General Law - LLM

Choose any six modules from those available across our LLM portfolio in the following subject areas:

Examine the key business models available to small and medium sized businesses in the UK. Compare their various legal features, and explore the legal expertise required for setting up, running and closure of a business.

Develop a critical insight into the structure and objectives of corporate insolvency law in England and Wales. You’ll gain an evaluative appreciation of the regulation of insolvent companies, and a high-level understanding of the role of traditional liquidation against the modern preference for corporate rescue.

Gain an insight into assisting struggling companies to recover from their difficulties, with the use of formal insolvency laws and by other means.

Consider global insolvency law-making initiatives, from institutions such as the EU and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). Engage with the issues of cross-border insolvency that arise when the insolvent debtor has assets and creditors in more than one jurisdiction.

This module aims to introduce students to a critical and detailed understanding of intellectual property rights within the EU and UK regulatory framework. It is mainly aimed at those who have little or no background in intellectual property and provides an introduction to the IPR through copyright, patents, registered designs and passing off.

Understand the core common law principles, and the main international customs and conventions, applicable to contracts for the international carriage of goods by land sea and air.

This module aims to support students in acquiring a critical understanding of the role, significance and basic structure of competition law in the context of increasing global trade and international economic integration. Competition law, (also called antitrust law), exists at national and regional levels. Laws in two leading competition law jurisdictions in the world, the United States of America (Federal) and the European Union, are focussed on with the aim of fostering critical analysis of the aims of competition law, the principal concepts underpinning competition law, how competition laws are structured and key practices (such as leniency or amnesty programmes) of agencies tasked with enforcing competition law.

This module supports students in gaining insightful awareness of what may be done to assist struggling companies to recover from their difficulties, both through the use of formal insolvency laws and by other means. An advanced appreciation of current UK laws in this area, and suggestions for reform of these laws, will be fostered.

Gain a critical appreciation of the essential functional elements of any business-to-business contractual relationship, concluded across international borders in the so-called global village.

Critically evaluate the law relating to contracts for the sale of goods across international borders from the contrasting standpoints of buyer and seller and focus on the core legal components of international sale agreements under three distinct legal codes.

This module is orientated around a UK public company with a premium listing and trading its securities on the London Stock Exchange. The first part of the module examines the core company law and securities law and regulation underpinning such a company (including the detailed rules in the FCA handbook), centring on its initial public offering of securities and subsequent continuing obligations as a listed company and including the UK regulation on market abuse. The final part of the module is concerned with the corporate governance framework pertaining to such a company with a particular emphasis on the core directors’ duty, 172 Companies Act 2006, and the UK Corporate Governance Code and UK Stewardship Code. The module seeks to develop an ability to apply and analyse the complex technical provisions as well as to place them within the context of a broader critical theoretical framework.

This module seeks to develop a critical appreciation of the role of law and regulation in the contemporary business environment. This first involves developing an understanding of the theoretical nature of regulation (in particular through a critical interrogation of the relationship between the role of the state and the role of self-regulation) and the theoretical explanations for the adoption of regulation. The module then evaluates different regulatory techniques, different styles and models of regulatory enforcement, and the increasing need for accountability in regulatory systems, in both a UK and an international context. Whilst the module draws upon case studies from the business environment and makes reference to contemporary UK policy in the particular domain of business regulation, the substantive principles that are subject to critical examination are eminently transferable across a wide range of traditional cognate legal and socio-legal fields.

This module examines formal and informal methods by which creditors are able to use property law to secure repayment of debts and acquire priority in insolvency. Students are introduced to common law concepts of property law and the process of legal development through case law. The transactional aspects of the area are given more emphasis than the doctrinal. Both institutional and procedural aspects of the law are considered: e.g. title retention, and the floating charge; constructive notice and undue influence. Students are encouraged to adopt a series of evaluative viewpoints and are supported in developing their own analysis of the law and its development.

This module is concerned with the formation of a contract of employment, including an examination of express and implied terms; specific issues such as discrimination and industrial action and the legal issues surrounding the ending of the contract. The module will explore changes that take place during the currency of the contract, such as the consequences of mergers, takeovers and transfers and the impact of the Acquired Rights Directive of 2001 and the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment Regulations 2006).

An introduction to patent law and the importance and effectiveness of intellectual property regimes, both nationally and internationally, to stimulate research and the creation of new medicines and medical innovations and to facilitate access to them in a public health context.

Explore the key features of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, such as the test for assessing capacity and the concept of acting in the best interests of those who lack capacity. You will also look at the provisions of civil detention under the Mental Health Act 1983.

Critically appreciate the ethical and legal issues at the beginning and ending of life as they arise in the medical context. You will explore assisted reproduction and related technologies and issues related to abortion and the broader control of pregnancy. In terms of ending of life the focus is principally on contexts in which life has been purposefully foreshortened and those in which life maintaining medical intervention has been withdrawn or withheld.

Critically examine the phenomenon of medical use of the human body and the key ethical and legal issues raised by it. You will explore the implications of philosophical theories, ethical principles and legal norms in areas such as transplantation, medical research and bio-banking.

Understand the obligation of employers to care for the health of their employees, particularly in the context of employees in a health care setting. You will assess the effectiveness of the English common law, UK legislation and European Union provisions governing health and safety in the workplace.

Examine the key areas of law relating to the practice of medicine and other health care specialisms in the UK, taking into account EU legislation. You’ll focus on the law relating to medical malpractice, law and regulation by professional bodies, as well as the Tort of Negligence and its application to clinical practice.

