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Interior of a legal court with two long curved desks facing each other

International Law and Social Justice LLM

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Intro

Our postgraduate course in International Law and Social Justice will expand the knowledge of those wishing to have a specialist working knowledge of the justice, international trade, charity and NGO sectors.

The emphasis of this course is to develop critical thinking and the application of theoretical knowledge on legal practice. Your study will also take a unique view of the law as it relates to health care through the prism of human rights along with modules on corporate crime and justice as well as a deeper exploration of international human rights and the law of international trade.

Experienced lecturers will support you to develop your skills of critical thinking and legal and interdisciplinary discourse and will also feature guest talks. You are encouraged to join extracurricular activities such as mooting, client interviewing and pro bono work to encourage you to develop skills in legal research, problem solving, critical analysis and communication.

You will also have the opportunity for a trip to the European Court of Human Rights and access to Amicus US death penalty training which will support your study of international law and human rights.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

Full-time 1 year
Part-time 2 years

January and September start dates

Find out about postgraduate events

Apply online

Please review the entry requirements carefully and if you have any questions do get in touch with us.

Apply now for your place

Course content

Course structure

This course is taught full-time (two days a week)  or part-time (one day a week).

Semester 1

  • International Human Rights and Social Justice 
  • Law and Policy of International Trade, Enterprise and the Environment 

Semester 2

  • Human Rights and Healthcare
  • Corporate Crime and Justice

Semester 3

  • Dissertation or Street Law 

Teaching will be delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops. You will be assessed through written and oral assessment. 

Students joining the course without an honours degree in law will need to complete a module on the English legal system before starting the course. Teaching for this module starts in the second week of September. 

This will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to embark on the remainder of your legal studies. 

Students talking in the front of a lecture room

Syllabus 

Legal System, Method and Skills (for non-law degree students)
You will learn about the sources, personnel and structure of the English legal system; civil and criminal processes; access to justice; the impact of the Human Rights Act 1998 on the English legal system.

International Human Rights and Social Justice
You will examine key documents on national, regional and international human rights with strong links to social justice such as refugee law; social and economic rights; access to justice and wrongful convictions.

Law and Policy of International Trade, Enterprise and the Environment
Providing you with an in-depth knowledge of international trade, enterprise and environmental law through the lens of social justice and corporate social justice.

Topics will focus on those with strong links to social justice and responsible enterprise, such as trade and the environment, business and human rights, ethical investing, international labour rights and sustainable development.

Human Rights and Healthcare
This module examines the national regulation of the medical practice and theoretical arguments on rights. Including the use of conceptual rights within the profession and how these rights might be qualified and defined.

Corporate Crime and Justice
Examining crimes committed by transnational corporations and how the governments of the world can hold them to account. The topic list will prioritise areas that have strong links to social justice and corporate social responsibility such as pollution; corporate manslaughter; the power of civil society; corruption and land grabbing.

Dissertation
The final project involves researching for and writing a 15,000-word dissertation on an area of law that you are particularly interested in. 

Topics may include: 

  • assisted suicide
  • breach of duty in medical negligence 
  • commercial surrogacy 
  • legal issues in biomedicine - human embryo research and gene therapy
  • duty of care owed to mentally ill prisoners.

Street Law
You will work with community groups on a particular issue and present your conclusions to a charity or group working in that area in an effort to promote public legal awareness.

For example students could be tasked with presenting the law relating to homelessness; housing; wrongful convictions; climate justice or gender-based discrimination.

Practical legal experience

Essentially learning by doing, our clinical legal education programme will provide you with many opportunities to apply the law in practical situations through projects and working within our pro-bono Brighton Legal Clinic.

Many of our initiatives also fulfil SQE qualifying work experience requirements.

CLOCK Legal Companion Scheme
The university is part of the CLOCK Time for Justice scheme. Students volunteer in the Brighton Family and County courts and assist litigants in person by accompanying them into hearings; helping them to fill in court forms and signposting to our legal and charitable partners.

As well as enabling you to gain unique court experience, you will develop essential skills through assisting clients on many issues and build on links with local law firms.

Negotiating
Negotiation is a key lawyer skill – many legal disputes do not end up in the courts, but instead are resolved by some form of negotiated agreement. Our negotiation programme is an opportunity to prepare for a negotiation, and to apply and practise your negotiation skills.

The programme is sponsored by solicitors’ firms who judge the final competition and the top teams go on to represent the University of Brighton at the national negotiation competition sponsored by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution.

 

Client interviewing
Our client interviewing skills programme enables students to develop the essential skill of interviewing clients, a key component of legal work. The programme culminates in an internal competition, sponsored by a local law firm, and the winning students proceed to represent the university in the national Law Society competition.

In 2016, two of our Law with Business students, Fionnuala Richardson and Chloe Chatton, won the national competition and went on to represent England and Wales in the international competition in Canada, finishing third in the world.

Brighton Legal Clinic
Participate in the client-facing commercial and employment law pro bono law clinic offering free legal advice to small businesses and employees and assisting charities and not-for-profit organisations with their legal matters.

