Course description
Programme
This programme provides a prestigious qualification and an excellent grounding for the future academic study of commercial law, for those intending to practise as lawyers, or for those intending to pursue a career in the business sector. It is particularly suited to those who have studied commercial law at undergraduate level, but consideration will be given to other applicants who have relevant studies and experience either in law or in related commercial areas.
Learning Outcomes
This degree provides an advanced understanding of commercial law. The commercial courses focus primarily on theoretical issues and the policy factors influencing the development of the law; and the issues are also discussed in their relevant practical, comparative and international contexts. Entry to some courses depends upon the student having studied the relevant topic at undergraduate level.
How You Will Be Taught
The courses that you take will be taught by seminar. Students are expected to prepare in advance by reading the required materials and by reflecting on the issues to be discussed. For the dissertation you will have a supervisor from whom you can expect guidance and support, but the purpose of the dissertation is to allow you independently to design and conduct a piece of research and analysis.
The School of Law is delighted to launch the revised programme for the LLM in Commercial Law for 2008/9. From September 2008 students will be able to choose from a range of both full-year courses and specialised, research-led one semester courses.
The principal aim of the LLM in Commercial Law is to provide postgraduate students with the opportunity for advanced learning on certain key areas of international commercial law. The one semester courses have a key role to play in fostering deep learning, enabling lecturers to explore a wider variety of subjects in greater depth. A further aim is the study of the law in its commercial context. Each of the core commercial law lecturers (Laura Macgregor, Scott Wortley, Parker Hood, David Cabrelli and Gillian Black) is a fully qualified solicitor and the teaching teams in many of the courses include full-time legal practitioners (Scottish and English).
Of central importance to the Commercial Law LLM is the recently inaugurated Centre for Commercial Law. Set up by five core commercial law academics in the Edinburgh Law School, this Centre has several functions. It operates principally as a research centre allowing the members to co-ordinate their research efforts. A further aim is to strengthen and develop existing links with practising lawyers. A Commercial Law Seminar Series takes place under the auspices of the Centre involving leading commercial lawyers from the UK and further afield (our forthcoming and past Centre events are detailed below). For a more detailed picture of the activities of the Centre for Commercial Law please visit its website, due to be launched in January 2008.
The LLM in Commercial Law has a strong community atmosphere. This atmosphere is conducive to the exchange of ideas between students which is central to the ethos of our programme. LLM Commercial Law students meet together as much as possible, not only for classes on substantive issues but also for skills training, social events, and recent innovations such as a visit to the Scottish Commercial Court.
The LLM Commercial Law Programme Format
Students are required to complete 180 credits of study: this includes a dissertation to be submitted at the end of their studies (60 credits). The remaining 120 credits must be made up from taught LLM courses. Each curriculum for an LLM in Commercial Law student will resemble one of the following options:
Option 1
Three full-year courses over two semesters of the academic year, each course carrying 40 credits (i.e. 120 credits).
Option 2
Two 40 credit courses and two 20 credit courses (i.e. 80 credits plus 40 (20+20) credits, = 120 credits)
Option 3
One 40 credit course and four 20 credit courses (i.e. 40 credits plus 80 (4 x 20) credits, =120 credits)
Option 4
Six 20 credit courses (i.e. 6 x 20 credits = 120 credits)
LLM in Commercial Law students must take a minimum of 80 credits from the Commercial Law Courses listed below. The remaining 40 credits may be chosen either from this same list of Commercial Law Courses listed below or from the School’s other MSC and LLM courses (listed here).
List of Commercial Law LLM Courses
Candidates for the degree of LLM in Commercial Law can choose from the following list of courses, none of which is compulsory. Please note that the one semester courses only run at specific times of the academic year as noted below – they do not run in both semesters:
40 credit courses:
-Company Law
-Competition Law
-Contract Law in Europe
20 credit courses
-First Semester Courses
-Banking and Finance Law
-Commercial Agency Law: International Perspectives
-Principles of International Tax Law
Second Semester Courses
-Debt and Insolvency Law
-EC Labour Law
-Principles of European Tax Law
Please note, however, that admission to other courses may be restricted if numbers exceed 25; the accommodation of students registered for the relevant specialist LLM will be prioritised. In determining whether a student will be permitted to take courses in which the number of interested students exceeds 25, account will be taken of the student's previous degree or experience and its relevance to the subject-matter of the course.
Note: while every effort is made to ensure that all courses which are indicated as being on offer will be taught, the University reserves the right to alter the list of offerings in order to respond to staff changes and other similar developments.