Gain a critical understanding and awareness of the contemporary international legal order, by considering both the international laws of peace and of war in their historical and contemporary contexts.

This module encourages a critical understanding of the term “terrorism” in its historical and contemporary political contexts. A key aim is to enable students to think comparatively and analytically about the legal approaches to prohibit terrorism at the international and regional levels.

Explore the normative and pragmatic role of victims at various stages throughout the criminal process and evaluate the extent to which existing criminal justice structures can protect the rights and meet the needs of victims.

Evaluate the international structures and mechanisms for the protection of human rights within Europe. You will also critically examine and evaluate the jurisprudence of the European Court and Commission of Human Rights.

An introduction to International Criminal Law, examining its origins and relationship with other areas of law. You will explore the evolution of legal principles and critically evaluate the institutions of International Criminal Law, including the different forms of tribunals.

Examine the human right to freedom of expression in a variety of contexts: political and journalistic speech and broadcasting, hate speech, blasphemy, artistic expression, religious manifestation through dress and symbol, and public protest and assembly.

An introduction to contemporary human rights issues and debates in relation to the criminal justice system. You’ll develop a critical understanding of the extent to which the human rights of victims, suspects, defendants and prisoners are adequately protected within the legal system.

Gain a critical awareness of the most serious crimes of international concern, including crimes of aggression, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

This module aims to foster an understanding of the historical, theoretical and legal context of international human rights law. The key aim is to familiarise our students with universal and regional systems of international human rights protection, and cultivate an understanding of the various human rights organisations and mechanisms of monitoring and enforcement. You will develop a sound appreciation of key substantive rights and related issues and gain a critical awareness of emergent issues in the debate of international human rights.

Critically evaluate the justifications of intellectual property rights and explore intellectual property issues in the context of the European Union’s internal market.

Gain a critical and detailed understanding of intellectual property rights within the EU and UK regulatory framework. You will be introduced to intellectual property rights through copyright, patents, registered designs and passing off.

An introduction to patent law and the importance and effectiveness of intellectual property regimes, both nationally and internationally, to stimulate research and the creation of new medicines and medical innovations and to facilitate access to them in a public health context.

An introduction to data protection rules within an interdisciplinary environment. You will identify and gain a critical awareness of the scope and effects of international, EU and UK mandatory regulation on data protection and privacy.

An introduction to the intellectual property law framework, as it applies to the business of sport, sports events, sports equipment, and the image and personality rights of sportspeople. You’ll also learn about specific aspects of contract, employment and agency law in the context of sportspeople, their
agents, and professional obligations.

Examine the key business models available to small and medium sized businesses in the UK. Compare their various legal features, and explore the legal expertise required for setting up, running and closure of a business.

Develop a critical insight into the structure and objectives of corporate insolvency law in England and Wales. You’ll gain an evaluative appreciation of the regulation of insolvent companies, and a high-level understanding of the role of traditional liquidation against the modern preference for corporate rescue

Acquire a critical understanding of the role, significance and basic structure of competition law in the context of increasing global trade and international economic integration. Competition law, (also called Antitrust Law), exists at national and regional levels and you will focus on the two leading competition law jurisdictions in the world, the United States of America (federal) and the European Union.

Understand the core common law principles, and the main international customs and conventions, applicable to contracts for the international carriage of goods by land sea and air.

Study the essential functional elements of any business to business contractual relationship concluded across international borders in the so called global village.

Examine the formal and informal methods by which creditors are able to use property law to secure repayment of debts and acquire priority in insolvency. You will also be introduced to common law concepts of property law, and the process of legal development through case law.

This module is orientated around a UK public company with a premium listing and trading its securities on the London Stock Exchange. The first part of the module examines the core company law and securities law and regulation underpinning such a company (including the detailed rules in the FCA handbook), centring on its initial public offering of securities and subsequent continuing obligations as a listed company and including the UK regulation on market abuse. The final part of the module is concerned with the corporate governance framework pertaining to such a company with a particular emphasis on the core directors’ duty, 172 Companies Act 2006, and the UK Corporate Governance Code and UK Stewardship Code. The module seeks to develop an ability to apply and analyse the complex technical provisions as well as to place them within the context of a broader critical theoretical framework.

Critically evaluate the law relating to contracts for the sale of goods across international borders from the contrasting standpoints of buyer and seller and focus on the core legal components of international sale agreements under three distinct legal codes.

An introduction to International Economic Law through an examination of the institutions and substantive law of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The Dispute Settlement System is central to the WTO and this module examines selected Covered Agreements through textual analysis and dispute reports.

With increasing globalisation, cross border disputes, both commercial and personal, are becoming more common. This module aims to examine two key questions in cross border disputes, namely in which country should litigation be commenced and which country’s law should be applied (i.e. jurisdiction and enforcement of judgments).

The module aims to identify and critically analyse the evidence for a meaningful concept of “transnational employment law”. It will also critically examine the feasibility of a comparative exercise in the field of employment law, and to this end will look at the relevant law of the UK, the EU, the USA and Canada.

This module aims to allow students to understand technical legal, procedural, political and commercial aspects of international dispute resolution, including litigation, arbitration and mediation in the commercial environment from the perspective of the courts of England and Wales, including the tactical decisions made by commercial clients in determining the forum for resolution of their disputes, the process of resolution of their disputes and enforcement of the results of the dispute resolution process.

The module aims to provide an introduction to the role and market practices of insurance in international trade and to promote a critical understanding of fundamental principles of such contracts, created at common law and by statute, relevant to international trade.