Law - LLM
Choose our online LLM and you’ll be studying at one of the top law schools in the country for student satisfaction and postgraduate success. Designed for lawyers and non-lawyers, it combines unrivalled choice about what you study with flexibility over when and where you study.
There are 30 modules to choose from, 6 specialist named awards on offer, and the opportunity to focus on different countries’ legal systems – particularly useful for international students.
6 specialist named awards:
- LLM
- LLM (Commercial Law)
- LLM (Corporate Law and Finance)
- LLM (Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law)
- LLM (International and Comparative Law)
- LLM (Transnational Criminal Law)
Designed for the 21st century
We've worked with the legal professions, judiciary, prosecution service and police to design an LLM that’s fit for the 21st century. There are new modules such as Hi-Tech Crime, Human Trafficking and International Commercial Arbitration, and with the opportunity to work alongside many international students and tailor your coursework around different jurisdictions, your learning will be set in a global context.
Studying online gives you the flexibility to study at the most convenient time and place for you. Course modules still operate within a fixed semester or term time, but you can choose to study during the day, in the evenings or at the weekend rather than having to attend fixed lectures.
Refine your practical skills and see the bigger picture
This online LLM has both a practical focus and a research core. This means you build up useful skills and can see straight away how to apply them to your day to day role, as well as being aware of how your learning fits into the bigger picture. Uniquely, all our modules offer you the chance to undertake professional activity within the commercial or public sector, through placements. You’ll be encouraged to take part in our Research Committee to learn about – and contribute to – the latest thinking in the field of law. And the Legal Scholarship and Independent Study modules will help you hone your own research skills.
Course Length:
3 - 4 years part time
Start Dates:
September and January
Entry Requirements:
You will need a good honours degree or relevant experience.
If your first language is not English you will need to prove you are proficient in English – for instance IELTS 7.
Fees:
| Per Module | Modules | Total | Start | |
| UK | £500 | 12 | £6,000* | Sept/Jan |
| Non UK | £560 | 12 | £6,720* | Sept/Jan |
*Prices correct for 2011/2012. Subject to annual increase.
Career Information:
If you want to build an academic career in law or go onto further research, an LLM is considered essential. With an opportunity to specialise and plenty of chances to get involved in research, it’s an ideal springboard for further MPhil or PhD research.
However the LLM is also now becoming a way to demonstrate specialism to many employers and so gives you an advantage when applying for positions within and beyond the legal sector. And with our online LLM, that specialism is unrestricted, because you can build your own unique pathway module by module.
This flexibility means that if you are already employed, you can tailor this LLM exactly to your career. For example, if you're a manager working in construction and development you could study construction law, procurement law, trade and commercial law and end with a dissertation that looks at the regulation of the construction industry.
Testimonials:
John Rogers is studying the online LLM Commercial Law while working for a major energy company in Canada as Project Manager. John said:
“Increasingly, legal aspects of operation in multinational areas are a major risk factor to any project.
“As such, it's important that I have a sound knowledge of the laws that apply internationally in the commercial arena, and that's why I chose the specialist LLM Commercial Law. In fact, my work even influenced the order in which I've chosen to study each module, and I'm studying International Trade Law first.
“This course has been one of the few that was ideally suited to my needs. Having a full time job, operating overseas and without easy access to law libraries, I couldn't study any other way than online.
“It’s helping me a lot in my working life. It's been enjoyable, and I've received excellent help from the lecturers and staff when requested. I definitely think I've made a good choice.”
Miriam Katche is studying the LLM International and Comparative Law. She said:
“The work on the course so far has been very interesting. I have been able to understand the way banks are regulated internationally and why they should be regulated. I've also had the opportunity to understand the civil and common law systems.
“Meeting new people from around the world, studying in a friendly environment and having the opportunity to centre my studies around modules that interest me have been my highs so far studying the LLM.”
