Canterbury Christ Church University
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Small, vibrant, critical: Why law students thrive at Canterbury Christ Church University

When one thinks of the city of Canterbury, what comes to mind are ancient walls built by the Romans, and the stunning Canterbury Cathedral, once the headquarters of the Church of England and Anglican Communion. Nestled in this picturesque medieval city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, however, is a boutique law school like no other.

Just an hour and a half’s train ride from the bustling metropolis of London, Canterbury Christ Church University — which houses the School of Law, Policing and Social Sciences — is an institution where thousands of students achieve excellence. 

LL.B. (Hons) Bachelor of Law with Criminology graduate Holly Barrow was first drawn by CCCU’s location. “I loved the cathedral and cobbled streets,” she says. “The university felt slightly smaller than others I had visited which I loved, it had a real personal feel, and I loved the fact it was spread out amongst the city.”

Canterbury Christ Church University

SOurce: Canterbury Christ Church University

Thanks to the support of the law school, Barrow found her calling: HR. Now, she works as a Talent Engagement Executive at Konexo UK, where she recruits talented professionals for the legal services industries. Studying at CCCU was what helped shape her career trajectory, “I learnt so much during my time at university, not just from my course but things about myself,” she says. “I had the opportunity to attend lots of networking events. Speaking to various lawyers and professionals definitely helped me identify the direction I wanted to go in.”

What stood out for her was how the university took the time to individualise its approach to every student. Learning feels “really personal.”. “I found the module options really interesting and the lecturers were so enthusiastic and friendly. I would say what sold CCCU to me was being able to study law with criminology and still get a qualifying law degree. I hadn’t really seen this elsewhere and it really stood out,” Barrow shares.

CCCU’s student-first strategy checks out. The institution scored a hefty 91% for teaching quality in law, according to the National Student Survey 2017. This is proof that the law school spares no expense when it comes to producing stellar graduates, regardless of the fields they jump into once they leave — from hiring an experienced teaching team that consists of academics, solicitors, barristers, and international lawyers, to funding modern simulation suites for enhanced learning.

Around 66% of CCCU graduates are in highly skilled graduate-level employment 15 months after completing their studies, 9% higher than the national average. How does the university achieve this? By combining traditional teaching methods with progressive approaches. The university has perfected the art of preparing its students for professional life. Barrow, for example, joined the CLOCK programme, where she had the opportunity to train as a Community Legal Companion as well as provide support for Litigants in Person (LiPs) — those who have been unable to either afford legal advice or are unaware of pro bono services — at court. 

Canterbury Christ Church University

Source: Canterbury Christ Church University

Such a holistic outlook on education only proves to be successful when merged with small class sizes and a supportive learning environment. One-to-one tutoring is the norm at CCCU, where a lecturer’s job does not end at teaching classes and marking assessments. Here, faculty members take up the responsibility of guiding the academic, personal, and professional growth of every law student over the course of their three years in the school.

The law school sets itself apart in the best possible way through an array of LL.B. offerings — Law, Law with International Relations, Law with Business, Law with Criminology, and Law with Politics. Students will not only dive deep into different areas of law at CCCU, but will also get a chance to go on field trips to European as well as international courts, gain legal work experience at the one-of-a-kind Mediation Clinic, and explore other areas of their law degree in the Verena Holmes building — a new 65 million pounds STEM facility equipped with forensics and crime scene labs

Click here to learn more about what each LL.B. programme at Canterbury Christ Church University has to offer you here.

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