Applicants must be aware that the Bachelors’ Degrees are not ‘qualifying’ degrees’, required by the Law Society for the purpose of qualifying as a Solicitor, nor are they sufficient to qualify as a Barrister in the UK.

The degrees are not, either, ‘qualifying’ degrees required by the American Bar Association. However, SEU Graduates will be considered to take the American Bar examination if they successfully complete at least 26 semester hours of study in the subjects tested in the bar examination, in a law school that at the time of such study was approved by the American Bar Association.

SEU Degrees are however, accepted for career progression. The world is becoming more and more competitive and it is necessary to be able to demonstrate your expertise, skills and capabilities at the highest level.

The Southern Eastern University (USA) Faculty of Law offers the following Degrees:

Please Note: The University also offers a specialised legal degree - BA(Law) - for those working in the Community and Voluntary Sectors (See General Disciplines Faculty)

With each level of Degree, candidates can choose which they prefer. The difference between the two types is that the LLB, the LLM and the LLD are usually granted for a Dissertation/Thesis with a purely legal impact for those who work within the Legal Profession or in a strictly legal environment either in practice or academically.

The BA(Law), MA(Law), PhD(Law) and PhD, however, are for a Dissertation/ Thesis with a Legal/Sociological impact for those working in commerce, the public sector or academia.

Bachelor’s Programme:

In order to be able to apply to register onto the Bachelor’s Programme, applicants must either claim exemption from Part 1 of the Programme (see Study Methodology) or register with the University to take the Higher Certificate in Paralegal Studies of The National Association of Licensed Paralegals, (NALP), the leading professional body for the qualification and career development of Paralegals in the UK.

Exemption from Part 1 can be claimed by anyone who holds any of the following qualifications:

• Higher Certificate in Paralegal Studies of the National Association of Licensed Paralegals (A.PLL)
• Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice of the Institute of Legal Executives (M.Inst.L.Ex)
• HND in Legal Studies or Foundation Degree in Law (UK) or Associate Degree in Law (USA)
• Council for Licensed Conveyancers’ Licensing qualification.
• Any professional or similar level qualification, which includes a substantial law element which, in the opinion of the University either in itself or in conjunction with experience, is acceptable
• A formal qualification may be dispensed with at the discretion of the Faculty, for existing Paralegals, Legal Executives, or other lawyers who have appropriate qualifying experience.

Part 1:   Entry onto the Programme must be made on the Application for Registration Form provided and the fees are shown on the separate Fee Form; these Forms explain the method of Registration. If a proposed Applicant does not already possess one of the qualifications listed above, then, as mentioned above, they can, through the University, study to obtain the Higher Certificate in Paralegal Studies of The National Association of Licensed Paralegals, (NALP), the leading professional body for the qualification and career development of Paralegals in the UK. The University has had a close association with NALP for over ten years and their Higher Certificate is the standard qualification to become a Paralegal in the UK. Being based on English Common Law it is applicable to all Countries having a Common Law system. It also confers upon the successful student Associate Membership of the Association as a fully qualified Paralegal and the post-nominal letters of ‘A.PLL’.

The Higher Certificate in Paralegal Studies consists of two Modules each consisting of ten Units each:

Module 1 - General Principles of English Law:

The English System: The Law of Contract: The Law of Tort: Criminal Law: and Wills, Intestacy and Family Provision.

Module 2: Procedural Law:

Civil Litigation: Criminal Procedure: Matrimonial/Family Disputes: Conveyancing: and Succession.

Study will be by way of Distance Learning and assessment by way of Assignments for each Unit plus Achievement Tests. Full learning material is provided and there are no other expenses involved other than the course fee.

The average time taken by the average diligent student to pass the course is approximately 14 months.

The Course fee for The Higher Certificate in Paralegal Studies is £580 (in addition to the Degree fee).

Part 2: On satisfying the requirements of Part 1 of the Programme, students will automatically proceed to Part 2 (see Study Methodology)

Master’s Programme:

Applicants must, in order to satisfy Part 1 of the Programme (see Study Methodology), show their prior academic achievement by having acquired any of the following:

1. A Bachelor’s Degree in Law, either through Southern Eastern University or through any other University acceptable to SEU.
   
   
2. A professional qualification, such as a Barrister, Solicitor, Attorney, Accountant or similar, or having been made a Fellow of a professional or other body or organisation.
   
   
3. A Bachelor’s Degree in a discipline other than Law either through SEU or through any other University acceptable to SEU, coupled with any of the qualifications necessary for entry into Part 1 of the Bachelor’s Degree Programme.
   
   
4. A formal qualification may be dispensed with at the discretion of the Faculty, for those working within business, commerce or management either commercial or academic, who have appropriate qualifying experience.

Evidence of attainment under 1- 4 above will be required on enrolment. Approval for entry onto the Programme under 4 above should be sought prior to submitting an Application for Registration.

On satisfying these requirements, students will automatically proceed to Part 2 - please see Study Methodology for details.

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Doctorate: 

Doctorates are only awarded to mature experienced professionals seeking full career development and/or status and are only awarded by way of substantive professional experience, research and Thesis, (see Study Methodology)

The Research must be specific to a subject/topic, which is of importance in the field of law or in the legal/sociological field. It must embrace substantial primary research and substantial original secondary research and must be of ‘value’, either academically or practically within the sphere of the candidate’s professional life.

It is a condition of admittance onto the Programme that the Candidate’s work is monitored to the extent that the Candidate is required to submit a progress Report to the Association every three months.

The finished Thesis must, after initial approval, be ‘defended’ by the candidate either at a panel to be convened or by two individuals of the candidates choosing experienced in a like field. Further details of this requirement will be supplied to the candidate at the appropriate time.

Candidates must submit, along with their Application for Registration onto the Programme a full, and as detailed as possible, CV. The more information that can be given regarding the Candidates previous qualifications - academic and professional; their work experience; appointments and published works (if any), the quicker a decision regarding acceptance onto the Programme can be made.

Those who are awarded a Doctorate may, at the discretion of the University, be appointed Fellows of the University and Members of Faculty. It is a pre-condition of the Award that all successful graduates obtain the Faculty Doctorate robes and cap and attend the Conferring Ceremony (which is held at the same time as Graduation Ceremonies).

For entry onto the Programme, applicants must be able to satisfy Part 1 by showing the academic achievement by having acquired any of the following:

1. A Master’s Degree in Law, either through Southern Eastern University or through any other University acceptable to SEU.

2. A professional qualification, such as a Barrister, Solicitor, Attorney, Accountant or similar, or having been made a Fellow of a professional or other body organisation, together with considerable experience in the field.

3. A Master’s Degree in a discipline other than law, either through SEU or through any other University acceptable to SEU, coupled with any of the qualifications necessary for entry into Part 1 of the Master’s Degree Programme.

4. A formal qualification may be dispensed with at the discretion of the Faculty, for those working within the legal professions or within a legal environment, either commercial or academic, who have considerable qualifying experience.
   

Evidence of attainment under 1- 3 above will be required on enrolment. Approval for entry onto the Programme under 4 above should be sought prior to submitting an Application for Registration.

On satisfying these requirements, students will automatically proceed to Part 2 (see Study Methodology).

I just want to say thank you so much for a great Graduation Ceremony and the Speaker’s lovely words at The Law Society’s Hall yesterday. It was such a personal event and the traditional UK University graduations are not a patch of SEUs. We had a lovely afternoon and my family enjoyed it too - even my teenage daughter! Colette Kelly, BA(Law)(Hons) - Manchester