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Key details

Course areas
Business and AccountsT Levels
Student type
16 - 18 courses
Course type
Full-time Further Education course
Course level
Level 3
Start date
Tuesday 1st September 2026
Location
City Hub 111 Canal Street, Nottingham, NG1 7HB
Course code
Parent course code:C059224 Child course code: Q059225
Apply now

Course introduction

Explore law, crime and social justice through practical learning and real-world experience with our T Level in Legal Services.

This course is perfect if: 

  • You are interested in law, crime, justice or social issues.
  • You want a career that involves supporting people and working within the legal system.
  • You enjoy analysing situations, solving problems and working with real-life scenarios.
  • You are considering roles such as paralegal, legal assistant, court clerk, legal administrator, or work within the criminal justice system, police, probation or social welfare services.
  • You may want to progress to university, an apprenticeship, or employment in the legal sector.

You will study both the legal knowledge and the practical skills needed to work as a Legal Services Assistant in crime, criminal justice and social welfare settings.

You will cover:

Criminal Law

  • Key criminal offences such as theft, burglary and criminal damage
  • How offences are proven in law
  • Basic legal defences

The Criminal Justice System

  • Police powers, including stop and search and arrest
  • The journey of a case from arrest to court
  • The roles of Magistrates’ Courts and Crown Courts
  • The roles of legal professionals and court staff

Social Welfare Law

  • Housing issues, such as tenancy problems and homelessness
  • Debt issues and how the law supports individuals
  • How legal services help vulnerable people

Professional and Workplace Skills

  • Legal and factual research
  • Drafting legal documents and professional communications
  • Presenting information clearly
  • Professional behaviour, ethics and confidentiality

Through a balance of classroom learning and practical activities, you will experience law in a way that goes beyond textbooks. You will take part in carefully planned trips, employer engagement opportunities and independent study tasks that help you understand how legal knowledge is used in everyday professional settings. These experiences are designed to give context to your learning and help you see how different parts of the legal system connect.

Our links with local legal and justice organisations mean you will gain insight into how professionals work, the standards expected in the sector, and the variety of roles available. While we cannot guarantee specific experiences, we aim to expose you to real-world perspectives that support your understanding of the profession. Studying at the City Hub, close to the Crown and Magistrates’ Courts, places you in an environment where the justice system is part of the local landscape. Where possible, you may have opportunities to observe court settings or explore how cases progress, helping you relate your classroom learning to real legal processes. Alongside subject knowledge, we place strong emphasis on developing your confidence, communication skills and professional behaviours. You will practise presenting information clearly, working with others, managing your time and meeting professional expectations. These are essential skills for employment, further study and everyday working life, and we support you in building them gradually throughout the course.

This is not a course where you simply sit and listen. You will take an active role in your learning.

You can expect:

  • An opportunity to work and meet alongside employers
  • A work placement of at least 315 hours
  • Wide hands on skills 

Your experience may include:

  • Interactive lessons based on real-life style legal scenarios.
  • Group projects and teamwork activities.
  • Research tasks that develop independence and critical thinking.
  • Structured debates on legal and social issues.
  • Opportunities to hear from professionals working in related fields.
  • Practical classroom activities designed to help you understand how legal processes work.

You will practise breaking down problems, applying legal principles and producing work that reflects the standards expected in professional settings.

We use a variety of assessment methods throughout the course to support your learning and prepare you for final exams and projects. Regular feedback helps you improve, while key assessments check your understanding and progress. Lessons are interactive and focused on applying legal knowledge to real-life style situations. You may hear from professionals, take part in discussions, and explore case law in engaging ways. This is an active course where you are expected to take responsibility for your learning, complete independent study and use feedback to improve, supporting you to achieve your potential.

Course information

2 years

T Level Technical Qualification in Legal Services (Crime, Criminal Justice and Social Welfare) 

You will need 5 GCSEs including English at a 6 and Maths at a grade 5.

All assessments are set and marked externally to ensure national standards.

You will complete:

Core Component

  • Two written examinations
  • An employer-set project based on a realistic scenario

Occupational Specialist Component (Crime, Criminal Justice and Social Welfare)

  • A substantial project-based assessment where you will:
    • Carry out legal and factual research.
    • Draft legal documents and communications.
    • Apply criminal and social welfare law to practical situations.

You will prepare for these assessments throughout the course through guided practice, feedback and mock tasks.

This T Level supports a range of progression routes, including:

  • University (for example Law, Criminology, Policing, Social Policy or related subjects).
  • Higher or Degree Apprenticeships.
  • Employment in roles such as paralegal, legal assistant, court or legal administrator.
  • Opportunities within the criminal justice system, police services, probation or social welfare organisations.

The qualification is designed to give you a strong foundation, but further training or study may be required depending on your chosen career.

Students aged 16-18 don't have to pay tuition fees.

If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss National, please visit our EU Settled Status scheme page for more information.

There may be small additional costs for trips, materials or equipment. Financial support may be available if eligible, please contact the college for details.

Please note: This course is currently subject to approval.

Careers related to this course

Select career:

Solicitors and Lawyers

Potential Earnings

£78,538.31

Average Earnings

£43,182.04

Source: Office for National Statistics' Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE).

Pathways

Public Services

People in these occupations administrate government programmes and services, work in the justice system, and ensure regulatory compliance.

Law and Legal Studies

People in these occupations judge court cases, represent clients in legal proceedings, and provide legal administrative and research services.

Skills

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
View more about this career

Economic data for careers is provided by Lightcast and also available through our Career Coach app. Job postings, employment and earnings information is represented at the regional level for the East Midlands.

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