Law - LLM Commercial Law
Course code: MM1AE (required to complete application form)
Choose our online LLM Commercial Law 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.
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. You will cover modules such as International Economic Law and Develpment and Business Crime, 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. 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, January and May
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/EU | £555 | 12 | £6,660* | Sept/Jan/May |
| Overseas | £615 | 12 | £7,380* | Sept/Jan/May |
*Prices correct for 2012/2013. Subject to annual increase in September 2013.
New flexible payment plans available
Choose from three options:
- Pay only for the modules you are studying
- Pay your full course fees upfront and avoid annual increases
- Pay for all modules studied in the year and receive a 5% discount (September enrolment only)
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.
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 Stage 2:
You can choose 3 optional modules from the list below:
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.
Modules
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
Core 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
Core 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
Stage 2
You can choose 3 optional modules from the list below:
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
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
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
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/EU | £555 | 12 | £6,660* | Sept/Jan/May |
| Overseas | £615 | 12 | £7,380* | Sept/Jan/May |
*Prices correct for 2012/2013. Subject to annual increase in September 2013.
New flexible payment plans available
Choose from three options:
- Pay only for the modules you are studying
- Pay your full course fees upfront and avoid annual increases
- Pay for all modules studied in the year and receive a 5% discount (September enrolment only)
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