ObjectivesThis course offers a programme of legal study which provides a conceptual framework for the study of law that enables students to recognise and appreciate the overall mosaic of public and private law and permits detailed study of some aspects of law. As well as specific knowledge of public and private law, you should acquire the intellectual and practical skills expected of students with a postgraduate qualification. The course will help you to delineate and evaluate issues, select relevant materials and produce arguments encompassing policy, existing practice and knowledge at an advanced level. It will also help you to develop practical, generic and personal transferable skills necessary to conduct independent research.
Academic titleLL.M Advanced Legal Studies
Course descriptionTransferable skills
You are encouraged to act independently in planning tasks and use feedback to reflect on your performance and re-assess the appropriateness of current levels of knowledge and skill. You are expected to acquire an ability to think analytically, to develop frameworks for considering and resolving complex problems, and to discriminate between good and bad arguments. In addition, as a law graduate, you will be used to presenting arguments (both technical and general) orally and in writing and should be able to present such arguments clearly and concisely. You will be able to research a variety of sources in libraries and on the internet, and, in particular, to research and assess academic literature. Particular elements of the programme expose students to the use of information technology and encourage the development of general professional capabilities including recognition of deadlines and time management.
Programme content
The programme consists of 180 credits, comprising a taught element (120 credits) and a dissertation (60 credits).
Within the taught element there is one core module in Research Methods (30 credits).
The remaining 90 credits of the taught element are comprised of optional modules. At least 60 credits of these 90 must be taken from the listed Law School Master's-level modules. The other 30 credits may be taken from a set range of Master's and Honours level modules from the Law School and other Departments.
Compulsory Modules
Dissertation
Research Methods
Optional Master's-level modules from the Law School (subject to availability in any given year): at least 60 credits from this group must be taken.
EU Environmental Law
EU Labour and Equality Law
The Single Market: Trade and Commerce in an Integrated Europe
European Legal Frameworks: Constitutionalism, Democracy and Citizenship
International Dispute Settlement
International Law in Theory and Practice
International Human Rights Law
Contemporary Issues in International Law
International Law and Terrorism
Prosecuting International Crimes: Contemporary Issues and Problems
Intellectual Property
International and European Aspects of Intellectual Property
War Law Advanced Legal Writing
* enrolment in this module requires permission of Director of PGT in Law
Optional Honours-level modules from Law School (subject to availability in any given year) are available. Please note a limited selection of these is available to students on this programme. These may only be taken with permission of the Director PGT in Law. All of these modules are 20 Credits.
Optional module from International Capital Markets Association Centre (ICMA) (subject to availability in any given year). This module is 20 Credits
Regulation of Markets and Traders
Optional modules from Graduate Institute in Politics and International Studies (GIPIS) (subject to availability in any given year) . All of these modules are 30 Credits.
International Relations of the Mediterranean
Political Integration in Europe
Contemporary Diplomacy
Domestic and Foreign Policies of the Middle East
Politics of the Monetary Union
International Politics of the Asia Pacific
For descriptions of modules see the GIPIS postgraduate modules or see a full list of all the Law School postgraduate modules
Part-time/modular arrangements
The programme can be taken part-time over two years. In the first year of study, a student will be required to complete two optional modules; in the second year of study, a student will be required to complete the core module in Research Methods, one further optional module and the Dissertation. The programme may not be completed over more than two years.
Career prospects
While very many law graduates take professional exams in law and go on to practise law either in the UK or abroad, many others pursue alternative careers. This is particularly the case with those who have chosen to pursue a postgraduate qualification in law. A postgraduate law degree does not disqualify you from any career open to non-specialist graduates and the skills it engenders are in great demand from non-legal employers. Equally, a postgraduate law degree will open many doors in more specialised areas of employment such as European and international governmental and non-governmental organisations, academia (with further postgraduate study), the media (journalism and broadcasting), the civil service and other branches of public service.
Please note that a full programme description will soon be updated for entry to the 2008 LL.M programmes.