University Foundation Course in Legal Studies

Bournemouth Business School International (BBSI), one of the most highly-accredited UK English colleges and business schools, offers international students the opportunity to study a language course in the UK while also studying legal and professional law concepts, and acquiring the academic study skills required prior to entry to a UK university undergraduate degree course. Our University Foundation Course in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law comprises 30 lessons weekly, and is carefully designed to enable international students at an Upper-Intermediate level in English or above to prepare for university and also gain worthwhile legal English, business and qualifications.

Depending on the study option selected, awards include either a BBSI Higher-Certificate or Diploma qualification and a certificate awarded by the NCFE national awarding body. The course syllabus includes extensive IELTS Examination Preparation and the full syllabus for the University of Cambridge ESOL International Legal English Certificate. In addition to acquiring a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of modern concepts in law and legal procedures, students will also develop competent English-language, business and professional communication skills, and the ability to both understand and draft legal documents.

For those with the requisite high-school grades and a sound Upper-Intermediate Level in English, we offer a 24 week-week Higher-Certificate programme in Legal Studies that enables participants to achieve the learning outcomes in shorter time. For those with an Upper-Intermediate Level in English, however, we offer the 36-week Diploma study option, which builds more gradually in intensity and specialisation.

In addition to gaingin BBSI and NCFE awards, students can prepare for the University of Cambridge ESOL, International Legal English Certificate (ILEC) . BBSI is an accredited ILEC Examination Centre. Both study options also include extensive IELTS Examination Preparation and Academic Study Skills , and facilitate undergraduate entry to a UK university. The syllabi meet the rigorous standards set by the national education standards agency, the National Qualificaitons Agency (NQA), and are considered notionally at NQA Level 3 within the British Government's National Qualifications Framework.

UK University Placement. While undertaking their university foundation course and acquiring the academic study skills necessary for university, students are provided with extensive counselling and guidance in all aspects of study at UK universities, and are given full assistance with the UK university application process. All Foundation students who successfully complete their course are assured of a university place prior to graduation from BBSI.

University of Cambridge ESOL International Legal English Certificate. The International Legal English Certificate (ILEC) is a University of Cambridge ESOL examination produced and assessed by Cambridge ESOL Examinations in collaboration with TransLegal, Europe’s leading firm of lawyer-linguists. BBSI is an accredited ILEC Examination Centre. English is an essential tool for any lawyer working with international matters, and employers need to know that the legal staff they appoint have a sufficient level of English to be able to communicate with clients and professionals in other countries. At the same time, law students and newly-qualified lawyers need to be able to show employers that they have the required language skills. The ILEC examination allows candidates to demonstrate their skills, and therefore to increase their employability. It is based on realistic texts, tasks and topics of the kind legal practitioners might meet in their daily working lives. Preparation for the ILEC is included automatically within this BBSI university foundation programme.

Study Options. There are 2 study options for this course. For those students with excellent high-school grades and a sound Upper-Intermediate level in English, we offer a 24-week Higher-Certificate programme, Study Option 1, which enables participants to develop their legal English, business and professional communication skills to a more advanced level of proficiency, while studying a more extensive range of specialised topics. However, for those students with a lower, Upper-Intermediate level in English, who require more emphasis initially on developing their academic English, business English and academic study skills prior to the introduction of more advanced legal studies and training in law, we offer a 36-week Diploma course that builds more gradually in intensity and specialisation. The course is conducted around a busy social and activity programme, and the maximum class size is 12, which can be extended to 15 during peak periods.

Study Option 1

The shorter, Higher-Certificate study option is designed for those students with excellent High School grades and a sound Upper-Intermediate level in English. The course is of 24 weeks duration.

Course Outline: 

Minimum English Entry Level: IELTS 6.0 (Upper-Intermediate)

Course Duration: 24 weeks (2 terms)

Course Designation: UFP 24

Main Course Entry Dates: October, January, April or July (term dates 2008)

Lessons Weekly: 30 (each of 45 minutes´ duration)

Minimum Age: 17 years

Course Structure & Content:

20 lessons weekly in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law
(includes the full Cambridge ILEC syllabus)
10 lessons weekly in Academic Study Skills & IELTS Examination Preparation

Awards:

BBSI Higher-Certificate in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law 
(continuous assessment)
NCFE Certificate in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law 
(continuous assessment)

Optional Examinations+:

University of Cambridge ILEC 
(examination - annually May & November)
IELTS [Academic] (examinations monthly)

Course Objectives. The course objectives are to:

*  fully prepare students academically for entry to a UK university first degree course related to legal studies, and international and commercial law
*  have completed the university-application process so that students secure a UK university placement on the undergraduate degree course of their choice
*  acquire the necessary academic study skills for undergraduate study at a UK university
*  develop an understanding of current legal theory and practice
*  acquire a sound and professional understanding of international and commercial law, and legal procedures
*  acquire vocational qualifications related to law and legal studies
*  build appropriate legal vocabulary
*  acquire the necessary communication skills for a career in law
*  develop effective legal English communication and presentation skills
*  develop confidence and fluency in the English language to advanced Level
*  prepare participants for the IELTS (Academic) examination

Course Elements. In addition to providing international students with a thorough and comprehensive grounding in legal English and academic study skills, the Higher-Certificate syllabus incorporates all the following specialised elements:

*  UK & comparative legal systems   
*  law of property
*  international law, human rights & competition policy 
*  criminal law
*  conflict of laws 
*  public international law
*  international trade   
*  commercial, consumer & employment law
*  contract Law     
*  current affairs & the Law
*  partnership law  
*  intellectual property     
*  law of tort, including physical injury & economic loss
*  company law (shares, company capital, legal entities etc)
*  International Legal English Certificate (ILEC) Preparation
*  drafting legal documents & letters
*  understanding legal documents
*  legal negotiations
*  client interviews

Study Option 2

The longer, Diploma study option is designed for those students with sound High School grades and a lower, Upper-Intermediate level in English, who require more emphasis initially on developing their general, professional and business English communication skills, prior to the introduction of more advanced legal studies and training in law. The course is of 36 weeks duration and builds more gradually in intensity and specialisation.

Course Outline:

Minimum English Entry Level: IELTS 5.5 (Upper-Intermediate)

Course Duration: 36 weeks (3 terms)

Course Designation: ULS 36

Main Course Entry Dates: October, January, April or July (term dates 2008)

Lessons Weekly: 30 (each of 45 minutes´ duration)

Minimum Age: 17 years

Course Structure & Content:

Term 1

20 lessons weekly in Communication & Business Skills
10 lessons weekly in Academic Study Skills & IELTS Examination Preparation

Terms 2 & 3

20 lessons weekly in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law 
(includes the full ILEC syllabus)
10 lessons weekly in Academic Study Skills & IELTS Examination Preparation

Awards:

BBSI Diploma in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law
(continuous assessment)
NCFE Certificate in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law 
(continuous assessment)

Optional Examinations+:

University of Cambridge ILEC
(examination - annually May & November)
IELTS [Academic] (examinations monthly)

Course Objectives. The course objectives are to:

*  fully prepare students academically for entry to a UK university first degree course related to legal studies, and international and commercial law
*  have completed the university-application process so that students secure a UK university placement on the undergraduate degree course of their choice
*  acquire the necessary academic study skills for undergraduate study at a UK university
*  develop an understanding of current legal theory and practice
*  acquire a sound and professional understanding of international and commercial law, and legal procedures
*  acquire vocational qualifications related to law and legal studies
*  build appropriate legal vocabulary
*  acquire the necessary communication skills for a career in law
*  develop effective legal English communication and presentation skills
*  develop confidence and fluency in the English language to advanced Level
*  prepare participants for the IELTS (Academic) examination

Course Elements. In addition to providing international students with a thorough and comprehensive grounding in legal English and academic study skills, the Diploma syllabus incorporates all the following specialised elements:

*  UK & comparative legal systems   
*  law of property
*  international law, human rights & competition policy 
*  criminal law
*  conflict of laws 
*  public international law
*  international trade   
*  commercial, consumer & employment law
*  contract Law     
*  current affairs & the Law
*  partnership law  
*  intellectual property     
*  law of tort, including physical injury & economic loss
*  company law (shares, company capital, legal entities etc)
*  International Legal English Certificate (ILEC) Preparation
*  drafting legal documents & letters
*  understanding legal documents
*  legal negotiations
*  client interviews

Certificate, Higher-Certificate, Diploma and Pre-Masters´ versions of the above course are also available.

BBSI courses are carefully designed and structured at different language levels to enable international students to develop all 4 English language skills simultaneously, while developing their professional communication skills and professional knowledge in academic, vocational or professional context, in the specialised subject of their choice. Students therefore have the flexibility to focus on either academic or vocational progression, depending on their personal training needs and particular learning objectives.

 Download a PDF of the BBSI University Foundation Course in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law.

 Book this course on-Line.

The following University Foundation courses are also available at BBSI:

• Management & Business Administration
• Marketing, Advertising & Public Relations
• Finance & Financial Services
• Hospitality Management & Tourism
• Science, Mathematics & IT