Course Leader:
Modules Summary:
You will focus on some of the core aspects of knowledge in law and then many of the optional modules focus on unique areas of specialist knowledge. Choose from 30 modules to develop your knowledge and esign a degree that's right for you, meeting your career aspirations, your research or personal interests. Alternatively, after the Postgraduate Certificate stage, you can choose to follow on of the 6 specialist named awards:
- LLM (Commercial Law)
- LLM (Corporate Law and Finance)
- LLM (Intellectucal Property and Information Technology Law)
- LLM (International and Comparative Law)
- LLM (Transnational Criminal Law)
For the Postgraduate Certificate (Stage 1), you must study the Legal Scholarship module and then a choice of 2 from the list that follows. For the Postgraduate Diploma (Stage 2), you choose 4 modules from the list.
Modules Summary Stage 3:
To gain the full LLM, you must undertake an Independent Study.
Student Profile:
John Rogers is studying the online LLM Commercial Law while working for a major energy company in Canada as Project Manager. John said:
“Increasingly, legal aspects of operation in multinational areas are a major risk factor to any project.
“As such, it's important that I have a sound knowledge of the laws that apply internationally in the commercial arena, and that's why I chose the specialist LLM Commercial Law. In fact, my work even influenced the order in which I've chosen to study each module, and I'm studying International Trade Law first.
“This course has been one of the few that was ideally suited to my needs. Having a full time job, operating overseas and without easy access to law libraries, I couldn't study any other way than online.
“It’s helping me a lot in my working life. It's been enjoyable, and I've received excellent help from the lecturers and staff when requested. I definitely think I've made a good choice.”
Miriam Katche is studying the LLM International and Comparative Law. She said:
“The work on the course so far has been very interesting. I have been able to understand the way banks are regulated internationally and why they should be regulated. I've also had the opportunity to understand the civil and common law systems.
“Meeting new people from around the world, studying in a friendly environment and having the opportunity to centre my studies around modules that interest me have been my highs so far studying the LLM.”
Career Information
If you want to build an academic career in law or go onto further research, an LLM is considered essential. With an opportunity to specialise and plenty of chances to get involved in research, it’s an ideal springboard for further MPhil or PhD research.
However the LLM is also now becoming a way to demonstrate specialism to many employers and so gives you an advantage when applying for positions within and beyond the legal sector. And with our online LLM, that specialism is unrestricted, because you can build your own unique pathway module by module.
This flexibility means that if you are already employed, you can tailor this LLM exactly to your career. For example, if you're a manager working in construction and development you could study construction law, procurement law, trade and commercial law and end with a dissertation that looks at the regulation of the construction industry.
Modules
You will focus on some of the core aspects of knowledge in law and then many of the optional modules focus on unique areas of specialist knowledge. Choose from 30 modules to develop your knowledge and esign a degree that's right for you, meeting your career aspirations, your research or personal interests. Alternatively, after the Postgraduate Certificate stage, you can choose to follow on of the 6 specialist named awards:
- LLM (Commercial Law)
- LLM (Corporate Law and Finance)
- LLM (Intellectucal Property and Information Technology Law)
- LLM (International and Comparative Law)
- LLM (Transnational Criminal Law)
For the Postgraduate Certificate (Stage 1), you must study the Legal Scholarship module and then a choice of 2 from the list that follows. For the Postgraduate Diploma (Stage 2), you choose 4 modules from the list.
Stage 1
Core Module
This is a required module for Stage 1, the Postgraduate Certificate. You will develop your existing legal research skills and general skills so as to achieve the ‘masterly’ level necessary to complete your postgraduate programme. This module will help you develop these key skills, aiding your personal and professional development.
It’s also excellent preparation if you choose to present your work at conferences and includes sessions about getting work published.
We will cover the following areas.
- What is postgraduate level research?
- Doctrinal methodology
- The relationship between law and morality
- Comparative legal methodology
- Deontological ethics
- Epistemology
- Instrumental aspects of legal methodology
- Evaluation of legal policy
- Applied research techniques
- Natural law
- Normativism
- Writing a research paper
- Skills of analysis and interpretation
- General introduction to legal methodology
- Research ethics
- Career development
- Publishing your work and presenting at conferences.
Non-common lawyers or non-lawyers will also cover:
- Introduction to legal resources
- Introduction to the common law system
- Where to find legal materials
- What is legal research?
- Legal research skills: interpretation
- Referencing legal materials.
