Since i have my results now i'm in much better position to comment - I ended up getting 67% in my first year, just short of a first class.
Lectures were taught really well for contract and public law, the amount of information that was fitted into just 2 hours was quite amazing, and for these 2 subjects it really was the foundation of what you needed to know.
But having already done A Level law i didn't go to my criminal law lectures because i already knew the content. The English legal system was also a joke of a subject i didn't attend many lectures or seminars for that - my exam was multiple choice and very common sense based.
In terms of reading i did a lot for public law and contract - i didn't do any for ELS and i read a few academic articles on non fatal offences before my criminal exam.
Public law is by far the hardest subject - i don't know anyone in my year that did not struggle with the subject. I guess politics isn't my area of expertise. I read the entire 800 page textbook and 24 academic commentaries + cases and i came out with 55% in that module (a 2:2) but i had a very low graded coursework pulling my grade down, in the exam i averaged at 62%.
If you are looking for some preparation before university starts.
English Legal System: Look at the structure of the UK courts and tribunals, how to become a solicitor or barrister, what a judges paid? Are judges independent from influence.
Criminal Law: I can't recommend much for this. If you haven't done A Level or GCSE Law then maybe look at what is meant by Actus Reus and Mens Rea and if you have then i strongly recommend you keep on to the notes you already have including exam essays, as it will be useful.
Contract Law: At university with learn neo classical contract law, the law found in classical textbooks like Trietel which is the one i used. Try and understand why we learn what we do. All contracts must have Offer and Acceptance which is supported by consideration (i.e. both parties give each other something). It must not be made under duress or undue influence, there must not be any misrepresentations or breaches of condition or warranties as these will result in damages. A final topic area we learnt was discharge of obligations.
Public Law: I physically hated this module, lets say it got so bad i felt like quitting the degree
. I recommending trying to understand what is meant by the following terms - Parliamentary sovereignty (Dicey), Rule of Law (Bare principle of legality, normative and substantive view) and Separation of Powers (Fusion and Strict Separation) as well as what is meant by an non codified constitution and maybe even what is the role of the judiciary, executive and legislature. Public law all links together just like contract, unlike criminal law you can't master individual topics, if you don't understand one you won't understand it at all. That's why examination questions in Contract and Public tend to be much broader.
My exams weren't too bad. I regret only starting revision after easter properly, but oh well. My English legal system as a MCQ test (which also had a large piece of coursework before hand worth 40% which i got a 3rd class in) and it really was common sense. Criminal law was quite a shock. We have a 30% seen question before on Homicide scenario just like A Level AQA exams and in the exam i had 1 hour to answer another scenario from a choice of 3 and 1 hour to write an essay from a choice of 6 (I picked one about the law on non fatal offences against the person requiring you to critically evaluate whether or not it is consistent). Contract law was 50% MCQ, 25% Scenario and 25% Essay based on a book we had to read . Public law was all essay based and before hand we did a 25% piece of coursework. Questions included, Is it fair to say that Parliament is always sovereign? To what extent is the separation of powers the most important doctrine? Parliaments mechanisms of holding the executive to account are fundamentally flawed, discuss. To what extent is the Bill of Rights likely to improve the Human Rights Act 1998 issues. And a scenario based on judicial review.
In relation to answering exam questions just do as you would do. In scenario questions state the RELEVANT LAW (do not go off and state everything you know about the law if it is not relevant do not put it, for example with homicide the Actus reus is unlawful killing of a reasonable creature in being - at university you will probably learn about 2 cases on reasonable creatures one about a foetus and one about life support, if there are no issues like this then just say X is clearly a person and so it is satisfied) then Apply the law to the facts. The aspect that probably helped me get my upper first class in criminal law is the fact i acted as if i was a barrister, as i would critically evaluate evidence and and evaluate that to reach a conclusion. Don't be afraid to try something risky. I remember writing about attempted murder on my timed assessment and one of the lectures laughed and i got full marks - it's all about being creative.
In relation to essays, do waste your time on introductions, just simply discuss an act or a question and this swiftly move on to what you will be talking about and then answer the question and then conclude. The more academic articles you read the better you will become because these are people who have been writing for centuries - follow their writing style and it will probably improve your essays. But universities also have a lot of writing skills workshops in the first few months and close to exam season too.
A few important acts i would looks at are the CRA 2005, Bill of Rights 1689, OAPA 1861, SGA/SGSA (Sale of goods/services act) and other important events like the Glorious revolution.