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