Edinburgh Law School - The University of Edinburgh

This programme aims to equip you with an in-depth understanding of core areas of private law across the two great legal traditions of Europe, common and civil law. It offers you the opportunity to obtain an advanced qualification that is both academically rigorous and professionally beneficial.

Drawing on both the civil and common-law traditions, it combines the comparative study of key areas of private law with the dynamics of European harmonisation initiatives. It is particularly suited to those who have studied a range of private law subjects at undergraduate level, although it is also open to those whose undergraduate law degree has combined other specialisations.... [-]

This innovative programme aims to transcend a narrow focus on legal rules and put the study of corporate law in a wider interdisciplinary and comparative framework.

The portfolio of courses offered on the programme allows you to acquire in-depth knowledge of legal, economic, financial and comparative matters covering the entire life-cycle of a corporation.

You must complete 180 credits of study – 60 credits are taken in the compulsory dissertation and the remaining 120 credits are taken in taught courses.

Courses will be taught in seminars, led by members of the Law School academic community and by experienced legal and business practitioners. In some courses, you will be required to deliver individual or group presentations. Entry to some courses depends upon you having studied the relevant topic at the undergraduate level. You will also undertake a dissertation under the supervision of an academic member of staff.... [-]

This programme offers the ideal opportunity to study contemporary debates in both criminal law and criminal justice at an advanced level.

Our wide portfolio of courses will help you understand the key concepts and theories underpinning criminal law and criminal justice and how they operate in practice.

It is suitable for students who have studied law at the undergraduate level and wish to develop their understanding of criminal justice in particular. It prepares you for further work in this area, whether professional or academic.

You must complete 180 credits of study – 60 credits are taken in the compulsory dissertation and the remaining 120 credits are taken in taught courses.... [-]

This programme provides the momentum for anyone interested in a rewarding career in law, business, politics or policy within the EU, or beyond. In-depth knowledge of EU law has become even more relevant after the recent vote of the UK electorate to leave the EU. EU law is a complex and fascinating subject that weighs ever more heavily on policymaking in the UK, Europe and internationally, which is why in-depth knowledge of European law is vital to any legal career.

The negotiations on the UK’s departure from the EU will raise complex questions with a possible special status for Scotland (or even renewed calls for independence) adding a further layer. Even after a so-called Brexit, EU law will remain relevant to lawyers in the UK not only when they are dealing with pre-Brexit questions, but also because any future EU-UK relationship is likely to be heavily influenced by it. Against that background, the importance of advanced knowledge in EU law to employment in the public and private sectors will only increase.... [-]

This programme is designed to equip you with an advanced, multidisciplinary knowledge of the legal issues and techniques related to environmental protection and the management of natural resources, with special emphasis on climate change.

You will analyze and evaluate the historic and ongoing development of international, European and national law for environmental protection, the interrelations between these different levels of law-making and the interactions between environmental law and other areas of law. You will also choose option courses to complement your legal studies with an analysis of the scientific and socioeconomic aspects of environmental protection.... [-]

This LLM in Information Technology Law focuses on the regulatory framework that governs information technology within international, European and domestic settings.

The programme is highly topical, exploring the second generation – and sometimes even third generation – of regulation that has evolved from the legal framework of the early 2000s. New developments in technology are also a key focus, as these force us to constantly review the very concept of information technology and appropriate legal responses.

Information technology regulation operates across jurisdictions, and a cross-fertilization of regulatory responses occurs at the interface between domestic, regional and international law. Our aim is to enable you to understand this cross-fertilization, to be able to contextualize it and place yourself within it.... [-]

This programme aims to promote advanced knowledge and understanding of the relationships between law, technology, commerce and society in the widest possible sense.

It explores the role of law in responding to, regulating and promoting, new and emerging technologies, and also emphasizes the role of technology in supporting and guiding legal and judicial processes.

The focus of the degree is on the international nature of the subject matter and each course offers a comparative analysis of current legal developments.

This programme offers a range of courses from the fields of technology, communications, IP and medical law with an international perspective, giving you the option to tailor the programme to suit your needs and interests.... [-]

This unique and internationally focused LLM programme explores how the law responds to, regulates, and promotes new and emerging technologies.

Innovative technologies and convergence in technologies are causing unprecedented societal change. New legal issues are arising, and new regulatory responses emerging. The law can help – or hinder – society’s ability to reap the optimal rewards from technological development.

Across the programme, you will study different modes of regulation – the law, the markets, the technology itself – and critically analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each. The potential of technology to support legal and judicial processes is also examined.... [-]

This programme is designed to equip you with an advanced knowledge and understanding of intellectual property law within an international, European and domestic (UK) setting.

