llm dissertation topics uk

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Dissertation Topics in Law for LLM Students

Updated on
May 9, 2023

Dissertation Topics in Law for LLM Students-03 (1)

The last academic challenge before the completion of your postgraduate degree is a dissertation or thesis. Many students pursuing LLM are often confused while deciding the correct topic for the dissertation as it requires a lot of research. To help you with the dissertation this blog contains ideal law dissertation topics for LLM in India. Keep reading to know more!

This Blog Includes:

How to choose the best dissertation topic, advantages of choosing a good dissertation topic, criminal law dissertation topics, international law dissertation topics, family law dissertation topics, employment law dissertation topics, international commercial law dissertation topics, law dissertation topics india, intellectual property law topics in dissertation, constitutional law topics in dissertation, sports law topics in dissertation, medical law topics in dissertation, commercial law dissertation topics, company law dissertation topics, tort law dissertation topics, eu law dissertation topics, the english legal system and constitutional and administrative law dissertation topics.

A lot of research and hard work is required to decide what is a correct and valuable topic for the dissertation or thesis. It is seen in various students that before graduation the dissertation is the last hurdle in the way. It is advised to pursue a topic after valuable research and most importantly that goes with the student’s interests.

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Law, School of

Law thesis and dissertation collection

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Presented here is a selection of theses and dissertations from the School of Law. Please note that this is not a complete record of all degrees awarded by the School.

This material is presented to ensure timely dissemination of scholarly and technical work. Copyright and all rights therein are retained by authors or by other copyright holders. All persons copying this information are expected to adhere to the terms and constraints invoked by each author's copyright. In most cases, these works may not be reposted without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.

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LAW54660: Dissertation I

It is possible that changes to modules or programmes might need to be made during the academic year, in response to the impact of Covid-19 and/or any further changes in public health advice.

Type	Tied
Level	4
Credits	60
Availability	Available in 2023/24
Module Cap
Location	Durham
Department	Law

Prerequisites

Corequisites, excluded combinations of modules.

The opportunity to write a dissertation is designed to bring a greater element of research into the LLM by allowing students the opportunity to pursue in-depth any areas which are of particular interest to them, under the supervision of a member of staff with appropriate specialist expertise. The LLM dissertation may be up to 10,000 words (equivalent to 60 UCU). Students presenting a dissertation are required to submit it by 15 September of the year following entry.
No syllabus as such is appropriate for this module. [See Appendix A - Extract from the current LLM Handbook. A full revised version will be produced before the introduction of the new LLM Programmes (October 2003), taking account of the current assessment policy in the University's Core Instructions to Examiners for Masters programmes, and the Teaching and Learning Handbook].
Dissertations may be presented on a topic chosen by the candidate provided that:
(a) the topic chosen falls generally within the streams offered by the LLM Programme;
(b) it is approved by the Chair of the Board of Studies.
The candidate shall make every effort to identify a topic for dissertation as soon as possible, but certainly before the end of the Michaelmas Term. For general guidance on the matter, the candidate may consult any member of staff responsible for LLM teaching.
A definite topic for a dissertation and provisional title indicating the precise subject matter and scope thereof, shall be submitted by the end of Michaelmas Term.
The Chair of the Board of Studies shall formally approve the topic of dissertation and appoint a supervisor.
Subsequent changes in the topic may be approved by the Chair of the Board of Studies if the candidate so requests, reasonable grounds being shown.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

a detailed knowledge of a specified field of law chosen by the student and approved by the Board of Studies;
to evaluate critically and work from those materials to arrive at a clear and defensible opinion on the issues;
to offer a personal and justifiable opinion on the effectiveness of specific laws relating to the dissertation topic and the desirability for their reform,
to recognize and understand competing arguments on reform;

Subject-specific Skills:

the ability to identify accurately legal material relevant to those issues selected (whether print-based or electronic),
Plan and investigate a theory or argument in the context of a particular area of law.
Critically analyse and evaluate an aspect of current law in the light, where this is appropriate, of internal considerations (such as inherent inconsistencies) and external considerations (social, political, moral and commercial pressures).

Key Skills:

the ability to exercise the above skills independently (with some supervision) on a substantial project requiring work over the academic year.
to communicate their knowledge and argument in writing with clarity and confidence in a substantial dissertation;

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Every supervisor shall meet with their supervisee to agree the structure of the dissertation and to approve the bibliography.
The candidate may meet the supervisor from time to time at the discretion of the latter.
The purpose of the meetings shall be one or more of the following:
(i) to review and discuss the synopsis;
(ii) to give general guidance as regards the subject matter, scope and content of the proposed dissertation.
(iii) to propose variations, amendments and necessary changes to the topic outlined;
(iv) to indicate appropriate legal sources and materials;
(v) to resolve particular difficulties encountered by the candidate;
(vi) to offer editorial comments on the dissertation.
The candidate shall assume full responsibility for the progress and completion of the dissertation within the stipulated time limit set by the Department, namely 15 September in the year following admission to the course.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Total	Monitored
Contact Hours	4	Yes
Individual Study	596	Yes
Total	600

Summative Assessment

Component: The Dissertation		Component Weighting: 100%
Element	Length / Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Dissertation.	7,500-10,000 words	100

Formative Assessment

More information.

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Guide To LLM Dissertation Writing

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Choosing the topic

Five key considerations when choosing your dissertation topic are:

Why are you studying an LLM in thr first place?
Which modules have you enjoyed the most?
Which areas of the law have a good support base at your institution?
What are the strengths of your law library?
Is your potential topic a wide enough question?

Obviously, choosing a topic is a necessary stage to get underway before you can start researching and writing your dissertation. You should spend time carefully considering the subject of your dissertation as it might end up being the clincher for that first job after you finish your studies. Make sure you pick a topic that you find interesting, but that also has the balance of support from your lecturers and professors.

You'll need to be uniquely motivated to produce a dissertation about a subject that none of your lectures or professors knows much about. Understanding why you have picked the particular subject will ensure you're choosing the right topic, but don't spend too much time considering what to do as you'll need to get on with it.

Dissertation support

You will have plenty of dissertation support organised through your law school. Some of it might be compulsory sessions that you must undertake as part of your LLM program, while others may be support sessions that can help you stay focused throughout your dissertation work.

Make sure you attend these sessions and don’t hesitate to ask questions if in doubt. It might be a good idea to share your dissertation structure with tutors or designated academic contacts that can give you feedback on your progress. Law school libraries usually have books that tell you how best to prepare for your dissertation. Keep an eye out for skills sessions on writing or research methods. These will prove useful when you get down to drafting content for your dissertation and will enable you to put to practice acquired skills that you picked up during these sessions.

Planning and organisation

Some people love creating a filing system and hopefully, you're one of them as this is a great way to organise your LLM dissertation. You'll need to keep your research well organised to enable you to quickly access it when you are writing your dissertation. It's a good idea to have research divided into chapters early on.

It's a good idea to follow a file management procedure to save your dissertation material. This material could consist of both printed (photocopies from the library or print-outs of research articles) and online documents. Try to follow a consistent labelling/naming convention so that you can locate documents quickly. For instance, if you have a vast number of online articles and research papers to go through, then categorise them in such a way that they fall under relevant chapters of your dissertation.

Any research you do online will need to be backed up, and of course, you will have the dissertation itself backed up too. Do not have everything saved on one ancient laptop, instead build in a routine for how you save and backup your data daily so it just becomes part of how you work. If you start as early as you can on your dissertation, then you'll be able to build in planning time and create a realistic timetable for your work, with escapes from your dissertation to let you reflect on what you have done so far.

Researching

There is no easy or quick way around this, you are just going to have to get going with the research as soon as possible. Remember that law libraries get busy during the second semester so you'll need to get there early in the mornings or stay late sometimes.

You also don't want to wait around for particular texts that have a limited availability. If you realise you need a book that someone else has checked-out of the library, then let the staff know as soon as you know so you have a chance of getting it. Don't forget about online law libraries and resources too, and speak with your academic staff if you are really struggling to access what you need.

Don't wait until you think you've done all the researching before you start writing up your findings. Writing up an LLM dissertation takes time and thought. Start writing as soon as you start researching and keep planning the chapters of your dissertation as you delve deeper into the research. With a bit of luck and good planning, you will find that the chapters are easy to write.

Editing and formatting

Find out before you write a single word what format your dissertation needs to be in for printing and submission. Your law school will likely have their own standards, so you should familiarise yourself with this document before you get started. Establish the right format straight away so you are not spending time at the last minute changing formats or the way you have referenced the whole document.

Don't underestimate how long it will take to edit your dissertation – expect to read through each chapter many times as each read through will show you new and interesting mistakes. And if possible, find a willing friend or family member to give it a final read – fresh eyes are likely to pick up small typos or mistakes.

Printing and submitting

Aim to finish your LLM dissertation with a little time to spare. Towards submission deadlines, university printers are busy places and if you need to print your dissertation at a particular printer then check with them early on to understand how much time they need to get your document ready. You need time for them to print it and time for you to check the printed material as you need to check for formatting errors or any printing mistakes like double pages. Once you've written your dissertation you can take a calm walk into your submissions office and hand over your dissertation. Obviously, everything went to plan and you've finished your dissertation with time to spare and now it's time to relax a little .

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The law dissertation

The law dissertation is the final module in our Master of Laws (LLM). The content of the module has been designed to support you in developing and completing your own research project. This must be based on a legal topic related to one of the individual LLM law modules and linked to one of the themes (international, comparative, regulation, human rights). Alongside the time spent in conducting your own legal research, you'll learn about the role and purpose of a literature review, how to identify a suitable research method for a legal research project, how to develop research questions and how to evaluate the ethical implications of your research. Throughout the module, the complexities and challenges of the research process are explored. The writing-up process forms an important aspect of research, and guidance is provided on this process. You'll also consider sources of information, including legal databases, and explore how information is critically analysed and evaluated to draw valid and evidenced conclusions.

Vocational relevance

There is growing professional and commercial demand for highly qualified graduates who have a range of transferable skills. In particular, skills gained from postgraduate legal study are highly valued for their relevance and application. This module is particularly useful preparation for environments in which research and the ability to develop persuasive arguments form a significant part of the work It will also be helpful for any profession that requires skilled graduates who have a demonstrable ability in developing and managing an independent research project.

Universities are keen to admit doctoral research students who have completed most of their research training, finding them better prepared to begin and better able to complete their theses in the required time. This module provides some of that training in research methods and skills.

Qualifications

In certain circumstances, this module can count towards F64, which is no longer available to new students.

Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.

OU	Postgraduate
SCQF	11
FHEQ	7

Find out more about entry requirements .

What you will study

The module builds on the work undertaken in your previous LLM modules and equips you to undertake a significant piece of independent legal research. You'll learn how to:

conduct a literature review
select an appropriate research method
define a clear purpose for your research project
plan, organise, manage and carry out an extended independent research project
develop written communication skills suitable for masters level
write clearly and imaginatively, and with a sense of authority
create a persuasive argument drawing on evidence and an analysis of a range of primary and secondary legal sources
consider the ethical implications of your planned research and how to manage these
use an appropriate referencing system with consistency and accuracy.

The module materials are specifically designed to support you in six key areas: developing your research proposal, undertaking your literature review, choosing an appropriate research method(s), undertaking and analysing your research to form your own conclusions and the process of writing up your research.

Your choice of legal research topic will depend on your interests. The only stipulation regarding the research topic you choose for your law dissertation is that it must be related to one of the LLM law modules you have studied at the OU and be linked to one (or more) of the themes of the LLM (international, comparative, regulation, human rights). Your tutor will help you to decide what is feasible for a legal research project and will provide feedback on your draft research proposal.

Your studies and research will require the use of online sources, including the OU library legal databases. Your work on this module requires an exploration of relevant existing literature and law in your chosen topic area. You're expected to be as up to date as far as possible with recent literature, law, commentary and developments in your chosen research topic. You are expected to make effective use of OU library legal databases and other appropriate resources as you plan and conduct your research. Your law dissertation must include primary and secondary sources of law.

A tutor will support you throughout your studies. They will provide advice on the appropriateness of your research plans, choice of method, literature review and support you through the writing-up process. Your tutor's comments on your written work form a key part of the teaching on the module and provide a way of monitoring your progress.

During the module, you are required to produce four pieces of assessed written work before submitting the law dissertation itself. Each of these is designed to support you as you work towards writing up your law dissertation. The first piece of assessed written work is a draft of your initial research proposal, on which you will receive feedback from your tutor. The second enables you to explore different research methods and identify one which meets the needs of your own research project. Again, you receive feedback from your tutor. The third is your final research proposal which must be approved by the W800 Board. The fourth piece of work is a draft chapter of your dissertation. The fifth and final piece of work is your law dissertation itself. This is marked by two tutors, and their recommendations will help to determine the result awarded by the Examination and Assessment Board.

The work you produce for your law dissertation is not expected to be entirely original (originality is a requirement for a PhD). The work you submit for your law dissertation should include an analysis of the existing literature and law in the topic area covered by your dissertation.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor.

You will have a tutor, who you can contact by email or telephone, who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on three of the five pieces of assessed work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. Your tutor will also run online tutorials that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to take part in.

The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box.

Course work includes

Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)

Future availability

The law dissertation starts once a year – in November. This page describes the module that will start in November 2024. We expect it to start for the last time in November 2026.

Regulations

Entry requirements.

As the final module in the LLM, you must have completed 120 credits towards this qualification to register on W800 (or have completed 90 credits and be awaiting the results from the fourth and final 30-credit module).

The module is taught in English, and your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you seek assessment under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see their website for details.

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser .

Start	End	England fee	Register
02 Nov 2024	Oct 2025	£3410.00	Registration closes 10/10/24 (places subject to availability)
This module is expected to start for the last time in November 2026.

Additional costs

Study costs.

There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.

Ways to pay for this module

We know there’s a lot to think about when choosing to study, not least how much it’s going to cost and how you can pay.

That’s why we keep our fees as low as possible and offer a range of flexible payment and funding options, including a postgraduate loan, if you study this module as part of an eligible qualification. To find out more, see Fees and funding .

Study materials

What's included.

You will have access to a dedicated module website which includes:

online university library access (including access to legal databases)
specially written study materials designed exclusively for this module
an assessment section
audio material
Law Postgraduate Home (which contains a range of study resources and advice)
online tutorials and forums

Computing requirements

You’ll need broadband internet access and a desktop or laptop computer with an up-to-date version of Windows (10 or 11) or macOS Ventura or higher.

Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.

To join in spoken conversations in tutorials, we recommend a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).

Our module websites comply with web standards, and any modern browser is suitable for most activities.

Our OU Study mobile app will operate on all current, supported versions of Android and iOS. It’s not available on Kindle.

It’s also possible to access some module materials on a mobile phone, tablet device or Chromebook. However, as you may be asked to install additional software or use certain applications, you’ll also require a desktop or laptop, as described above.

If you have a disability

Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader. Other alternative formats of the module materials may be available in the future.

To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages .

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Law LLM Dissertation module (LW50107)

Understand the main rules, aspects, and stages of researching and writing a dissertation

This module will help you conduct work on a master’s dissertation. This covers choosing a topic, defining a title, and using research assistance tools. It will conclude in writing the dissertation.

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

understand the main rules, aspects, and stages of researching and writing the dissertation
learn about the rules that apply to the dissertation. You will also learn about the roles of the supervisor and supervisee
develop the necessary skills to conduct research and write your dissertation
use your background knowledge and organise initial ideas. This will allow you to defining a topic, research question, and hypothesis
learn how to use research assistance tools such as Zotero and Endnote
understand how to write an outline. You will also learn to manage time and resources to complete your dissertation

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

bring together all skills learned to prepare, research, and write your dissertation
produce a professional dissertation using correct referencing guidelines and tools

Assignments / assessment

final dissertation (100%)

This is supported by supervision and guidance. This includes the selection of an initial topic and an extended outline on which oral and written feedback is given.

Your dissertation is expected to be relevant to your named degree award.

This module does not have a final exam.

Teaching methods / timetable

independent study

This module is supported by classes delivered as part of LW50107 Legal Research Skills. There are also 8 hours in the spring semester dedicated to preparing for the dissertation. This includes one session from Library Services staff.

This module is available on following courses:

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Law dissertations : a step-by-step guide

Lammasniemi, Laura (2021) Law dissertations : a step-by-step guide. London: Routledge. ISBN 9780367568771

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Law Dissertations: A Step-by-Step Guide provides you with all the guidance and information you need to complete and succeed in your LLB, LLM or law-related dissertation. Written in a simple, clear format and with plenty of tools to help you to put the theory into practice, Laura Lammasniemi will show you how to make writing your law dissertation easy, without compromising intellectual rigour.

As well as explaining the process of research and outlining the various legal methodologies, the book also provides practical, step-by-step guidance on how to formulate a proposal, research plan, and literature review. Unlike other law research skills books, it includes a section on empirical research methodology and ethics for the benefit of students who are studying for a law-related degree.

Packed full of exercises, worked examples and tools for self-evaluation, this book is sure to become your essential guide, supporting you on every step of your journey in writing your law dissertation.

Item Type:	Book
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Publisher:	Routledge
Place of Publication:	London
ISBN:	9780367568771
Official Date:	14 December 2021
Dates:
Number of Pages:	198
Status:	Not Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Description:	2nd edition
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Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2013-2014 (archived)

Module LAW54660: Dissertation I

Department: law, law54660: dissertation i.

Type	Open	Level	4	Credits	60	Availability	Available in 2013/14	Module Cap

Prerequisites

Corequisites, excluded combination of modules.

The opportunity to write a dissertation is designed to bring a greater element of research into the LLM by allowing students the opportunity to pursue in-depth any areas which are of particular interest to them, under the supervision of a member of staff with appropriate specialist expertise. The LLM dissertation may be up to 10,000 words (equivalent to 60 UCU). Students presenting a dissertation are required to submit it by 15 September of the year following entry.
No syllabus as such is appropriate for this module. [See Appendix A - Extract from the current LLM Handbook. A full revised version will be produced before the introduction of the new LLM Programmes (October 2003), taking account of the current assessment policy in the University's Core Instructions to Examiners for Masters programmes, and the Teaching and Learning Handbook].
Dissertations may be presented on a topic chosen by the candidate provided that:
(a) the topic chosen falls generally within the streams offered by the LLM Programme;
(b) it is approved by the Chair of the Board of Studies.
The candidate shall make every effort to identify a topic for dissertation as soon as possible, but certainly before the end of the Michaelmas Term. For general guidance on the matter, the candidate may consult any member of staff responsible for LLM teaching.
A definite topic for a dissertation and provisional title indicating the precise subject matter and scope thereof, shall be submitted by the end of Michaelmas Term.
The Chair of the Board of Studies shall formally approve the topic of dissertation and appoint a supervisor.
Subsequent changes in the topic may be approved by the Chair of the Board of Studies if the candidate so requests, reasonable grounds being shown.

Learning Outcomes

a detailed knowledge of a specified field of law chosen by the student and approved by the Board of Studies;
to evaluate critically and work from those materials to arrive at a clear and defensible opinion on the issues;
to offer a personal and justifiable opinion on the effectiveness of specific laws relating to the dissertation topic and the desirability for their reform,
to recognize and understand competing arguments on reform;
the ability to identify accurately legal material relevant to those issues selected (whether print-based or electronic),
Plan and investigate a theory or argument in the context of a particular area of law.
Critically analyse and evaluate an aspect of current law in the light, where this is appropriate, of internal considerations (such as inherent inconsistencies) and external considerations (social, political, moral and commercial pressures).
the ability to exercise the above skills independently (with some supervision) on a substantial project requiring work over the academic year.
to communicate their knowledge and argument in writing with clarity and confidence in a substantial dissertation;

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Every supervisor shall meet with their supervisee to agree the structure of the dissertation and to approve the bibliography.
The candidate may meet the supervisor from time to time at the discretion of the latter.
The purpose of the meetings shall be one or more of the following:
(i) to review and discuss the synopsis;
(ii) to give general guidance as regards the subject matter, scope and content of the proposed dissertation.
(iii) to propose variations, amendments and necessary changes to the topic outlined;
(iv) to indicate appropriate legal sources and materials;
(v) to resolve particular difficulties encountered by the candidate;
(vi) to offer editorial comments on the dissertation.
The candidate shall assume full responsibility for the progress and completion of the dissertation within the stipulated time limit set by the Department, namely 15 September in the year following admission to the course.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total/Hours
Contact Hours				4
Individual Study				596
Total				600

Summative Assessment

Component: The Dissertation		Component Weighting: 100%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Dissertation.	7,500-10,000 words	100%

Formative Assessment:

Each supervisor is expected to read and comment on at least one draft.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University

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Law Dissertation Topics

Published by Owen Ingram at January 9th, 2023 , Revised On May 29, 2024

Law dissertations can be demanding because of the need to find relevant regulations, cases, and data to address the research problem successfully. It is of utmost importance to critically examine facts before framing the research questions .

Selection of the most appropriate legal terms and legal authorities, whether online or in print, can be challenging, especially if you have not tackled a law dissertation project before.

To help you select an intriguing law dissertation topic, our expert writers have suggested some issues in various areas of law, including trust law, EU law, family law, employment and equality law, public law, tort law, intellectual property rights, commercial law, evidence, and criminal law, and human rights and immigration law.

These topics have been developed by PhD-qualified writers of our team , so you can trust to use these topics for drafting your dissertation.

Review the step-by-step guide on how to write your own dissertation here.

You may also want to start your dissertation by requesting a brief research proposal from our writers on any of these topics, which includes an introduction to the topic, research question , aim and objectives , literature review along the proposed methodology of research to be conducted. Let us know if you need any help in getting started.

Check our dissertation examples to get an idea of how to structure your dissertation .

Review the full list of dissertation topics for 2024 here.

Law Dissertation Topics & Ideas

Topic 1: the role of international criminal laws in reducing global genocide.

Research Aim: This study aims to find the role of international criminal laws in reducing global genocide. It will be an exploratory study identifying the explicit and implicit effects of international criminal laws on the worldwide genocide. It will analyse different incidents of international genocide and find out how international criminal laws played a positive role in reducing these incidents. Lastly, it will recommend possible changes in international criminal laws to effectively mitigate global genocide. And it will be done by comparing criminal laws of world-leading powers to reduce genocide.

Topic 2: Impact of Anti-Racism Employment Laws on Organisational Culture- A Comparative Study on the Anti-Racism Employment Laws in the US and Canada

Research Aim: This research aims to find the impact of anti-racism employment laws on the organisational culture in the US and Canada in a comparative analysis. It will identify the change in employees’ behaviour after implementing anti-racism laws. Moreover, it will find whether employees gleefully welcomed these laws or showed resistance. And how do these laws affect the organisations’ performance that strictly implemented them?

Topic 3: Globalisation, international business transactions, and commercial law- A perspective from literature.

Research Aim: Students and practitioners can find the law of international business transactions as a subfield within a broader field of international commercial law to be somewhat amorphous.

This study will explain the impact of globalisation on international business transactions and commercial law by establishing some necessary links between the study of transnational business law and related fields of international studies. This study also aims to address theories about foreign business regulation, such as the idea that it is free of power politics. For the collection of data existing literature will be studied. The methodology of this research will rely on existing previous literature.

Topic 4: Investigating the impact of competition law on the businesses in the UK- Post Brexit

Research Aim: This study aims to investigate the impact of competition laws on businesses in the post-Brexit UK. The proposed study will not only analyse the performance of the businesses with the current competition laws. But also analyse the impact of possible changes in competition laws on the businesses in the post-Brexit UK. It will also incorporate the possible difference of changes in competition laws in deal, no-deal, hard deal, and soft deal scenarios. This way of individually analysing the difference in competition laws due to the status of the UK’s deal with the EU will give better insights into how businesses will be affected by these laws in the post-Brexit UK.

Topic 5: A comparison between Islamic and contemporary laws against rape. Which law is the most effective in preventing this horrific crime?

Research Aim: For several years, marital and non-marital relations in Muslim-majority countries have been a source of controversy. Under Islamic law, it is strictly forbidden for a Muslim, or even non-Muslim, to engage in illicit sexual relations with the opposite gender under any situation. The current study will help us understand the concepts presented in Islamic laws about rape cases. In this context, a comparative analysis of Islamic and contemporary law will be explained. It will also identify efficient and effective strategies to prevent this horrific crime.

Law Dissertation Topics for the COVID Crisis

Topic 1: the legal implications of the covid-19 pandemic on canadian immigration and the way forward..

Research Aim: This study will focus on how the Canadian government benefits from resources accrued from immigration, the impact of COVID-19 on Canadian Immigration, the current legislation on immigration, the effects of COVID-19 on the immigration law, the possible amendments that could help cushion the impact and the way forward.

Topic 2: Effect of COVID-19 on the United States Immigration policies; an assessment of International Legal agreements governing pandemic disease control and the way forward.

Research Aim: This research will focus on the pandemic’s effect on immigration policies in the United States. It also suggests the required steps based on the laws that regulate government acts during an outbreak of a pandemic.

Topic 3: Creating legal policies in preparedness for the global pandemic; lessons from COVID-19 on Canadian immigration policies.

Research Aim: This research will focus on how the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and how most countries seemed unprepared. Historical background of the flu pandemic can also be made to assess how the world overcame the pandemic. And the need for the Canadian government or any other country you wish to choose can prepare for a global pandemic by creating legal policies that could help prepare ahead for such a period, such as policies on scientific research and funding.

Topic 4: The need for uniformity of competition law and policy in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries; An approach to the European Union standard.

Research Aim: This research will focus on the Gulf Cooperation Countries and their current legislation on competition law and its implications. Countries under the European Union’s competition law, the legal implications, and the need to consider such a part.

Topic 5: The need for competition law and policy enforcement; An analysis of the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries.

Research Aim: This research focuses on the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries’ competition laws and their enforceability. It analyses the benefits of enforcing the competition law and looks at the European Union’s uniformed laws and their benefits. It looks into the various countries, how the competition law currently works, and how it can affect each country’s economy in a better way or adequately enforced.

Topic 6: Provisions of the law on rape, the need to expand its coverage on the misuse of its provisions, and false accusations.

Research Aim: This research will focus on the law’s present provisions on rape and rape victims and the recent false accusations.

Topic 7: Summary dismissal of workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the legal implications under the labour law, and the way forward. The Case Study of Nigeria

Research Aim: This research will focus on the statistics of people who were summarily dismissed during the COVID-19 pandemic based on natural occurrences, provisions of the law against summary dismissal, and its enforcement, and how this can be cushioned against future events. The labour law needs to be expanded to cover similar situations to protect workers.

Topic 8: A legal assessment of the settlement of international disputes through the peaceful process and its effectiveness

Research Aim: This research focuses on the mode of dispute settlement in the international community, assessment of international laws and treaties on peaceful settlement of conflicts among countries of member states, the methods of dispute settlements, its strengths and weaknesses, and the need to improve the current mechanisms of peaceful settlement in the international community.

Topic 9: The protection of minority shareholders and the majority shareholders' power in Companies, a critical analysis of the Nigerian Companies and Allied Matters Act provisions.

Research Aim: This research will focus on the law’s provisions for protecting minority shareholders in companies and the majority shareholders’ power. How effective are these provisions in protecting the minorities against the management of the majority shareholders, and what is the way forward

Topic 2: The right to bear arms: Rethinking the second amendment

Research Aim: Gun control and the right to bear arms has been an ever-evolving web discourse in the United States. The research aims to analyse how gun control laws have changed in the USA since specifically focusing on the 2nd Amendment and its original framework.

Topic 3: Rethinking the international legal framework protecting journalists in war and conflict zones.

Research Question: Is the current legal framework still appropriate for protecting journalists in today’s conflict zones? Research Aim: The primary body of law that is set out to protect journalists includes the Geneva Conventions and their additional Protocols. However, since the time they were drafted and decades after, there have been conspicuous changes to the way warfare is conducted. It is imperative to examine this body of law in order to improve it, as journalists have now become prime targets in war zones and conflict areas because of their profession.

Topic 4: A critical analysis of the employment law of disabled individuals in the UK and what new policies can be integrated to increase its efficiency.

Research Aim: Employment or labour law has always been under the limelight. Many critiques and researchers have proposed different amendments to the existing law pertaining to labour and employees. The main aim of the research is to critically analyse the employment law of disabled individuals in the UK along with effective recommendations that need to be made in order to make the existing law more efficient and effective.