Learning support

Our supportive learning environment includes an induction programme and specialist diagnostic tools to assess your learning strengths and needs. You will also be assigned a personal academic tutor to support you through your studies.

We also provide free language and support services throughout for international students.

Online learning tools and libraries also ensure academic journals, e-books, business articles and other resources are available to you 24/7, both for use at the university and at home.

Facilities
You will have access to online legal research services, such as Westlaw, Lexis Library and HeinOnline. These online resources can be accessed both on and off campus.

We also have an outstanding library which houses the tools of the lawyers’ trade: primary sources of law such as statutes and cases, and secondary sources such as books, periodicals and journals.

Other student support services include the university’s careers centre, the welfare service and chaplaincy.

Magazines on a table

Law societies

Student Law Society
The Student Law Society is a thriving community of over 150 law students. With support from the Students’ Union, it organises an exciting schedule of social and educational events and offers excellent opportunities for personal development and for networking with other students interested in a career in law.

Members have recently enjoyed visits to Lewes Crown Court, Brighton Magistrates Court and the Houses of Parliament. Social events have included paintballing, go-karting, surfing, a Christmas Ball at the Brighton Hilton Metropole, and a trip with law students from other universities to Amsterdam.

Student Mooting Society 
The Mooting Society has a thriving membership of over 120 students. The society provides workshops, guest speakers, socials, trips and competitions to help build members' confidence and adversarial skills that are increasingly essential in any career path in the legal sector.

The objective of the mooting competitions is to develop the research and advocacy skills of future practitioners. Students argue both sides of a fictitious legal case in a court room setting in front of a panel of judges.

Law students giving a group presentation

Staff profile 

Claire-Michelle Smyth

Dr Claire-Michelle Smyth, BA, LLB, LLM, PGCert, PhD, is your course leader. Claire-Michelle graduated with a PhD from Queens University Belfast where her research centred on social and economic rights and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Claire-Michelle’s main interests are in equity and trusts, and human rights law. She has published extensively in this area and regularly attends national and international conferences discussing her research. 

Find out more about Claire-Michelle.

Claire-Michelle Smyth

Jack Thompson

Dr Jack Thompson, LLB, LLM, PGCHE, FHEA, has been with the University of Brighton since August 2018 and teaches LLB Law of Torts, LLB Legal Research Project and LLB Healthcare Law and Ethics and is also undergraduate law course leader.

Jack has an Law LLB(Hons) from the University of Westminster and has an LLM in Legal Aspects of Medical Practice from Cardiff University. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has a PGCert in Higher Education from the University of Westminster.

Jack was awarded his PhD from the University of Westminster in April 2016. His thesis, entitled Law, Rights and Reproduction: Reproductive Autonomy in Ethical Rationalism, is concerned with the role of morality in law and family planning services. Before joining the university Jack worked at the University of Westminster where he was a lecturer in law.

Jack’s main research interests concern the law, moral philosophy, healthcare and autonomy. He has published numerous articles and contributions to journals on these topics and more.

Jack Thompson

Brontie Maria Ansell

Brontie Maria Ansell, LLB LLM FHEA is a senior lecturer in law at the University of Brighton and a non-practicing solicitor. She has been with the University of Brighton for five years and teaches undergraduate and postgraduate Land Law and Justice and Practice.

Brontie Maria established the University of Brighton Pro Bono Legal Clinic which, under the supervision of law school staff, provides students with the opportunity to offer free legal advice and support to members of the local public who are neither eligible for legal aid nor have the funds to pay for advice.

Brontie Maria has a first-class honours LLB Law with Management and LLM Rights and Responsibilities in Law from University of Sussex and spent time there as an Associate tutor. She has also spent time in legal practice as a solicitor.

Brontie Maria’s main research interests concern feminist legal studies, rights and responsibility, property and ownership and clinical legal education. She has published articles and contributions to journals on these topics and more.

Brontie Maria Ansell

How this course is delivered

How will my course be taught?
For the academic year that starts in September 2022 we’re planning for all students to be taught face-to-face on campus, enhanced by some online learning.

Students who started their course with us in 2021 are on campus for some face-to-face learning including tutorials, workshops, laboratory classes and studio sessions. They are also taking part in off-campus learning activities such as placements, field trips and study visits. And all of our campus facilities – libraries, learning spaces, restaurants, gyms and more are open.

Like all universities we are following government guidance and we are monitoring the pandemic very closely. Should Public Health advise it we have robust plans in place for additional safety measures to be introduced to enable everyone to continue learning on campus, and, as a last resort, for students to continue their learning remotely.

We will update you regularly on our teaching plans for the next academic year as you progress your application with us.

When does my course start?
The 2022 academic year begins on Monday 26 September 2022. Teaching for most courses starts the following week.

Many education courses, some health science courses including Medicine, and some postgraduate business courses have an earlier start date. Check your offer letter for the start date of your course.

Careers

Career prospects

Students graduating from this course will be in a position to continue onto vocational training courses enabling them to work in the legal profession or to go into careers for NGOs, the Law Commission or charities.

