Open University

BA (Honours) in Law and Languages

Knowledge and understanding

You will be able to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of:

• The concepts, values, rules and principles of the legal system of England and Wales, and some awareness of the powers exercised by the devolved legislatures in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
• A range of areas of substantive law of England and Wales and their impact on individuals and society.
• The social, political, economic, historical and ethical dimensions of law.
• The impact of technology on law.
• The ability to communicate fluently and appropriately with competent speakers of your chosen language, in a broad variety of oral and written contexts, including academic ones, maintaining a high degree of grammatical accuracy and appropriate style.
• Aspects of the societies of the countries where your chosen language is spoken (including aspects such as literature, cultures, linguistic contexts, politics, geography, and social and economic structures).
• Intercultural communicative competence, including a reasoned awareness and critical understanding of the cultures and societies associated with your chosen language and the ability to describe, analyse and evaluate the similarities and dissimilarities between cultures and societies and your own.

Cognitive skills

You will be able to demonstrate your ability to:

• Ask and answer appropriate questions about law and legal systems, identifying gaps in your knowledge.
• Combine and criticise various sources of legal authority, identify their merits and shortcomings and make a reasoned choice between them.
• Apply legal principles and authority to develop reasoned answers to questions.
• Recognise ambiguity, and deal with uncertainty in law.
• Make use of a wide variety of written, spoken and multimodal texts for different audiences in your chosen modern language, employing appropriate reading and listening strategies.
• Write texts of different types in your chosen language, following appropriate structures and conventions, including academic language, selecting and making critical use of written and spoken sources.
• Make spoken presentations on particular topics, using appropriate styles and techniques, and take part in a wide variety of spoken interactions in your chosen modern language, using appropriate discourse strategies.
• Interpret and critically evaluate evidence in the light of alternative explanations, arguments and theories.

Practical and professional skills

You will be able to demonstrate your ability to:

• Conduct, independent legal research.
• Identify, retrieve and evaluate legal information from a range of electronic or other sources.
• Communicate clear, relevant and accurate legal information in language appropriate to the intended audience.
• Acknowledge the sources of information you have used, in a style appropriate to the task.
• Gather and process information from a variety of paper, audio-visual and electronic sources, in English and your chosen modern language.

Key skills

You will be able to:

• Communicate relevant ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Work with a range of textual, numerical and statistical data.
• Reflect on your learning and development, making effective use of feedback, and demonstrating a willingness to acknowledge and correct errors.
• Collaborate effectively with others.
• Demonstrate the ability to independently find, critically evaluate and use a wide range of information, data or tools accurately in complex contexts.
• Recognise and use effective learning strategies.

This degree has three stages, each comprising 120 credits:

• In Stage 1, you’ll study a 60-credit introductory law module. You’ll choose your language and study two 30-credit language modules.
• Next, in Stage 2, you’ll study two 30-credit law modules and a 60-credit language module in your chosen language.
• Finally, in Stage 3, you’ll study two 30-credit law modules and another 60-credit module in your chosen language.

Stage 1 (120 credits)

French

You'll choose one from:

• Exploring languages and cultures (L161)
• Introduction to French studies (beginners) (L102)

You'll choose one from:

• Criminal law and the courts (W111)
• Civil justice and tort law (W112)

You'll study the following:

• French Studies 1 (intermediate) (L112)

German

You'll choose one from:

• Exploring languages and cultures (L161)
• Introduction to German studies (beginners) (L103)

You'll choose one from:

• Criminal law and the courts (W111)
• Civil justice and tort law (W112)

You'll study the following:

• German Studies 1 (intermediate) (L113)

Spanish

You'll choose one from:

• Exploring languages and cultures (L161)
• Introduction to Spanish studies (beginners) (L106)

You'll choose one from:

• Criminal law and the courts (W111)
• Civil justice and tort law (W112)

You'll study the following:

• Spanish Studies 1 (intermediate) (L116)

Stages 2 and 3 (240 credits)

French

Stage 2 (120 credits)

You'll study both of the following:

• Public law (W211)
• French Studies 2: language and culture of the French-speaking world (L222)

You'll choose one from:

• Family law (W230)
• Business and employment law (W240)
• Evidence law (W250)
• International, environmental and space law (W260)

Stage 3 (120 credits)

You'll study the following:

• Trusts law (W311)

You'll choose one from:

• Exploring legal boundaries (W350)
• European Union law (W330)
• Land law (W312)
• Law, society and culture (W340)

You'll study the following:

• French Studies 3: language and culture of the French-speaking world (L332)

