What subjects are covered in the Law degree?

How is the curriculum for the Bachelor’s Degree in Law structured?

The UAX Bachelor’s Degree in Law lasts four years and comprises 270 ECTS credits , spread over two four-month terms per academic year. The modules are organised into three categories:

• Core modules (FB): cross-disciplinary modules that build your intellectual foundation as a lawyer.
• Compulsory (OB): the core of the degree programme, comprising specific modules that are essential for graduation.
• Elective modules (OP): available from the third year onwards to specialise your profile.

The programme is structured progressively: the first two years lay the legal foundations, the third year allows you to specialise, and the fourth year brings you closer to real-world professional practice. From the very first year, you’ll be working on legal English, technology applied to law and written communication – three skills that many degree programmes leave until the end or ignore altogether.

First year: the foundations of legal thinking

The first year has a very specific aim: to help you start thinking like a lawyer before you start memorising like one. 

Constitutional Law (1 and 2), Roman Law and Introduction to Law are the conceptual tools with which you will interpret any legal provision you study thereafter. Understanding why Roman Law is still present in modern contracts, or how the Constitution shapes every ordinary law, is what distinguishes a technical specialist from a true legal scholar.

At the same time, three modules set this degree apart right from the first year: Legal English, Applied IT for Lawyers, and Applied Legal Writing and Rhetoric.  

Legal English, an understanding of digital tools and the ability to argue a case in writing are the skills that the job market demands from day one and which are developed here right from the start. 

Economics and Accounting for Lawyers completes the module; a subject that many underestimate until they realise that Commercial, Tax or Insolvency Law cannot be practised without understanding a balance sheet.

Second year: when the demands intensify

For most students, the second year is the most demanding of the degree programme. The reason is structural: all the major branches of law are covered at the same time. Civil Law 1, Criminal Law 1, Procedural Law, Administrative Law and European Union Law are all taken in the same academic year, with a workload of 60 credits that requires careful planning.

Civil Law 1 is the module that most students recall as a turning point: the general theory of contracts and obligations is dense, technical and underpinned by a highly developed body of case law. 

It also forms the foundation upon which the Civil Law modules in subsequent years are built.  

At the same time, this year includes two modules that reflect the direction in which the legal profession is heading: Fundamentals of Technology Law ( data protection, regulation of artificial intelligence, digital platforms) and Civil Law 2: smart contracts, which combines classical contract theory with the reality of blockchain-based smart contracts. These are the profiles most in demand by technology companies and next-generation law firms.

Third year: technical specialisation and first electives

The third year consolidates and deepens students’ knowledge. The modules build on everything learnt previously, and the technical level rises significantly.

Financial and Tax Law 1 commands a great deal of respect amongst students: the Spanish tax system – personal income tax, corporation tax, VAT and constitutional principles of taxation – is highly technical and changes frequently. However, it is also one of the most sought-after career paths: every company needs tax advice.

Commercial Law 1, Labour Law and Social Security, and the first elective modules make for a year strongly focused on the business world. This is the point at which many students begin to define the direction they wish to take in their degree: those opting for a business focus choose electives such as Business Organisation and Management; those with an international focus choose the Anglo-Saxon Legal System or Legal Aspects of International Negotiation.

Fourth year: the leap into the professional world

The fourth year combines advanced specialisation with the first real-world professional experience.

Regulatory Compliance and Legal Project Management are the two key areas of focus in this course for the job market: the first, due to the exponential growth of compliance departments in large companies; the second, because the ability to plan and manage complex legal matters with a strategic vision is something that law firms and companies increasingly value.

Philosophy of Law rounds off the degree’s intellectual programme by addressing the fundamental questions of justice and regulatory legitimacy. International Business Law and Private International Law complete the international module. 

And the work placements, together with the Final Year Project, form the definitive bridge: the former gives you real-world experience in law firms, companies or public institutions; the latter demonstrates that you can research, analyse and argue independently – which is exactly what any employer or public sector selection board looks for.

Which is the most difficult module on the Law degree?