Topic 5: A critical evaluation of racial discrimination laws in developed countries and how they impact the workplace environment

Research Aim: Racial discrimination has always been a controversial issue in almost every part of the World. However, many developed countries (companies) face severe racial discrimination issues that directly impact their name and brand value. Therefore, this research provides a critical evaluation of racial discrimination laws, particularly in developed countries. Moreover, the research will focus on how racial discrimination laws are impacting the workplace environment.

Topic 6: A comparative analysis of legislation, policy, and guidelines of domestic abuse between the UK and the USA.

Research Aim: Domestic laws basically deal with and provide criminal rules for punishing individuals who have physically or emotionally harmed their own family members. It has been found that many domestic cases of abuse are not reported to the concerned authority. Due to this reason, the main focus of the research is to conduct a comparative analysis of legislation, policy, and guidelines of domestic abuse between the UK and the USA and how effective both countries have been in minimising domestic abuse.

Topic 7: Analysing the negative impact of technology in protecting the intellectual property rights of corporations.

Research Aim: Intellectual property has gained significant importance after the emergence of counterfeit products coming from different parts of the world. It has been found that many factors have motivated the sale of counterfeit products. Therefore, this research aims to analyse the negative impact of technology in protecting the intellectual property rights of products and corporations.

Topic 8: A critical assessment of the terrorism act of 2010 and its impact on Muslims living around the globe.

Research Aim: Since the incident of 9/11, the entire world has been under the pressure of terrorism activities, especially Muslims living around the world. Therefore, this research intends to critically assess the terrorism act of 2010 and its impact on Muslims living around the globe.

Trust Law Dissertation Topics

The trust law requires the settler to meet the three certainties, including the object, intention, and subject matter. As posted to a moral obligation or mere gift, confidence of choice can be best described as clarity of purpose. Some interesting dissertation topics in the field of trust law are listed below:

To investigate the attitude of the courts to trusts supporting political agendas.
To identify and discuss principles on which half-secret and full-secret trusts are enforced. Does a literature review highlight circumstances where it is essential to consider whether such beliefs are constructive and expressive?
The role and impact of trust law as asset portioning and fiduciary governance
From law to faith: Letting go of secret trusts
Critical analysis of the statement “Traditionally, equity and the law of trusts have been concerned with providing justice to balance out the rigour of the common law” regarding modern equity development/operation.
Should the assumption of resulting trusts and progression be abolished in this modern age? A critical review of the literature
A critical examination of the courts’ concern of financial reward in the context of “trustee powers of investment.”
Does the doctrine of cypress do justice to the intentions of the testator?
The impact of the decision of Harrison v Gibson on the law of the clarity of intention.
The approval of trustees in the Zimbabwean law of trusts

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European Law Dissertation Topics

European law has recently attracted wide attention from the academic world, thanks to the growing influence of European Law on administrative law in EU members. It should be noted that every aspect of life in European states is significantly affected by European law, and therefore, this area of research has gained tremendous popularity. Some exciting and specific research areas are given below:

A critical review of the European anti-discrimination Law
To investigate the economics and history of European Law.
An investigation of the European human rights law
Investigating the impact of “Freedom of Speech” on the German economy
Investigating the impact of immigration laws on the German economy
How the French parliamentary sovereignty has been affected by the European Union
Uniform interpretation of European patent law with a unique view on the creation of a standard patent court
The impact of European consensus in the jurisprudence of the European court of Human Rights.
The impact of the European convention on human rights on international human rights law
A critical analysis of the tensions between European trade and social policy
To investigate the European Union’s enforcement actions and policies against member countries.
European Laws amidst the Brexit process

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Family Law Dissertation Topics

A wide range of topics are covered under the field of family law and the law of children. Essentially, this area of law takes into consideration the registration of marriages, statutory rights concerning marriage, the effects of a decree, void and voidable marriages, the impact of the Human Rights Act, the legal stature of unmarried and married individuals, and the case for reform of UK family law . Other research areas include enforcing financial responsibilities in the Magistrates court, enforcing the arrears of maintenance payments, the award of maintenance, enforcing financial obligations to children or a child, financial orders for children, and the Child Support Act. An extremely intriguing area of law that has gained tremendous popularity in the modern era, some specific dissertation topics in this area of law studies are listed below:

Investigating therapeutic and theoretical approaches to deal with spouse abuse in light of the UK government’s latest research on domestic violence
Unmarried fathers’ access to parental responsibility – Does the current law enforce rights and responsibilities towards children?
To study the criminal justice process involving a child witness.
The children’s right to participation – Rhetoric or Reality? – A critical review of literature from the past two decades
To study the position of unmarried fathers in the UK.
Does the UK Family law need a major reform?
A critical review of the rights of married women in real estate
Child welfare and the role of local authorities
To study the legal and social foundations of parenting, civil partnership, and marriage.
To examine whether the Child Support Act has positively influenced child maintenance.

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Employment Law Dissertation Topics

Employment and equality law governs the relationship between the government, trade unions, employers, and employees. Employment and equality law in the UK is a body of law that prevents bias and negative attitudes towards someone based on their ethnicity or race rather than work skills and experience. Some interesting dissertation topics in this area of law are below:

A critical investigation of the right to fair labour practices in the United Kingdom
To determine the job’s inherent requirements as a defence to unfair discrimination or a claim – A comparison between the United Kingdom and Canada.
The role of the South African Labour Relations Act in providing unhappy staff sufficient protection against unfair dismissals and discrimination at the workplace
To investigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on employees’ lives with a focus on unfair dismissal and discrimination.
To assess ethnic discrimination in the European Union: Derogations from the ban on discrimination – Sexual harassment – Equal pay for equal value work.
To study the international employment contract – Regulation, perception, and reality.
To identify and discuss challenges associated with equality at work.
A study of the legal aspects of the relationship between employer and employee
How influential is the role of trade unions in English employment law?
A critical review of discrimination policies in the UK

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Commercial Law Dissertation Topics

Commercial law, also known as business law, is the whole body of substantive jurisprudence applicable to the conduct, relations, and rights of sales, trade, merchandising, and businesses and persons associated with commerce. Important issues of law covered by commercial law include real estate, secured transactions, credit transactions, bankruptcy, banking, and contracts. An intriguing area of law within the UK, specific topics for your law dissertation are listed below:

The impact of legislation for the regulation of investment services with EU economic area on the EU financial services market
Handling regulatory involvement incorporates organisational structure and strategy.
A study of convergence and complementarities concerning international corporate governance
How drafting and diffusion of uniform norms can help to harmonise the law of international commercial arbitration?
Convergence and adaption in corporate governance to transnational standards in India
A critical review of the international commercial arbitration system
Analysing the international commercial law on risk transfer
The role of the tripartite financial system in the UK on economic development
A comparative analysis of European contract law, international commercial contracts law, and English commercial contracts law
Is the European contracts law meeting the needs of the commercial community?
A critical review of anti-corruption legislation in the UK
The problems of director accountability in the UK and the impact of soft and hard law on corporate governance

Criminal and Evidence Law Dissertation Topics

Criminal law can be defined as a system of law dealing with the punishment of criminals. Criminal evidence, on the other hand, concerns evidence/testimony presented in relation to criminal charges. Evidence can be presented in various forms in order to prove and establish crimes. A wide array of topics can be covered in this subject area. To help you narrow down your research focus, some interesting topics are suggested below:

The politics of criminal law reform with a focus on lower-court decision-making
To understand and establish the historical relationship between human rights and Islamic criminal law
Investigating the rights of victims in internal criminal courts
The efficacy of the law of rape in order to prevent misuse by bogus victims and to protect rightful victims
To assess the criminal law’s approach to Omissions
To investigate the issues associated with the identification of the distribution, extent, and nature of the crime
A critical review of the Bad Samaritan laws and the law of omission liability
How international criminal law has been significantly influenced by the “war on terrors”?
The efficacy of modern approaches to the definition of intention in International criminal law
The efficacy of the law of corporate manslaughter

Company Law Dissertation Topics

Company law, also known as the law of business associations , is the body of law that deals with business organisations and their formation, registration, incorporation, governance, dissolution, and administration. Some suggestions for company law dissertation topics are listed below:

Developing equity markets in growing economies and the importance of corporate law
A critical review of English company law and its effects on member workers and creditors
To investigate the essential aspects of corporate law.
To study business responsibilities for human rights.
Identifying disparities in corporate governance – Theories and Realities
The external relations of company groups in Zambian Corporate law
To study corporate governance practices concerning minority stakeholders.
Establishing and evaluating arguments for and against “stakeholder theory.”
The importance of non-executive directors in the British corporate legal system
Investigating the regulation of the UK public company

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Intellectual Property and Tort Law Dissertation topics

All forms of legal injury are dealt with under the subject area of tort law. Essentially, tort law helps to establish the circumstances whereby a person may be held responsible for another person’s injury caused by either accident or intentional acts. On the other hand, intellectual property covers areas of law such as copyright, patents, and trademarks. Trademark dissertation topics trademark directive, trademarks act, infringement of trademarks such as revocation, invalidity, and the use of similar marks. Some interesting dissertation ideas and topics of tort law and intellectual property are suggested below to help your law studies.

The efficacy of intellectual property rights in the UK under the influence of European Law
The efficacy of UK copyright law concerning the needs of rights users and holders
The impact of intellectual property rights on economic development.
To investigate the right of confidence in the UK
Does the trademark law ensure sufficient protection in England?
The impact of European Law on intellectual property rights in the UK
The end of the road for loss of a chance?
To assess the success ratio of psychiatric injury claims in the UK
Should a no-fault system be implemented into UK law, or should the law of negligence apply to personal injury claims?
A critical review of economic loss in 21st-century tort law

Human Rights and Immigration Law

The primary objective of human rights and immigration law is to ensure and protect human rights at domestic, regional, and international levels. With the world becoming a global village, human rights and immigration laws have attracted significant attention from academicians and policymakers. Some interesting law dissertation topics in this subject area are suggested below:

To assess the efficacy of the common European Asylum system in terms of immigration detention.
A historical analysis of Britain’s immigration and asylum policies
A critical analysis of immigration policy in Britain since 1990
A critical analysis of the right of the police and the public right to protest under PACE 1984
The right of prisoners to vote under the European law of human rights
Arguments for and against the death penalty in English Law with a focus on human rights treatise
A critical analysis of the right to private life and family for failed asylum seekers
The impact of UK immigration policies on the current education industry
How beneficial the points system has really been in regards to creating a cap in the British immigration system
To study the impact of privatisation on immigration detention and related functions in the UK.

More Human Rights Law Dissertation Topics

Pandemic Law Dissertation Topics

Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has become the most trending topic in the world since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic that started in China. Here are some interesting Coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic Law topics that you can consider for your law dissertation.

Co-parenting in the coronavirus pandemic: A family law scholar’s advice
How San Diego law enforcement operated amid Coronavirus pandemic
Pandemic preparedness in the workplace and the British with disabilities act
Why, In a pandemic, rumours of martial Law fly despite reassurances
Investigating About the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and COVID-19
Resources to support workers in the UK during the Coronavirus pandemic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic:
A legal perspective
Navigating the Coronavirus Pandemic
Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) and employment laws in the UK going forward
Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) and employment laws in the US going forward
Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) and employment laws in Australia going forward

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Uk’s best academic support services. how would you know until you try, important notes:.

As a law dissertation student looking to get good grades, it is essential to develop new ideas and experiment with existing law dissertation theories – i.e., to add value and interest to the topic of your research.

The field of law dissertation is vast and interrelated to many other academic disciplines like civil engineering , construction , project management , engineering management , healthcare , mental health , artificial intelligence , tourism , physiotherapy , sociology , management , project management , and nursing . That is why it is imperative to create a project management dissertation topic that is articular, sound, and actually solves a practical problem that may be rampant in the field.

We can’t stress how important it is to develop a logical research topic based on your fundamental research. There are several significant downfalls to getting your case wrong: your supervisor may not be interested in working on it, the topic has no academic creditability, the research may not make logical sense, and there is a possibility that the study is not viable.

This impacts your time and efforts in writing your dissertation as you may end up in a cycle of rejection at the initial stage of the dissertation. That is why we recommend reviewing existing research to develop a topic, taking advice from your supervisor, and even asking for help in this particular stage of your dissertation.

While developing a research topic, keeping our advice in mind will allow you to pick one of the best law dissertation topics that fulfils your requirement of writing a research paper and add to the body of knowledge.

Therefore, it is recommended that when finalising your dissertation topic, you read recently published literature to identify gaps in the research that you may help fill.

Remember- dissertation topics need to be unique, solve an identified problem, be logical, and be practically implemented. Please look at some of our sample law dissertation topics to get an idea for your dissertation.

How to Structure Your Law Dissertation

A well-structured dissertation can help students to achieve a high overall academic grade.

A Title Page
Acknowledgements
Declaration
Abstract: A summary of the research completed
Table of Contents
Introduction : This chapter includes the project rationale, research background, key research aims and objectives, and the research problems. An outline of the structure of a dissertation can also be added to this chapter.
Literature Review : This chapter presents relevant theories and frameworks by analysing published and unpublished literature available on the chosen research topic to address research questions . The purpose is to highlight and discuss the selected research area’s relative weaknesses and strengths while identifying any research gaps. Break down the topic, and binding terms can positively impact your dissertation and your tutor.
Methodology : The data collection and analysis methods and techniques employed by the researcher are presented in the Methodology chapter, which usually includes research design , research philosophy, research limitations, code of conduct, ethical consideration, data collection methods and data analysis strategy .
Findings and Analysis : Findings of the research are analysed in detail under the Findings and Analysis chapter. All key findings/results are outlined in this chapter without interpreting the data or drawing any conclusions. It can be useful to include graphs, charts and tables in this chapter to identify meaningful trends and relationships.
Discussion and Conclusion : The researcher presents his interpretation of the results in this chapter, and states whether the research hypothesis has been verified or not. An essential aspect of this section is establishing the link between the products and evidence from the literature. Recommendations with regard to the implications of the findings and directions for the future may also be provided. Finally, a summary of the overall research, along with final judgments, opinions, and comments, must be included in the form of suggestions for improvement.
References : Make sure to complete this according to your University’s requirements
Bibliography
Appendices : Any additional information, diagrams, and graphs used to complete the dissertation but not part of the dissertation should be included in the Appendices chapter. Essentially, the purpose is to expand the information/data.

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International Dispute Resolution with Dissertation, LLM

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International Dispute Resolution with Dissertation

Introduction.

LLM International Dispute Resolution delivers a solid theoretical grounding in international dispute settlements, broad interdisciplinary training across specialist legal areas and the practical tools required to succeed in the field. It provides opportunities for individual study and skills development for the new generation of lawyers to rethink traditional approaches to conflict and its resolution.

Study Information

Study options.

As technology, trade and transportation have reduced the signiﬁcance of borders, alternative methods of dispute resolution will increasingly be used in all economic sectors, therefore the need for highly specialised professionals in this field is rapidly expanding.

This LLM will prepare you for a career in the challenging and exciting field of international dispute resolution. It provides a solid foundation in all relevant areas, including both private and public international means of dispute resolution, and will allow you to specialise in your chosen legal field. It offers theoretical and practical courses in international commercial law, litigation, energy and investment arbitration.

You will study this programme with a dissertation to further develop your academic and research skills. This programme is also available to study online

Programme Fees

Fee information
Fee category	Cost
EU / International students	£23,800
Tuition Fees for 2024/25 Academic Year	£23,800
UK	£11,900
Tuition Fees for 2024/25 Academic Year	£11,900

Compulsory Courses

Compulsory courses. All students must complete:

This course provides students from diverse legal and educational backgrounds with a common understanding of the core research, analytical, and writing skills which will be required for LLM-Taught courses. The course is delivered as a series of five interactive lectures with two individual assessments designed to encourage critical thinking and provide opportunities for early feedback. It also incorporates a library workshop to provide students with hands-on experience with the resources available for course and dissertation work.

30 Credit Points

The demand for international commercial arbitration has increased significantly over the last 20 years. Empirical surveys conducted consistently report figures that suggest around 60% of businesses prefer arbitration over other dispute resolution methods.

Seminar topics have been chosen to give students a good knowledge of international commercial arbitration law. The topics covered will be: (1) Arbitration Agreement and Arbitral Jurisdiction (2) The Role of the Seat (3) Applicable Substantive Law (4) The Arbitral Tribunal (5) Arbitral Procedure and Evidence (6) The Arbitral Award.

The course also provides a lecture on the introduction to international commercial arbitration.

This course, which is prescribed for all taught postgraduate students, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 5-6 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across a number of weeks.

Topics include orientation overview, equality and diversity, health, safety and cyber security and how to make the most of your time at university in relation to careers and employability.

Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Enhanced Transcript as ‘Achieved’.

Optional Courses

Thereafter at least one course must be selected from LS503M International Commercial Litigation, which runs in September, or LS553T or LS552K, which both run in January.

A fourth 30 credit course may either be chosen from the courses directly above or from any other LLM Programme (excluding distance learning and professional skills courses). Please visit the Course Catalogue for details: Postgraduate Law 2022-2023 - Catalogue of Courses (abdn.ac.uk)

This course introduces international commercial litigation, the major means of commercial dispute resolution for many sectors of industry and the default means of dispute resolution against which international arbitration is positioned. The course demonstrates the relevance of a venue’s Private International Law (PIL) to its attractiveness for dispute resolution and provides advanced instruction in the relevant post-Brexit aspects of PIL to parties engaged in litigating international commercial disputes.

The complex interaction between investment protection and the sovereign right of states to regulate has been most acute in the energy sector. On the one hand, investors require strong guarantees that states will respect the “rules of the game” that constitute the basis of their investments. On the other, states can be tempted to interfere with foreign energy investments because of their strategic and social importance. This course aims to analyse if existing investment disciplines and international investment protection framework, are adapted to the specific regulatory risks that investors face in the energy landscape of the 21st Century and how best to avoid disputes and manage them.

Thereafter at least one course must be selected; either LS553T or LS552K, which both run in January, or LS503M International Commercial Litigation which runs in September.

A fourth 30 credit course may be chosen from the three options directly above or from any other LLM Programme (excluding distance learning and professional skills courses). Please visit the Course Catalogue for details: Postgraduate Law 2022-2023 - Catalogue of Courses (abdn.ac.uk)

There is limited appreciation given to the study of the state as a policymaker, legislator, and disputing party in the context of international economic law. Yet, the states have become the “investor of first-resort", while participating in an unprecedented surge of international investment disputes and international economic agreements. The course covers how international investment law interacts with the State’s regulatory powers in different economic sectors.

International commercial lawyers frequently work on contracts involving parties from different countries. Here, each one of these jurisdictions may offer a different interpretation of the same contractual provisions. This course is aimed to help commercial lawyers understand how different legal traditions offer different viewpoints on key contractual challenges. At the end of the course, students will be able to understand many of the discrepancies and similarities between legal systems, thus honing a fundamental skill for an international commercial lawyer. The course will cover a wide range of European legal systems, as well as transnational contract law mechanisms including the Principles of European Contract Law and the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods.

60 Credit Points

Between May and mid-August students prepare a 10,000 word dissertation on a topic of their choice related to their specialist LLM programme. Students are instructed through the delivery of a preparatory lecture, two supervisory meetings and a two hour dissertation planning workshop in a small group setting. Students are expected to spend considerable time on independent research throughout the course of the dissertation module, including; preparation of dissertation plan, amendment of plan in accordance with supervisory comments, preparation for the dissertation workshop, and, of course, in the final 10,000 word dissertation itself.

All students must complete:

Thereafter at least one course must be selected from LS553T or LS552K which both run in January. or LS503M International Commercial Litigation, which runs in September.

A fourth 30 credit course may either be chosen from the three options above or from any other LLM Programme (excluding LS501K, distance learning and professional skills courses). Please visit the Course Catalogue for details: Postgraduate Law 2022-2023 - Catalogue of Courses (abdn.ac.uk)

A fourth 30 credit course may either be chosen from the three options above, or from any other LLM Programme (excluding LS501K, distance learning and professional skills courses). Please visit the Course Catalogue for details: Postgraduate Law 2022-2023 - Catalogue of Courses (abdn.ac.uk)

Available Programmes of Study

Please note: Students staring their LLM programme in January write their Dissertation project during the Summer semester.

Duration: 12 months full-time. 24 months part time.

We will endeavour to make all course options available. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page .

Fee Information

For Dissertation Route: Two tiers: • Home /UK Students £10,000 • International Students £19,000

For Professional Arbitration Skills Route: Two tiers: • Home /UK Students £11,000 • International Students £21,000

Additional Fee Information

Fees for individual programmes can be viewed in the Programmes section above.
In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips. Any additional fees for a course can be found in our Catalogue of Courses .
For more information about tuition fees for this programme, including payment plans and our refund policy, please visit our Tuition Fees page .

International Applicants

More information about fee status, living costs, and work allowances for international students is available here .

Scholarships

Self-funded international students enrolling on postgraduate taught (PGT) programmes will receive one of our Aberdeen Global Scholarships, ranging from £3,000 to £8,000, depending on your domicile country. Learn more about the Aberdeen Global Scholarships here .

To see our full range of scholarships, visit our Funding Database .

Related Programmes

You may also be interested in the following related postgraduate degree programmes.

Dispute Resolution

How You'll Study

Learning methods include lectures, workshops, and seminars, as well as hands-on and practical skills, and advanced writing.

Learning Methods

Group Projects
Individual Projects

Assessment Methods

You will be assessed through a combination of exams, essays and group presentations.

Why Study International Dispute Resolution with Dissertation?

This programme will equip you with an enhanced understanding of commercial, trade, and energy law, as well as the expertise required to resolve legal problems from a social justice perspective. A key feature of this programme is the combined training in specialist legal areas with the skills needed to effectively resolve disputes, offering maximum benefit to students upon graduation.

The programme has been carefully coordinated to align with the competencies required for today’s international job market. Studying LLM International Dispute Resolution at the University of Aberdeen will give you the opportunity to examine a diverse number of exciting topics under the guidance of our world-class teaching staff, who regularly provide consultancy work at an international level. This particular programme was designed in collaboration with experts in dispute resolution.

Interested in this programme?

What our students say, graham cottingham.

I have found Course Coordinators prompt and attentive in responding to queries arising along the way.

Entry Requirements

Qualifications.

The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.

Entry requirements differ slightly depending on the qualification you choose. LLM, PGDip, PGCert • A 2:1 (upper-second) honours degree (or equivalent) in Law. You can also apply if you have: • a 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) in another discipline • or significant relevant professional experience.

Please enter your country to view country-specific entry requirements.

English Language Requirements

To study for a Postgraduate Taught degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:

IELTS Academic:

OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0

OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21

PTE Academic:

OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59

Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency:

OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

Read more about specific English Language requirements here .

Document Requirements

You will be required to supply the following documentation with your application as proof you meet the entry requirements of this degree programme. If you have not yet completed your current programme of study, then you can still apply and you can provide your Degree Certificate at a later date.

Additional details for international applicants, including country-specific information, are available here .

Aberdeen Global Scholarship

Eligible self-funded postgraduate taught (PGT) students will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Explore our Global Scholarships, including eligibility details, on our dedicated page.

This programme is ideal for students aiming to work as policy makers, government officials, adjudicators, arbitrators, mediators, judiciary, legal practitioners, researchers and academics, surveyors, construction professionals, and the financial and accounting professions.

We are Top 100 in the World for Law

Our Law School is ranked in the Top 100 globally, according to the Times Higher Education World University Subject Rankings 2022.

5th in the UK for Law

Our Law School is ranked 5th in the UK of 105 providers for Overall Student Satisfaction (National Student Survey 2022).

Top 10 UK Law School

We are ranked Top 10 in the UK for Law by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.

Our Experts

The University of Aberdeen is renowned for attracting world-class teaching staff, unrivalled in their breadth of knowledge and experience in their specialist subjects. You will have access to first rate teaching from highly respected staff, many with an international profile, including members of the Centre for Commercial Law

Many of our courses are designed and delivered by practicing experts. We have guest speakers from top law firms as well as national and international organisations.

Information About Staff Changes

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LLM, Master of Laws

Graduate taught
LSE Law School
Application code M3U1, M3U4 (extended part-time – 48 months)
Starting 2024
Home full-time: Closed
Home part-time: Closed
Overseas full-time: Closed
Location: Houghton Street, London

The LSE LLM offers the highest quality of teaching provided by leading international and UK academics. Our approach to the teaching of law combines views and experiences from different disciplinary traditions and jurisdictions. This ensures that what you learn at LSE Law is relevant to legal study and practice in any jurisdiction.

Courses are offered in a broad range of fields including arbitration, human rights, international law, corporate, commercial and financial law.

You can choose to pursue your LLM with a general focus or select a subject specialism. If you take the required minimum number of LLM courses (or more) that fall within one of the following specialist areas you can request that your chosen specialism is included on your final certificate upon graduation. Should your dissertation topic directly correlate with your nominated specialism, the compulsory Legal Research and Writing Skills course can make up part of your specialism if this is agreed by the LSE Law School. Furthermore, with the relevant approval and subject to space on your desired course, you may be able to take up to a full unit course or two half-unit courses from another LSE department. This non-law course may be relevant to your field of specialism (if any), for example international lawyers may, with approval, take a course in international relations, though it will not contribute to gaining an LLM specialism.

Specialisms for 2024/25

Competition and Innovation Corporate and Commercial Law Criminal Law and Justice European, Comparative and Transnational Law Financial Law and Regulation Human Rights Law Intellectual Property Law International Business Law IT and Data Law Law, Politics and Social Change Public International Law Public Law Taxation Law

Programme details

Start date	30 September 2024
Application deadline	None – rolling admissions. However, please note the funding deadlines
Duration	12 months full-time, 24 or 48 months part-time
Applications 2022	2268
Intake 2022	284
Financial support	Graduate Support Scheme (see 'Fees and funding'), Marchant Foundation Scholarship, Margaret Bennett Scholarship, Olive Stone Memorial Scholarship (excluding the extended part-time route)
Minimum entry requirement	A very good undergraduate degree in law, LLB or equivalent, (for example, a first or very high upper second in the UK LLB or equivalent)
GRE/GMAT requirement	None
English language requirements	Law (see 'Assessing your application')
Location	Houghton Street, London

For more information about tuition fees and entry requirements, see the fees and funding and assessing your application sections.

Entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements for llm.

A very good undergraduate degree in law, LLB or equivalent, (for example, a first or very high upper second in the UK LLB or equivalent).

Applicants with a very good degree in another discipline together with very good grades in an appropriate graduate diploma in law (such as the UK's Graduate Diploma in Law) may also qualify for a place.

Applicants without an educational background in law may apply, but would need to demonstrate a high level of professional or academic experience in areas closely related to the subjects they wish to study in order to be considered for a place.

Competition for places at the School is high. This means that even if you meet the minimum entry requirement, this does not guarantee you an offer of admission.

If you have studied or are studying outside of the UK then have a look at our Information for International Students to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.

Assessing your application

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified prospective students and want to recruit students with the very best academic merit, potential and motivation, irrespective of their background.

We carefully consider each application on an individual basis, taking into account all the information presented on your application form, including your:

- academic achievement (including predicted and achieved grades) - statement of academic purpose - two academic references - CV

See further information on supporting documents

You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency, although you do not need to provide this at the time of your application to LSE. See our English language requirements .

When to apply

Applications for this programme are considered on a rolling basis, meaning the programme will close once it becomes full. There is no fixed deadline by which you need to apply, however, to be considered for any LSE funding opportunity, you must have submitted your application and all supporting documents by the funding deadline. See the fees and funding section for more details.

Fees and funding

Every graduate student is charged a fee for their programme.

The fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It does not cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.

Tuition fees 2024/25 for LLM

Home students: £22,176 Overseas students: £36,168

The Table of Fees shows the latest tuition amounts for all programmes offered by the School.

The amount of tuition fees you will need to pay, and any financial support you are eligible for, will depend on whether you are classified as a home or overseas student, otherwise known as your fee status. LSE assesses your fee status based on guidelines provided by the Department of Education.

Further information about fee status classification.

Fee reduction

Students who completed undergraduate study at LSE and are beginning taught graduate study at the School are eligible for a fee reduction of around 10 per cent of the fee.

Scholarships and other funding

The School recognises that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town or country, and we provide generous scholarships each year to home and overseas students.

This programme (excluding the extended part-time route) is eligible for needs-based awards from LSE, including the Graduate Support Scheme , Master's Awards , and Anniversary Scholarships .

It is also eligible for: the Marchant Foundation Scholarship and the Margaret Bennett Scholarship .

Selection for any funding opportunity is based on receipt of an offer for a place and submitting a Graduate Financial Support application, before the funding deadline. Funding deadline for needs-based awards from LSE: 25 April 2024 .

In addition to our needs-based awards, LSE also makes available scholarships for students from specific regions of the world and awards for students studying specific subject areas. Find out more about financial support.

Government tuition fee loans and external funding

A postgraduate loan is available from the UK government for eligible students studying for a first master’s programme, to help with fees and living costs. Some other governments and organisations also offer tuition fee loan schemes.

Find out more about tuition fee loans

Further information

Fees and funding opportunities

Information for international students

LSE is an international community, with over 140 nationalities represented amongst its student body. We celebrate this diversity through everything we do.

If you are applying to LSE from outside of the UK then take a look at our Information for International students .

1) Take a note of the UK qualifications we require for your programme of interest (found in the ‘Entry requirements’ section of this page).

2) Go to the International Students section of our website.

3) Select your country.

4) Select ‘Graduate entry requirements’ and scroll until you arrive at the information about your local/national qualification. Compare the stated UK entry requirements listed on this page with the local/national entry requirement listed on your country specific page

Part-time study Part time study is only available for students who do not require a student visa.

Programme structure and courses

This programme is available full-time or part-time. Part-time LLM students take four half-unit courses each year, attending the same sessions as full-time students. Students may also register on an extended part-time basis, taking two half-unit courses each year, and bringing the total duration of the programme to 48 months.

You will take the compulsory course Legal Research and Writing Skills, which is assessed by a 10,000-word dissertation. You will then select seven LLM courses from the large range on offer, usually around 70.

As noted above, subject to taking the required minimum number of LLM courses (or more) in one of the available specialisms, you can request that your chosen specialism is listed on your final certificate upon graduation, or alternatively your LLM can have a more general focus. The compulsory Legal Research and Writing Skills course can make up a nominated specialism if the topic directly relates to the area of study and upon agreement by the Law School. Furthermore, with the relevant approval and subject to space on your desired course, you may be able to substitute the equivalent of up to two half-unit LLM courses for course/s from another LSE department.

(* denotes a half unit)

Legal Research and Writing Skills*

This course provides a specially tailored series of lectures and tutorials on legal research and writing skills which are designed to assist in the writing of a dissertation on a topic of your choice. Further sources of support for the dissertation writing process are set out below

Courses the value of three and a half units from a range of options .

For the most up-to-date list of optional courses please visit the relevant School Calendar page.

You must note however that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, a change of circumstances since publication may cause the School to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. The School will always notify the affected parties as early as practicably possible and propose any viable and relevant alternative options.   Note that the School will neither be liable for information that after publication becomes inaccurate or irrelevant, nor for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside of its control, which includes but is not limited to a lack of demand for a course or programme of study, industrial action, fire, flood or other environmental or physical damage to premises.

You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee you a place. Please note that changes to programmes and courses can sometimes occur after you have accepted your offer of a place.   These changes are normally made in light of developments in the discipline or path-breaking research, or on the basis of student feedback. Changes can take the form of altered course content, teaching formats or assessment modes. Any such changes are intended to enhance the student learning experience. You should visit the School’s   Calendar , or contact the relevant academic department, for information on the availability and/or content of courses and programmes of study. Certain substantive changes will be listed on the   updated graduate course and programme information page.

Teaching and assessment

Contact hours and independent study.

In half unit courses, on average, you can expect 20-30 contact hours in total. The format of contact hours will vary from course to course but usually takes the form of sessions such as lectures, classes, seminars or workshops. Contact hours vary according to courses and you can view indicative details in the  Calendar within the Teaching section of each  course guide .

Independent study outside of class time is an essential part of the LSE LLM. The nature of the required independent study varies for each course, but overall, the LLM requires you to manage the majority of your study time yourself, engaging in activities such as reading, note-taking, thinking, class preparation and research.

Teaching methods

The majority of courses on the programme are offered in seminar format with a maximum class size of 30 students, allowing you to be actively involved in class discussions and to interact both with the teacher and fellow students. You can expect a challenging, but also thought-provoking and ultimately rewarding experience.

A limited number of courses are offered through larger lectures which are accompanied by back-up seminars, where the teacher will review and elaborate on issues discussed in the lectures.

Please note that places are limited on all optional courses. Admission onto any particular course is not guaranteed and may be subject to timetabling constraints and/or students meeting specific prerequisite requirements.

Formal study is supported by Convene, a rich programme of events and activities specifically designed for Law students to further enhance the learning experience. LLM students are also encouraged to engage in the many and varied LSE Law School events which run through the academic year, including public lectures and seminars.

LSE is internationally recognised for its teaching and research and therefore employs a rich variety of teaching staff with a range of experience and status. Courses may be taught by individual members of faculty including associate professors and professors. Many departments now also employ guest teachers and visiting members of staff, LSE teaching fellows and graduate teaching assistants who are usually doctoral research students and in the majority of cases, teach on undergraduate courses only. You can view indicative details for the teacher responsible for each course in the relevant  course guide .

All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which allows the teacher to give you feedback but which is unassessed, in the sense that it does not count towards your final grade. Formative coursework is designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. LSE uses a range of types of formative assessment, such as essays, problem sets, case studies, reports, quizzes, mock exams, class presentations and many others. Summative assessment may be conducted during the course or by final examination at the end of the course. An indication of the formative coursework and summative assessment for each course can be found in the relevant course guide .

The majority of taught LLM courses will be assessed by written two-hour examinations, which will be held during Spring Term in May/June. Summative essays are submitted in May and dissertations in August. To prepare for the exams, you will have access to past exam papers from our library website and you will undertake appropriate formative coursework.

The compulsory course is assessed via a 10,000-word dissertation on a topic of your choice and will be supervised by one of our faculty members who is an expert in the relevant area.

Academic support

You will also be assigned an academic mentor who will be available for guidance and advice on academic or personal concerns.

There are many opportunities to extend your learning outside the classroom and complement your academic studies at LSE. LSE LIFE is the School’s centre for academic, personal and professional development. Some of the services on offer include: guidance and hands-on practice of the key skills you will need to do well at LSE: effective reading, academic writing and critical thinking; workshops related to how to adapt to new or difficult situations, including development of skills for leadership, study/work/life balance and preparing for the world of work; and advice and practice on working in study groups and on cross-cultural communication and teamwork.

LSE is committed to enabling all students to achieve their full potential and the School’s Disability and Wellbeing Service provides a free, confidential service to all LSE students and is a first point of contact for all disabled students.

Student support and resources

We’re here to help and support you throughout your time at LSE, whether you need help with your academic studies, support with your welfare and wellbeing or simply to develop on a personal and professional level.

Whatever your query, big or small, there are a range of people you can speak to who will be happy to help.

Department librarians – they will be able to help you navigate the library and maximise its resources during your studies.

Accommodation service – they can offer advice on living in halls and offer guidance on private accommodation related queries.

Class teachers and seminar leaders – they will be able to assist with queries relating to specific courses.

Disability and Wellbeing Service – they are experts in long-term health conditions, sensory impairments, mental health and specific learning difficulties. They offer confidential and free services such as student counselling, a peer support scheme and arranging exam adjustments. They run groups and workshops.

IT help – support is available 24 hours a day to assist with all your technology queries.

LSE Faith Centre – this is home to LSE's diverse religious activities and transformational interfaith leadership programmes, as well as a space for worship, prayer and quiet reflection. It includes Islamic prayer rooms and a main space for worship. It is also a space for wellbeing classes on campus and is open to all students and staff from all faiths and none.

Language Centre – the Centre specialises in offering language courses targeted to the needs of students and practitioners in the social sciences. We offer pre-course English for Academic Purposes programmes; English language support during your studies; modern language courses in nine languages; proofreading, translation and document authentication; and language learning community activities.

LSE Careers – with the help of LSE Careers, you can make the most of the opportunities that London has to offer. Whatever your career plans, LSE Careers will work with you, connecting you to opportunities and experiences from internships and volunteering to networking events and employer and alumni insights.

LSE Library – founded in 1896, the British Library of Political and Economic Science is the major international library of the social sciences. It stays open late, has lots of excellent resources and is a great place to study. As an LSE student, you’ll have access to a number of other academic libraries in Greater London and nationwide.

LSE LIFE – this is where you should go to develop skills you’ll use as a student and beyond. The centre runs talks and workshops on skills you’ll find useful in the classroom; offers one-to-one sessions with study advisers who can help you with reading, making notes, writing, research and exam revision; and provides drop-in sessions for academic and personal support. (See ‘Teaching and assessment’).

LSE Students’ Union (LSESU) – they offer academic, personal and financial advice and funding.

PhD Academy – this is available for PhD students, wherever they are, to take part in interdisciplinary events and other professional development activities and access all the services related to their registration.

Sardinia House Dental Practice – this offers discounted private dental services to LSE students.

St Philips Medical Centre – based in Pethwick-Lawrence House, the Centre provides NHS Primary Care services to registered patients.

Student Services Centre – our staff here can answer general queries and can point you in the direction of other LSE services.

Student advisers – we have a Deputy Head of Student Services (Advice and Policy) and an Adviser to Women Students who can help with academic and pastoral matters.

Student life

As a student at LSE you’ll be based at our central London campus. Find out what our campus and London have to offer you on academic, social and career perspective.

Student societies and activities

Your time at LSE is not just about studying, there are plenty of ways to get involved in extracurricular activities . From joining one of over 200 societies, or starting your own society, to volunteering for a local charity, or attending a public lecture by a world-leading figure, there is a lot to choose from.

The campus

LSE is based on one campus in the centre of London. Despite the busy feel of the surrounding area, many of the streets around campus are pedestrianised, meaning the campus feels like a real community.

Life in London

London is an exciting, vibrant and colourful city. It's also an academic city, with more than 400,000 university students. Whatever your interests or appetite you will find something to suit your palate and pocket in this truly international capital. Make the most of career opportunities and social activities, theatre, museums, music and more.

Want to find out more? Read why we think London is a fantastic student city , find out about key sights, places and experiences for new Londoners . Don't fear, London doesn't have to be super expensive: hear about London on a budget .

Student stories

Bukola oluwa.

LLM Ibadan, Nigeria

LSE is filled with an array of lecturers with sound academic and research backgrounds; you are taught by experts of repute who are consultants to international and multinational bodies. They are names you read in textbooks and journals worldwide. Each day in the class is different; apart from the seminar approach, live practitioners from different areas give you first hand information and practical experience of the field. My classmates are from all over the world – it is a 'mixed grill' of intellectual minds! Active participation of each student gives insight into beliefs from different parts of the world and you do not need to travel there to get information about a country's situation.

Kavisha Sharma

My experience in the LLM has been nothing short of excellent. The academic rigour and intellectual challenge that the LLM necessitates has shown me what I am capable of and inspired me to continue living up to my potential.

Nandini Bajaj

The LSE LLM offered me exactly what I was looking for – a course that expanded my understanding of the challenges facing the world today, friendships with people from around the world, and being in the centre of the action in London. I really learned a lot not just from my professors and the classroom, but also from my peers and their experiences.

LLM Changchun, China

I chose LSE because the LLM programme offered a range of options that suited my needs, and also for its worldwide reputation and teaching staff. Situated on a compact site in the heart of London, LSE has a unique atmosphere. As an international student, eager to get to know London, this position, combined with the diverse students surrounding me, has been the best part of my experience here. I have also benefited from the support services on offer – especially the Language Centre. I took part in pre-sessional English language classes before the programme started, which increased my confidence in my language ability and enabled me to play a greater part in class discussions. I also took advantage of Dissertation Writing and Examination Writing classes during the LLM to improve my written English.

Sofia Bekkali

LLM Watch Sofia's video

Matias Rodriguez

LLM Watch Matias' video

LLM Watch Lucy's video

The LLM programme provides excellent prospects for graduates seeking to start their career in major commercial centres around the world, with in-house legal departments or government legal services. Some graduates go on to pursue a career at the Bar.

Graduates with a legal qualification from their home jurisdictions and relevant experience may be eligible to join a variety of employers in legal and other sectors such as financial and management consulting, subject to re-qualification and visa requirements within the jurisdiction. Others may continue to progress their careers in national, regional and international law firms, courts or work in a legal capacity within an NGO or multilateral organisation.

The LSE LLM also provides an excellent starting point for those wishing to pursue a PhD and/or a career in academia. Recent employers who have hired graduates from this programme include Clifford Chance, Schoenherr, White & Case, Wolf Theiss, Diageo, Louis Vuitton, Australian Attorney General’s Office, 4 Kings Bench Walk Chambers, PWC and the Human Rights Commission.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

Support for your career

Many leading organisations give careers presentations at the School during the year, and LSE Careers has a wide range of resources available to assist students in their job search. Find out more about the support available to students through LSE Careers .

Find out more about LSE

Discover more about being an LSE student - meet us in a city near you, visit our campus or experience LSE from home.

Experience LSE from home

Webinars, videos, student blogs and student video diaries will help you gain an insight into what it's like to study at LSE for those that aren't able to make it to our campus. Experience LSE from home .

Come on a guided campus tour, attend an undergraduate open day, drop into our office or go on a self-guided tour. Find out about opportunities to visit LSE .

LSE visits you

Student Marketing, Recruitment and Study Abroad travels throughout the UK and around the world to meet with prospective students. We visit schools, attend education fairs and also hold Destination LSE events: pre-departure events for offer holders. Find details on LSE's upcoming visits .

How to apply

Virtual Graduate Open Day

Register your interest

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Outstanding LLM Dissertations 2021

Posted on monday december 20, 2021 by ula furgal.

We are happy to announce the publication of three outstanding IP LLM dissertations in the CREATe Working Papers series.

The authors of outstanding dissertations: Gabriele Cifrodelli, Eleonora Maroni and Tiarnan Cahill, are recent graduates of the LLM in Intellectual Property & Digital Economy , a programme offered by the University of Glasgow Law School and led by CREATe. The dissertations were selected by the CREATe teaching team following the nominations of IP LLM supervisors. The criteria guiding our choice were simple: we wanted to recognise excellent, well-researched and inquisitive work of our students. By publishing the dissertations in the Working Paper series we would like to bring those outstanding pieces of research to a wider academic community and to inspire our new students when preparing their own dissertations in the future.

The dissertations of Gabriele, Eleonora and Tiarnan represent a wide range of topics, however, they are all linked to the contemporary debates concerning the relationship between intellectual property regulation and digital technologies: artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and blockchain.

In his dissertation titled Patent System and Artificial Intelligence: Towards a New Concept of Inventorship? (CREATe Working Paper 2021/12) Gabriele argues that artificial intelligence (AI) cannot currently be considered an inventor for the purposes of the patent law. For now, only “aided by AI” inventions exist, and in the future when “AI-generated” inventions become a reality, the patent system will require reform and the adaptation of a tailoring approach, with different levels and lengths of patent protection.

Eleonora’s dissertation, The 3D printing: the notion of use in trade mark law under pressure (CREATe Working Paper 2021/13), considers the possibility of trade mark infringement in home-3D printed objects. She argues that whereas such uses remain largely unaddressed by trade mark law, the sale and sharing of CAD files used for 3D printing qualifies as the use of a trade mark in the course of trade and can result in trade mark infringement, making CAD online marketplaces liable.

In Online Service Providers and blockchain: undermining copyright goals? (CREATe Working Paper 2021/14) Tiarnan enquires whether the functioning of online service providers (OSPs) challenges copyright’s ability to i.e. facilitate creativity and ensure fair remuneration for creators, and if the use of blockchain technology could bring change in that regard. He concludes that whereas OSPs pose significant problems to copyright’s goals, blockchain has a great, to this day untapped, potential to shift balance of power in the creative markets.

The full text of all three dissertations is available here .

Patent System and Artificial Intelligence: Towards a New Concept of Inventorship?

Gabriele cifrodelli.

The objective of this work is to answer the question whether an AI can be considered an inventor, as can a human, through a methodological approach which analyses different documents that are mostly secondary sources, but also case-law and legislation. The answer is negative: there is no such thing as a new concept of AI inventorship for now.

In particular, although there have been attempts by some authors – defined as the “classic literature” – to consider AI as creative and thus capable of generating inventions (the so-called “AI-generated” inventions), a more careful “technical” literature states that AI systems operate through a different intelligence than the human one, and this philosophical difference can be practically envisaged not only in the current case-law of the EPO, but also in the way machines operate in our reality. Indeed, the computational problem solving mechanism requires the human contribution, especially in the phases of abstraction/modelling, defining an algorithm and programming. Therefore, even the most sophisticated soft-computing methods, such as ANNs and EAs, cannot be considered autonomous.

However, this work will not completely underestimate the possibility that in the future there could be something such as an AI inventorship. Unfortunately, not only the very important incentive justification but also other classic IP theories (fairness, personality, and culture) would not be compatible with this hypothetical AI inventorship. As a consequence, the current patent system should be reformed through the implementation of a tailoring approach. The problem is that, in order to do so, legislators and judges should be aware of the optimal patent strength of each industry. However, the information about R&D costs, risk of failure, and level of innovation, is very difficult to obtain. Given this impossibility to reform the patent system, other ways through which AI inventorship can be protected will be mentioned.

3D printing: the notion of use in trade mark law under pressure

Eleonora maroni.

The new frontier of manufacturing, 3D printing, makes it easy to fabricate objects of any kind with the sole help of a 3D printer and CAD files. This may prove attractive for consumers who may be willing to engage in the home-production of objects. At first glance, this may not seem problematic for trade mark law: in its innocuous version, 3D printing simply enables consumers to customise their goods and to escape the standardisation of products provoked by the current prevailing business model.

However, home-3D printing also has a dark side as it may enable consumers to easily replicate products incorporating trade marks. It is reasonable to assume that consumers will not engage only in the private use of 3D-printed objects. Admittedly, they are likely to display some of them in public. This implies that products bearing trade marks will start circulating directly outside the points of sale and this may induce consumers to mistakenly assume that goods, which in fact are 3D-printed, come from the trade mark proprietor. How trade mark law is going to deal with this phenomenon is far from clear.

To evaluate this, this study reviews the present notion of infringing use under UK and EU laws, taking into account case law and academic literature, with a view to assessing whether the concept of use can be stretched to cover home-3D printing. The approach to this research is disillusioned: if it is true that 3D printing should be welcome for its role in fostering consumer empowerment, it is crucial to remember that it may also deprive consumers of some of the advantages they derive from the trade mark system. This latter aspect is often overshadowed by the positive effects of 3D printing.

This study finds that infringement in relation to home-3D printed objects embedding trade marks can be found only in limited cases. By shifting attention to the digital environment, this study concludes that infringement is more likely to be found when private individuals engage in the sale or share of CAD files embedding trade marks. Furthermore, it argues that, under certain circumstances, online platforms displaying CAD files should be held liable for infringement.

Online Service Providers and blockchain: undermining copyright goals?

Tiarnan cahill.

This thesis will analyse whether online service providers critically undermine the functionality/goals of copyright, and to what extent blockchain technology can assist or entrench any arising issues. Analysis will begin with online service providers (OSPs) and provide a breakdown of how platforms interact with users, copyright, and the relationship between all three. Moving forward, analysis will continue by looking at the fundamental aspects of blockchain technology, and how these interact with OSPs in providing potential solutions or in fact posing more questions to copyright. Finally, this thesis will conclude that, through overriding desire for commercial control and growth, there are aspects of OSPs that do undermine copyright. Meanwhile, blockchain has the potential to alter the status quo, and galvanise copyright in favour of the innovator, re-calibrating the balance of power away from intermediaries. However, too much of the potential of blockchain is subject to theory or imperfect technological advancements, which ultimately means that blockchain currently cannot substantially reinforce or assist copyright in relation to problems posed by OSPs. With that being said, whilst OSPs present several significant problems to the functionality/goals of copyright, overall, such platforms do not critically undermine copyright. OSPs have encouraged unparalleled content creation and secured substantial revenue opportunities for innovators by nurturing primary and secondary markets.

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20 LLM Dissertation Topics Relevant for the XXI Century

Law is such a vast sphere. It encompasses so many smaller branches such as commercial law, tort law, EU law, constitutional law, and many others. Besides that, an LLM dissertation requires great care in locating and citing sources. You have to evaluate these sources carefully so they back up your thesis.

For all these reasons, composing a good LLM dissertation topic is challenging, to say the least. Moreover, quality LLM thesis topics must be specific, examining each topic deeply enough to form a strong foundation for a substantive paper.

To help you, here are 20 possible topics for your LLM dissertation. We’re sure you’ll find here something to your liking! Feel free to adapt one of these topics and make it your own.

Is Freedom of Speech for the Press Truly in the Best Interest of the Public?
Explore the Principle of Non-Refoulement as It Applies to the Recent Crisis in Syria
Discuss the Changes in International Criminal Law in a Post 9/11 World
Is It Possible or Ethical to Legally Protect Trade Secrets?
Discuss How Societal Rules Regarding Land Tenure Affect the Availability of Housing in African Countries
A Study of the Effects of Insider Trading Law as It Affects Corporate Governance Norms in China
Are Anti-Bribery Laws Effective in Eliminating Corruption in an Economic System?
What Are the Sexual and Reproductive Rights of Women in Africa?
What Are the Pros and Cons of Instituting a “Bad Samaritan” Law?
Which Economic Model Is Preferable, the “Building Block” System of the EU or the “Rule of Reason” Model in the US?
Explore the Legal Implication of Employee Restructuring
What Is the Legal Status of the Employment Rights of Agency Workers?
Should Sex Offender Registries Be Made Public?
What Are Some of the Implications of Proposed Homicide Reform?
How Legal Binding Human Rights Treaties Are
Is It Possible to Fully Enforce the Digital Economy Act?
What Is an Appropriate Burden of Proof for Complainants in the Criminal Justice System?
Analyze the Principles of Offender Profiling and Its Legal Implications
Analyze “Certainty of Intention” Language as It Relates to Trusts
What Are the Challenges in Identifying the True Scope of a Crime?

The 21st century has brought all kinds of new concerns to the legal field. To make your dissertation more relevant and engaging, you want to incorporate some of the hot issues in today’s legal landscape.

Coming up with a perfect LLM dissertation topic can feel like a lot of pressure, but there’s no need to feel intimidated. These suggested topics will put you well on your way to crafting a brilliant dissertation which will not only build your own knowledge but also enlighten your readers as to the trends and issues that impact the 21st-century legal world.

Posted by Mike Sung

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Key information

Home student fees : £15,130 per year Overseas student fees : £25,740 per year

Please note that fees go up each year. See postgraduate fees for further details.

A 2:1 degree in a relevant undergraduate degree. 

If you have a lower degree classification, your application may be considered if you can present a strong case, either through relevant work experience, other legal qualifications, or a strong supporting statement. References are not required, but can help build a stronger application if you fall below the 2:1 requirement or have non-traditional qualifications.

See international entry requirements and English language requirements .

Course overview

Our LLM (Master of Laws) programme gives you the opportunity to study at our vibrant School of Law with its unique focus on the legal systems and legal challenges of the Global South generally and Asia, Africa and the Middle East in particular.

The structure of the LLM allows you to create your own programme of study, choosing from a wide array of modules, including those in comparative law, international law, law and development, commercial and trade law, human rights, environmental law, Islamic law and dispute resolution.

In addition, students may be able undertake modules outside of the School of Law, opening up SOAS’s array of world-leading options in languages, cultures, arts, humanities, politics, economics and finance, and beyond.

Students complete the LLM by undertaking a dissertation, developing an extended research project on a topic of their choice.

LLM (Master of Laws) and Specialisms

Depending on the modules you take, you will graduate with an LLM (Master of Laws) or on a specialist pathway. Our specialist pathways are:

Environmental Law and Sustainable Development
Human Rights, Conflict and Justice
International Commercial and Economic Law
International Law
Islamic Law
Law and Gender
NLUD-SOAS joint LLM Environmental Justice in South Asia (Term 1: London, Term 2: Delhi)

Why study LLM (Master of Laws) at SOAS?

SOAS is ranked in the UK top 20 (QS World University Rankings 2023)
We're ranked 6th in the UK for employability (QS World University Rankings 2023)
Our research publications have been rated first in the UK - and our School of Law rated sixth in the UK - in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021

The LLM (Master of Laws) programme is ideal for LLB or other graduates with a related degree as well as legal or other professionals who wish to expand their knowledge of, and critical engagement with, law, particularly as it relates to the Global South.

You will join an international alumni of graduates from the LLM at SOAS, many of whom are now working at the UN, in NGOs, in government, in private practice, in policy work or in academia.

Please note that the LLM is open to applicants from different disciplines and is not restricted to those who hold a UK law degree or international equivalent.

Global Partnerships

This programme can be offered as part of a dual LLM degree with a number of our partnering Universities.

For further information about our LLM Dual degree partnerships, please visit Global Partnerships .

Students must take modules to a total value of 180 credits, consisting of a dissertation (60 credits) and 120 credits of taught modules. Taught modules are worth either 15 or 30 credits. The dissertation topic will be connected to one of the taught LLM modules studied.

Please note that not all modules listed will be available every year.

Important notice

The information on the website reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. The modules are indicative options of the content students can expect and are/have been previously taught as part of these programmes.

However, this information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.

Compulsory module

Llm dissertation in law - 60 credits open.

The dissertation provides students with the opportunity to develop an original piece of academic work in an independent, albeit supervised, way. The topic of the dissertation can relate to any subject-area covered in any of the courses of the LLM programme.

General Law Options

Students who wish to graduate with a LLM (Master of Laws) are required to take at least 90 credits from the list below. The remaining 30 credits may be taken from either the Law Options list below or from SOAS Open Options.

Gender and the Law of War - 15 credits Open

This module offers an introduction to law on armed conflict, including collective security, the use of force, international humanitarian law and counter-terrorism. These are studied alongside legal reforms in response to contemporary understandings of the relationship between war and gender.

Human Rights of Women - 30 credits Open

In this module, the international legal instruments for the guarantee of women's civil and political and economic and social rights will be examined for students to acquire knowledge and understanding of the basic texts and the international monitoring mechanisms.

Law and Natural Resources - 30 credits Open

This course examines international, regional and national legal and institutional arrangements concerning the conservation and use of natural resources. It introduces legal principles relevant to the conservation and use of natural resources in international and national law. This course focuses on the international law aspects of natural resource use and conservation, the North-South dimension and on individual developing country case studies.

This course seeks to equip students with a broad understanding of the laws and policy issues concerning natural resources. It specifically seeks to provide students with a broad understanding of basic concepts and principles underlying the conservation and use of natural resources at the international and national levels. It examines in particular the regulation of natural resources within the overall framework of sustainable development. It thus seeks to equip students with the ability to understand and analyse issues concerning natural resource conservation and use from a broad perspective encompassing their economic, social and environmental dimensions.

Law, Religion, and the State in South Asia - 30 credits Open

This module aims to introduce students to the many ways in which law, religion and the state interact in the subcontinent. We seek to do so by using, as far as possible, authors from the region, and focus on issues that continue to hold contemporary relevance.

International Human Rights Clinic - 30 credits Open

The Clinic aims to encourage an engaged critical consciousness that reflects on and works within the trans-national intersection of law, rights and social justice on research and advocacy briefs submitted by partners in the UK and internationally. The Clinic aims to provide a dynamic and critical environment in which to engage with advocacy strategies and the tensions of the theory and practice of human rights, and the opportunity to contribute to the work of the global human rights movement through practical work with cases, policy analysis, and research and advocacy briefs.

Human Rights and Islamic Law - 30 credits Open

This module critically explores the different theoretical perspectives of the relationship between Human Rights and Islamic law and examines the practices of some relevant Muslim-majority States in that regard.

International Commercial Arbitration - 30 credits Open

This course examines the theory and practice of arbitration from an international perspective with particular focus on the core geographical regions of SOAS (Africa, Asia and Middle East). The course covers issues on both international commercial and investment arbitration. It focuses on the core legal knowledge and basis of international arbitration through an examination of the legal theories that underpin arbitration as a dispute resolution process set within international transactions and relevant relationships.

Law and Development in Africa - 30 credits Open

This module aims at conceptualising a new law and development initiative for Africa by critically engaging with the traditional “law and development movement” and identifying its methodological shortcomings with respect to Africa. It examines the scope and limitations of law as an instrument of development and explores what contributions can law, legal theory and legal institutions make towards the realisation of human, economic and socio-political development in Africa.

