Course Summary

A master’s degree in law is a fantastic way for law graduates to develop a specialisation, or for non-lawyers working in related fields to gain a deeper understanding of legal issues. This LLM pathway is a unique course that allows you to specialise in human rights from a highly practical perspective; the focus on advocacy translates into valuable clinical skills that enable you to put your knowledge of human rights law into practice. You’ll study the core principles of human rights advocacy, rooted in knowledge of the European Convention on Human Rights, developing expertise in an increasingly vital area of law that has implications for individuals throughout the world facing discrimination and persecution.

The course is perfect for lawyers and law graduates looking for career development, although all of our LLM courses can be studied by students without a background in law, since you will be trained in the necessary analytical and legal skills. As such, the programme will also provide ideal training for paralegals, journalists, NGO and charity workers, policy advisors, consultants, lawyers, those working in business and finance, or anyone who will benefit from a legal education in their career.

Your Future Career

This pathway gives you the necessary legal and practical training to develop specialist knowledge in the growing field of human rights advocacy, with a huge amount of employment opportunities. Specialists may go on to work for organisations that promote and defend human rights (such as Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch), legal firms that practice in the area, institutions like the UN or European Court of Human Rights, as well as non-legal professions that require expertise in human rights law, including journalism and policy advice.

Due to the practical focus on advocacy in this course, it will be of particular interest to graduates who want to work in litigation, working on behalf of individuals pursuing legal action in human rights courts. The course also allows you to undertake a work-based project so you can gain practical experience and build professional links, while our renowned Law Clinic enables you to work on real legal cases with local people to enhance your clinical skills while you study. If you go for the placement option, your degree will take an extra year. Placement is not available to part-time students.