Whereas common lawyers will also cover:
- Civil law systems
- Epistemology of law
- Social knowledge and its construction
- Historical implications for the development of law
- Society and the law
- Legal research skills: interpretation including legislative impact assessments and discourse analysis
- Development of online legal research methods
- Revision: referencing legal materials.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 30
Optional Module
This module is designed to equip you with the knowledge and practical expertise required to undertake advanced applied research at masters level. Practical skills are built into this module, through online seminars and tutorials, designed to develop research skills relevant to your needs and interests, including library, web and applied IT search skills.
You'll cover:
- The hypothesis of valid questions for enquiry within justice systems
- The process of research in justice systems and its component parts
- Management data sets within justice systems
- The appropriateness of various methodological approaches to research eg controlled trials, survey, grounded theory, thematic analysis and the specific challenges of operating within justice systems
- Developing research questions and the various approaches to answering these eg phenomenological approaches, feminist approaches, critical theory
- Budgetary and ethical issues in research
- Various sampling strategies and data collection techniques eg interview, observation, questionnaire, development
- Data analysis techniques eg relevant statistical tests, manual textual analysis
- Traditional and cutting edge research methods available and when their use is appropriate
- How research is used to inform theory and practice in criminal justice
- Evaluating and interpreting published research
- Theory and practice for designing and conducting original research.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
The module provides a sound understanding of the advanced criminal law which is relevant to business.
Once you have completed this module, you should be able to:
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of advanced criminal law principles relevant to business activity including legal rules, policies, decisions and outcomes
- Research, analyse, apply and evaluate the legal rules applicable to business crime.
You will cover the legislation and case law relating to the following.
- Nature of 'white collar' crime
- Fraud Act 2006
- Impact of D.T.I and S.F.O, insider dealing, fraudulent and wrongful trading
- Money laundering
- Statutory protection against business criminals
- Conspiracy offences
- Company directors – misdeeds, disqualification issues, remedies
- Regulators of criminal behaviour.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
This module will introduce you to the most influential theories relevant to the growth of commercial activity. You will also focus on how these theories affect the development and evolution of commercial laws.
You will cover the following topics.
- Historical development of commercialism
- Economic, political, and social theories of commercialism
- American realism, critical legal studies, socio-legal studies, law and economics.
Once you’ve completed this module, you will be able to:
- Critically assess the application of the relevant commercial theories
- Evaluate the extent of the theory on the development of commercial law
- Implement a methodology to help your understanding of commercial law in context.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
You will examine how the law has developed to regulate and accommodate the needs of corporate entities. This module requires you to compare differences between individual countries’ laws.
This module will enable you to:
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the functioning of the company as an entity and financial issues related to the company
- Analyse and effectively evaluate the differing roles of the people who manage and control the company.
You'll cover:
- Formation, nature and function of companies
- Internal corporate procedures
- Company securities, raising of capital and borrowing
- Internal regulations and the relationship of directors and shareholders
- The exercising of control and maintenance of shareholders rights to participate
- The role of the company secretary
- The powers and duties of auditors.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
The study of diverse criminal justice systems and their agencies of social control has taken on an essential role in establishing which policing, deterrents and correction methods are most effective. This module is a comprehensive analysis of how various criminal justice systems operate throughout the world. We’ll compare and contrast effective methods with those proven as less than adequate.
You'll cover:
- Measuring and comparing crime in and across nations
- Prosecution and pre-trial justice
- Systems of trial
- Sentencing: international and transnational criminal justice
- Understanding global trends in criminal justice.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. In this module you will examine the different jurisprudential movements in time and space. You critically investigate the nature of the leading schools of jurisprudence and compare their effect on world laws (comparative jurisprudence in time), as well as how different schools of legal thought and technique are spread geographically (comparative jurisprudence in space).
You'll cover:
- Introduction to comparative jurisprudence and methodology
- Greek and Roman philosophy
- Medieval philosophical movements
- Natural law theory
- Legal positivism
- Beyond positivism: normativism, interpretivism and utilitarianism
- Western law jurisprudence
- Hindu law jurisprudence
- African law jurisprudence
- Islamic law jurisprudence
- Chinese law jurisprudence
- Jurisprudence and comparative law in the modern global legal environment.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Stage 2
Optional Module
In this module you will examine the sequence of contracts involved in the sale and movement of goods at UK national and international levels.
