BA Law and Politics (ML12)

See also:

ML12 BA/LawPol
Three years

The BA Law and Politics joint honours degree, the first of its kind in the University of London, offers you the opportunity to study the closely related disciplines of Law and Politics side by side in a three-year programme. In the first year, you take Public Law and the Law of Contract, together with Introduction to Politics and another full option within the School of Politics and International Relations. 

Law and Politics complement each other perfectly and I would encourage anyone to look into joint honours, Phillipa Walker, BA Law and Politics. Read more...

The programme is designed so that you could, by choosing the appropriate law options, obtain the usual exemptions from legal professional examinations, or alternatively you could focus on subjects in the School of Politics and International Relations. The degree is aimed at those who wish to pursue a career in which knowledge of both the legal and governmental systems is of major importance, and should appeal especially to those wishing to study public policy in its legal context.

Course outline

Year One

  • Public Law
  • Elements of Contract Law 
  • Introduction to Politics

and either 

  • Comparative Government and Politics or 
  • International Relations since 1914

Year Two

Students wishing to graduate with a qualifying law degree: 

  • Law of the European Union (half-module) 
  • Administrative Law (half-module)
  • Law of Property I 
  • Criminal Law 

One module from Politics. 

  • Non-qualifying: Law of the European Union (half-module)
  • Administrative Law (half-module) 

Three modules from Law or Politics of which one full module must be from Politics.

Year Three

Students wishing to graduate with a qualifying law degree: 

  • Tort Law
  • Law of Property III 

One module from Law and one module from Politics. 

Non-qualifying: 

Four option modules from either Law or Politics. Students must do at least one module from Law and one module from Politics.

Career opportunities

The joint honours degree in Law and Politics (BA/LawPol, ML12) can be structured in a way which allows you to gain exemptions from legal professional examinations, although the course is not intended primarily for a career in private legal practice. Recent graduates have found employment in the civil service, political parties, trade unions, journalism and media, business and finance, social work and local government. You may also continue on to postgraduate degree courses in Politics (including area-studies), international relations, law, economics, business, history, philosophy and journalism. Read about the Queen Mary Careers Service.

Assessment

Assessment is mainly by examination, but some optional modules have an element of course work. Students in the final year of all the law programmes may choose to research and write a dissertation.

Contact us

For more information contact Law Undergraduate Admissions:

Email: law-admissions@qmul.ac.uk

Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 3924

For more information you can call the Enquiries Hotline (UK callers only) on Freephone 0800 376 1800. International students should contact the Admissions and Recruitment Office on +44 (0)20 7882 5511.

What our students say about Queen Mary

Lucy Shaddock

Lucy Shaddock

BA Law and Politics, UK

Queen Mary was the obvious choice once I knew I wanted to study Law with Politics. The subjects complement each other perfectly and both departments have an excellent academic reputation, with internationally recognised lecturers at the forefront of their fields. Despite significant roles as barristers, Parliamentary advisers and researchers, professors are always pleased to answer questions and never make students seem anything less than their top priority.

I have been particularly impressed that the law department recognises students’ different career aspirations: more than accommodating those who aspire to be leading barristers, whilst at the same time offering an impressive range of opportunities for those who are still discovering their interests. You can volunteer, gain work experience and meet professionals, all due to the invaluable links the department has. I would certainly say that Queen Mary offers masses of choice without ever inculcating that there is one ultimate career path.

Most exciting for me is the fact that Queen Mary’s reputation attracts visitors of the highest caliber, meaning in the past there have been speeches by leading Silk Rabinder Singh QC and director of Liberty Shami Chakrabarti. Such events are priceless and never fail to inspire. One more thing - if you haven’t visited the campus, make sure you do. You won’t be disappointed!