ObjectivesThe LLM Law and Political Justice is a collaboration between Birkbeck and the University of Pretoria, South Africa. This programme offers a unique opportunity to engage with the political philosophy of justice. Informed by continental and critical traditions in social and political thought, the programme engages with a complex set of concerns: human rights, imperialism and post-colonialism, the law of development and the racial ordering of capitalism. To what extent can a progressive political philosophy of justice guide an account of law’s role in these national and global processes? The degree offers taught elements, including a compulsory course in post-apartheid jurisprudence, and a chance to develop your own approach in a dissertation. The LLM would appeal to practitioners in development who want to pursue detailed study of law and legal theory as well as to those seeking a research training and to human rights activists.
Entry requirementsEntry requirements Upper second-class degree or above in law or a related subject in the humanities or social sciences.
Academic titleLaw and Political Justice (LLM)
Course descriptionCore components
-Development, Rights and Justice (one term)
-Post-Apartheid Jurisprudence (currently an intensive weekend course)
-Dissertation.
Options
Students choose three option modules. Options include:
-Multinational Enterprises and the Law
-Refugee Law
-Economic Approach to Law
-International Rights of Minorities
-Futures of Rights
-Globalisation of Land Law
-The World Trade Organization and the Environment
-Law and the Body
-Law's Moving Image
-The Commodification of Creativity.
Teaching
The programme involves both taught and research (a dissertation) components. Teaching and learning formats may vary: some modules follow a traditional programme of weekly meetings; others take the form of intensive courses offered over one or two weekends.
Assessment
Core and option modules are each examined by a 4000-word essay. In addition, you complete a dissertation of 8000–10,000 words