LLM in Justice

Institution University of Surrey
Method At the institution
Location Guildford
Type Masters
Course fee By request

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LLM in Justice

Objectives Whether examined from classical Aristotelian perspectives or those of modern theorists like Rawls or Nozick, the ideal of justice has escaped any settled definition. However, it is a concept which pervades legal discourse and is used to justify or criticise both what the law is and how it is applied. The University of Surrey is unique in offering a Masters programme which will enable you to understand and evaluate contemporary debates in the study of justice in its varying forms. You will deepen your knowledge of core theoretical aspects of the study of justice and of the particular issues concerning justice in the context of national and international criminal proceedings, family litigation, civil disputes and in administrative law. Tuition on this programme involves extensive examination and discussion of the philosophical concepts that lie at the heart of all legal systems, and the application of these concepts to the particular legal processes. The programme will be attractive both to students interested in the philosophy of law and to legal practitioners and activists; and both to students from within the United Kingdom and to those from other jurisdictions interested in a broader understanding of this cardinal concept.
Entry requirements Typical entry requirements Applicants should normally possess a good first degree (First or Second class or equivalent) awarded by a UK university or recognised overseas institution. In addition, students whose first language is not English will be expected to have achieved a minimum of IELTS 6.5.
Academic title LLM in Justice
Course description LLM in Justice Module overview

You will take four optional modules, at least two of which must be chosen from the Justice module list. You may choose to study up to two modules from other subject areas within Law. You will also undertake a dissertation in a topic related to justice.

Theories of Justice
Providing an underpinning to other justice modules, this module engages you in a detailed examination of the key legal theorists on the topic of justice. During the module, you will be encouraged to adopt a critical perspective on the various arguments as to the meaning of justice and the part it should play within legal decision making.

Criminal Justice System
Repeated allegations about miscarriages of justice, debates about the sentencing of offenders and changes to the rights of suspects have meant that the criminal justice system is regularly subject to debate. By examining the laws regulating key institutions such as the police, the courts and the prison system, this module equips students with the knowledge to evaluate the proper functioning of the criminal justice process.

Law, Society and Social Control
This module focuses on how law and other methods of social control operate in contemporary society and how individuals and groups seek to influence the behaviour of others.

Administrative Justice
Focusing on judicial review, this module critically examines how individuals can secure justice in the face of decisions by public bodies. Close examination of principles such as natural justice will equip you with a firm grasp of justice as a living part of the English legal system. However, students will also engage critically with this area of law as an effective means of controlling the state.

Civil Justice
Given the impact of the civil courts upon the everyday rights of individuals, the accessibility to and effectiveness of such courts is increasingly important. This module addresses how successful the civil justice system has been in providing that access by looking at, for example, both general issues like the funding of civil litigation, as well as specific areas of law such as financial regulation, housing law and tortious actions.

Youth Justice
Building upon and extending beyond the examination of the criminal justice system, this module looks particularly at the ways in which a system of laws has developed to control youth offending, and addresses questions such as when and how youth offenders should be dealt with by the state.

Programme length
12 months full-time, 24 months part-time