Postgraduate Studentships - Search for funding opportunities.
Postgraduate Studentships - Search for funding opportunities.
If you are currently studying a law-based bachelor’s degree you may be interested in moving to the next level and achieving an LLM qualification. If you are interested in taking the next step here is a quick guide to study a Masters of Laws.
An LLM is a law based qualification which is called a master of laws. LLM stands for ‘Legum Magister’ which is latin for masters of laws. This is a well-established programme which results in a postgraduate qualification.
You do not need an LLM to practice law as it is a nonprofessional qualification. If you choose to study a Masters of Laws it allows you to focus on a particular area of law which is not available at a bachelors level.
There is a wide array of LLM courses available including general areas of study. However, most students find that after they have completed a bachelor's degree they have a particular area of interest. Common LLM subjects are:
An LLM is an academic qualification not a professional one. It is not a requirement to practice law but it does equip you with knowledge and allows you to specialise in a particular area of study. This additional knowledge and qualification increases your employability as it demonstrates competency at a postgraduate level.
An LLM is often the next step students take after undertaking their law degree. It puts them on a path to a postgraduate qualification.
If you want to become a Solicitor, and practice law in England & Wales then from this year changes have been introduced. The Solicitor’s Regulatory Authority (SRA) is the body that assesses candidates through qualifying examinations. These are known as the SQE.
Up to this September 2021, if a student wanted to qualify as a Solicitor they had to take a qualifying law degree (the undergraduate LLB) and then complete a Legal Practice Courses and undergo two years of work-based training.
The new route that has been introduced means you don’t need to have completed a qualifying law degree or the LPC. Instead, prospective Solicitors will need to have a degree in any subject and have passed the new SQE plus a period of work-based training.
There are many funding options available for those looking to study a master of laws. Scholarships are often the most desired route of funding as they don’t have to be repaid.
Some law schools have a limited number of scholarships available for LLM students but these are highly fought for. Bursaries and loans are also widely available.
Having an LLM under your belt is appealing to employers as it demonstrates your ability and increases your knowledge in a focused area of law. Even if you don’t want to practice law as a Solicitor, employers value the knowledge and skills that students build up when they take an LLM.
A lot of the core content of an LLM is very valuable in business or in the public sector. You can quick guide to study a Masters of Laws
Compare LLM degrees on Masters compare or look for study funding opportunities on Postgraduate Studentships. If you need more information than this quick guide to study a Masters of Laws check our advice section.
