Law - LLM

The programme is designed to prepare you for a career in the 21st century workplace, where employers seek adaptable and outward-looking critical thinkers. To this end, the LLM (Master of Laws) offers a range of modules that goes beyond black-letter, formulaic legal study: the programme embraces a socio-legal methodology and has a European and international orientation.



Students can choose to specialise in a particular area of law or can pursue a more general degree (see section below for programme structure and module choice).



Programme Structure and Content

The LLM (Master of Laws) at DCU is delivered as a one-year, full-time programme and also as a two year part-time programme. You’ll be on-site for timetabled classes for two or three days a week in each semester (depending on the individual student’s module choice): 12 weeks before and 12 weeks after Christmas.



Most students are on campus throughout the week: working on assignments, contributing in School research seminars, etc. To complete the program, you’re required to write a research dissertation, to be drafted in the summer period. In preparation for the dissertation, you’ll have regular supervision meetings as well as occasional collective dissertation initiatives (some students work off site for much of the summer period and are free to do so).



There are two obligatory modules: Legal and Socio-Legal Research Skills and the independent research Dissertation (15,000-20,000 words). Along with these modules, you’ll take five optional modules from among those on offer; two in the first semester, and three in the second semester (late January-April).



Programme Aims and Objectives

To facilitate students analysing key issues in modern European business law

To create an authentically postgraduate and scholarly orientation with genuine intellectual depth through a small-group seminar model that promotes more intensive lecturer-student interaction

To make graduates better problem-solvers, critical thinkers, and more confident advocates, thus preparing them for careers in law, policy and business.

Mandatory Modules

Legal and Socio-Legal Research Skills

Dissertation



Options

Semester 1

Contemporary Legal Issues in Commercial Practice

Law, Ethics and the Person

EU Institutional Law

EU Competition Law and Policy

Judges and Judging

Principles of Public International Law

International Law and Conflict



Semester 2

European Employment Law

Climate Change Law

EU Banking and Finance Law

Race, Minorities and Indigenous in International Law

EU Trade Law and Policy

European and International Human Rights Law



All optional modules will be offered, subject to staff availability and student demand in any year.

Requirements

For admission to the LLM programme, successful applicants will have -

• Normally have achieved a Second Class Honours Grade One (H2.1) in a primary degree (level 08) in law or an interdisciplinary degree which includes law as a significant component.

• Applicants who have not achieved a H2.1 may apply but applications will be assessed on a competitive basis.

• If an applicant has not yet completed their degree, then a conditional offer may be made on the basis of most recent grades and pending the achievement of no less than a H2.2 degree.

• Applicants with appropriate combinations of professional qualifications and experience may also be considered. This includes discipline-specific knowledge and know-how; transferable skills; basic research competency; personal effectiveness.

• International candidates who are non-native speakers of English must satisfy the University of their competency in the English language.

Application deadlines

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the programme is full or until the following dates:



Closing date for non EU applicants is 1st July 2024

Closing date for EU applicants is 31st July 2024

Note applicants who require a study visa for the purposes of studying at DCU, are advised to apply as early as possible.

All entry requirements should be met before the commencement of the programme.



Application Queries

For EU applicant queries, please visit https://www.dcu.ie/registry/eu-postgraduate-taught-admissions

or email postgraduateadmissions@dcu.ie



For non EU applicant queries, please visit https://www.dcu.ie/registry/international-admissions-undergraduate-and-postgraduate

or email internationaladmissions@dcu.ie



All Applicants must apply through DCU's Student Application Portal - view Application Weblink above.



• Provide Academic Transcripts for each and every year of study with English translation if applicable.



• If applicable, provide evidence of competence in the English language as per DCU entry requirements. Please see link https://www.dcu.ie/registry/english.shtml



Please note if you are a non EU student and require a study visa, you are not eligible to apply for part-time programmes as study visas are only granted for full-time programmes.

DC662: 1 year full-time

DC661: 2 years part-time

The programme commences in September 2024

Careers

Our graduates have established careers in the legal professions (including the bar), academia and research (including a high proportion in funded PhD programmes and research positions), as well as NGOs, advocacy, civil service and public administration.



With its internationalist orientation, the LLM programme caters well for those interested in access to or promotion within careers in international and European institutions.



The programme is designed to make graduates better problem-solvers and more confident advocates: thus it prepares graduates for work as in-house lawyers in companies and organisations, as well as in higher level civil service positions.



Potential Careers:

The legal professions

Academia or research careers

NGOs and advocacy

Civil service and public administration

European and international organisations