COURSE CURRICULUM

The taught stage of the Aston University LLM programme combines advanced legal education, professional skills development, and integrated preparation for solicitor qualification. The largest component, Mastering Legal Knowledge and Practice (SQE1), provides comprehensive preparation for the first stage of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination, covering the foundations of legal knowledge across key areas of law while emphasising professional ethics, legal responsibilities, and conduct expected within modern legal practice. Mastering Legal Skills and Practice (SQE2) prepares students for the second stage of the SQE by developing essential practical legal skills, including advocacy, legal analysis, legal drafting, legal writing, client interviewing, case management, and professional communication across a variety of legal practice areas. The Aston Global Advantage module enhances employability and professional readiness by developing leadership, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills through multidisciplinary projects focused on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges. Law in Context adopts a critical and analytical approach to understanding law, examining how legal systems operate within broader social, political, economic, historical, and cultural environments. Students explore the factors that influence legal development and application while evaluating the impact of law on society. Researching Law: Process, Questions and Decisions focuses on building advanced legal research capabilities and critical thinking skills. Students learn how to design and conduct legal research, formulate research questions, evaluate evidence, construct persuasive academic arguments, and develop well-supported legal recommendations. Together, these modules provide a balanced combination of substantive legal knowledge, practical legal skills, research expertise, and professional development. The programme is specifically designed to support students pursuing qualification as solicitors in England and Wales while also preparing graduates for wider careers in legal practice, compliance, regulation, public policy, corporate governance, consultancy, and related professional fields. Through its integration of SQE preparation, critical legal study, research training, and employability development, the programme equips students with the knowledge, practical competence, ethical awareness, and professional confidence required to succeed in today's legal and regulatory environment.