There is no single answer, but there are subjects that require more study hours and result in more failures across all universities:

• Civil Law 1 tops almost every list. The breadth of the syllabus, the technical complexity of the theory of obligations and contracts, and the need to combine memorisation with practical application make it the first major challenge of the degree.
• Financial and Tax Law (1 and 2) is the other major contender. The level of technical complexity is high, the regulations change frequently, and the exams often require students to solve practical cases involving calculations, which adds a layer of difficulty distinct from the rest.
• Criminal Law and Procedural Law also command a great deal of respect, particularly in their more advanced sections. Procedural Law, in particular, requires a solid grasp of other branches of law in order to apply it correctly to specific cases.

The important thing is to understand that in Law, the difficulty almost never stems from concepts that are impossible to grasp, but rather from the sheer volume of material, the technical precision required and the need to link knowledge from different subjects to resolve a practical case.

Which is the most difficult year at law school?

The second year, almost unanimously. The reason is structural: it is the year in which all the major branches of law are covered simultaneously. Civil, Criminal, Procedural, Administrative and EU Law, with a workload of 60 credits that demands a level of organisation that many students had not needed until then. The leap from the first year – which is more conceptual and introductory – is significant.

Some students point to the third year as being equally demanding due to the technical nature of Financial and Tax Law, but the feeling of being overwhelmed in the second year is unmatched in the rest of the degree programme.

What is the hardest part of studying law?

The answer given by those who have already graduated surprises those just starting out: the hardest part is not memorising legal provisions, but learning how to construct an argument.

Law demands much more than simply knowing what a statute says. It requires knowing why it says what it does, what happens when two statutes contradict each other, how the Supreme Court has interpreted it, and how all of that applies to a specific case. Developing that legal reasoning takes time and practice, and it is the skill that truly distinguishes a good lawyer.

On a more practical level, other common difficulties include the heavy study load during exam periods, with several demanding subjects to cover at once; the constant updating of legislation in areas such as Tax Law or Technology Law; and case-study exams, which require students to integrate knowledge from different branches of law simultaneously.

Which is the most important year at law school?

It depends on your goal. If you’re looking to lay a solid foundation, the first year is the most critical: the concepts of Constitutional Law, Introduction to Law and Roman Law are what you’ll use to understand everything else. If you master these properly, the rest of the degree goes much more smoothly.

If your aim is to enter the job market or sit civil service exams, the third and fourth years are the most important: technical specialisation, well-chosen optional modules, external work placements and the final-year project (TFG) shape the actual professional profile that any employer or civil service examination board will value.

Which optional modules can you choose?

From the third year onwards, you have 24 elective credits to personalise your degree. The available options cover the most current challenges in law:

• Business Organisation and Administration (12 credits): a solid foundation in business management for a corporate career path.
• Human Rights: the international framework for the protection of fundamental rights and procedures before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
• The Anglo-Saxon legal system: common law in the UK and the US, essential if you have international ambitions.
• International security, cybersecurity and defence: law applied to cyberspace and global conflicts.
• Sustainability, Environmental Law and Governance: regulation of the green transition and the ESG agenda.
• Legal aspects of international negotiation: mediation, negotiation and alternative dispute resolution.
• Models and strategies for legal and diplomatic competitions: training for moot courts and diplomatic simulations.
• Business environment: understanding the business and economic ecosystem for corporate advisory work.

If you are drawn to the international track, combine the Common Law system with Legal aspects of international negotiation. If you prefer the corporate track, Business Organisation and Management alongside Compliance (in the fourth year) is a very solid combination.

Conclusion

The curriculum for the UAX Bachelor’s Degree in Law trains legal professionals prepared for the legal realities of the 21st century: with a solid foundation in Civil, Criminal, Administrative, Commercial, Procedural and Tax Law, and with training in technology, legal English, compliance and project management. The most challenging year is the second; the most dreaded module is Civil Law 1; and the greatest challenge is not memorising rules but developing legal reasoning. With the right optional modules and some good work experience, the four years’ effort ultimately leads to a professional career with far more opportunities than you might imagine when you start out.

Sources:

• Curriculum for the Bachelor’s Degree in Law – UAX
• Official State Gazette (BOE)
• National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA)