In the UK, you’ll find that there are both traditional and ground-breaking postgraduate courses in law, explains Gill Sharp
Law covers a broad range of subjects and areas within vocational and academic sectors. In law, an example of a vocational programme is the Graduate Diploma in Law. This is for students who hope to work as lawyers, but whose first degree was not a qualifying law degree. The Legal Practice Course (LPC)/Bar Vocational Course (BVC) (for those with an appropriate bachelor’s degree in law who wish to train as a solicitor or barrister) is another example. These apply to England and Wales. There are some variations in Northern Ireland and the Scottish system is entirely different.
The LLM, a master’s degree in law, is one of the most popular and varied examples of an academic programme, which is open to holders of first law degrees (or other relevant qualifications, such as in social sciences, in some cases). There are other programmes, covered by such areas as politics, psychology, sociology, social policy, social research, criminology, gender studies and development, that fit into the category of law and social sciences, and they are available either academically or vocationally. Some programmes combine academic and vocational aspects.
Visit llmstudy.com for information and advice on choosing the right LLM programme.
The choice of academic programmes is wide. More than 40 universities run LLMs, some in general law or in popular areas, such as European law or intellectual property. Human rights and criminal justice are current growth areas. Specialist LLM possibilities include medical law and ethics (nationwide), International Development Law and Human Rights at Warwick, and Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of East London. For in-depth information about studying for an LLM in the UK and around the world, visit the LLM Study website.
How much do programmes cost? Average fees for UK and EU students can be under £2,000, but are more likely to range from about £3,500 to £8,000 for an MA, or more for vocational programmes. Rates of around £9,000–£13,000 are common for non-EU students, although a few universities now give the home rate to all students. Check individual prospectuses, as there are usually bursaries for each department. International scholarships are also available on a limited basis.
Taught postgraduate programmes
Most postgraduate programmes are ‘taught’ through formal lectures and group tutorials. While some programmes grade students by tests and exams, others offer continuous assessment through regular assignments and projects. Dissertations (ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 words) are often optional, but essay writing is part of every course. Increasingly, accredited work placements count towards the final result.
Research-based postgraduate programmes
The majority of research programmes are MPhils and PhDs. These are normally for graduates who already have a master’s and/or work experience. It is comparatively rare to go straight into these courses with just a first degree. An MPhil might take two to four years to complete, and a PhD three to six years. It is essential to be motivated and to have your own ideas for original research topics. Some programmes now include initial lectures, tutorials, and an introduction to research and statistical techniques and resources. But, for the majority of the time, students are expected to manage their own work, to generate individual or collaborative research papers and to discuss progress with their supervisor every few months. At the end of their research, students have to produce an extended report or thesis (about 40,000–70,000 words for an MPhil and 80,000–100,000 words for a PhD) on their findings and discuss them in a final oral exam (the ‘viva’) with a panel of academics.
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Search for the perfect UK postgraduate programme for you using Postgrad.com's comprehensive course search. You can search the comprehensive database of UK postgraduate programmes by subject, type of course (taught or research), study mode and UK location.
You can also find out more about UK universities and colleges using the A–Z institution listing.
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A few master’s degrees in law are available by research, and are particularly useful to students intending to take a PhD later. Those without formal research skills are taught these at the beginning of the programme.
Statistics show that UK and fluent English-speaking EU students who pass the LPC stand a high chance of getting a training contract with a solicitors’ firm. Non-EU graduates are more likely to be offered work with associate firms in their own countries. It is much harder to obtain further training and work as a self-employed barrister in England and Wales: taking the BVC does not guarantee a job.
An LLM is seen as an academic, rather than a professional, qualification, and will usually only help graduates to find legal work in the UK if they are already qualified and experienced lawyers. However, it may boost their chances of work in their home countries. For in-depth information about how gaining an LLM can enhance your career prospects, visit the LLM Study website.
Gill Sharp is a freelance careers consultant who has worked with law graduates for many years.
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