LLM International Commercial and Economic Law SOAS University of London

Mode of Attendance: Full-time or Part-time

The SOAS LLM in International Commercial and Economic Law is designed for law graduates and practising lawyers who would like to acquire in-depth knowledge of the commercial world. Whether you want to join a commercial law firm or become an in-house counsel at a multinational company, or just want to know more about international commercial and economic law, this programme will provide you with the necessary knowledge to achieve your potential.

Why SOAS?

This programme examines commercial and economic law from an international and comparative perspective. It explores the legal, political and social aspects of commercial and economic law in the common and civilian law systems and covers the developed and developing worlds. It provides students with a solid understanding of the legal context within which multinational enterprises operate and the dynamics of international trade. Similarly, it offers an opportunity to develop a critical awareness of international investment law, intellectual property, the law of Islamic finance and settlement of international commercial disputes. The modules are taught by leading scholars in the field and guest lectures are delivered by experienced practitioners.

Why You?

This programme is ideal for LLB graduates or legal professionals with an interest in the theory and practice of commercial law. You will join an international body of SOAS alumni many of whom are now working in international commercial law firms, as in-house counsel at some of the major multinational companies, in policy or in academia.

Please note that the International Commercial and Economic LLM programme is restricted to applicants who hold an LLB. If you do not hold an LLB but are interested in pursuing a master’s degree in law at SOAS, please see details of the MA.

Structure

Students must take modules to a total value of 180, consisting of a dissertation (60 credits) and 120 credits of taught modules. Taught modules are worth either 15 or 30 credits.

Students who wish to graduate with a specialised LLM are required to take at least 60 credits associated with his or her specialised LLM, a further 30 credits within the School of Law (General Law Postgraduate Taught Module List), and a final 30 unit which can either be taken within the School of Law or from the Language Open Options or Non-Language Open Options pages with the LLM Programme Convenor’s permission. The dissertation topic will be undertaken within the LLM specialisation.

Please note: Not all modules listed will be available every year.

Dissertation

Dissertation (12,000 words), on a topic related to the specialism of the degree.

• LLM Dissertation in Law

Taught Component

• Multinational Enterprises and the Law I
• Multinational Enterprises and the Law II

Guided Option

Choose modules from the List A below to the value of 60 credits.

and

• Choose a module(s) from the List A or General Law PGT Options below to the value of 30 credits.

and

• Choose a module(s) from the List of General Law PGT Options below or from Postgraduate Open Options to the value of 30 credits.

*subject to approval from LLM convenor & module convenor. Includes language modules.

List A (Specialism Modules)

• International Commercial Arbitration
• Intellectual Property Law (PG)
• Islamic Law in Global Financial Markets
• International Investment Law
• Business and Human Rights in the Global Economy
• Comparative Company Law

General Law Options

• Gender, Law and Society in The Middle East and North Africa
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Gender, Sexuality and Law: Selected Topics
• Gender, Sexuality and Law: Theories and Methodologies
• Human Rights and Islamic Law
• International Commercial Arbitration
• International Human Rights Clinic
• International Investment Law
• Islamic Law (MA/LLM)
• Law and Development in Africa
• Law and Society in Southeast Asia
• Law and Society in the Middle East and North Africa
• Law, Rights & Social Change
• Preliminary Law, Legal Reasoning and Legal Methods
• International Migration Law
• International Refugee Law
• Law and Society in South Asia
• Mapping International Law in London: International Legal Geography in the Capital of Empire
• Law, Environment and Social Justice
• Law and Justice in Contemporary China
• Climate Change Law and Policy
• Colonialism, Empire and International Law
• Comparative Constitutional Law
• Foundations of International Law
• Human Rights of Wome
• International Criminal Law
• International Protection of Human Rights
• Justice, Reconciliation and Reconstruction in Post Conflict Societies
• Law and Natural Resources
• Law and Policy of International Courts and Tribunals
• Law and Postcolonial Theory
• Islamic Law in Global Financial Markets
• Israel, Palestine, and International Law (30Cr)
• Multinational Enterprises and The Law
• The Law of Armed Conflict
• The Law of International Trade and/or Financial Regulation
• Water Justice: Rights, Access and Movements (Law)
• Intellectual Property Law (PG)
• Human Rights of Women
• Law and Global Commons
• International Environmental Law I
• International Environmental Law II
• Water and Development: Commodification, Ecology and Globalisation (Law)
• Multinational Enterprises and the Law I
• Multinational Enterprises and the Law II
• Business and Human Rights in the Global Economy
• Comparative Company Law
• Israel, Palestine and International Law
• Palestine, Resistance, and the Law
• Alternative Dispute Resolution I
• Alternative Dispute Resolution II
• International laws on the use of force
• Gender, Armed Conflict and International Law

Note: all PGT School of Law modules, unless explicitly restricted to MA or MRES students, should be available to LLM students.

Open Options Note
Open options will need the approval of deputy PG programme convenor (LLM or MA).

Important notice

The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session.