Law - Intellectual Property & E-Law - LLM

Course Outline
On this LLM programme you will study the close connection between the fields of Intellectual Property (copyright, patents, and trademarks) and E-Law (internet regulation, electronic commerce, and cybercrime). You will discuss novel and dynamic issues concerning social networks, music and video copyright, regulation of electronic contracts and data protection.

Applicants for the LLM (Intellectual Property and E-Law) also have the option of registering for a Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property and E-Law. Students take 60 credits of taught modules from those on offer for the LLM (Intellectual Property and E-Law). The Postgraduate Diploma can be completed over 9 months full-time or 18 months part-time.

This shorter programme may be attractive to legal professionals and others who may prefer not to make an initial commitment to a full master's programme. Graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma may further progress their studies by completing a 15,000-word research dissertation and graduate with an LLM.

Course Practicalities
LLM classes are presented in a seminar format. This participative and interactive format of teaching is suitable for postgraduate level. Students receive advance reading lists and/or materials for each seminar. Seminars take place in 2-hour blocks between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday. 10-credit modules run for 12 weeks and 5-credit modules run for 6 weeks.

Part-Time

The part-time option is taught during weekday working hours over 2 years.

Credits

Students complete 90 credits over 12 months full-time or 24 months part-time. Students take 60 credits of taught modules and a dissertation on a subject of their choice in the area of IP and/or E-Law as approved by their supervisor. The dissertation is worth 30 credits and is normally 15,000 words in length.

Full-time: Students take 90 credits.

Part-time: Students take 90 credits, completing a total of 40 credits (including LW6574) in Year 1 and 50 credits (including LW6575) in Year 2.

Core Modules (70 credits)

LW6536 Intellectual Property Law (10 credits)
LW6560 Law of Cybercrime (10 credits)
LW6574 Intellectual Property and Internet Regulation (10 credits)
LW6575 LLM (Intellectual Property and e-Law) Dissertation (30 credits)
LW6647 IT Law Clinic for Start-ups (10 credits)
Elective Modules (choose 20 credits in total from Lists A and B with a maximum of 10 credits being chosen from List B)

List A: Elective Modules in E-Law, Business Law and Human Rights

LW2269 Privacy and Data Protection Law (5 credits)
LW6578 Consumer Rights: Law and Policy (5 credits)
LW6579 Law of Credit & Debt (5 credits)
LW6606 International Human Rights Law (10 credits)
LW6619 Alternative Dispute Resolution: Processes and Practice (5 credits)
LW6636 European Corporate Restructuring, Insolvency and Rescue (5 credits)
LW6639 FinTech: Law and Regulation (5 credits)
LW6640 E-Commerce Law (5 credits)
LW6641 The Role of Law in the Future of Europe - Critical Perspectives (10 credits)
LW6643 Negotiation and Mediation (10 credits)
LW6644 Managing Complex Disputes (10 credits)
LW6650 Contemporary Issues in EU Competition Policy (10 credits)
List B: Undergraduate Modules (choose up to 10 credits)

LW2254 Commercial Law (10 credits)
LW3316 Financial Services Law and Regulation (5 credits)
LW3345 Company Law I: Fundamental Concepts and Doctrines (5 credits)
LW3346 Company Law II: Management, Finance and Insolvency (5 credits)
LW3347 Contemporary Issues in Corporate Law (5 credits)
LW3368 Principles of Revenue Law (5 credits)
LW3369 Income Tax Law (5 credits)
Students may not choose a module from List B if they have already taken that module or equivalent subject matter at undergraduate level or if it involves a timetable clash.

It may be that not all modules listed above will be offered each year and/or other options may become available.

In order to ensure a reasonable distribution of workload, when choosing modules for all programmes, students should take a balance of credits between Semester 1 and Semester 2. Students who wish to deviate from this rule must seek permission from their Programme Director.

Examinations

Full details of regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2022/2023 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2022/2023.

Presentation of Dissertation/Submission Dates The dissertation must be submitted for examination at the Winter Board, on a date in September to be specified by the School of Law at the commencement of the programme.

Exit Award: Postgraduate Certificate in Law and Technology (NFQ Level 9, Minor Award) Upon successful completion of taught modules to the value of 30 credits that meet the requirements of the Postgraduate Certificate in Law and Technology students may opt not to proceed with the programme and exit with a Postgraduate Certificate in Law and Technology.

Exit Award: Postgraduate Diploma in Law (Intellectual Property and e-Law) (NFQ Level 9, Major Award) Upon successful completion of taught modules to the value of 60 credits, registered LLM (Intellectual Property and e-Law) students may opt not to proceed with the programme and exit with a Postgraduate Diploma in Law (Intellectual Property and e-Law).

Modules

Further details on the modules listed above can be found in our Book of Modules. Any modules listed above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.

University Calendar

You can find the full academic content for the current year of any given course in our University Calendar.

To be accepted on this course you must be approved by the School of Law and must normally:

hold a law degree with Second Class Honours Grade I (NFQ, Level 8);

have such other relevant third level educational qualifications and/or professional experience as, in the opinion of the School of Law, qualify you under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to undertake the LLM (Intellectual Property and e-Law) degree;

If you are an overseas candidate you are welcome to apply, and your qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis as above. Non-EU applicants should contact the International Education Office by email at internationalpostgrad@ucc.ie for application details.

English Language Requirements
Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Please visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.

For applicants with qualifications completed outside of Ireland
Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.

International/Non-EU Applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.

In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.

The closing date for non-EU applications is 30 June 2023

How Do I Apply
1. Check Dates: Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the fact file boxes at the top of the page.

For Irish and EU applicants we operate a rounds system and you can check the rounds closing dates here.
Note that not all our programmes are subject to the rounds system so check the opening and closing dates for your specific programme in the fact file boxes above.

2. Gather Documents: Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal and include:

Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
Any supplementary items requested for your course if required.

3. Apply Online: Apply online via the UCC online application portal. Note the majority of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.

Any questions? Use our web enquiry form to contact us.

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)
Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following:

You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.

In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.

Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.

Please enter the names and email addresses of 2 referees.

You will be examined by continuous assessment throughout the year and your dissertation must be submitted in September. Individual module assessments can be viewed in the Book of Modules.

Credits
Students complete 90 credits over 12 months full-time or 24 months part-time. Students take 60 credits of taught modules and a dissertation on a subject of their choice in the area of IP and/or E-Law as approved by their supervisor. The dissertation is worth 30 credits and is normally 15,000 words in length

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time.

Start Date 7 September 2020

Skills and Careers Information
Graduates of the LLM in Intellectual Property and e-Law have excellent legal research and writing skills. They can pursue careers as solicitors, barristers or in-house lawyers, as well as other roles in technology businesses or in the public sector.