PG Cert Foundations in Law | Part-time

Entry year:
2025/26
Start date:
September
Study mode:
Part-time
Course duration:
1 year
Campus:
Mount Pleasant

Why study this course with LJMU?

Provides legal knowledge with linked practical skills in the Six Foundations of Legal Knowledge: 

  • Contract Law 
  • Crime  
  • Equity & Trusts 
  • Land Law 
  • Public & EU Law 
  • Law of Tort 

About this course

Designed specifically for non-law graduates, this Foundations in Law PG Cert, will provide the legal knowledge and competencies that will allow you to proceed onto the Solicitors Qualifying Examination preparatory courses.

You have already acquired numerous transferable skills from your undergrad degree. Opting for law later on demonstrates your drive and commitment to embark on a fresh career path.

Delivered by academics and qualified professional practitioners, this postgraduate programme will provide the legal knowledge and competencies needed in the Six Foundations of Legal Knowledge; Contract Law; Crime; Equity & Trusts; Land Law; Public & EU Law; and the Law of Tort. 

It aims to provide both legal knowledge and linked practical skills in order to put you in a strong position to commence any SQE prep course with confidence, so you can go on to complete the vocational phase of qualifying as a solicitor.  

The Rice-Jones Trust Scholarship

The Rice-Jones Charitable Trust was set by an individual who wanted to benefit postgraduate law students studying in the North West of England. The individual's late husband and father were both lawyers, and this inspired her to help students who show academic promise and a commitment to the legal profession, but who may not necessarily have the financial support to undertake their studies.

The Rice-Jones Charitable Trust is registered at the Charity Commission with registration number 1171890. Click here for full details.

The Rice-Jones Charitable Trust Scholarship is available to applicants who have accepted a place to study on a postgraduate law course, including but not limited to the Graduate Diploma in Law, the Legal Practice Course, the Solicitors Qualifying Examination, the Bar Professional Training Course or the Master's in Law.

The amount offered and purpose for which the Scholarship award is offered is at the absolute discretion of The Rice-Jones Charitable Trust and may vary per individual. A successful applicant may be in receipt of a grant of up to £20,000. 

The deadline for applications is 31 March 2025. Apply using this form, any queries please contact the email address in the form.

Course modules

Discover the building blocks of your programme

Further guidance on modules

Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.

Core modules

Your Learning Experience

An insight into teaching on your course

Study hours

The part-time course is 6 months (2 semesters) and runs from September to May. It is taught 2 days a week – usually each day consisting of 6 hours face to face delivery.

Teaching methods

From day one students will be introduced to the English Legal System and acquire knowledge and understanding of the legal theories and principles which underpin the areas of substantive law being studied.

Students will do an introductory non-credit induction studying the English Legal System and practical legal research to put the basics of law into context before they undertake their 6 compulsory modules. 

As the course progresses, students will demonstrate their learning achievement through a series of formative assessments, culminating in their final examinations.  

Applied learning

Students will acquire subject knowledge and legal skills through seminars, supplemented by large group sessions and supported by extensive learning materials. In the seminars students will be applying their new-found legal knowledge to problem-based scenarios and questions. 

How learning is monitored on your programme

To cater for the wide-ranging content of our courses and the varied learning preferences of our students, we offer a range of assessment methods on each programme.

The testing of the knowledge is through examinations which consist of both multiple choice questions (MCQ) type questions (to replicate the SQE 1 assessments) and problem type questions.

Where you will study

What you can expect from your School

The School is based in the Redmonds Building, in the heart of the bustling Mount Pleasant Campus and Liverpool's growing Knowledge Quarter. Redmonds Building is shared by two Schools within the Faculty of Arts, Professional and Social Studies - Liverpool Screen School and the School of Law - and Liverpool Business School, making for a rich blend of student learning experiences. The building is home to high quality lecture theatres and seminar rooms, a mock court room, social spaces, and a café. It is only a short walk from LJMU's Aldham Robarts Library, which contains all the resources you will require for your studies.

Course tutors

Career paths

Further your career prospects

LJMU has an excellent employability record with 96% (HESA 2018) of our postgraduates in work or further study six months after graduation. Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.

As this is designed for those wishing to become solicitors, the programme gives the students both practical and legal knowledge needed in a competitive legal sector. 

Tuition fees and funding

Home fee:
£3,970

Fees

The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as library membership and student IT support with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources including programme-appropriate software and on campus wifi.

Financial Support

There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you’ll find all of the information you need on our specialist postgraduate funding pages. The University offers a range of financial support for students. You'll find all the information you need on our specialist financial support pages including details of the Student Support Fund and other activities to support with the cost of living.

Additional Costs

In addition to fees, students should also keep in mind the cost of:

  • Accommodation
  • Travel costs and field trips unless paid for by LJMU
  • Stationery, IT equipment, professional body membership and graduation gown hire

Entry requirements

You will need:

Qualification requirements

How to apply

Securing your place at LJMU

To apply for this programme, you are required to complete an LJMU online application form. You will need to provide details of previous qualifications and a personal statement outlining why you wish to study this programme.

Your university life

From accommodation and academic support to clubs and societies. Find out what LJMU has to offer.

Talk to our students

Connect with a current LJMU student for advice and guidance on university life, courses and more.

See what our students are saying

At LJMU we want you to know you’re making the right choice by studying with us. You can see what our students are saying about their experience with us through their reviews on the following websites:

The University reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the University. Where this does happen, the University operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.

Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.