German

Stage 2 (120 credits)

You'll study both of the following:

• Public law (W211)
• German studies 2: language and culture of the German-speaking world (L223)

You'll choose one from:

• Family law (W230)
• Business and employment law (W240)
• Evidence law (W250)
• International, environmental and space law (W260)

Stage 3 (120 credits)

You'll study the following:

• Trusts law (W311)

You'll choose one from:

• Exploring legal boundaries (W350)
• European Union law (W330)
• Land law (W312)
• Law, society and culture (W340)

You'll study the following:

• German studies 3: language and culture of the German-speaking world (L333)

Spanish

Stage 2 (120 credits)

You'll study both of the following:

• Public law (W211)
• Spanish studies 2: language and culture of the Spanish-speaking world (L226)

You'll choose one from:

• Family law (W230)
• Business and employment law (W240)
• Evidence law (W250)
• International, environmental and space law (W260)

Stage 3 (120 credits)

You'll study the following:

• Trusts law (W311)

You'll choose one from:

• Exploring legal boundaries (W350)
• European Union law (W330)
• Land law (W312)
• Law, society and culture (W340)

You'll study the following:

• Spanish studies 3: language and culture of the Spanish-speaking world (L336)

Assessment

Our assessments are all designed to reinforce your learning and help you show your understanding of the topics. The mix of assessment methods will vary between modules.

Computer-Marked Assignments

• Usually, a series of online, multiple-choice questions.

Tutor-Marked Assignments

• You’ll have a number of these throughout each module, each with a submission deadline.
• They can be made up of essays, questions, experiments or something else to test your understanding of what you have learned.
• Your tutor will mark and return them to you with detailed feedback.

End-of-Module Assessments

• The final, marked piece of work on most modules.
• Modules with an end-of-module assessment won’t usually have an exam.

Exams

• Some modules end with an exam. You’ll be given time to revise and prepare.
• You’ll be given your exam date at least 5 months in advance.
• Most exams take place remotely, and you will complete them at home or an alternative location.
• If a module requires you to take a face-to-face exam, this will be made clear in the module description, and you will be required to take your exam in person at one of our exam centres.

Skills for career development

You’ll develop a broad set of employability skills, including the ability to:

• Understand the foundation subjects of law and the legal system of England and Wales.
• Apply legal principles to resolve issues.
• Present and make a reasoned choice between different opinions and solutions.
• Read and discuss complex and technical legal materials.
• Communicate effectively, clearly and accurately with others.
• Use information and communication technology (ICT) effectively.
• Manage time and work independently and as part of a team.
• Take responsibility for your personal development, set realistic objectives and meet your own goals.
• Manage and motivate yourself.
• Plan, organise and prioritise your work, evaluate and reflect on it.

Career relevance

Studying law alongside a modern language opens up many career options in law-related fields, business and finance or international organisations. Your understanding of another language and the cultures that use it is an asset that will be highly valued by employers and that will widen your opportunities in the international market. A qualification in law and a language can lead to opportunities in a wide range of areas, such as:

• Business and finance.
• Civil service.
• Human resources.
• Paralegal professions.
• Journalism.
• Research.
• Translation and interpreting.
• Editing and publishing.

Please note that this degree does not cover all seven Foundations of Legal Knowledge. If you want to become a barrister in England and Wales or a solicitor or barrister in Northern Ireland, you will need to complete a conversion course before starting your professional training.

Other careers

Employers are keen to utilise the legal awareness that law and language graduates offer. They value applicants who can communicate well, analyse, evaluate and present ideas and arguments effectively. Developed legal thinking can be a firm basis to move into areas such as the civil service, tax advice or journalism. If you want to work as a translator in your chosen language, this degree will allow you to develop a law specialist.

Many graduate-level jobs are open to graduates of any discipline, particularly in business, finance, management consultancy and the public sector. Some careers may require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree. Studying for a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) after this qualification will also give you the option of becoming a barrister or solicitor.

With our unique approach to distance learning, you can study from home, work or on the move.

You’ll have some assessment deadlines to meet, but otherwise, you’ll be free to study at the times that suit you, fitting your learning around work, family, and social life.

For each of your modules, you’ll use either just online resources or a mix of online and printed materials.

Each module you study will have a module website with

• A week-by-week study planner, giving you a step-by-step guide through your studies
• Course materials such as reading, videos, recordings, and self-assessed activities
• Module forums for discussions and collaborative activities with other students
• Details of each assignment and their due dates
• A tutorial booking system, online tutorial rooms, and your tutor’s contact details
• Online versions of some printed module materials and resources.