We will cover:
- Law applicable to the UK national sale of goods
- Law and conventions applicable to the international sale of goods
- Agency, distribution contracts, licences, franchises, contracts of carriage, product liability, money, negotiable instruments, cheques and payment orders, bills of exchange, secured and unsecured credit financing, bills of lading, documentary sales.
By the end of the module, you’ll be able to:
- Articulate the laws regulating both the UK national and international sale of goods
- Explain the form and characteristics of contracts applicable to the sale of goods
- Assess the payment and financing methods for the sale of goods at both UK national and international level
- Devise a business plan articulating the legal and financial consequences of engaging in the sale of goods at both UK national and international levels.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
International law describes a collection of norms established by states to regulate relations between them. This module aims to explore the historical development and contemporary application of these legal rules.
We will cover the following topics:
- The development of international law
- The sources of international law
- The law of treaties
- The relationship between international law and national law
- Statehood, personality and recognition
- Sovereignty over territory
- Jurisdictional sovereignty
- Immunity from national jurisdiction
- Regulation of the use of armed force.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
The public sector influences commerce and the economy, particularly through the strategic use of its purchasing power in relation to goods, services and intellectual property. If you are involved in procurement in public sector organisations, this module aims to give you a strategic appreciation of ‘difficult’ and changing legal areas.
You will cover:
Framework agreements
- Recent developments in law relating to framework agreements: McLaughlin and Harvey Limited v Department of Finance and Personnel; and Henry Brothers (Magherafelt) Limited and Scott & Ewing (t/a Woodvale Construction Co Limited) v Department of Education for Northern Ireland
- MEAT, pricing and appointment to frameworks
- Setting aside a framework.
Re-negotiation
- Lettings International, McLaughlin and Harvey: disclosure of evaluation criteria
- Lianakis: the award stage
- Objectivity, certainty, variation clauses and making good mistakes
- Re-negotiating after the award (including changes in the financial climate)
- Pressetext: what can be changed without re-tender?
Latest developments
- An update on social and environmental factors in purchasing
- The Public Procurement Remedies Directive and its implementation in UK Law Teckal and what constitutes ‘in-house.’
- The implications of the Court of Appeal decision in Risk Management Partners v London Borough of Brent.
The extent of IP rights in contracting
- Licensing
- Exploitation
- Transfer
- Protection
IP law and public policy
- Protecting the IP needs of the government
- Encouraging innovation
Obligations of contracting partners
- Identifying IP potential
- Protecting and managing IP
- Effective commercial exploitation by business partners
- Publication of IP – Freedom of Information etc.
Contracting for effective IP management
- IP performance monitoring
- Pooling IP management resources
- Revenue sharing and innovation
- IP and the procurement chain.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
You will gain comprehensive knowledge of the growing body of international criminal law concepts and principles that are perceived as stepping beyond the context of national jurisdiction.
You will cover:
- Historical development, origin, and sources of international criminal law including the IMT, ICTY, ICTR and the role of ILC
- Definition and constituent elements of international crimes
- General principles of criminal law
- The role of the International Criminal Court and jurisdiction – The Rome Statute
- State cooperation and interaction with national proceedings.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
Increasing globalisation, international trade and the use of modern technologies has led to increased opportunities for criminals to engage in cross-border crime, such as fraud, human trafficking, terrorism, money laundering, and drugs trafficking. In this module you will explore the origins and development of transnational organised crime, the role of international law in the criminalisation of transnational organised crime and in promoting international cooperation to prevent it.
By the end of the module, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate and critically analyse the concepts, models and theoretical frameworks pertaining to transnational organised crime and their social and economic impact
- Research and analyse an aspect of transnational crime with reference to national and international measures and responses to reduction and control.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
The treatment of vulnerable victims and witnesses is an area which has seen great change over the past 20 years. The module is structured to follow the chronology of an investigation from the first steps of identifying a vulnerable victim and witness, through to trial. We’ll use case studies and examples to outline the potential pitfalls during the investigation and possible solutions.
