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Taught LLM, MA, MSc Degrees and Diploma

Please note that the availability of modules varies from year to year. The ones offered will depend both on the availability of staff (which is normally known by May for the following October), as well as the numbers of students enrolling for the programme and for each module (which often is not definite until the beginning of the academic year, in October). Please visit our PhD/MPhil pages if you are looking for LLM by Research.

Degree Schemes

Modules

LLM 101 - Foundations in Medical Law

(Available to students studying the LLM in Bioethics & Medical law only)

This module is central to the MA/LLM in bioethics and Medical Law because it contextualises medical law as discrete legal speciality. The module introduces students to legal concepts like tort and crime as they relate to medical law and to the ethical principles associated with medical law, such as paternalism and autonomy. These will be expanded upon in subsequent modules. Students will begin to develop skills in various methods of legal research, writing and presentation which are vital to the programme as a whole. Substantive topics through which these concepts and skills will be introduced include:

• The practitioner patient relationship
• Confidentiality
• Resource allocation

LLM 102 - Life and Death

(Available to students studying the LLM in Bioethics & Medical law only)

This module covers topics related to the beginning and end of life, such as when does life begin and end, assisted reproduction and assisted dying, which are of key importance in bioethics and medical law:

• Introduction: sanctity of Life
• Definitions of life and death
• Personhood and humanhood - when does life begin and end?
• Abortion
• Assisted reproduction and the right to reproduce
• IVF and PGD
• Slippery slopes - killing v letting die
• Assisted dying
• Advance directives
• Euthanasia around the world

LLM 103 - Law & The Body

This module covers topics such as ownership of the body and its parts, commodification, transplantation and surrogacy which are of key importance in bioethics and medical law.

• Introduction - key concepts
• Rights, commodification and ownership of the body and its parts
• Embryo research
• Human tissue and the Human Tissue Act 2004
• Organ donation and transplantation
• Surrogacy
• Patenting life
• Case studies - including gender reassignment, apotemnophilia

LLM 120 - Corporate Governance

This module provides an introductory but in-depth coverage of the main areas of English law and practice relating to Corporate Governance against the background of company law theory, the "stakeholder debate", comparative corporate law, regulation, globalisation and human rights. Comparative reference will be made where appropriate to relevant parts of the law in Continental Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada, China and New Zealand. The significance of the European Convention on Human Rights and international law will also be considered. By the end of the course students should have a sound grasp through the seminars and readings of the major legal regimes governing corporate governance and the central questions and debates arising from corporate governance.

LLM 201 - European Union Law

An introduction to the basic law and institutions of the EU and the Single Market. It covers the principles of EU law and its relation to national law and the nature of EU and EU institutions; the freedom of movement of goods, persons, services and capital; the principle of mutual recognition and the basis of EU regulation of business; EU competition law covering restrictive agreements and mergers/acquisitions and its relation to national laws.

LLM 204 - European & International Competition Law

This module examines contemporary competition law. Beginning with an examination of EC competition law, as it is the leading model for the development of competition regimes at a global level, but also discussing parallel developments in the US and UK. Issues to be examined include the antitrust prohibitions, which control market power and cartels, and merger control. This is another fast-moving and unpredictable area where the details of material covered will change from year to year in order to keep up to date.

LLM 205 - International Law

The module provides an introduction to the character and basic issues of international law, and to some current international legal topics. It covers the nature and sources of international law, its relationship to national and transnational law, statehood, self-determination and independence, sovereignty and jurisdiction and some selected topics, such as law of the sea, international environmental law. The module is aimed at providing the sufficient background for students to be able to study specific areas of international law in depth.

LLM 207 - International Business Law and Institutions

This focuses on the international legal and institutional framework for the regulation of transnational business, and analyse the nature of legal and regulatory arrangements as they operate in the international business environment. National laws affecting international investment and their regulation under international law. Forms of international law affecting transnational business (bilateral and miltlateral treaties, codes of conduct, decisions of international organisations.) The basic principles of GATT, and the structure and role of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and its relationship to other areas of global regulation affecting business, especially health and environmental protection, and product standards. International aspects of intellectual property rights. Regulatory aspects of the internationalisation of services, especially financial services.

LLM 211 - International Humanitarian Law (Armed Conflict)

This module aims to study the methods and means of warfare regulated by international law and treatment of the victims of war, including the wounded, sick, ship wrecked, prisoners of war and civilians. It will also consider the ability of international law to bring to trial alleged war criminals.

LLM 212 - International Environmental Law

This module aims to study the development of international environmental concerns and the "greening" of International Law; International legal responses towards the preservation of the species and eco-systems, the conservation of energy and environmentally sustainable industrial process; International Conventions and Protocols in relation to the environment; the relationship of International Law and European Union law concerning the environment and its future development.