Intellectual Property Law (PG) - 30 credits Open

Intellectual property is a collective noun for an aggregate of individual disciplines of law. The only common theme among them is that all are concerned with intangible creation. In a recent decision, the Supreme Court stated {h}ere there is no particular potency about the expression intellectual property because there is a general consensus as to its core content . . . , but no general consensus as to its limits", Phillips v Mulcaire [2013] 1 A.C. 1, para. 20. Accordingly, this Module focuses solely on the core disciplines within intellectual property law in the UK and thus covers: copyright, sui generis databases right, patents, breach of confidence and trade secrets. "

International laws on the use of force - 15 credits Open

This module introduces students to the range of international laws which govern war and armed conflict. International law on the use of force forms the core content. Each seminar will introduce students to mainstream approaches and debates on the use of force before contrasting these with topical and controversial views on the law on the use of force. Students will be encouraged to follow current developments and practice while being introduced to the Charter system for collective security and the role of state justifications on the use of force.

Foundations of International Law - 15 credits Open

This course aims to provide a critical introduction to the building blocks of public international law – its nature and sources, international personality, statehood and recognition, jurisdiction and immunities, the law of responsibility, international organisations, and enforcement. Throughout the course, you will be introduced to different theoretical perspectives– including feminist and 'third world approaches to international law' (TWAIL)– and encouraged to think critically about the rule and role of law in the international order.

The Law of Armed Conflict - 15 credits Open

This module provides a critical introduction to the law of armed conflict ( also known as international humanitarian law). We will explore its history and sources, its relationship to the law on the use of force, and the basic principles that have governed its development. We then examine a range of historical and contemporary challenges to the law of armed conflict including colonial warfare and wars of national liberation, the classification of conflicts, lawful and unlawful combatants, the protection of the civilian population, weaponry, and human rights. Throughout the course we will think critically about the legal regulation of violence and the history of legal efforts to humanise war.

Colonialism, Empire and International Law - 15 credits Open

This module explores historical and contemporary dimensions of the relationship between International Law and colonialism/ imperialism.

In the first part of the course, we will consider the historical mappings of the colonial endeavour within international law as well as theoretical debates concerning colonialism, post-colonialism and neo-colonialism. In the second half, we will focus on a variety of contemporary international law issues – e.g., statehood and recognition; self-determination of peoples; failed states; administration of territory; racialisation and capitalism; and reparations- in light of the historical and theoretical perspectives introduced in the earlier part of the term.

Water Justice: Rights, Access and Movements - 15 credits Open

This module examines ‘water justice’ in the global South from a combined Law and Development Studies perspective. The three main themes in the course are water rights/right to water, the modalities of access to water, and social movements on water issues. The course discusses examples from Asia, Africa and Latin America, and selected examples from the global North. It seeks to provide students with a broad understanding of the multi-faceted issues arising in the water sector from the local to the international level.

Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to understand and analyse issues concerning water law and policy, conflicts and governance from a broad perspective encompassing their economic, social and environmental dimensions. Students will acquire knowledge of basic concepts and principles underlying the regulation, management and conservation of water, focusing on national, regional examples in the international context in which governance evolves and the increasing importance of conflicts in the water sector.

Comparative Constitutional Law - 15 credits Open

This module “de-colonizes” comparative constitutional law: It introduces students to critical approaches to comparative law; it de-centres the “role model” constitutions; it critiques mainstream liberal theories that idealise these constitutions; and it sheds light on often marginalised constitutional histories and systems.

Law and Society in Southeast Asia - 15 credits Open

As the most heavily populated region in the world, the Indian subcontinent has always played an important role in world affairs. From being one of the most successful trading nations of the world, to becoming the heart of the British Empire, and now sitting adjacent to the newly world-dominant China, South Asia has always been a region of strategic, cultural, political and economic importance. This module aims to introduce students to the many ways in which law and society interact in the subcontinent. We seek to do so by using, as far as possible, authors from the region, and focus on issues that continue to hold contemporary relevance.

We begin by briefly examining the construction of the colonial legal system in South Asia and its lasting legacies today. We analyse the role of religion in the legal systems of the region in two ways: Firstly, we examine the increasing rise of religious intolerance and religious nationalism in South Asia and the legislative and judicial responses to these challenges before analysing whether ‘secularism’ can ever truly be at home in the subcontinent. We also study the impact of religion on personal law, and especially the ways in which this affects women. Within the field of personal and family law we discuss themes such as child marriage, restitution of conjugal rights, divorce and maintenance and the much-debated issue of uniform civil codes.

Law and Postcolonial Theory - 15 credits Open

This offers an investigation into the theories and key texts that inform several other courses currently being offered, such as Indigenous Land Rights; Colonialism, Empire and International Law; Law and Society in South Asia; and others. This course does not overlap but provides part of the groundwork that will complement these courses.

International Criminal Law - 15 credits Open

This subject will provide an overview of the discipline of international criminal law. First, the course will examine the origins of the fundamental principle of international criminal law – individual criminal responsibility – and its operations through a variety of international crimes. Second, the course will explain the core theoretical assumptions of the law - focusing in particular on the rationales for criminalisation and for the creation of international criminal tribunals – and take a critical look at these core theoretical assumptions. Third, the course will look at the operation of international criminal law through national jurisdictions and international tribunals.

Gender, Law and Society in The Middle East and North Africa - 15 credits Open

This half course aims to examine the substantive bodies of law and procedure and the legal systems in operation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in modern times, in particular regard to their treatment of and interaction with gender, women's rights and normative claims and practices in society. Further context is given by consideration of the increasing reach of international legal instruments governing a broad spectrum of legal activities implicated in the study of gender, law and society.

Gender, Sexuality and Law: Selected Topics - 15 credits Open

The objective of this module is to enable students to apply knowledge of feminist legal theory and the study of gender and sexuality to a series of legal problems. The module will provide an in-depth study of one, two or three issues relevant to gender and sexuality law reform primarily in the Global South.

Gender, Sexuality and Law: Theories and Methodologies - 15 credits Open

The objective of this course is to enable students to become well versed in the field of feminist legal theory and the study of gender and sexaulity in relation to law, with specific attention to the relevance and meaning within non-Western states.

International Investment Law - 15 credits Open

This module examines the nature of international investment and its legal regimes; the impact of foreign and domestic investment on the economic development of states; the protections afforded investors and their interpretations, the role of states and the impact of investment law on their regulatory powers; and the ICSID dispute resolution mechanism for investment related disputes between foreign investors and states. This module aims to equip students with a clear understanding and critical engagement of these issues from a legal perspective and particularly as it relates to developing and capital importing states.

Law, Rights & Social Change - 15 credits Open

In this module we examine theories about the relationship between law, rights and social change, using country and thematic case studies to illuminate and deepen our understanding of both the potential and the limits of what may be achieved through the language and architecture of law and rights. With a special focus on some of the countries in the SOAS mandate, we explore the possibilities for human agency for change through law and rights, identifying national and international constraints, in relation to issues and situations that pose some of the greatest challenges to the concept of rights as a valuable tool for social change.

Law, Environment and Social Justice - 15 credits Open

This course is an introductory module to environmental law that aims at giving students a solid and comprehensive foundation of key concepts of environmental law and a grounding in some of the most topical and foundational debates. These include the role of justice frameworks in relation to environmental law, as well as key debates in environmental legal regulation. The aim is to provide a platform from which to better appreciate some of the central tensions and dynamics in the study of environmental law generally. The course will introduce environmental law in its North-South context, in historical perspective, in a domestic, comparative and regional context. It will cover the context for environmental regulation, principles and regulatory techniques from a theoretical and practical perspective.

International Migration Law - 15 credits Open

The course will provide an in-depth introduction to international migration law. It covers key areas forming part of the broader field of what has been referred to as international migration law. This includes core concepts, such as sovereignty, nationality and statelessness; regional arrangements; migration control; trafficking and smuggling; the rights of migrants, with a particular focus on migrant workers; and broader questions of global migration law and policy. It also explores cross-cutting issues, such as race, gender, age, and intersectionality that are of increasing importance in the field of international migration law. The course builds on a range of theoretical perspectives that enable students to critically interrogate the genesis of, and current developments in international migration law.

International Refugee Law - 15 credits Open

The course will provide an in-depth introduction to international refugee law. It covers core concepts, the historical development of international refugee law, the Refugee Convention, particularly its definition, regional refugee treaties, particularly in Africa, refugee law and practice worldwide, the relationship between refugee law and human rights law, and broader questions of global refugee law and policy. It also explores cross-cutting issues, such as race, gender, age, and intersectionality, which have been of increasing importance in the field of international refugee law. The course builds on a range of theoretical perspectives that enable students to critically interrogate the genesis of, and current developments in international refugee law. Students will engage with case law and policy documents, as well as key academic texts to acquire both sound knowledge of the law and critical awareness of the biases, gaps and challenges in the current system.

Law, Environment, and the Global Commons: Ice, Sea, Space and Beyond - 15 credits Open

This course focuses on global commons, in other words all the resources that are beyond state sovereignty either because they do not fall under their jurisdiction or because they have not been appropriated for legal or other reasons. Certain global commons like the high seas have been the object of significant attention for decades and innovative legal regimes have arisen, for instance, concerning deep seabed mineral resources governed by the principle of common heritage of humankind. Other global commons, such as the global atmosphere and the global water cycle are recognised as issues of global importance but suffer from incomplete or insufficient regulation. In the case of outer-space, the existing legal regime is premised on a principle of non-appropriation but rapid changes are visible in the context of new opportunities for natural resource exploitation, while at the same time the negative environmental consequences of outer-space use are becoming increasingly visible. This course course addresses some of the main global commons that are recognised and regulated, explores issues concerning global commons whose regulation is lacking and reflects on the consequences of appropriation, as happened in the case of seeds that were recognised as a common heritage of humankind until the 1980s.

International Environmental Law - 15 credits Open

This module introduces the foundations of international environmental law, including its subjects, sources, principles and measures of implementation, compliance and dispute settlement. It explores the range of laws and norms that impact on global environmental problems. This module is built around the understanding that international environmental law is about both conservation and use (captured in the notion of sustainable development). It is also structured around an understanding that it is the North-South dimension of environmental issues that explains a large part of existing international environmental law

It provides an introduction to the principles of international environmental law (such as the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and the precautionary principle), environmental justice (human rights, participatory rights), examines questions related to compliance, effectiveness and enforcement of international environmental law; the governance and institutional framework governing the environment at the international level; and links with other branches of international law, such as human rights.

The Prohibition of Torture in International Law - 15 credits Open

The course provides an anatomy of torture as a human rights violation and the prohibition of torture in international and national law. It combines an interdisciplinary, critical, intersectional approach on the history, nature, methods and impact of torture situated within the broader human rights framework with an in-depth legal analysis and an examination of institutional mechanisms and strategies employed to prevent and combat torture.

Alternatives to Sustainable Development: Rights of Nature and Harmony with Nature - 15 credits Open

This course offers an introduction and critical exploration of ‘Harmony with Nature’ and the emerging legal doctrine of ‘Rights of Nature’ as potential alternatives to sustainable development. It delves into the philosophical roots and evolution of the idea of granting legal rights to the natural world, all within the larger framework of Environmental Law, Earth Law, and the Anthropocene era. Harmony with Nature", in the context of this module, refers to developments at the international and domestic level that promote a paradigmatic shift away from human-centred environmental law, towards a more ecologically-centred legal system. Relatedly, "Rights of Nature" is a legal concept that recognises nature's intrinsic value and grants certain legal rights to elements of the environment. For instance, the recent rise in granting legal personhood to certain natural entities, like rivers, forests, or specific ecosystems, in different parts of the world, allowing them to be protected and represented, on their own account. These developments have arisen as responses to the shortcomings of sustainable development and traditional environmental law in addressing environmental degradation at local, national, and global levels. The course will examine case studies of rights of nature laws, in their political, social, and legal contexts in various regions, engaging with different developments, such as the granting or river rights in the Global North and Global South. Throughout the course, students will critically assess the structure and key features of these laws, accounting for this broader context .The course examines case studies of rights of nature laws, in their political, social, and legal contexts in various regions, engaging with different developments, such as the granting or river rights in the Global North and Global South. Throughout the course, students will critically assess the structure and key features of these laws, accounting for this broader context."

Multinational Enterprises and the Law I - 15 credits Open

This module provides a comprehensive, interdisciplinary study of the business and legal organisation of multi-national enterprises (MNEs), as well as the regulatory framework within which they exist and operate.

Multinational Enterprises and the Law II - 15 credits Open

Business and human rights in the global economy - 15 credits open.

This module considers the emergence of Business and Human Rights as field of practice and academic inquiry. Constituted by jurists (broadly defined) who aim to ensure both that corporations respect human rights and victims secure remedies for corporate human rights abuses, Business and Human Rights poses both a challenge and an opportunity.

Comparative Company Law - 15 credits Open

This module will examine legal aspects of an English company, including its formation, management, financing and if insolvent, its rescue and/or liquidation. The similarities and differences of the same aspects of a company formed in Germany, being a civil law jurisdiction, will be explored.

Israel, Palestine, and International Law (15Cr) - 15 credits Open

This course aims to offer a critical appraisal of the role of International Law in the Israel-Palestine conflict. In the first part, we explore the international legal history of the conflict. In Part 2, we build the international legal architecture with a particular focus on the right of self-determination, statehood, and the law of occupation. In the third part we analyse the defunct Oslo peace process in the light of international legal norms especially in relation to settlements and refugees. We conclude by considering alternatives framings of the conflict, including apartheid and genocide, and the recent turn to international courts. Throughout the course we will employ a reflective and critical approach to international law, exploring its constraints as well as it benefits as a normative framework.

Palestine, Resistance, and the Law - 15 credits Open

This course explores the development of the ADR movement, combining a practical experience of mediation through role plays with a critical understanding of ADR and mediation in particular. The course begins with an examination of the tenets on which ADR is based, its relationship to civil law, and how it is applied in different contexts. It discusses the various areas in which ADR operates including community, civil and family mediation, and includes a consideration of the psychology and the ethics of ADR.

Alternative Dispute Resolution I - 15 credits Open

The course approaches the development of ADR (principally mediation) from both a practical and comparative perspective, examining the processes of negotiation and mediation. The course begins with a critical examination of the tenets on which ADR is based, its relationship to civil law, and how it is applied in different contexts. It discusses the various areas in which ADR operates including community, civil and family mediation, and includes a discussion of ADR in an international context.

