About this course
The basis of the LLM Law is that it provides the range of specialist modules across the postgraduate diet within the School of Law at Ulster within a more flexible framework. To this end, the taught modules are entirely option and the student is empowered to choose their own path based upon their academic and personal interests. The programme has been created as a flexible model to achieve LLM status for those who wish to gain a postgraduate qualification in law. These options range from specialist modules in the space of corporate/commercial law, alternative dispute resolution, legal technology, human rights, transitional justice and employment law. This demonstrates the breadth of choice available to students to pursue interest and to widen their skill base.
For Full-Time Students entering in September they will have the following structure:
Semester 1: 3x20 credit taught modules (from a range of options)
Semester 2: 3x20 credit taught modules (from a range of options)
Semester 3: 60 credit dissertation (compulsory).
For Full-Time students entering in January they will have the following structure:
Semester 2: 3x20 credit taught modules (from a range of options)
Semester 1 (of the following Academic Year): 3x20 credit taught modules (from a range of options)
Semester 2 (of the following Academic Year): 60 credit dissertation (compulsory)
The following taught modules are available. This list is subject to change from year-to-year, and you will need to check the finalised timetable to avoid clashes.
LAW712 Corporate Law
The ability to appreciate the basis of legal concepts, principles and rules relevant to small businesses, including startups and franchised businesses, and the skills needed to apply them in the day-to-day running of those businesses (including when they are being established) are generally recognised as extremely valuable in the world of commerce. This module would provide students with the necessary knowledge and intellectual equipment to acquire such abilities and skills.
LAW754 International Commercial Law
The purpose of this module is to provide students with a detailed knowledge of the legal principles which underlie contemporary commercial, business and consumer transactions. As the production, marketing, distribution and consumption processes of goods and services are vitally important elements in business transactions, it is essential that students are capable of applying the relevant legal principles from both a practical and theoretical perspective in order to identify and minimise risk to ensure the prevention of liability in today's global economy. Central to any business strategy is the recognition and anticipation of liability and enabling legal and business professionals to gain a thorough knowledge of commercial law makes them better able to fashion a proactive commercial strategy for liability prevention.
LAW767 Intellectual Property and Data Protection Law
This module gives students an understanding of the laws governing intellectual property and the protection of data. Students will gain an understanding of specific areas of intellectual property law, such as copyright, patent and trade mark, as well as the legal regime established by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In addition, students will consider some of the contemporary issues surrounding these laws, such as the challenges posed by globalisation, the need to ensure equitable access to medicines and healthcare, the digital age, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
By studying this module, students will gain an understanding of the principles means by which information is governed in our increasingly information-centred society. This will provide them with both a deeper understanding of issues relating to data, technology and innovation explored elsewhere in their courses, as well as equipping them for roles in which they will have to navigate both intellectual property and data protection rules as a matter of course.
The following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are embedded in this module of learning: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
LAW805 Foundations of Transitional Justice
The purpose of this module is to help students develop specialised knowledge of the particular legal and political challenges facing transitional societies that are grappling with a legacy of mass human rights abuses and/or atrocity crimes. It will also introduce students to the aims of transitional justice and the main forms of transitional justice measures that seek to respond to the aftermath of mass violence: namely, justice (international, national and restorative), truth-telling, reparations (including memory initiatives), and guarantees of non-repetition.
As an optional module for incoming post-graduate students, the module will create a solid foundation for parallel and subsequent modules by providing deep understanding of transitional justice as a field, and of the applicability to it of complementary legal regimes including those of international humanitarian law, international criminal law and international human rights law.
This module is central to the uniqueness of the TJ focus that forms part of the LLM in Human Rights Law at Ulster University, drawing on the research and teaching strengths of staff in the Transitional Justice Institute. It stands as an absolute requirement when placed in conjunction with core modules such as International Human Rights Law, and also complements other optional modules such as Public International Law and International Humanitarian Law. In comparison to these modules it is less technical-doctrinal, and more sociolegal and interdisciplinary in approach and content: as is in keeping with the TJ field
LAW810 Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
This module provides an opportunity for students to further develop their understanding of economic, social and cultural rights (ESCRs) at the theoretical, doctrinal and empirical level. It enables participants to enhance and practice appropriate skills in researching and applying these rights. It focuses on topical issues in the field of economic, social and cultural rights and will impart detailed knowledge of ESCRs from different perspectives.
LAW821 Foundations of International Human Rights Law
The module will create the learning context in which students will become familiar with the operation and structure of the international human rights regime. The module will provide an opportunity to drill deeper into the concept and the purpose of a human rights legal system. As well as providing for detailed knowledge of international institutions (most notably the UN) the module will provide an overview of three leading regional human rights systems (Europe, the Americas and Africa). The module also contextualises human rights law as it relates to other relevant branches of international law. These include international humanitarian and criminal law. The module engages with key challenges and dilemmas in current theory and practice, such as the application of human rights law to armed conflict and counter-terrorism measures and the broader conceptual and practical limitations when it comes to delivering a just and peaceful world. The module will provide the foundation for the internationalised focus of the LLM programmes and function as a springboard from which other specialised modules will develop.
LAW829 Social Security Law and Policy
Social Security Law will be one of the foundational subjects for the LLM Access to Justice and aims to provide students with an introduction to social security law and policy in Northern Ireland Great Britain. It is critical that students have a firm grasp of the complexities of social security regulation and the adjudication of social security disputes within the tribunal system, including appeals on points of law to the Social Security Commissioner and beyond to the upper courts. Students will examine the main social security benefits and be able to understand the interaction between different benefits, as well as developing a critical analysis of the social security system. The knowledge provided in the module will equip students to understand the main issues that will face them in their clinical practice as well as training students on how to independently research additional social security law issues that can arise on a case by case basis.
LAW830 Employment Law
Employment Law is one of the foundation subjects of the PgCert in the Employment Law and Practice programme and the LLM in Access to Justice. Its aim is to provide students with an introduction to employment law and policy in Northern Ireland. Students will study key areas of employment law which will equip them to understand the main issues that they will encounter in their clinical practice as well as training students on how to independently research additional employment law issues that can arise on a case by case basis.
LAW838 Gender and Human Rights
The Gender and Human Rights module complements the foundational Human Rights Law module by introducing students to how women's rights and gender rights have been recognised and mainstreamed in human rights law. The module seeks to explore how feminist legal theory responded to limitations to the advancement of women's rights and gender rights. Furthermore, the module examines the protection of women's rights and gender rights at national, regional and international level in human rights law and practice. The module provides the opportunity for the students to appreciate both the application and limitations of human rights law for the advancement of women's rights and gender rights. It is located within the framework of international law, gender and feminist legal theories.
LAW779 ADR & Employment Tribunal Representation
The rationale behind studying this module is two-fold: In the first instance it will help students to develop an understanding of the various ways that disputes may be resolved without progression to litigation, such as arbitration or adjudication, or other methods that may be used between the parties such as mediation or negotiation. Secondly, it will provide students with an overview of the basic legal principles relating to the practice and procedure of the industrial and fair employment tribunals. This will include consideration of jurisdiction, the initiation of proceedings, defending such proceedings, interlocutory processes and tribunal procedure and other matters relating to the tribunal process that commonly arise in practice.
LAW727 Employment Compliance and Development
Managing compliance training is no longer a tick box exercise and HR departments are looking to extend the scope of compliance training to become part of a broader strategy to foster a culture of compliance that encompasses all staff. A wide range of employees must not only be aware of their individual responsibilities, but also the legal and regulatory obligations of their organisation. Companies also have the challenge of being able to demonstrate that their staff are working in a way that is compliant with regulations and that they are adequately supported to do this. Effective compliance training can ensure that an organisation's reputation is not compromised in the long-run. Mistakes can be costly, so it's essential that staff understand rules and procedures. This module equips individuals with an understanding of how to manage risks and compliance matters they may come across in their jobs.
LAW729 Commercial Alternative Dispute Resolution
Recourse to the courts for judgement is one avenue that can be followed in order to resolve a dispute. However, other mechanisms for dispute resolution have long been available and, given the cost of litigation (perhaps dwarfing any award made to the successful party) and the pressure on an overburdened legal system, both governments and the legal professions have increasingly recognised and advocated (though not, at least yet, required) that Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) be considered in any civil dispute. Alternatives to civil litigation such as adjudication, arbitration and mediation have the potential (in appropriate cases) to avoid the pitfalls of disproportionate cost, complex procedure and long, drawn-out adversarial proceedings. This module introduces students to the nature of conflict and disputes; considers the various options for dispute resolution including, in particular, adjudication, arbitration and mediation; and will provide students with a foundational knowledge of ADR which can then be developed in their professional practice.
LAW756 Commercial Property Law
Commercial property is a highly important and specialised area of law relating to the acquisition, development and letting of land for business purposes. This module guides the student through these key areas considering, in particular, site acquisition both by means of conveyance and through the application of compulsory purchase powers by public authorities, commercial development in the context of the planning system and the law relating to business tenancies. This module not only equips students with underpinning knowledge of relevant aspects of the law but also provides key opportunities to directly engage in case studies based on the type of practical work undertaken by an experienced commercial practice.
LAW770 Innovation in Legal Work
The module introduces students to the phenomenon of 'LegalTech', or the deployment of technology
into legal work and the administration of justice, particularly across the areas of dispute resolution, legal research and writing and the automation of legal decision-making. Students will develop both theoretical and conceptual understanding of the deployment of such technologies, and have hands-on experience with a number of tools.
