LLM in International Commercial Law University of Limerick

The programme will be particularly attractive to law graduates who wish to develop a specialisation in commercial law, and especially an ability to understand and apply commercial law in multi-jurisdictional scenarios. The programme will enhance the career prospects of graduates, those starting careers in the legal professions, legal advisers to commercial entities and any lawyers whose work will involve cross border commercial relations.

Why choose the LLM in International Commercial Law

The Law School

The School of Law is a department of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. It is located on the ground floor of the Foundation Building.

The Law School also has a long tradition of committing ourselves to develop the transferrable skills of students through projects such as Advanced Lawyering and Moot Court, and through cutting edge core modules such as Alternative Dispute Resolution. All of these initiatives promote ‘big picture’ holistic thinking, and can explicitly enhance student soft skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, communication, teamwork, planning, critical thinking and human relations skills. In combination with our compulsory clinical education initiatives, they provide an integrating impulse –promoting a sense of coherence across particular programmes of study and facilitating students in understanding how their learning applies in particular contexts. It is not surprising therefore that our graduates have ended up as partners in major law firms, as partners in major accounting firms, at the bar, in senior roles in government departments, NGOs, at the EU, in academia, and in private industry.

Postgraduate students also benefit from this research expertise, whether they decide to enrol in a general LLM or specialist LLM (LLM International Commercial Law, Human Rights in Criminal Justice or European and Comparative Law), or undertake a research postgraduate degree as part of our significant doctoral cohort of students.

The School is also strongly committed to working with the practising legal profession, government departments, NGOs, and other relevant stakeholders across all disciplines of law. We have developed particularly strong working relationships with An Garda Síochána and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. We have also fostered strong international links and it is possible for our students to undertake placements in Canada and the US. Our students can also spend a full academic year in a European university in Malta, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, and the Netherlands. We also have links with universities in Germany, France and Spain where subjects are taught through the native language. We have a very vibrant international student body in the Law School. A recent International Student Survey, which involved over 5000 International students currently studying across the seven Irish Universities, voted UL as the number one University in providing the best student experience, the best student support and the warmest welcome in Ireland. UL is also among the top 100 Erasmus host universities according to the latest statistics released by the EU Commission.

Why Choose the LLM in International Commercial Law?

The LLM in International Commercial Law has been a very successful programme since its inception, with, on average, over 88% of graduates finding employment within a year of graduation. The programme will be particularly attractive to law graduates who wish to develop a specialisation in commercial law, and especially an ability to understand and apply commercial law in multi-jurisdictional scenarios.

The LLM in International Commercial Law immerses the post-graduate student in more detailed aspects of commercial law, as well as developing broadly applicable legal research and other transferable skills. The emphasis is on those areas of law, such as credit and security, intellectual property and competition law, which are critical to the operation of any commercial enterprise in the modern world. The programme also takes account of the increasing internationalisation of commerce with modules in global competition law and international trade organisations. This international focus of the programme provides opportunities for graduates to find employment, not just in Ireland, but in many other jurisdictions.

Choose from a wide range of modules including:

• Law of International Trade Organisations
• Law of International Business Associations/Corporate Governance
• Global Competition Law
• International Protection of Intellectual Property
• Counter-Terrorism Law and International Business

Graduate Profile

The LLM in International Commercial Law attracts students from China, Germany, India and many other jurisdictions. The programme allows the students to specialise in Commercial law and do develop legal English and commercial English which dominate the world of commerce. International students react positively to UL and to the programme.

Programme Content

This degree can be taken on a full time, twelve-month basis, or a part-time twenty four-month basis. Full-time students complete the programme over a period of twelve months by taking four modules in both the autumn and spring semesters, before completing a dissertation during the summer semester. Part-time students complete the programme over a 24 month period by taking two modules in both the autumn and spring semesters of each year, before completing a dissertation in the summer semester of the second year. The module selection for each semester will be by agreement with the Course Director.

The topic for a student’s dissertation is determined during the spring semester, supervised by a faculty member, and submitted at the end of the summer semester.

Semester 1

• LA6001 Advanced Legal Research Skills
• LA6031 Law of International Trade Organisations
• LM6021 International Business Associations
• LM6011 International Business Transactions

Semester 2

• Dissertation Methodology

3 Electives from

• LA6032 Global Competition Law
• LA6022 Counter-Terrorism Law & International Business
• LA6112 International Protection of Intellectual Property Rights
• LA4062 International Labour Law
• LA6102 Law of Credit and Security
• LA6072 International Tort Law and Business

Semester 3

• Dissertation

Where a student wishes to complete the Masters over a two-year period of part-time study, two modules will be taken in each of four semesters followed by a 15,000-word dissertation. The module selection will be by agreement with the Course Director.