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SQE: property and private client law

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This module covers a range of relevant SQE1 functioning legal knowledge in the areas of property law and practice, trusts, wills and the administration of estates. Alongside gaining knowledge of these areas, you’ll have the opportunity to develop legal and transferable skills (including communication and research), professional behaviours and commercial awareness. The module aims to deliver substantive and procedural law in a highly engaging and authentic way. This should enhance your employability and support you if you’re preparing for SQE1.

What you will study

The module is divided into 16 units of study. The first nine units focus on property law and practice by covering:

  • an introduction to the module and to the nature and principles of land law
  • the essential elements of land law: registered land, freehold estates, easements, freehold covenants, mortgages and co-ownership
  • property law in practice, specifically freehold conveyancing
  • leasehold estates in theory and practice.

The remaining seven units will cover:

  • an introduction to the law of trusts, the different types of trusts and how they are created
  • focus on private client law, specifically the practice area of wills and the administration of estates.

Throughout the module, you'll have opportunities to reinforce and consolidate knowledge, and develop skills, through a variety of shorter and longer activities. The longer activities are designed to simulate a virtual working experience by setting the sorts of tasks typically undertaken by those training for a career in law. At the end of each unit of study, there’s a consolidation activity comprising multiple choice questions, modelled on the approach taken in SQE1. You'll also be encouraged to reflect on ethical and professional conduct issues throughout the module and note the increasing role of technology in legal practice.

The module will include a 60-minute online workshop with a property law or private client practitioner covering their experience of practice and providing advice on how to obtain employment in that area of law. There will also be two online SQE events, open to all SQE students, and will cover areas common to the three modules and be useful for aspiring solicitors.

Professional recognition

The Foundations of Legal Knowledge (FLK) route of the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (LLB)(graduate entry) will be accredited by the Council of Legal Education (Northern Ireland) as a recognised law degree, subject to time limits, exempting you from the academic stage of legal training to become a barrister or solicitor in Northern Ireland.

Completing the FLK route within the specified time limits will enable you to self-certify that you have fulfilled the requirements set by the Bar Standards Board to be exempt from the academic stage of training if you wish to become a barrister in England and Wales.

Entry requirements

You will need to have studied or be studying on a concurrent presentation of SQE: legal system, public law and criminal litgation before enrolling on W322.

You must have a law degree which includes English and Welsh law and covers the seven foundations of legal knowledge if you will be studying this module as part of the Professional Certificate in Legal Practice: SQE1 (S36).

You must also have:

  • at least nine hours available to study per week
  • a competent level of use with a computer, the internet and Office 365
  • have a strong command of reading and writing in English
  • have reasonable numeracy skills.

What's included

You will be provided with four eBooks on the following areas:

  • Land Law
  • Property Practice
  • Trusts Law
  • Wills and the Administration of Estates.

You will also be referred to the eBook on Ethics and Professional Conduct which you receive when you register for study on SQE: legal system, public law and criminal litigation (W321). You will be directed to read extracts from these eBooks as you work through the online study materials.

You'll also have access to a module website, which includes:

  • a week-by-week study planner
  • module-specific study materials
  • audio and video content
  • interactive activities
  • assignment details and submission section
  • online tutorial access and tutor support
  • access to OU library services (including legal databases).

Computing requirements

  • Primary device – A desktop or laptop computer. It’s possible to access some materials on a mobile phone, tablet or Chromebook; however, they may not be suitable as your primary device.
  • Peripheral device – Headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone for online tutorials.
  • Our OU Study app operates on supported versions of Android and iOS.
  • Operating systems – Windows 10 or 11 or macOS Ventura (or higher).
  • Internet access – Broadband or mobile connection.
  • Browser – Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge are recommended; Mozilla Firefox and Safari may be suitable.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.

They’ll help by:

  • marking your assignments and offering detailed feedback to help you improve
  • providing individual guidance, whether that’s for general study skills or specific module content
  • guiding you to additional learning resources
  • facilitating online discussions between your fellow students in the dedicated module and tutor group forums.

Online tutorials run throughout the module. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate.

Due to the vocational nature of this module, the tutors will act like training principals or mentors. Therefore, the individual contact will be at a slightly higher level of frequency than you might have experienced on other OU level 3 modules.

Assessment

The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box.

If you have a disability

The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying W322 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.

Future availability

SQE: property and private client law starts once a year – in February. This page describes the module that will start in February 2026. We expect it to start for the last time in February 2031.

Course work includes:

1 Tutor-marked assignment (TMA)
4 Interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs)
End-of-module assessment