It is a response to the needs of employers in the legal and professional service industries (including solicitors, barristers and the courts service) to provide students with an understanding of new methods and tools impacting the legal industry.
LAW775 Family Law in Practice
Family law is a unique, dynamic and largely self-contained area of legal practice which lies at the genesis and breakdown of familial relationships. Whilst an area of civil law, it is a distinct species in Northern Ireland, with its own rules of proceedings across court tiers and challenges in terms of piecemeal legislative change and the lack of a unified family system or administrative streamlining with separate jurisdictions of Magistrates' Courts, County Courts and High court of Justice. In Northern Ireland, family law is also an area of considerable unmet legal need where there is a distinct lack of advice and support services for separating families.
Adopting a pragmatic approach, and aligned with areas of unmet legal need, the module covers key areas of family law, including divorce, financial remedy (ancillary relief), private children's order proceedings and child maintenance. Student will study key areas of substantive and procedural family law and the practical considerations that arise when advising or supporting clients in family law. This will equip students to understand the main issues they will encounter in professional practice and to develop their legal skills and knowledge in a family law context, so that they can provide a professional approach to clients. It will also train students how to independently research family law issues that can arise on a case-by-case basis and assist litigants with family law procedural issues including assessment of claims and the drafting of applications, pleadings and appeals.
LAW776 Law and Technology
This module examines the relationship between the law and technology, with a particular focus on a number of important areas including AI, green technologies, the regulation of digital platforms, biotechnology and personalised medicine. By studying this module, students will gain an understanding of how the law interacts with emerging technologies and the challenges it faces in regulating them effectively. Students will develop the ability to critique existing and proposed regulatory responses to technological developments, as well as considering potential ways by which the regulation of technology could be improved. Overall, the module aims to equip students with the knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to navigate the intersection of law and technology in contemporary society.
The skills developed in this module will enable students to understand how key emerging technologies will impact the future of business and society, how the law is responding to these technologies, and how it could (or should) respond in future. This will better equip students to deal with these technologies and their broader social implications in the rest of their professional lives.
The following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are embedded in this module of learning: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
LAW777 International Migration Law
Every day, people are on the move across borders. Some travel for work, others move to study abroad, and still others move to be with family members, or to experience a new culture and context. Some move in exercise of their free movement rights to pursue a new opportunity, while others are seeking protection, having been displaced from their homes, or exploited. Against this background, migration law and policy is arguably more important than ever. Migration governance is a cross-cutting issue, intersecting with questions of social justice and human rights, and engaging international, regional, and domestic normative frameworks.
This module provides students with a strong foundation of the key aspects of international migration law, including:
• refugee and asylum law
• the protection of internally displaced persons
• free movement and 'regular' migration,
• human trafficking,
• labour migration, and
• the role of international human rights law.
LAW778 Public International Law and Contemporary Global Challenges
Students completing TJI LLM programmes frequently engage with public international law across all of the substantive modules in the programme. As such, this module is intended to provide a strong foundation in the theory, sources, and critiques of public international law more broadly, as well as how it operates in the context of some key contemporary global challenges, including conflict, use of force, accountability for serious crimes, migration, and climate change.
LAW811 Equality Law
The Equality Law module complements the foundational Human Rights Law module by introducing the students to core principles of equality law. This module seeks to explore inequality in society and the legal strategies deployed to combat it. We will explore the extensive Northern Ireland British laws on discrimination, and there is also a strong comparative and international dimension to this module. We will look at developments at the European and UN levels and also in South Africa and Canada. The module provides the opportunity for the students to appreciate a range of equality principles and the interaction between them.
LAW817 Research and Advocacy Methods
Anyone undertaking an advanced Masters programme can be expected to demonstrate an ability to investigate, analyse and report on a particular issue in a coherent and systematic manner that integrates law, policy and practice where appropriate. This module provides a full range of skills which students need to be able to produce rigorous pieces of research as part of their dissertation, and prepare for professional stages and a career in human rights law, gender and/or transitional justice. The module introduces students to key issues in advocacy such as navigating parliamentary systems and writing consultation responses. The module attempts to bridge the gap between academic and practical law. The understanding of sources of domestic law and public international law and study techniques including transferable skills in areas such as performing UN- research and time-management are fundamental skills. This understanding can then be applied to help support a practical approach to learning.
Attendance
The vast majority of the modules are delivered on-campus through lectures, seminars and tutorials. Some of the employment law related modules may be delivered online.
Start dates
Teaching, Learning and Assessment
The modules are largely delivered through a range of academic-led lectures, seminars and tutorials. The teaching will allow students to explore areas with depth at this LLM level.
