The Senior Status BA in Jurisprudence Programme at Oxford University is a Second Undergraduate Degree Programme designed for students who already have an undergraduate degree in a different subject and wish to study law. The programme follows the standard three-year Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence in most respects but condenses it into two years. Below is an explanation of each course Senior Status law students will typically study:
Year 1 (Compulsory Courses)
Administrative Law: This course focuses on the legal principles governing the actions and decisions of administrative bodies, such as government agencies and public authorities. It covers topics such as judicial review, decision-making processes, and the accountability of administrative bodies.
Contract Law: Contract law deals with agreements between individuals or entities and the legal enforcement of these agreements. Students study contract formation, interpretation, breach, and remedies available for breached contracts.
European Union Law: This course explores the legal framework governing the European Union and its member states. It covers topics such as the principles of free movement, the role of EU institutions, and the relationship between EU law and national laws.
Jurisprudence: Jurisprudence is the philosophical study of law and legal systems. It examines fundamental questions about the nature of law, justice, rights, and the role of law in society.
Land Law: Land law is concerned with the legal principles governing land and property rights. Topics covered include land ownership, leases, easements, and the transfer of property.
Year 2 (Compulsory Courses)
Legal Research and Mooting Skills Programme (Stage 2): This course builds on the legal research and advocacy skills developed in the first year, preparing students for more advanced legal research and mooting competitions.
Tort Law: Tort law deals with civil wrongs, where one party's actions or omissions cause harm or injury to another party. It involves studying negligence, trespass, nuisance, and other tortious actions.
Trusts Law: Trusts law is concerned with the legal arrangement where one person holds and manages assets on behalf of another person or group of beneficiaries. It covers the creation, administration, and termination of trusts.
Courses Necessary for Qualifying Law Degree (QLD)
To obtain a QLD necessary for entry into bar training in England and Wales, Senior Status law students must take the following optional course in Year 2:
Constitutional Law: This course covers the structure of government, the distribution of powers, and the relationship between the government and its citizens.
Criminal Law: Criminal law explores offences against society and the principles of criminal liability. Students study the elements of different crimes, defences, and the procedures involved in the criminal justice system.
Optional Courses
All undergraduate law students may take optional courses from a list of around 20 subjects. However, Senior Status law students who intend to become a barrister must study all the required courses for entry into bar training. In this case, they must take Constitutional Law and Criminal Law rather than optional courses from the list. These two courses are also assessed in the SQE for intending solicitors. Therefore, choosing other optional courses will significantly slow down their career development in the legal industry unless they do not intend to qualify as lawyers.
The Senior Status BA in Jurisprudence programme at Oxford University offers an intensive and focused path to obtaining a law degree for students with a prior undergraduate degree, preparing them for a career in law or further legal studies. Although students will need to spend two years to complete the programme rather than one year if they opt for a Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL), the prestige of Oxford University and its BA in Jurisprudence, as well as the job prospect of its graduates makes it a worthwhile investment.