The good communication, problem-solving, analytical and research skills developed during your law degree are needed not only by the legal profession but also are relevant to many alternative careers. Graduates may seek careers in areas such as banking, insurance and Civil Service.

The School of Business and Law has strong links with the local legal profession and encourages you to complete vacation placements with solicitors’ firms, mini pupillages with barristers’ chambers and internships with other institutions.

Recent Law graduates have joined companies in roles such as:

  • Alpha Shindara Legal, Legal Secretary
  • Aston Bond, Solicitor
  • Bennett Griffin, Trainee Solicitor
  • Bernard Chill & Axtell Solicitors, Trainee Solicitor
  • Blake Morgan LLP, Litigation Paralegal
  • BlueBay Asset Management, Compliance Intern
  • Carmelite Chambers, Barrister
  • Financial Ombudsman Service, Adjudicator
  • Fox William, Trainee Solicitor
  • G2 Legal, Junior Consultant
  • Howlett Clarke, Legal Assistant
  • Mayo Wynne Baxter, Paralegal
  • Nationwide, Fraud Analyst
  • Turpin Miller, Solicitor

Work related experience

JobTeaser
We are one of the first UK universities to use JobTeaser, a new online placements system presenting placement options in the UK and Europe. It gathers together all the job opportunities, events and resources you need to help you with your professional development.

Placement and recruitment events
Placement fairs are held twice a year involving companies from well-known names such as Enterprise-Rent-a-Car, Nike, BMW and IBM, through to smaller and more local businesses.

Careers advice

Our careers service provides help and advice from the very start of your studies, on subjects including careers counselling sessions, CV checking, mock interviews and advice on setting up your own business. 

Mentoring – Momentum is our award-winning mentoring scheme. It pairs students with professionals who wish to share their experience. Students and their mentors meet regularly to exchange ideas. The scheme helps students to develop new skills and enhance their career prospects.

Students at Placement Fair

Starting your own business

Beepurple is the university’s entrepreneurship support network. They offer free support for any student or graduate with their business ideas, freelance plan or social enterprise project.

Beepurple run events throughout the academic year, designed to equip you with skills that will improve your employability and help you grow a successful business. 

By taking part in beepurple activities, you will meet like-minded people, hear how other recent graduates have set up their own businesses and gain key enterprise skills that will help you stand out from the crowd.

beepurple-logo

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer for this course if you wish to begin studying with us in 2022. They should be used as a general guide. 

  • You must have obtained a good honours law degree at 2:2 or above from a UK or Republic of Ireland institution. Non-law honours degrees will be considered on an individual basis.
  • Applicants without a UK or Republic of Ireland degree must hold a qualification in law which is at least equivalent to a good honours law degree at 2:2 or above awarded by a UK university.
  • If you can demonstrate relevant work experience your application will be considered on an individual basis.
  • Prospective students without a degree in law will be required to successfully complete a pre-course module in Legal Systems, Methods and Skills.
  • You must also display strong analytical and written skills and a motivation to study law.

English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

International students whose language skills do not match the IELTS scores set out here should consider applying for this course through our Extended Masters programme.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language centre

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time)9,700 GBP

International (full-time)14,270 GBP


Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included, while studying a course in the School of Business and Law in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

  • Students who choose to take an optional placement will have travel and living expenses. The cost of this depends on where and how long your placement is.
  • Some courses include optional field trips for which the school pays – you may incur minimal costs such as for food and drink and should budget up to £15.
  • Textbooks are available from the university library (many as e-books) but you may wish to budget up to £200 to buy your own copies.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2022–23.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus and student village. Over the last four years Moulsecoomb has undergone a major transformation, planned with accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability in mind.

Over 900 students live here in our halls, Moulsecoomb Place and the new Mithras halls – Brunswick, Goldstone, Hanover, Preston and Regency.

On campus you’ll find professional-standard facilities and learning resources for all of our subjects and a brand new academic building Elm House, alongside the library, student centre, fitness facilities and the Students’ Union.

Moulsecoomb has easy access to buses and trains and to all the exciting things happening in our home city.

Two people walking past Mithras halls

Accommodation

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students who apply by 30 June.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton in the city centre, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

  • You'll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
  • Moulsecoomb campus is linked to Moulsecoomb Place, Mithras halls and Varley Park. All halls are self-catered.
    • Varley Park offers a mix of rooms. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.
    • Moulsecoomb Place halls are all self-catered and are located right on campus.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Halls

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Park

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Students eating at the Hub

Students eating at the Hub

Local area

About Brighton

The city of Brighton & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

Brighton is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy - as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

Loading maps...

Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more.

Students talking in a social area

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Cricket Academy

New for September 2023, our Cricket Academy offers aspiring players the opportunity to continue their cricket development alongside studying for a degree. The programme offers a world-class training environment with the highest quality coaching.

Find out more about the Cricket Academy.

Students playing frisbee

Stay in touch

Find out about postgraduate events

School of Business and Law
01273 642162
business@brighton.ac.uk

Find out more about what students do at School of Business and Law by subscribing to our blog.

Read more about studying law at Brighton by subscribing to our Student Law Society's blog. 

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