You'll cover:
- Identifying intimidated and vulnerable victims and witnesses
- Offences commonly experienced by vulnerable witnesses
- Human trafficking
- Multi-agency working
- Special measures
- Issues concerning consent in sexual offences
- Competence and compellability
- Victim and witness interview strategies
- Ongoing contact
- Pre-trial preparation.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
This module looks at the increasingly transnational nature of crime and the attempts to provide cooperative cross-national responses. We’ll use specific examples such as international terrorism, drug trafficking, and money laundering to illustrate this ever expanding phenomenon. The module also examines cross-national and international efforts by police to deal with transnational crime, also incorporating the changes that have occurred in crime and policing during the first years of the 21st century.
You'll cover:
- Measuring and comparing crime in and across nations
- The social and historical contexts of policing
- The changing styles of policing
- Ethical concerns for modern policing strategies
- Ethics, discipline and the behaviour of individual police officers
- Control, independence and accountability in policing
- Policing in the 21st century
- Transnational organised crime including drug trafficking
- Comparing police cultures
- Understanding global trends in policing.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
This module explores the body of rules regulating how facts may be proved in a court of law.
You will cover:
- The role of judge and jury in relation to court procedure
- Examination in chief, cross examination and re-examination
- Police conduct in obtaining evidence and their role in the justice system
- Identification evidence
- Character evidence and similar fact evidence
- The hearsay rule, res gestae and other exceptions
- Opinion evidence.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
The construction sector relies on interconnected contractual relationships. It involves the trading of labour, plant, materials and services under a variety of contract arrangements. Law is one of the commercial tools used to achieve economic objectives so it is essential for you to understand how the Law shapes the structure of the industry and how it can help resolve and avoid disputes.
You will cover the following areas.
Section 1
- The nature of construction contracts and their economic context
- The use of standard building forms and the principles of contract
- The contentious issues of money, resources and time.
Section 2
- Strategies on procuring construction work and avoiding risk
- Disputes and their causes
- Methods of resolving conflict that are used within the industry.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
Corporate governance is the set of processes, customs, policies, laws, and institutions affecting the way a company is directed, administered or controlled. Accountability is a key theme in corporate governance.
This module will enable you to:
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of developments aimed to serve the needs of corporate governance and their scope in application
- Analyse the importance attributed to corporate governance and levels of implementation in different countries and jurisdictions.
You will cover:
- Original sources of corporate governance
- Application of company law
- Developments and level of uniformity within the European Union
- Application within public and private companies
- Global developments and influences
- Types of directors
- Internal corporate procedures
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
Since Sir Thomas Bingham called for the formulation of a law to protect a right of personal privacy in 1996, there have been great changes to legal personal privacy in the UK. However, it cannot be truly said Bingham's aims or agenda have been followed. The UK legal framework offering rights of personal privacy is convoluted and in need of consolidation. This module looks at how this consolidation might be achieved.
Once you have completed this module, you will be able to:
- Compare and evaluate systems of legal privacy protection in the UK jurisdiction and in other common law jurisdictions
- Critique concepts of personal privacy from legislative and jurisprudential perspectives
- Critique concepts of freedom-of-information from legislative and jurisprudential perspectives.
We will cover these areas:
- Legal issues concerning the development of personal privacy found within UK-relevant legislation.
- Legal issues concerning the development of freedom-of-information found within UK-relevant legislation.
- Privacy case law from the UK courts and from other common law jurisdictions.
- The work of the UK First-Tier Tribunal (Information Rights) and the UK court system in applying freedom-of-information law in politically contentious scenarios.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
You will explore the history and the realities of hi-tech (or ‘cybercrime’) in today's society as legislation and case law strives to keep pace with a rapidly evolving medium. You’ll critically examine the question of whether widespread practices should be treated as computer crime or computer misuse and consider the nature and forms of hi-tech crime.
You'll cover:
- History and context
- The English legal system
- Forms of hi-tech crimes
- The roles of computers in crime
- Technology and law
- Digital evidence
- Investigating computer intrusions
- Handling the digital crime scene
- Policing the internet
- Jurisdiction
- Internet law and regulation
- Cybercrime and terrorism.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
This module covers crimes that are specific to the use of information technology, but also crimes of a general nature in which the use, or misuse, of information technology plays a part. UK and EU law will be examined, but international legislation may also be relevant.