Alternative Dispute Resolution II - 15 credits Open

Please note this module is not running in 2023/24..

The course examines alternative dispute resolution (ADR) - principally mediation - from a comparative perspective and encourages students to develop historical and cross-cultural perspectives on its practice. The course considers jurisprudential dimensions of the issues alongside insights from the perspective of legal sociology.

This second (half unit) builds on a more practical experience of mediation by examining specific areas of dispute resolution in greater depth and more critically (e.g. civil, family, international, and regional contexts). The course covers critiques of informalism and their relevance to civil justice reform and contemporary debates in ADR including the ethical framework in which mediation occurs, the limits of confidentiality and mandatory mediation.

This unit provides a critical and regional perspective on how these issues are approached in different jurisdictions. Ethical dilemmas will be approached by way of role plays and simulations.

Weekly 2-hour seminar

Scope and syllabus

Morphology of conflict
ADR in a political context – truth and reconciliation processes
Critiques and perspectives of ADR
Mediation in the shadow of the law
Mediation ethics and role play
Hybrid processes and the ADR spectrum
Regional context china and middle east
Regional context independent study
Multi party dynamics, role play and discussion
Conclusion ‘one genus and many species’

Method of assessment

Essay: 100% (3000 words)

Law and the Climate Crisis - 15 credits Open

This course complements the existing offering in environmental law and offers a more focused module on one of the most sensitive environmental issues of our time. It seeks to provide a broad analytical view of the problem of climate change law and policy in its broader context. The course examines the main international legal instruments that constitute international climate law and policy within their broader context. This includes an examination of the underlying principles of climate change law and policy, an introduction to the UN Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, a focus on specific legal issues arising the context of the UN regime, such as carbon trading, as well as an analysis of more specific problems such as regional approaches and relations between climate change law and other areas of law such as trade law. The module also examines specific problems arising in the context of the law and policy response to climate change both concerning mitigation and adaptation, such as human rights implications, land-use, forests and biodiversity. Particular attention is given to climate justice dimensions examining the disproportionate burdens of climate change, including response measures on peoples in the Global South.

International Protection of Human Rights (15Cr) - 15 credits Open

The module will be a foundational, compulsory module for students on the MA/LLM human rights programme who have no prior experience in international human rights law. It will provide an in-depth introduction to international human rights law, particularly its historical development, major theoretical debates, the main legal framework within the broader international law setting, the global and regional (especially the African, Inter-American and European system) institutional machinery for enforcement, as well as an introduction to the main bodies of rights (civil and political, economic, social and cultural rights, collective rights). The module also explores cross-cutting issues, such as race, gender, age and intersectionality, and their salience in the field of human rights law.

Islamic Family Law - 15 credits Open

This module provides a detailed examination of Islamic family law, covering the laws of marriage, dissolution of marriages, guardianship and child custody. These are examined in light of classical rules of Islamic jurisprudence and recent family law reforms in different parts of the Muslim world and also with relevant examples from UK cases. Taking the different areas of family law in turn, we examine the development of positions in the different jurisprudential schools (including the sources on which the classical schools relied) before considering later (colonial and post colonial) treatment of and approaches to these areas of law in states' courts and codes. A focus on codification and the modern state's identity as legislator is highlighted. Approaches to reform of particular areas of law by different social actors are considered, including the use they make of classical and post-classical sources.

Islamic Legal Theory - 15 credits Open

This module presents, from a comparative legal perspective, an overview of Islamic law in its theoretical, historical and jurisprudential evolution. Islamic legal theory (Usul al-Fiqh) is considered from a comparative perspective with a critical analysis of its history, development and application in contemporary jurisdictions. An overview of the historical and jurisprudential themes includes the relationship between sacred texts and human reason in the development of the law, dissent and consensus in the articulation of the law, law and morality and normative pluralism.

Transnational Law, Finance and Technology - 15 credits Open

The module deals with the Actors, Norms, Institutions, Market-led Processes and Legal Conflicts in transnational law. Case studies, taken out of legal practice in financial, technological, and socio-legal contexts, provide an opportunity to explore complex, border-crossing problems that involve jurisdictions and transnational legal developments originating in the Global South and beyond (the Middle East, Afghanistan, Africa and the United Kingdom). Case studies illustrate concrete legal problems, patterns or trends in transnational law such as: the degree to which established legal fields have begun to change or develop under the influence of hybrid norm creation and the private law conflicts which can arise; the intersection of public and private law; global regulatory dynamics and distributional trade-offs; technological diffusion and regulation; the transnational legal implications of non-state actors such as international standard setting organisations as well as multinational corporations; the offshoring/onshoring of law; the transnational normative orders which facilitate informal value transfer systems (informal finance).

Colonial Geographies of International Law - 15 credits Open

This groundbreaking module explores the relationship between international law and materiality, specifically in the context of the geography and history of the city of London in which SOAS is based. The module begins in the classroom, with an introduction to the cutting-edge, burgeoning literature on the material representation of international law. After developing students' theoretical understanding, the class moves to a series of weekly walking tours at different locations in London. Whilst the locations will vary from year to year, likely sites include memorials, archives, museums, docklands and embassies. These tours will provide students with the opportunity to experience first-hand the manner in which international law is embedded in the geography and history of London and to explore for themselves how international law exists in the every- day places of the city. Drawing on SOAS scholars' rich research in history, geography, gender studies, and post-colonial theory, the module will deploy an innovative method of teaching that breaks with the lecture hall and, like modern day international legal situationists, encourages students to shape their own learning by mapping how international law is made material in the city of London.

Law and Society in The Middle East and North Africa - 15 credits Open

The module examines the substantive bodies of law and procedure and the legal systems in operation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in modern times, including in their relationship with regional and international normative systems.

Law and the? biodiversity crisis - 15 credits Open

This module is concerned in the broadest sense with nature protection and concerns around the sixth mass extinction. It addresses specifically law and policy around the broad themes of biodiversity, wildlife & habitats. It examines theoretical and practical dimensions of international and national legal and institutional arrangements concerning some of the most crucial environmental issues of our time. This includes the various dimensions of the biodiversity regime, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, its protocols, related legal instruments and related developments at the national level. These cover a wide variety of issues ranging from conservation and use of biodiversity in general to specific implementation mechanisms like ‘access and benefit sharing’, measures addressing environmental safety in the context of the release of genetically modified organisms (biosafety), and proposed measures to take into account social and cultural dimensions of biodiversity conservation and use. This module also addresses law and policy focused on the protection of nature and animals (wildlife), including a focus on the protection of migratory species and specific conservation techniques, such as the regulation of trade (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). The course also covers measures for the protection of specific habitats, ecosystems and biomes, including forests and polar areas, where distinct legal regimes have made a significant contribution to the development of environmental law.

Teaching and learning

All Masters programmes consist of 180 credits, made up of taught modules of 30 or 15 credits, taught over 10 or 20 weeks, and a dissertation of 60 credits. The programme structure shows which modules are compulsory and which optional.

We recommend that part-time students have between two-and-a-half and three days a week free to pursue their course of study.

Contact hours

As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study, including reading and research, preparing coursework, revising for examinations and so on. It will also include class time, which may include lectures, seminars and other classes. Some subjects, such as learning a language, have more class time than others. At SOAS, most postgraduate modules have a one hour lecture and a one hour seminar every week, but this does vary.

Knowledge and understanding

Students will acquire specialist knowledge of the chosen subject areas of law.
the theoretical and practical underpinnings of law;
the context in which law is made, interpreted, adjudicated, and amended;
the role played by law in different social and economic environments;
the role and function of legal institutions;
the weight and significance of different sources and methodologies.
Students will develop knowledge of how to locate relevant materials and assess their relevance and/or importance.

Intellectual (thinking) skills

Students should develop rigor in analysis and assessment of legal arguments.
Students should develop the ability to understand, summarise and critically assess differing perspectives on theoretical debates.
Students should develop independence of thought and the confidence to challenge the accepted wisdom.
Students should learn to identify issues and formulate questions for further research through independent work.
Students will be encouraged to bring to bear their own previous experience and knowledge in addressing legal issues in an interdisciplinary manner.

Subject-based practical skills

The programme will help students develop the ability to:

Write clear research essays and dissertations.
Research in a variety of specialized research libraries and institutes and online, and retrieve, sift and select information from a variety of sources.
Present seminar papers and defend the arguments therein.
Discuss ideas introduced during seminars.
Develop essay and dissertation research questions.
Read legal source materials rapidly and critically.
Present legal arguments in moots and debates.

Transferable skills

The programme will enable students to:

Communicate effectively in writing.
Structure and communicate ideas and arguments effectively both orally and in writing.
Read and comprehend significant quantities of reading rapidly and effectively and develop critical faculties.
Find and use a variety of written and digital materials, especially legal materials, in libraries and research institutes.
Present (non – assessed) material orally.
Develop teamwork skills.

SOAS Library

SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.

Scholarships

Title	Deadline date

SOAS Law graduates leave SOAS as civic minded and critically engaged individuals who can effectively contribute to their communities and societies. With a thorough understanding of the legal dimensions underlying many of our global challenges today, our Law students are valued by employers due to their analytical skills, specialist knowledge, and global perspective.

SOAS Law graduates have found the LLM a vital boost to their work as legal professionals and that this Law Master provides an excellent base for further study towards a research degree such as a PhD leading to an academic career.

Recent graduates have been hired by organisations including:

BloombergNEF
British Medical Association
Clifford Chance
DAC Beachcroft LLP
Department for Work and Pensions
HM Treasury
Latham & Watkins
Legal Cheek
Simpson Millar Solicitors
The Economist
Travers Smith
World Cancer Research Fund

Find out about our Careers Service .

Dr Nada Ali

Soas voices.

Meet Iqra Hasan: SOAS alum making history as India's youngest female Muslim MP

Iqra Hasan Choudhary studied at SOAS and has now made history as the youngest Muslim woman to enter the Indian Parliament. Shloka explores her inspiring journey.

South Africa v Israel, provisional measures and the obligation to prevent genocide

SOAS Law academics contextualise South Africa v. Israel before the International Court of Justice ruling and discuss the implications of this case on international law and human rights protection.

Why I chose to study MA Human Rights Law at SOAS

MA student Anna moved across the pond to pursue a Human Rights Law degree. She runs through the key reasons why she chose SOAS.

How is Covid-19 impacting human rights?

Covid-19 constitutes a major stress test for societies, states, and the international order.

Africa neglects women's property rights at its own economic peril - but it's not the only culprit

Women in Africa own less than 10% of the land. Transformation can only be achieved through legal awareness raising and bottom-up legal change strategies to facilitate economic empowerment.

Sudan's catastrophe: A long history of failed responses to structural and direct violence

The current crisis in Sudan has deep roots. Seemingly erupting suddenly, it has in fact been a long time coming.

Addressing the Multi-scalar Dimensions of Sectoral Water Conflicts: Lessons from South Asia (WATCON) (2024-2029)

Addressing water conflicts through the lens of water security.

The Social Life of Law in Authoritarian Contexts

Food security and the governance of local knowledge in india and indonesia (2018–2023).

Working with the Australian Research Council to examine the ways small farmers identify, conserve and exchange useful plant material.

Fostering ecocentric community-led river restoration and conservation in the Ganga Basin (2022–2023)

Interrogating the concept of "river rights" to examine the contribution of ecocentric rights for river restoration and conservation.

Conflicts over Access to Water and Land: Evolving dimensions (2022–2025)

Carceral policy, policing and race.

Amplifying the carceral experiences of marginalised populations across the Global South.

Sanitation in India: Understanding a complex and controversial human right (2016)

Examining the right to sanitation in India from a broad perspective that encompasses the various dimensions of the right.

Legal Issues Related to Water Sector Restructuring in India (2006–2009)

The first major study of water law in India since the early 1990s and contributed to ensuring policy-makers would consider it a more important part of sector reforms.

UKIERI: Climate change and groundwater management in India (2013–2015)

Analysing the impact of climate change on groundwater.

Rule of Law in Thailand

Enhancing SOAS knowledge and capacity in the study and research of East and Southeast Asian laws, with a focus on Thai law.

Age of consent and child-marriage in the British Empire

Exploring the debates that led to the reform of age of consent laws in UK and their introduction in other parts of the Empire at the end of the 19th century.

HURIME Project: Human Rights in the Post-Uprisings Middle East

Enhancing the knowledge of academicians and politicians on the new tendencies of human rights discourses and practices in the MENA region.

SOAS-Alphawood Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art

Object-based study of the arts of Asia, run in association with the British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum. Available in-person and online.

School of Law, Gender and Media

The School of Law is dedicated to the legal systems and challenges of the developing world, with complementary strengths in human rights, international law and institutions, environmental law, and international trade and commerce.

MA Anthropology of Global Futures and Sustainability

MA Anthropology of Global Futures and Sustainability at SOAS University of London

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Dissertation Topics in Law for LLM Students

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LAW54660: Dissertation I

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Module LAW54660: Dissertation I

Prerequisites

Learning Outcomes

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

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Law Dissertation Topics

Law Dissertation Topics & Ideas

Topic 2: Impact of Anti-Racism Employment Laws on Organisational Culture- A Comparative Study on the Anti-Racism Employment Laws in the US and Canada

Topic 3: Globalisation, international business transactions, and commercial law- A perspective from literature.

Topic 4: Investigating the impact of competition law on the businesses in the UK- Post Brexit

Topic 5: A comparison between Islamic and contemporary laws against rape. Which law is the most effective in preventing this horrific crime?

Law Dissertation Topics for the COVID Crisis

Topic 2: Effect of COVID-19 on the United States Immigration policies; an assessment of International Legal agreements governing pandemic disease control and the way forward.

Topic 3: Creating legal policies in preparedness for the global pandemic; lessons from COVID-19 on Canadian immigration policies.

Topic 4: The need for uniformity of competition law and policy in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries; An approach to the European Union standard.

Topic 5: The need for competition law and policy enforcement; An analysis of the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries.

Topic 6: Provisions of the law on rape, the need to expand its coverage on the misuse of its provisions, and false accusations.

Topic 7: Summary dismissal of workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the legal implications under the labour law, and the way forward. The Case Study of Nigeria

Topic 8: A legal assessment of the settlement of international disputes through the peaceful process and its effectiveness