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.

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 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.

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.

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.

This pathway gives you the necessary legal, financial and business training to develop highly sought-after specialist knowledge, as well as fantastic networking opportunities and the chance to work on real problems in the field.

The course allows you 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.

Professionals in banking, finance, corporate governance and trade will benefit greatly from the specialist training offered in this programme, and it’s also an ideal course for law and business graduates who wish to work in the field of financial and business law.