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LOCATION
University Square Stratford
Location Fees and Funding
Here's the fees and funding information for each year of this course
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.
Since law is a vast and diverse subject, we offer a huge amount of flexibility in this general LLM programme. You also have the option of taking one of our specialist pathways that focus on different topics (see related courses below).
The pathways align to our major research strengths in areas like legal education, international legal research and human rights – but you can study modules from all these areas if you opt for the general LLM. 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 makes this course different
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
We consistently review our courses to ensure we are up-to-date with industry changes and requirements from our graduates. As a result, our modules are subject to change.
This general LLM is designed to give you freedom over the topics you study. As a result, the only core module is the 'Dissertation or Work-Based Project' and the rest of your course will consist of modules that you select from an extensive list.
The four available pathways (Business & Financial Law, Human Rights Advocacy, International Law & Legal Practice, Transitional Justice & Conflict) give you an indication of the prominent themes and specialisations in our law department, and this LLM enables you to place focus on the areas that interest you in this diverse field.
Modules range from those dealing with regulation in business and finance (Regulation of Financial Markets, Financial Crime and Corporate Criminal Liability, International Banking Law) to topics in human rights (Human Rights Practice and Advocacy, War and Human Rights, Minority Rights under International Law), issues arising from war and conflict (International Refugee Law, International Law and the Use of Force), and many at the intersection of these themes.
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.
DOWNLOAD COURSE SPECIFICATIONS
LLM General course specification
pdf, 143.49 KB
LLM with Placement course specification
pdf, 151.98 KB
MODULES
- Core Modules
International Law: Problems and Process (Mental Wealth) CloseInternational Law: Problems and Process (Mental Wealth)
The main aim of the course is to stimulate your research interest in topical areas of international law and to develop your research skills in both public and private international law. The course, intended as a core LLM module, presents a survey of key debates in public and private international law. It thereby provides a grounding in the skills and methodologies required for postgraduate study of international law.
Being core to all UEL LLM pathways, this module will also incorporate a series of skills workshops to help orient you on the programme. These will cover essential skills and also address issues of employability and the core competencies of mental wealth.
Applied Project CloseApplied Project
The aim of the dissertation is to enable you to initiate and carry through an academic enquiry outside the formal structure of the taught LLM modules. Students select their own field of research and build on the knowledge and skills acquired in the taught LLM modules.
Optional ModulesLaw of International Finance CloseLaw of International Finance
In this module you will examine the legal issues created by the international operations of large commercial banks, merchant banks and investment banks. Although based primarily on a discussion and analysis of current London City Practices, reference to other relevant laws are examined. The course has a strong comparative and international law content and emphasises a study of regulatory issues and private international law considerations in the context of international finance.
Financial Crime and Corporate Criminal Liability CloseFinancial Crime and Corporate Criminal Liability
- You will develop knowledge and critical understanding of financial crime offences from a domestic, European and international perspective.
- You will examine the most relevant legal issues related to fraud, bribery and corruption, money laundering, terrorism financing, tax evasion, insider trading and cybercrime.
- You will learn about illustrate the UN, US and EU economic sanctions regimes.
- You will engage with issues related to proceeds and instruments of crime.
- You will gain an understating of the financial crime compliance measures adopted by corporations to fight against economic crime offences.
International Corporate Governance CloseInternational Corporate Governance
The module aims to provide you with a comprehensive appreciation of the legal, theoretical and practical underpinnings of the operation and control of contemporary corporations. It introduces students to the evolving framework that seeks to regulate the intricate relationships between, and often conflicting interests of, the corporation and its board of directors, the management, shareholders and the broader society within which they operate. Whilst the module draws from English law, it is international and comparative in focus and exposes students to the evolving global corporate governance regimes.
The Law of the World Trade Organisation and Globalisation CloseThe Law of the World Trade Organisation and Globalisation
The primary aim of this module is to introduce you to complex international trade law and globalization issues. As the approach will be interdisciplinary, at the end of the course you will have an understanding of the history and politics of the post-World War II trading regime in addition to the principles of international trade regulation. You will also interrogate factors and forces shaping globalization and the consequences of this process for the global trading order.
International Criminal Law CloseInternational Criminal Law
The aim of the module is to introduce you to the current debates about international criminal law, its doctrines and institutions with special reference to this newly emerging legal order.
International Environmental Law CloseInternational Environmental Law
This course seeks to acquaint you with the basic principles of international environmental law. You will engage with some of the intricate issues arising out of the regulation of the environment. It is expected that by the end of the course you will have a good grasp of international environmental policy and regulation.
Oil and Gas Law and Policy (Mental Wealth) CloseOil and Gas Law and Policy (Mental Wealth)
The module aims to provide you with a comparative and analytical exploration of contemporary upstream and downstream oil and gas and minerals regulatory trends particularly in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East in some key areas like Oil and Gas Law, Contracting, Decommissioning and Trade. In particular it seeks to give you a thorough grounding in the areas:
- Oil and Gas finance and international economic law
- Energy transactions - Law, policy and practice
- Petroleum development and production arrangements and Rights
- Energy and the International treaty framework
International Refugee Law CloseInternational Refugee Law
This module aims to provide an overview of contemporary international protection framework and practice relating to refugees and Internally Displaced Persons. It explores the theoretical, philosophical, political and socio-cultural dimensions of the refugee crisis from an interdisciplinary perspective. The module focuses on the global and regional institutional mechanisms redressing human rights violations through case studies. It also discusses domestic application of international refugee standards by reviewing the legislative developments in the field of UK Immigration and Refugee practice and policy trends in Europe: and its impact on domestic refugee policy.
