LLM Law

Law graduates find employment in a diverse range of roles, both inside and outside the legal profession. Studying law will develop your communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills, which will make you stand out to employers across a number of fields. Graduates from our programme work as:

What can you do with a law degree?

• Year 1

• Our teaching will be by academic staff and offer a blended and flexible approach, including on-campus delivery, with on-line support through our Digital Learning Environment. You will have opportunities to get involved in extra-curricular activities, such as research seminars, external speakers, publish in our Plymouth Law Review, as well as joining our excellent Student Law Society to participate in activities such as mooting and networking events. Join our LLM and gain both a relevant and advanced understanding of the law and the skills to strengthen your competency as a practitioner or researcher.

  During the year, you will study two core modules in semester 1: Legal Theory: Themes and Debates and Research Methods in Law. These modules will ensure you have the skills necessary to put your ideas and thoughts together on what you wish to pursue in depth in your dissertation. In semester 2, you will study two modules of your choice.

  You will complete your studies with a dissertation, an in-depth and individual exploration of a legal issue that interests you, assisted by a member of our law staff acting as your supervisor.

  Core modules

  LAW729
  Studying Law: Advanced Skills and Theories

  This module develops advanced understanding of law’s theoretical underpinnings. It deploys key ideas and theories to analyse and raise foundational questions about the development and performance of modern legal systems, institutions, and doctrines. It gives learners the opportunity to enhance their critical evaluation and argumentation skills by engaging with advanced theoretical scholarship and complex ideas and supports transition to postgraduate study by providing skills training.

  LAW730
  Law Dissertation and Advanced Research Skills

  The dissertation module provides the opportunity to undertake a substantial self-directed, research project on a legal topic of choice. First, students are introduced to concepts and methodologies commonly used in legal research, enabling understanding of how a range of different methods are applied in the context of law and their relationship to legal theory. Students will utilise these skills to design their own research project and contextualise the work carried by others.

  Optional modules

  LAW725
  Contemporary Themes in Environmental Law and Policy

  The module provides a critical insight into contemporary environmental challenges and the legal and policy responses, developed or developing, applied to them. Research-led, and with learning structured around a critical and applied context, the module focuses on the framing of solutions to various global and local environmental issues.

  LAW728
  Environmental Law of the Sea

  This module considers the regulatory framework applied to activities and development in the marine environment. Contextualised by the International law and its implementing measures, the module examines contemporary issues relating to the sustainable use of the marine environment, by way of a theoretical and practical analysis of the law, to provide insight into this dynamic and contemporary area of regulation.

  LAW731
  International Human Rights Law

  The module provides a comprehensive overview of the theories and principles of international human rights law. The main international legal frameworks, institutions, and systems that promote and protect human rights worldwide are presented and critically examined. Additionally, the module encourages critical reflection on potential clashes of human rights and differences in their application.

  LAW732
  International Humanitarian Law

  This module focuses on developing an advanced critical understanding of international humanitarian law. This involves an examination of the law of armed conflict, contemporary social, political and legal challenges and an exploration of the core principles and distinctions of IHL. Research-led, and with learning structured around a critical and applied context, the module focuses on the development of armed conflict and the advancement of the law alongside these issues.

  LAW733
  Energy Law

  The module critically assesses contemporary legal issues in the energy industry and the state’s control of energy resources globally. Research-driven and centred on a theoretical and applied framework, the module is designed to provide useful solutions to some of the most significant issues in hydrocarbon and renewable energy operations across key jurisdictions.

  LAW734
  International and Transnational Criminal Law

  This module critically examines international criminal law addressing core crimes including genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression. Transnational criminal law focuses on crimes of international concern affecting multiple states and governed by suppression conventions including cybercrime, drug trafficking, environmental crimes, human trafficking, maritime safety offences, migrant smuggling, piracy, slavery, terrorism, and transnational organised crime.

LLM Law programme specification_7116

You should have a second-class honours undergraduate degree or equivalent in law, or containing some study of law. Other undergraduate degrees, such as criminology or other social sciences, may be considered as appropriate, on a case by case basis.Non-standard applications, such as those with substantial experience in an appropriate field, will also be considered on a case-by-case basis.
International
We welcome applicants with international qualifications. Please view the country guides for further information regarding the equivalency of your degree. International applicants will be required to provide evidence of their English language ability, for example by achieving an IELTS score of 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 5.5 in each element) or equivalent. View our English language requirements . Pre-sessional English language courses are available if you do not meet these requirements.

To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.

We welcome deferred entry applications. If you wish to apply for deferred entry then please indicate this within your personal statement.

Most of our taught programmes begin in September. Applications can usually be made throughout the year, and are considered until programmes are full.

Familiarise yourself with the information required to complete your application form. You will usually be required to supply:

If you require further information take a look at our application guidance.

If you have a disability and would like further information about the support provided by University of Plymouth, please visit our Additional support for students with an impairment, health condition or disability website.

Support is also available to overseas students applying to the University from our International Office via our how to apply webpage or email admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

Once you are happy that you have all of the information required you can apply using our online postgraduate application form (the blue 'Apply now' icon on this page).

You will normally receive a decision on your application within four weeksof us receiving your application. You may be asked to provide additional information; two academic/professional references, confirming your suitability for the course; or to take part in an interview (which in the case of overseas students may be by telephone or video conference) and you will be sent a decision by letter or email.

We aim to make the application procedure as simple and efficient as possible. Our Admissions and Course Enquiries team is on hand to offer help and can put you in touch with the appropriate faculty if you wish to discuss any programme in detail.

If you would like any further information please contact the Admissions and Course Enquiries team:

You can view or download our admissions policy from the student regulations, policies and procedures page. Prospective students are advised to read the policy before making an application to the University.