Law LLM
LLM Law
Overview
If you want to add to your existing law qualifications – or you're a graduate from another subject area who's looking to develop your legal knowledge and gain a relevant qualification – our LLM Law degree course is the perfect next step for you.
On this flexible course – which can be studied either part-time or full-time – you'll develop expertise in law, supplemented with a choice of specialist subjects, including corporate governance, employment law, intellectual property law, and international commercial arbitration.
Choose from optional subjects taught by experts and tailor-make your degree to match your interests. Studying for an LLM will give you the opportunity to develop your legal and research skills. It can also be the first step to a career in research.
Entry requirements
LLM Law Master's degree entry requirements
Qualifications or experience
- A second-class honours degree or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications.
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.
We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.
If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
What you'll experience
On this course, you'll:
On this course you'll:
- Learn from a skilled and experienced team of academics, including active researchers and qualified solicitors and barristers with extensive experience of legal practice
- Experience a variety of teaching methods, including group work, discussion, case studies, simulation and debate
- Benefit from our lively careers and employability programme. You'll get the opportunity to attend workshops, gain relevant work experience and participate in our professional mentoring programme
- Tap in to our Library’s vast selection of electronic resources 24/7, including thousands of online ejournals
- Pursue specific areas of academic interest or, if you prefer, develop a wider range of skills and knowledge
Careers and opportunities
The LLM Law degree course provides a springboard for many career paths, including academia, business or the public sector. If you are an aspiring lawyer, the LLM can give you a competitive edge. If you're already a law practitioner, you'll have the opportunity to pursue new subject specialities.
What jobs can you do with a Law degree?
Career opportunities include:
- Legal adviser
- Compliance officer
- Procurement professional
- Human resources adviser
- Paralegal/legal clerk
- Further research or study
The staff are very approachable and personable, which makes the University of Portsmouth really stand out. This reason alone made me very pleased to have had the opportunity to study here.
What you'll study on this LLM Law degree course
Modules currently being studied
Law route
If you have a UK law degree or equivalent, you'll undertake a dissertation or professional practitioner project and four modules from the following list:
- Community Legal Research Project
- Corporate Governance: Theory, Law and Practice
- Employment Law
- Intellectual Property Law
- International and European Business Law
- International Commercial Arbitration
- Work-based Learning Unit
- Commercial and Consumer Law
- Theory of ADR
- Negotiation Theory and Practice
- Dissertation or Professional Practitioner Project
Non-law route
Those who don't have a UK law degree or equivalent will be enrolled on the non-law route and will undertake the following modules:
- Legal Approach to Business
- Dissertation/Professional Practitioner Project
You'll also choose three modules from:
- Community Legal Research Project
- Corporate Law and Governance
- Employment Law
- Global Corporate Responsibility
- Intellectual Property Law
- International and European Human Rights Law
- International Commercial Arbitration
- Work-based Learning Unit
- Commercial and Consumer Law
- Theory of ADR
- Negotiation Theory and Practice
- Dissertation or Professional Practitioner Project
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
Work experience and career planning
We'll help you to identify internships, voluntary roles and opportunities that will complement your studies.
When you finish the course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job that puts your legal skills to work.
After you leave the University, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.
Learning support
As well as support by faculty teaching staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University’s Academic Skills Unit (ASK).
ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:
academic writingnote takingtime managementcritical thinkingpresentation skillsreferencing working in groupsrevision , memory and exam techniques
Teaching
If you're studying full-time, you'll be expected to attend 8 hours of class time per week. If you're studying part-time, you'll be expected to attend around 4 hours of class time per week.
You'll be encouraged to study independently, with time devoted to group problem solving, discussion and debate.
How you'll spend your time
Each academic year is divided into 2 teaching blocks:
- September/October to December/January – teaching block 1
- January/February to May – teaching block 2
How you're assessed
Course costs
Tuition fees (2021 start)
UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students
- Full-time: £7,950
- Part-time: £2,650 a year (subject to annual increase)
EU - Awaiting confirmation
International students
- Full-time: £16,400
- Part-time: £5,470 a year (subject to annual increase)
Additional course costs
These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.
Additional costs
Our accommodation section shows your accommodation options and highlights how much it costs to live in Portsmouth.
You’ll study up to 6 modules a year. You may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each module.
You can borrow most of these from the Library. If you buy these, they may cost up to £60 each.
We recommend that you budget £75 a year for photocopying, memory sticks, DVDs and CDs, printing charges, binding and specialist printing.
If your final year includes a major project, there could be cost for transport or accommodation related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
Apply
Starting in September 2021
- Full-time study (1 year)
- Part-time study (2 years)
International students
If you're from outside of the UK, you can apply directly to us (above) or you can get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.
If you don’t meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.
- Subject area
- Law
- Criminology and Forensic Studies
