Certificate of
Higher Education in Common Law

Here's the BIG Picture

The CertHE in Common Law is designed to prepare you for the academic demands of undergraduate study by building a strong foundation in the fundamental principles of law, while fostering analytical, critical, and independent thinking skills.

This programme adopts a student-centric and interactive approach to learning, combining theoretical understanding with practical application. Through engaging discussions, case analysis, and the exploration and evaluation of real-world legal issues, you will develop essential skills such as legal reasoning, problem-solving, and effective presentation.

Emphasising a holistic and hands-on learning experience, the CertHE enables you to strengthen your existing capabilities while gaining confidence in articulating ideas and arguments in a structured and persuasive manner.

The CertHE in Common Law is a recognised qualification in its own right and also serves as a direct pathway to a law degree. The modules are aligned with Level 4 of the University of London LLB (Hons), and allows you entry into the second year of the University of London Bachelor of Laws degree.

With this Course You Will:

• Develop the ability to identify and understand key concepts in substantive law, legal theory and procedures of domestic and international law.
• Identify and understand the impact of economic, cultural and political changes on the law.
• Explore the significant role of the law in improving social and economic conditions in modern societies.
• Apply knowledge and critical thinking skills to perform legal analysis, reasoning and problem solving competently, and learn to collaborate in a variety of legal settings and contexts.

COURSE MODULES

Legal Systems & Methods

To achieve an overview of the central institutions and processes of legal systems and to introduce students to techniques of legal interpretation and legal research.

Contract Law

This module will give you an overview of Contract Law and prepares you to negotiate and draft basic contracts in the commercial world. You will discuss the concepts and philosophies that have evolved in the study of Contract, understand Contract case law and the importance of the issues in a case and how the court resolved it, learn how to apply case law to a given issue, and how to interpret a statute and the interrelationship between the statute and the relevant common law, amongst others.

Criminal Law

You will have in-depth understanding of the substantive principles governing a variety of offences and defences of the English criminal law, and will be to introduced to techniques of legal interpretation and legal research in the study of the variety of case law and statutory provisions governing the criminal law.

Public Law

This module will give you an understanding of Constitutional and Administrative Law, the checks and balances to ensure a clean and transparent government. You will study English Public Law and its relevance to British Politics, drawing similarities to the principles of Public Law in Commonwealth jurisdictions.