Recruitment is open!
Join the 2026-27 Diploma in English Law & Legal Skills.
The course starts in October 2026 at a range of BLC locations (or 100% online if you prefer)
Earlybird fee discounts apply until 30 June 2026
Apply here
SUBSTANTIVE LAW and LEGAL SKILLS COMBINED
Diploma in English Law and Legal Skills ("DELLS")
Discover how much you can improve your legal knowledge and professional skills in just one academic year
Substantive Law Modules
During the course, you will study 4 modules of substantive law, while also developing a range of legal skills. All course materials and teaching are delivered by our experienced Teaching Team.
English Legal System
Understand the foundations of one of the world’s most influential legal systems
Understand the world's first 'common law' system and its influence on numerous other countries. This module explains the history, constitutional framework, and institutional architecture of the world's most unique legal system.
We will equip you with the essential conceptual tools needed to navigate and interpret English law with confidence.
You will explore, among other things:
- The historical development of the common law and equity
- Foundational constitutional principles, including parliamentary sovereignty and the rule of law
- The structure and function of courts, legislation, and judicial precedent
- Techniques of statutory interpretation and legal reasoning
By the end of the module, you will be able to analyse how English law is created, interpreted, and applied in practice—forming a critical foundation for all further legal study.
This module is complemented by practical exercises which develop your advocacy, public presentation and legal writing skills.
Contract Law
Understand how commercial agreements and formed, interpreted, performed and breached
This module provides a practical understanding of how legally binding agreements are formed, interpreted, and enforced under English law.
With a strong emphasis on problem-solving and real-world application, this module develops your ability to analyse complex contractual disputes and advise on legal outcomes in commercial contexts.
The you will examine, among other things:
- Core principles of contract formation: offer, acceptance, consideration, and intention
- The role of contractual terms and the impact of misrepresentation
- The regulation of exclusion and limitation clauses
- Breach of contract and the full spectrum of available remedies
This module is complemented by practical exercises which develop your negotiation and drafting skills.
Tort Law
Advise on a variety of civil claims involving alleged negligence
This module focuses on the law of negligence—the most significant area of tort—and its practical application.
You will study, among other things:
- The concept of duty of care and its development in case law
- Breach of duty and standards of reasonable behaviour
- Causation and remoteness of damage
- Key defences, including contributory negligence and volenti non fit injuria
- Remedies, particularly damages in personal injury and economic loss cases
Through case-based analysis, you will learn to assess liability in complex factual scenarios and understand the policy considerations shaping modern tort law.
This module is complemented by practical exercises which develop your legal writing and advising skills.
Equity and Trusts
Explore the principles of equity and asset management
This module introduces the distinctive and highly influential system of equity, focusing on trusts as a central legal institution.
You will engage with:
- The nature and development of equity and its relationship with common law
- The creation of trusts and the “three certainties”
- Different types of trusts, including resulting and constructive trusts
- Fiduciary duties and trustee obligations
- Tracing, remedies, and third-party liability
Trusts law is essential for understanding areas such as wealth management, commercial transactions, and property law. This module provides both theoretical depth and practical insight into how equitable principles operate in modern legal systems.
Why Study Our Diploma?
Experienced Teaching Team
Learn law and skills delivered via lectures and classes from our experienced teaching team.
Substantive Law
Study a range of core areas of English substantive law to broaden your comparative law knowledge.
Practical Legal Skills
Develop or improve core legal skills which are crucial for legal practice and also useful for non-lawyers.