We will cover the following areas.
- Viruses, worms, trojan horses, hacking, spamming, phishing etc and their legal implications
- Fraud involving computer technology
- Use of computers in: terrorism, grooming, rape, murder/suicide, drugs, graffiti, government/commercial espionage, theft, kidnap/missing persons, corruption, assault, arson, firearms, illegal immigration/human trafficking and perverting the course of duty
- The Computer Misuse Act
- Pornographic and other obscenity offences
- Offences of a fraudulent nature including identity theft
- Harassment offences.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
You will explore the law and procedure applicable to the control and operation of the internet, communication systems and other interactive technologies. Although we’ll focus on the UK in its European setting, cyberspace does not recognise national boundaries, and so other national (particularly the US) and international jurisdictions will be included where appropriate.
You'll cover:
- The internet, law and society
- The role of government in national and international administration of the internet and communications systems.
- Legislative control of the internet and communications systems
- Domain name ownership and disputes
- Use of ICT for commercial activity:
- provision of goods and services
- banking and finance
- entertainment
- Jurisdiction, enforcement and dispute resolution
- Defamatory, obscene and harassing material.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
This module examines the legal principles and procedures around ownership, use and control of information on the internet and in other media. Although the study will focus on the UK in its European setting, the nature of information is such that it often does not recognise national boundaries, so other national and international jurisdictions (particularly the US) will be included where appropriate.
You'll cover:
- The nature of information
- Intellectual property rights in information
- Protection of confidential information
- Intellectual property rights in computer hardware and software
- Use, control and misuse of digital information.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
In this module you will examine both national and international commercial arbitration. We will focus on the rules which govern arbitration agreements, arbitral tribunal, arbitral proceedings and arbitral awards. As well as providing an overview of the arbitral process, the module also focuses on the New York Convention, the Uncitral Model Law as well as national arbitration law.
You'll cover:
- Existing dispute resolution mechanisms
- Comparing and contrasting negotiation, mediation, conciliation and arbitration as a means of resolving disputes
- Legislative framework: the UK Arbitration Act 1996
- Arbitration: defining arbitration, agreement to refer to existing or future disputes to arbitration, and arbitration clauses in standard form contracts.
- Role of the arbitrator: appointment of arbitrators, qualifications of an arbitrator, the rights and duties of the arbitrator, the course of an arbitral reference, removing an arbitrator
- Awards: types of awards, form and content of awards, enforcement of an award
- The courts and arbitration
- Role of the High Court: stay on legal proceedings, court challenges to the decisions and awards of an arbitrator
- International arbitration
- Arbitration (International Commercial) Act; 1998 and UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
This module will examine how the laws around financial regulation and banking are applied within a global context. We will look at the economic and political consequences of these laws, determining the extent to which the current global banking and financial regulatory system contributed to the current recession. We will also consider whether this current financial system requires remedial action.
You will cover:
- Principles of banking law
- International regulations of banks
- Financial regulation of lending
- Banking products: derivatives and mortgages.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
This module explores the legal framework of international economic relations with particular emphasis on international trade, international monetary law and international development law.
You will cover:
- Historical development of international economic law
- Structure and role of the World Trade Organisation/GATT
- International dispute resolution under the World Trade Organisation
- International monetary law and the role of IMF and the World Bank
- Role and function of development law.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
Intellectual property by its very nature requires international protection. A number of international agreements have been in existence since the 19th century. However, owners of intellectual property must still enforce their rights through national courts and so they are reliant on the differing methods of interpretation each domestic court may use. Added to this, intellectual property owners may be operating in jurisdictions where the system for enforcing their rights is less satisfactory than those in Europe and the USA.
This module will examine the level of protection afforded by these agreements and their impact on commercial activity.
You'll cover:
- The main international agreements and organisations in relation to intellectual property
- The criteria for protection of patents, trademarks, copyright and related rights
- Relevant international organisations such as the World Intellectual Property Organisation and World Trade Organisation (WTO)
- The procedures within the WTO for TRIPS enforcement
- The effect on trade between contracting states.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
This module addresses through a case-study approach the forensic, evidential, investigatory and legal issues relating to a growing global problem. Human trafficking has a significant local impact in the developing and developed world.
