LLM International Legal Studies University of Bradford

Our Master of Laws (LLM) programme gives you an in-depth knowledge of the law in its international context. You’ll evaluate research and advanced scholarship in areas of legal study such as human rights law, immigration and refugee law, international banking and finance law, and international environmental law.

With a range of optional modules available alongside the core curriculum, you’ll be able to tailor the programme to your areas of academic interest and your career aspirations.

You’ll learn from the School of Law academics with significant research expertise and international legal experience in areas including:

• Social justice
• Criminal law
• Human rights
• Energy and environment
• Competition law
• Intellectual property

You do not need to have studied law at the undergraduate level to take the LLM in International Legal Studies. If you have not previously studied law, you will take a two-week Introduction to Law course before the start of the programme to ensure you are familiar with the basic legal institutions and sources of international and English law.

In addition to providing specialist legal knowledge, the LLM will equip you with abilities valued in any profession, such as research, analytical and communication skills. The programme also gives you an insight into how international law shapes global society, and how we operate within it. This means you’ll be equipped to explore a broad range of career opportunities once you graduate.

What you will study

The LLM International Legal Studies is designed to provide a challenging and stimulating programme of study which considers the law in its international social, economic and political contexts.

The four core modules studied to provide you with a detailed understanding of key global issues in law and focus on developing your skills to research; analyse and discuss important issues in international law, in human rights and in legal theory. They also prepare you for the final part of the Master’s programme which is your dissertation through which you have the opportunity to study a particular topic of your choice in detail. The optional modules offered to allow you to follow a particular interest with a focus on global legal issues.

Please note that for 2020 entry, the module information is subject to change.

Modules

Core

• Foundations of Law and Skills (LAW7029-R)
• Sustainable Development Law in Contemporary Business & Society (LAW7030-B)
• Regulatory Theory and Practice (LAW7035-B)

Option

• International Human Rights Law (LAW7043-B)
• International Trade and Investment Law (LAW7045-B)
• Public International Law (LAW7044-B)
• International Humanitarian Law (LAW7019-B)
• International Environmental Law (LAW7021-B)
• International Commercial Contracts and E-Commerce (LAW7031-B)
• International Intellectual Property Law (LAW7008-B)
• International Petroleum Law (LAW7033-B)
• International Banking & Finance Law (LAW7037-B)
• International Criminal Law (LAW7046-B)
• Immigration and Refugee Law (LAW7023-B)
• International Competition Law (LAW7007-B)
• Business, Human Rights and Environment (LAW7041-B)
• Commercial Dispute Resolution (LAW7036-B)
• Climate Change Law and Policy (LAW7040-B)
• International Water Resources Law (LAW7034-B)
• Cyberlaw (LAW7039-B)
• Waste Management Law (LAW7042-B)
• Law and Gender (LAW7038-B)
• Law and Ethics of Technology and Artificial Intelligence
• Employment Law
• International Commercial Dispute Resolution
• International Law of Taxation
• Regulation of Financial Technologies and Virtual Assets
• Regulation of Capital Markets and Securities
• Emmerging Issues in Law
• Elective

Elective

Learning and assessment

This LLM programme aims to integrate applied and theoretical knowledge with assessment processes that test knowledge, application and analysis of the subject. To this end, the learning, teaching and assessment strategy for this programme has been developed to help you build your knowledge incrementally over the year of study and to develop your research, critical thinking and writing skills.

You will be taught in small groups in an environment focused on you and your development. Your learning will be guided and supported through weekly teaching and learning sessions in which you will take part in a variety of activities. All taught modules, therefore, have a two-hour teaching slot every week throughout the Semester in which they are taught. In the early part of the programme, most of these slots will be used as class time with lecturer input, and individual and group work activities. The scheduled class time will be used to help you develop your understanding of the law relating to the topic at hand.

You will be required to work independently, prepare for all teaching sessions and take all opportunities offered to develop your skills and knowledge, contribute to small group discussions and engage with other activities supported through the Virtual Learning Environment.

