Open University

Diploma of Higher Education in Law

Knowledge and understanding

On completion of this qualification, you will have 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 in England and Wales and their impact on individuals and society
• A number of the social, political, economic, historical and ethical dimensions of law.

Cognitive skills

On completion of this qualification, you will be able to:

• Ask and answer appropriate questions about your chosen area of law and legal systems, identifying gaps in your knowledge
• Combine and criticise a range of sources of legal authority, identify their merits and shortcomings, and make a reasoned choice between them
• Apply legal principles and authority to start to develop reasoned answers to questions.

Practical and/or professional skills

On completion of this qualification, you will be able to:

• Conduct some independent legal research
• Identify, retrieve and evaluate legal information from a range of electronic or other sources
• Acknowledge the sources of information that you have used, in a style appropriate to the task.

Key skills

On completion of this qualification, you will be able to demonstrate the following skills:

• 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, make effective use of feedback, and demonstrate a willingness to acknowledge and correct errors.

This qualification has two stages, each comprising 120 credits.

• You’ll start Stage 1 with an introduction to criminal law and the criminal court system and will then study tort law and the civil justice system.
• At Stage 2, you’ll build your legal knowledge with contract law and public law as well as choosing two aspects of the law that are of particular interest.

Stage 1 (120 credits)

You'll study both of the following:

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

Stage 2 (120 credits)

You'll study both of the following:

• Public law (W211)
• Contract law (W212)

You’ll also study two of the following:

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

Students who intend to progress to an LLB and aim to be a solicitor or barrister in Northern Ireland will need to study Evidence law (W250).

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

This qualification will provide you with a knowledge and understanding of the English legal system, including how legal cases are argued and decided, and a specialist knowledge and understanding of four substantive legal areas (Contract Law, the Law of Torts, Public Law and Criminal Law) and two other optional legal areas. You will also develop a range of legal and other skills, including being able to identify legal issues and apply legal principles and developing your time management and self-motivation abilities.

Career relevance

The knowledge and skills you will gain from studying for this diploma are recognised and highly respected by many employers. The diploma will prepare you for career development in law, business, government, education, charitable and non-governmental organisations and a wide range of other public-facing and regulatory roles. Roles in finance, human resources, local government or general management all benefit from a legal background and from the discipline of studying law.

You can continue your legal studies by completing the full Bachelor of Laws with Honours (LLB) qualification and this qualification will help you with a legal career. It is necessary to complete further undergraduate legal studies successfully and meet all other requirements of the regulatory authorities in order satisfactorily to complete your training as a solicitor or barrister. Further information about future legal careers can be found in the Bachelor of Laws with Honours (LLB) qualification.

• Barrister
• Barrister's Clerk
• Legal Executive
• Paralegal
• Company Secretary
• Licensed Conveyancer
• Detective
• Solicitor Advice Worker
• Chartered Accountant
• Civil Service Administrator
• Patent Attorney
• Trading Standards Officer
• Forensic Computer Analyst
• Mediator

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.