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 must have successfully completed 60 credits of legal study from OU level 2 modules prior to studying this OU level 3 module. If you will be studying this module as part of the:
- Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (R81) or Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (graduate entry) (R82) you must have completed Public law (W211) and Contract law (W212)
- previous versions of our law degrees Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (Q79) or Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (graduate entry) (Q80), you must have completed Contract law and tort law (W202) and Public law and criminal law (W203).
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), or have completed:
- a minimum of 120 credits from Law modules (which includes W211 and W212), or
- W202 and W203.
You must also:
- have at least nine hours available to study per week
- be a competent computer user, including internet use 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 textbooks on the following areas:
- Land Law
- Property Practice
- Trusts Law
- Wills and the Administration of Estates.
You will also be referred to the book 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 textbooks 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.
Computing requirements
You’ll need broadband internet access and a desktop or laptop computer with an up-to-date version of Windows (10 or 11) or macOS Ventura or higher.
Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.
To join in spoken conversations in tutorials, we recommend a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).
Our module websites comply with web standards, and any modern browser is suitable for most activities.
Our OU Study mobile app will operate on all current, supported versions of Android and iOS. It’s not available on Kindle.
It’s also possible to access some module materials on a mobile phone, tablet device or Chromebook. However, as you may be asked to install additional software or use certain applications, you’ll also require a desktop or laptop, as described above.