LLM 213 - International Human Rights Law

The students will in this module be introduced to various theories of human rights, including those of Natural law, positivism, universalism and cultural relativism. Further, this module provides an overview of the various rights protected through international instruments, as well as giving a general introduction to the regional and universal systems for human rights promotion. The course gives special emphasis to the UN human rights system and to the European Convention on Human Rights. The issues will be addressed in a manner which will be accessible to students with a law background or a social science background, although all will be expected to have some knowledge of international law.

LLM 215 - Terrorism and the Law

The main objectives of this module are to present the fundamental concepts, theories, and background information pertaining to terrorism, as well as the international community's and national responses through legal instruments. The module seeks to examine the contemporary challenges of terrorism that confront the international community. To achieve this, the course is designed as a survey of relevant issues with the aim to present a complete coverage as possible. Case studies will be selected to demonstrate certain trends and global developments with respect to terrorism. The module will adopt a cross-disciplinary approach, and undertake a general examination of the legal, socio-economic, political, and cultural structures of global society. The course seeks to strike a balance between these general and specific approaches.

LLM 216 Insolvency Law

This module will provide LLM candidates with the opportunity to study the fundamentals of insolvency law in the UK: this subject is rarely taught at undergraduate level in this country but is of growing social importance with the massive increase in insolvency in society. Both corporate and personal insolvency will be covered. A critical appraisal of the current UK insolvency institutions will be at the heart of the course. Students should be able to appraise critically UK insolvency law and be in a position to recommend reforms. The coverage of the EC regulation on insolvency proceedings will serve to raise awareness of a range of current EC commercial policies.

LLM 217 Corporations in International Business Law

This module will provide LLM candidates with the opportunity of being introduced to notions of corporate law as set against the context of a globalised economy. It will enable them to consider the view that national corporate is merely a service which international business can access if attractive to their needs. The pros and cons of such a perspective will be discussed. As part of the analysis candidates will be given the opportunity to examine the strengths and weaknesses of UK corporate law when measured against international standards.

LLM 220 The Rights of Peoples, Minorities and Indigenous People

The course seeks to familiarise students with the rights of peoples, minorities and indigenous peoples in international law. It will also consider the political aspects of these groups rights and the influence of nationalism on international law.

LLM 221 The Law of International Organisations and Institutions

The module seeks to familiarise the student with the concept of the international organisation and its rights and obligations under international law. The course will also examine the structure of international organisations, in terms of their organs, and the systems developed by different institutions.

LLM 231 Companies as Contracts

This module covers an important aspect of contracts in the business/commercial context, namely contracts and companies. The course will cover an introductory theoretical overview of the relationship of companies and contract and then explore the central issues relating to the constitution of companies and contracts. The core of the module deals with the legal and policy aspects of contracting by and with companies which is an essential element of a master's course on contract law. This module will be assessed by examination.

LLM 232 Fundamentals of Contract Theory

Introduces students to the chief theories of contract influencing current writing and thinking in the contracts field in the common law world particularly.  Students will be introduced to the historical background of the development of doctrinal contract law before being (re)introduced to the classical general theory of contracts, death of contract theory and relational contract theory, which offer three distinct paradigms for understanding both the phenomenon of contracting and the underlying policies, development and direction of doctrinal contract law in common law jurisdictions.

This module will be assessed by examination.

LLM 233 Independent Research

The module will enable students to develop their independent research skills in preparation for the dissertation module and will provide students the opportunity to study an area of law which is currently unavailable within the optional modules. 

LLM 234 Key Issues in Commercial Contracts

The central contract of commercial law is the sale of goods contract, which other contracts (of carriage, security, bailment and the like) exist only to service.  The dominant legal regimes for sales are the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (UK) and the Uniform Commercial Code (US) and in international sales the standardized terms provided by "Inco terms" are in universal use.  This course examines sale of goods contracts primarily with reference to the Sale of Goods Act and Inco terms, with reference for comparative purposes to some parts of the Uniform Commercial Code. . This module will be assessed by examination.

LLM 236 International Criminal Law

The module provides an introduction to substantive international criminal law. It introduces students to international crimes. In addition to this, it addresses the role of international courts and tribunals, mixed and hybrid courts and tribunals, as well as developments in national courts. The module also considers key case law, and presents stimulating examples of prosecution and punishment, which are central to the subject. The module examines the merits of international criminal justice and the main challenges that present themselves in this area.

LLM 237 The Right to Adequate Food as a Human right.

The right to adequate food is one of the fundamental human rights and this module will have its foundation in international human rights law, but will go beyond the legal framework and address the right to adequate food as part of broadly defined food security. The module will also address this right, from a political, social and environmental perspective.

Dissertations

The dissertation is a compulsory component for the LLM degrees and comprises of 80 credits (45%) of the degree weighting. The taught section of the course is considered a foundation for the research and writing of a 20,000 worded dissertation.

The dissertation involves supervised research on a topic of the student's choice, this topic must be approved by the Director of your Degree Programme and be in keeping with the registered LLM degree. Please note that topics can only be approved if the University has sufficient sources for the research and the necessary staff expertise for supervision. To peruse a list of past dissertation titles please access the following link: Dissertation titles.

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