The core subjects of the programme cover both substantive intellectual property law and the place and role of intellectual property, not just in its legal context but also in its social, ethical, cultural and commercial contexts. The programme spans patents, copyright, trademarks, designs, database rights, breach of confidence, passing off and sui generis rights, as well as investigating a range of issues which underpin contemporary intellectual property law and policy.

This programme enables you to develop a fully rounded understanding of intellectual property (IP) rights.

The programme aims to equip students with an advanced knowledge and understanding of IP law and policy within a domestic (UK), regional (European) and international context.

The programme covers substantive law on all of the major IP rights, including copyright, designs, trademarks, and patents, as well as confidentiality, passing off, database rights and other IP protection. The programme also addresses the international treaties that govern IP law, legal aspects of commercializing and enforcing IP and a range of topical legal and policy issues.

The legal and regulatory infrastructure and fundamental theoretical concepts underpinning global finance have undergone fundamental changes since 2008. This has had a profound impact on financial law theory and practice as well as on the operation of global finance.

These developments, ranging from ever-evolving finance practices, the impact of technology, and a complex regulatory infrastructure, have created a challenging environment for those who wish to work in the wider field of global banking and finance as industry leaders or policy-makers and regulators.

A successful career in today’s global markets requires an extensive and in-depth knowledge of complex and sophisticated global and domestic finance laws, regulations and practices. This skill set may not be developed without extensive study and a solid understanding of economic and regulatory theories supporting the operation of global finance that extends to the disruptive influence of financial technology.... [-]

This programme aims to provide you with a deeper understanding of how international commercial law operates in practice, with a range of course options that reflect the interests, experience and industry focus of our academic staff.

Globalisation and developments in technology have led to a marked increase in international trade in goods and services, in international investment, and in the development of global financial markets. In parallel, the world of international commerce has seen major growth in the regulation of commercial activity at a national and international level, and in international litigation and arbitration. This LLM aims to help you understand the international context in which business currently operates.... [-]

Since the establishment of the Bretton Woods System in the aftermath of the Second World War, we have seen an extraordinary evolution of international economic relations towards interdependence and integration. Discussions on this process, known as economic globalization, are commonplace.

This programme seeks to provide you with in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of the institutions, rules, and principles of the international economic system, as well as of key legal and policy issues arising from the globalization of the world economy.

The programme structure is designed to ensure that you gain a thorough knowledge and critical understanding of the core branches of international economic law through the compulsory courses while allowing for an individually tailored selection of option courses, depending on your personal interests and future career plans.... [-]

This popular programme offers you a firm foundation in the fundamentals of the international legal system and international relations. It offers you an opportunity to pursue advanced specialist courses according to your personal interests and career plans and is ideally suited to those wishing to specialize in public international law.

You must complete 180 credits of study – 60 credits are taken in the compulsory dissertation and the remaining 120 credits are taken in taught courses.

Courses will be led by members of Edinburgh Law School academic community, who are leaders in their field. You are expected to prepare in advance by reading the required materials and by reflecting on the issues to be discussed, and your participation in classes will be assessed.... [-]

This programme offers an exciting and flexible range of courses, enabling you to tailor the LLM to suit your specific professional and personal needs.

To be effective on the international stage, legal professionals, business people, and policymakers need to understand different legal cultures and ways of operating and communicating within alternative business contexts and regulatory frameworks. This programme provides an ideal learning environment for such individuals to develop the skills and knowledge upon which further study or a relevant career can be built.

The programme spans foundational issues in areas of law, including:

Individual and population health is a matter of growing social concern. Achieving good health and delivering effective healthcare demands innovation. A variety of fields have a role to play, including law.

As a student on this programme, you will examine topics that reflect some of the main contemporary legal and ethical challenges faced by those working in medicine, and place them in their social and historical context. These include issues that arise in the context of genetics, assisted reproduction, abortion, standards of medical treatment, transplantation medicine, mental health, advance decisions, assisted suicide, medical research, and the allocation of scarce resources.... [-]

The LLM in Medical Law and Ethics draws on the expertise and tradition of Edinburgh Law School to deliver an internationally focused, interdisciplinary programme that combines flexible learning with the most up-to-date teaching on all of the important issues affecting medicine, law, and ethics today.

Medical law is a fascinating field of study as advances in medical research and new technologies shift the boundaries of medicine. New health issues are emerging and patient rights are increasingly taking center stage. New and complex medico-legal dilemmas arise in clinical practice, in the realities of human health, and in the relationships between patients and healthcare professionals.... [-]