We’ll consider questions such as:
- What are the roles of organised crime and transnational crime in illicit trafficking?
- Does immigration foster illicit trafficking?
- Can law enforcement operate effectively in a global environment?
- What is the relationship of the growth of global finance to illicit trafficking?
- What are the trends among transnational crime groups?
You will study the following areas:
- The definition of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants (in particular definitions in the United Nations instruments)
- Indicators of trafficking in persons
- Psychological reaction of victims of trafficking in persons
- Control methods in trafficking in persons
- Risk assessment in trafficking in persons investigations
- International cooperation in trafficking in persons cases
- Crime scene and physical evidence examinations in trafficking in persons investigations
- Interviewing victims of trafficking in persons who are potential witnesses
- Interviewing child victims of trafficking in persons
- Interpreters in trafficking in persons investigations
- Victims' needs in criminal justice proceedings in trafficking in persons cases
- Protection and assistance to victims-witnesses in trafficking in persons cases
- Compensation for victims of trafficking in persons
- Considerations in sentencing in trafficking in persons cases.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
Within an increasingly global society, crime transcends national boundaries and criminal acts committed in 1 jurisdiction have consequences or causes in others. The prosecution and investigation of such crimes challenges traditional conceptions of justification, jurisdiction and adjudication.
This module addresses institutional, theoretical and substantive law issues relating to transnational crime. While we will consider international crimes, much of the focus is on the type of criminal activity that requires national agencies to try and extend their reach beyond borders, for example:
- Environmental crime
- Crimes against humanity
- Terrorism
- Arms smuggling
- Drug offences.
We will cover:
- International investigative agencies (Interpol etc.)
- Adjudication authorities (including ad hoc and permanent criminal tribunals.)
- International and national instruments, such as the UN Convention on transnational and organised crime.
The context of transnational crime will include a critical examination of:
- The impact of human rights on transnational crime
- Extradition and other tools for inter-jurisdictional cooperation
- Evidential issues relating to transnational crime
- Investigative methodologies and models of relevance.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
This module will develop your understanding of the purpose and aims of 3 of the most significant institutions involved in multilateral trading: The World Trade Organization (WTO), The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and The World Bank. You will evaluate the role that these institutions play in international trade from an economic and political perspective, and critically explore the advantages and disadvantages of multilateral trading.
Topics covered include:
- The historical development of the WTO, IMF and World Bank
- The WTO, its institutional structure and the regulation of its agreements
- The IMF and the concepts of exchange rates, balance of payments and multilateral payments
- The World Bank Group and the concept of sustainable development
- Environment law and competition policy.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Stage 3
To gain the full LLM, you must undertake an Independent Study.
Core Module
This is equivalent to FOUR modules. You will conduct a major piece of independently researched work which will be a dissertation or employment based report.
It’s your chance to use and enhance the knowledge and intellectual skills you have gained during the course, by extensively investigating a topic of your choice (in agreement with your ‘supervisor’ for this study) within the context of commercial law and practice.
By completing an Independent Study, you will learn how to:
- propose a realistic research issue and plan for its execution
- demonstrate a critical awareness of relevant literature and theories
- develop an appropriate research methodology to investigate the problem or issue, and give justification for the choice of methods
- gather data in a manner consistent with the research methodology, and subject the data to appropriate analysis
- evaluate the success or otherwise of the methodology used and reflect upon the results obtained from analysis of the data gathered
- place the results in context in relation to theories and concepts referred to in the literature search.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework. You will produce a written dissertation.
Credits: 60
You will need a good honours degree or relevant experience.
If your first language is not English you will need to prove you are proficient in English – for instance IELTS 7.
Apply Now
Applications for Online courses are made through the main University of Derby website.
By clicking on "Apply now" below you will be redirected to the University of Derby website to continue your application process.
Fees
| Per Module | Modules | Total | Start | |
| UK | £500 | 12 | £6,000* | Sept/Jan |
| Non UK | £560 | 12 | £6,720* | Sept/Jan |
*Prices correct for 2011/2012. Subject to annual increase.
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