The Law Clinic

Our law clinic gives students an opportunity to put theory into practice. Students work in our law clinic advising members of the public in conjunction with the Citizens Advice Bureau and [email protected]'s.

Students are trained to interview and advise members of the public on any aspect of the law. Working as part of a team, students discuss the case and decide whether the client is in need of legal advice. Under the guidance of the Clinic Director, students then prepare advice for their clients.

Students also have the opportunity to receive formal training on immigration law, leading to the award of OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner) Level 1 and 2 qualifications, through collaboration with [email protected]'s. This gives students the opportunity to be involved in giving immigration advice whilst earning recognised qualifications.

Mooting

Our students have the opportunity to get involved in a range of internal and external mooting competitions.

Mooting complements students' legal education and is a great way to learn how to use the law to create persuasive legal arguments. Students have to analyse problems, research the law, prepare written submissions and present their arguments to a trained lawyer or judge.

The competition imitates the procedures followed in appeal courts and is a great chance for students to put their skills and knowledge into practice.

Study support

You will be allocated a personal tutor - someone with whom you will be able to talk about any academic or personal concerns. Staff responsible for the administration of the LLM are available to help you with day-to-day queries about the programme.

We are a small, dedicated and friendly Law School, allowing our academic and support staff to get to know students personally, and offer individual support and teaching. We make sure that your time with us is as rewarding as possible, and do everything we can to help you reach your potential.

The Law Library has dedicated support from our Law Librarian, who will be able to provide you with guidance on the use of legal databases, OSCOLA referencing or finding a book in the library.

As well as offering access to key textbooks and other materials in hard copy, the law library also subscribes to three of the key legal databases:

• Westlaw
• Lexis Library
• Hein Online

You'll, therefore, have 24-hour electronic access, on and off-campus, to the majority of the material you require to successfully complete your programme. Where tutors require you to read material which is not as readily available, it will be made available to you through the Virtual Learning Environment. You are encouraged to also consult other collections as there is interesting and useful material on all of the topics studied available from a variety of disciplines, and you will, therefore, be introduced to the library as a whole rather than just specific collections as part of this programme.

The Library includes self-issue and self-return facilities, photocopiers and printers, areas for silent study and social learning, and wireless access throughout the building. There is an information desk, a special computer laptop bar, and areas for social learning. The building incorporates full disability access. LLM students also have access to social spaces including Postgraduate Common Room.

Research

All modules are taught by experienced academics with considerable research and practical expertise in the issues you will study from various jurisdictions.

At the end of your LLM, you will be taking a dissertation module, using a range of research methods and research design in order to complete a substantial research project. The dissertation enables you to develop a firm understanding of advanced scholarship and research principles, and how the boundaries of knowledge are extended through academic research.

Through your dissertation, you will also learn how to critically assess and examine primary and/or secondary data, and develop an in-depth understanding of your chosen topic.

The University of Bradford is ranked 301-400 in the world for Business and Economics in the 2019 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

Career support

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes, there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

Career prospects

Graduates go on to pursue a variety of paths, including careers in business, legal practice, teaching and academia.

Career booster

During your time studying at the Faculty of Management, Law and Social Sciences you will have the opportunity to take part in our distinctive career booster programme throughout the duration of your course. The programme is designed to equip you with the necessary skills and graduate attributes to be job-ready when seeking employment with leading innovative organisations. The Career Booster Programme (PDF, 2.8 MB) offers you the opportunity to gain certificates in:

• The European Computer Driving License (ECDL) - the benchmark for digital literacy
• Sage 50 Accounting and Sage 50 Payroll - training that will allow you to develop leading accounting and payroll software skills
• Project Manager Professional certificates - giving you the edge when seeking to become a Certified Project Manager
• Big Data analysis and reporting skills - using Software and Services (SAS) that will lead to certification.

In addition, the programme will also include activities to promote teamwork, confidence, communication and many other skills sought by employers.

Developing a portfolio of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Certificates will demonstrate to employers that you are not only ambitious but also take responsibility for your own professional development.