The modules are assessed by a range of coursework related assessments such as written essays, problem type scenarios, presentations and reports. The dissertation module is assessed by way of a longer research-based project of an area chosen by the student and agreed to by staff.
The content for each course is summarised on the relevant course page, along with an overview of the modules that make up the course.
Each course is approved by the University and meets the expectations of:
Attendance and Independent Study
As part of your course induction, you will be provided with details of the organisation and management of the course, including attendance and assessment requirements - usually in the form of a timetable. For full-time courses, the precise timetable for each semester is not confirmed until close to the start date and may be subject to some change in the early weeks as all courses settle into their planned patterns. For part-time courses which require attendance on particular days and times, an expectation of the days and periods of attendance will be included in the letter of offer. A course handbook is also made available.
Courses comprise modules for which the notional effort involved is indicated by its credit rating. Each credit point represents 10 hours of student effort. Undergraduate courses typically contain 10, 20, or 40 credit modules (more usually 20) and postgraduate courses typically 15 or 30 credit modules.
The normal study load expectation for an undergraduate full-time course of study in the standard academic year is 120 credit points. This amounts to around 36-42 hours of expected teaching and learning per week, inclusive of attendance requirements for lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical work, fieldwork or other scheduled classes, private study, and assessment. Teaching and learning activities will be in-person and/or online depending on the nature of the course. Part-time study load is the same as full-time pro-rata, with each credit point representing 10 hours of student effort.
Postgraduate Master’s courses typically comprise 180 credits, taken in three semesters when studied full-time. A Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) comprises 60 credits and can usually be completed on a part-time basis in one year. A 120-credit Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) can usually be completed on a part-time basis in two years.
Class contact times vary by course and type of module. Typically, for a module predominantly delivered through lectures you can expect at least 3 contact hours per week (lectures/seminars/tutorials). Laboratory classes often require a greater intensity of attendance in blocks. Some modules may combine lecture and laboratory. The precise model will depend on the course you apply for and may be subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. Prospective students will be consulted about any significant changes.
Assessment
Assessment methods vary and are defined explicitly in each module. Assessment can be a combination of examination and coursework but may also be only one of these methods. Assessment is designed to assess your achievement of the module’s stated learning outcomes. You can expect to receive timely feedback on all coursework assessments. This feedback may be issued individually and/or issued to the group and you will be encouraged to act on this feedback for your own development.
Coursework can take many forms, for example: essay, report, seminar paper, test, presentation, dissertation, design, artefacts, portfolio, journal, group work. The precise form and combination of assessment will depend on the course you apply for and the module. Details will be made available in advance through induction, the course handbook, the module specification, the assessment timetable and the assessment brief. The details are subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. You will be consulted about any significant changes.
Normally, a module will have 4 learning outcomes, and no more than 2 items of assessment. An item of assessment can comprise more than one task. The notional workload and the equivalence across types of assessment is standardised. The module pass mark for undergraduate courses is 40%. The module pass mark for postgraduate courses is 50%.
Calculation of the Final Award
The class of Honours awarded in Bachelor’s degrees is usually determined by calculation of an aggregate mark based on performance across the modules at Levels 5 and 6, (which correspond to the second and third year of full-time attendance).
Level 6 modules contribute 70% of the aggregate mark and Level 5 contributes 30% to the calculation of the class of the award. Classification of integrated Master’s degrees with Honours include a Level 7 component. The calculation in this case is: 50% Level 7, 30% Level 6, 20% Level 5. At least half the Level 5 modules must be studied at the University for Level 5 to be included in the calculation of the class.
All other qualifications have an overall grade determined by results in modules from the final level of study.
In Masters degrees of more than 200 credit points the final 120 points usually determine the overall grading.
Figures from the academic year 2022-2023.
Academic profile
The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 60% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.
Courses are taught by staff who are Professors (19%), Readers, Senior Lecturers (22%) or Lecturers (57%).
We require most academic staff to be qualified to teach in higher education: 82% hold either Postgraduate Certificates in Higher Education Practice or higher. Most academic and learning support staff (85%) are recognised as fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) by Advance HE - the university sector professional body for teaching and learning. Many academic and technical staff hold other professional body designations related to their subject or scholarly practice.
The profiles of many academic staff can be found on the University’s departmental websites and give a detailed insight into the range of staffing and expertise. The precise staffing for a course will depend on the department(s) involved and the availability and management of staff. This is subject to change annually and is confirmed in the timetable issued at the start of the course.
Occasionally, teaching may be supplemented by suitably qualified part-time staff (usually qualified researchers) and specialist guest lecturers. In these cases, all staff are inducted, mostly through our staff development programme ‘First Steps to Teaching’. In some cases, usually for provision in one of our out-centres, Recognised University Teachers are involved, supported by the University in suitable professional development for teaching.
Figures from the academic year 2022-2023.