Regulation and Governance of Energy (Mental Wealth) CloseRegulation and Governance of Energy (Mental Wealth)
The module aims to provide you the opportunity to explore within a multidisciplinary and critical framework, the regulatory and institutional aspects of the energy and natural resources and the wider economic, business, environmental and technological issues that are fundamental to energy and mineral economies and market. It covers complex concepts and modes of regulation in areas of :
- Natural resources concepts in domestic and international context
- The environment, energy security and sustainability law
- Renewable energy and alternative energy industry
- The WTO, natural resources Trade and Investment
- The Resolution of minerals and energy disputes
The module will also be supported by workshops focussing on issues of employability and skills.
Economic Integration in the Developing World CloseEconomic Integration in the Developing World
This module focuses on economic integration in developing countries. It seeks to locate the process of regionalism within the framework of economic, legal and political development in economically disadvantaged parts of the world. The methodology of the module is interdisciplinary. You will explore questions of law, politics, economics, history and sociology. Thus, students are expected to understand both legal and non-legal perspectives on economic integration in developing countries.
Work Based Project CloseWork Based Project
The aim of this module is to give students the opportunity to work as an intern with an organisation on a specific project relevant both to both their work and their LLM studies. You will write an extended piece of research on a project agreed with both the School and the host organisation.
- Core Modules
LLM Optional Placement CloseLLM Optional Placement
You can opt in to participate in a placement year, where we will help place you within a business where you can gain hands on experience in law – connecting what you’ve learnt at University to industry. Students wanting to do the Placement year must indicate so upon application.
HOW YOU'LL LEARN
All our LLM courses are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops. We extensively use problem-based learning, class discussion and case studies to ensure our teaching is brought to life, while all our lectures are issued as podcasts to give you greater access to learning resources and allow you to revisit specific classes.
The LLM Transitional Justice, LLM International Law and Legal Practice and LLM Human Rights Advocacy pathways are supported by regular events at the Centre for Human Rights in Conflict. These involve presentations from prominent experts in the field of human rights in conflict. This year's speakers included Michael Ignatieff, President and Rector of the Central European University and Former Leader of the Canadian Liberal Party, David Malone, Rector of the United Nations University and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Other recent speakers at UEL have included Lord Neuberger, President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, and the high-profile human rights lawyer (and UEL law graduate) Imran Khan.
All teaching on the programme takes place in the evening at our newly opened purpose built building at University Square Stratford, which has cutting edge facilities and includes a Mooting Room, Harvard Lecture Theatre and our newly re-launched Law Clinic provided to assist the local community. Students also have access to the new library that opened in 2013 on the Water Lane campus at Stratford.
If you go for the placement option, your degree will take an extra year as you will be placed in a workplace for 10 months. Placement is not available to part-time students. Students wanting to do the Placement year must indicate so upon application.
HOW YOU'LL BE ASSESSED
All modules are research-based, involving coursework. You will take four modules of 30 credits each for which you will submit coursework of approximately 7,000 words at the end of the term. The LLM dissertation, accounting for 60 credits, involves a 15,000-word essay. Full-time students normally complete the 180 credits requirements in one academic year while part-time students complete the same in two years.
The work placement module for the additional second year of the is 120 Placement Credits but will not bear academic credits. The module will be taken by students after completion of their dissertation module and will be assessed on a pass/fail basis. The criteria for progression to the work placement module is the successful completion of the LLM taught modules (i.e. with minimum of 50% pass mark). The University will work in close partnership with the students to help them secure the work placements.
CAMPUS and FACILITIES

University Square Stratford, University Square Stratford
WHO TEACHES THIS COURSE
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
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What we're researching
At the University of East London we are working on the some of the big issues that will define our future; from sustainable architecture and ethical AI, to health inequality and breaking down barriers in the creative industries.
Our students and academics are more critically engaged and socially conscious than ever before. Discover some of the positive changes our students, alumni and academics are making in the world.

Other than learning valuable information in matters related to both, international law and business and financial law, I acquired skills in redaction, research, and referencing. All this while receiving the continuous support of my professors, programme leader, and various departments at UEL. Due to the responsiveness and professionalism of everyone in the law department, Covid did not affect the quality of learning, and I received a lot more than I expected to.”
Joelle Nassif
LLM Graduate
YOUR FUTURE CAREER
If you already have a law career then this course gives you the chance to specialise with focused, professional training in the fields that interest you.
The course provides the opportunity to undertake a work-based project so you can gain practical experience and build professional links, while our renowned Law Clinic enables you to work on real legal cases with local people to enhance your clinical skills.
You can also study this course if you are a professional working in related areas and would benefit from an understanding of contemporary legal issues in business, human rights, international law and other fields.
A legal education is highly attractive to employers in any sector, as it demonstrates a huge range of transferable skills, an analytical intelligence, and an understanding of the regulatory frameworks that would apply to any business or organisation.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.