergraduates. The design process for BPP's law degree also drew upon the proposed reform of legal services and took into account considerations arising from academic commentary on legal education and the function of law schools. The resulting career development module combines skills-based elements with opportunities for students to reflect on and understand the nature of legal business, the possibilities for organisational change and the implications for their roles as intending lawyers. The aim is to provide candidates with knowledge, skills and confidence to prepare for a professional career. It is suggested that such a course would be particularly attractive to the constituency of students at which the new programme is aimed.