Program Overview

A master's degree in law is a fantastic way for law graduates to develop a specialisation, or for non-lawyers working in related fields to gain a deeper understanding of legal issues.

This LLM pathway focuses your study on Business and Financial Law, introducing you to the contemporary legal and regulatory issues that govern international business and finance. You'll study core modules that cover critical issues in the field, with the chance to choose from an extensive list of additional optional modules that address themes like the World Trade Organisation, Corporate Social Responsibility and Banking Law.

Alongside the optional modules, you may choose to either write a 15,000 word dissertation or conduct a work-based project that will give you valuable experience of dealing with a specific legal issue in detail.

The course is perfect for lawyers and law graduates looking for career development, although all of our LLM courses can be studied by students without a background in law, since you will be trained in the necessary analytical and legal skills.

The programme also offers an optional placement year, following your first year. Placements will be provided and supported either by us or a partner organisation where you'll gain worthwhile and practical real-world experience in handling issues relating to aspects of social welfare law. This is a unique and exceptional opportunity for you to work in law. International students wanting to do the Placement year must indicate so upon application.

As such, the programme will also provide ideal training for paralegals, journalists, NGO and charity workers, policy advisors, consultants, lawyers, those working in business and finance or anyone who will benefit from a legal education in their career.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

This pathway gives you a deep understanding of contemporary legal issues in international business and finance, while still offering the chance to tailor your learning with a broad range of optional LLM modules.

You'll study core topics in International Law & Business and the Regulation of Financial Markets, forming a clear picture of the fundamental legal framework that governs international businesses and trading. You then have the chance to choose two modules from a range of options that include topics like International Banking Law, Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Rights, and The Law of the World Trade Organisation. These options allow you to complement your core training with specific teaching in the topics that suit your interests or professional needs.

Our staff are experts in these fields, with the professional experience and academic expertise to give you a rigorous, contemporary understanding that's ready for the workplace.

As well as choosing your optional modules, you can opt to either write a postgraduate dissertation or carry out a work-based project. Both of these options allow you to carry out independent study on a topic of your choice, developing your practical legal skills while honing your knowledge of a specific legal issue.

The programme also offers an optional placement year, following your first year. Placements will be provided and supported by the London-based NGO, Pro Bono Communities, where you'll gain valuable experience in handling issues relating to aspects of social welfare law. Training and supervision will be provided by Pro Bono Communities and a module leader at UEL will oversee the relationship and assess student performance.

We consistently review and develop our courses and modules to ensure they are up-to-date with sector and industry graduate skills demands. Course structure, modules and options are subject to change.