Law Study Guide 2025/26
What you can study
The University of Bristol has been a leading provider of legal education for more than a century. The Law School represents a unique blend of tradition and innovation, and is housed in the iconic Wills Memorial Building in the heart of the Bristol city campus.
You will find units on:
- criminal law
- family law
- company law, business law, and European policy
- history, theory and practice of law
Pre-requisites
Most Law units assume familiarity with Common Law. If you do not have this background, see the list of recommended units under Year 1.
At UK universities, students specialise from their first year and rarely take units outside their degree subject. This means that:
- Year 1 units are suitable for all students.
- Year 2 units require some university study in the discipline.
- Year 3 units require a strong background in the discipline.
Not currently studying Law but considering Law School in the future? See our Law School Study Taster guide for units that are suitable for Pre-Law students.
Subject pathway students
If you have been nominated to Bristol on the Study Abroad (Law pathway), you must take the majority of your credits from this guide.
Year 1
Pre-requisites: suitable for all students
Teaching Block 1
- Foundations of Business Law - LAWD10007
- Law and State - LAWD10012
- Law of Tort I: Liability for Negligence - LAWD10021
Teaching Block 2
- Constitutional Rights - LAWD10013
- Law of Tort II: Other Liabilities - LAWD10019
- Law through Culture - LAWD10020
Teaching Block 4 (full year)
Year 2
If you do not study Law at your home university, please go to the Law School Study Taster guide. This outlines units suitable for those who are Pre-Law.
Please note that several Year 2 and Year 3 require a familiarity with English common law. To take any units with asterisks (*) next to them, you must have previously studied common law Tort and/or Contract Law. This means that those that have studied Tort and/or Contract Law in relation to a civil law jurisdiction will not be eligible to take these units.
Teaching Block 1
- British Immigration, Nationality, and Citizenship Law - LAWD20045
- Company Law - LAWD20037 *
- Family Law 1: Adult Relationships - LAWD20047
- General Principles of International Law - LAWD20041
- Law and Policy of the European Union - LAWD20052
Teaching Block 2
- Advanced Obligations - LAWD20048 *
- Comparative Law - LAWD20001
- Introduction to Intellectual Property - LAWD20043
- Medical Law - LAWD20039 *
- Roman Law - LAWD20046
Teaching Block 4 (full year)
Year 3
If you do not study Law at your home university, please go to the Law School Study Taster guide. This outlines units suitable for those who are Pre-Law.
Please note that several Year 2 and Year 3 require a familiarity with English common law. To take any units with asterisks (*) next to them, you must have previously studied common law Tort and/or Contract Law. This means that those that have studied Tort and/or Contract Law in relation to a civil law jurisdiction will not be eligible to take these units.
Teaching Block 1
- Banking Law - LAWD30090 *
- Employment Law - LAWD30113
- Environmental Law - LAWD30123
- Information Technology Law - LAWD30003
- Legal History - LAWD30106
- Rich Law, Poor Law - LAWD30017
- Transnational Arbitration - LAWD30128 *
Teaching Block 2
- Commercial Law - LAWD30028 *
- Family Law 2: Child Law - LAWD30131
- International Dispute Settlement - LAWD30117
- Issues in Corporate Governance - LAWD30001 - the School strongly recommends that students complete LAWD20037 Company Law before taking this unit.
- Sex, Gender and Law - LAWD30110
Teaching Block 4 (full year)
Thinking of applying to Law School?
Considering a legal career and are not currently studying Law? See our Law School Study Taster guide which outlines units suitable for those who are Pre-law.
Application queries
Contact the Centre for Study Abroad inbound team if you have any queries about the application process for the study abroad programmes:
Phone: +44 117 39 40207
Email: cfsa-inbound@bristol.ac.uk
You may also be interested in:
- Policy Studies - for Criminology
- Sociology - for units on Crime and Justice
What you can study at Bristol
Browse other subjects and study themes.
Study Guides
Study Guides are updated every April for the following academic year.