Kara Sears
A Master of Laws, or LLM, is a postgraduate law degree that allows students to gain deeper insight into specific areas of law. While some institutions require applicants to have a law degree or extensive relevant experience, others accept non-law students. The LLM is not a qualifying law degree, but it can provide valuable insights into the legal profession and help students gain specialised legal skills. For international students, an LLM can offer exposure to the US or Canadian legal systems and common law legal reasoning.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | Vary from place to place; some require a law degree or vast levels of relevant experience, while others require a high level of professional and academic experience |
| Coursework | Likely to include a dissertation (around 15,000 words) and written assessments; very research-oriented with a lot of independent study |
| Applicant profile | No typical profile, but students without a legal background make up about one-third of the student body |
| Applicant's vision | Applicants should be confident that they want a career in law and know how graduate study in law can help |
| Applicant's experience | Applicants may have worked closely with law departments or lawyers, been involved with drafting or applying policy, examined and assessed legal risks, or contributed to drafting, analyzing, or applying law and regulations |
| Applicant's interests | Applicants should be able to highlight particular areas of law they are interested in studying and explain their past experience with it |
| Applicant's goals | Applicants should understand their academic and career goals |
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What You'll Learn
Entry requirements vary
Entry requirements for an LLM vary from place to place. Some providers require a law degree or vast levels of relevant experience, while others do not. For example, the LLM in Banking and Finance at the University of Law requires an undergraduate degree with a 2:1 minimum, while some other LLMs require students without a law background to demonstrate a high level of professional and academic experience.
In the US, an LLM is typically for those with a JD degree who want additional training in a chosen area, such as tax law or healthcare law, or for those who have earned a law degree outside the US and want to practise in the US. For international students, a strong knowledge of the US or Canadian legal system can be beneficial for global credibility and engaging in international law and legal practice. Foreign-trained lawyers with an LLM can gain training in the US legal system, which is critical for today's globalized legal practice.
In the UK, an LLM is not a qualifying law degree. While it will provide valuable insights into the legal profession, a standard LLM will not provide the skills necessary to pass the SQE exams. However, some providers offer an LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2), with exam prep incorporated into the course.
LLMs are renowned for being very research-oriented, with a lot of independent study. Therefore, it is recommended that students build up their research and writing skills before enrolling on an LLM course.
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LLMs are challenging
Secondly, LLMs are challenging because they require a high level of commitment and passion for the subject matter. The course is intensive and demanding, and without a strong interest in the degree, students may struggle to meet its requirements.
Thirdly, LLMs often have specific entry requirements that can vary across different institutions. Some providers may require a law degree or vast levels of relevant experience, while others may be more flexible and accept non-law students with diverse backgrounds. It is important to carefully review the entry requirements for each LLM program and ensure that you meet the necessary qualifications and experience levels.
Additionally, the skills required for an LLM may be challenging for some. The degree often demands strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. Students also need to be able to manage their time effectively and stay organized, especially with the extensive written assessments and approximately 15,000-word dissertation that is typically required.
Lastly, the specialized nature of LLMs can pose a challenge. While an LLM can help students gain expertise in a particular field of law, it may be difficult for those without a law background to make a fully informed decision about their specialization. Gaining sufficient knowledge of the different areas of law before choosing a specialization can help address this challenge.
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It's not a qualifying law degree
A Master of Laws, or LLM, is a postgraduate law degree that allows students to deepen their knowledge in a specific area of law. While some providers do accept non-law students, others require a law degree or extensive professional and academic experience in a relevant field.
It's important to note that an LLM is not a qualifying law degree. This means that, while it will provide valuable insights into the legal profession, it will not equip you with the skills needed to pass the SQE exams. If you're interested in becoming a lawyer, you should consider that an LLM is not the right path for you.
However, an LLM can still be a valuable asset for non-law students who want to progress into a career in law. It can offer a route into teaching in this field, as well as providing insights into the legal profession. Additionally, for international students, an LLM can offer exposure to new legal systems, common law legal reasoning, and comparative law studies, which can be useful for global credibility and engaging in international law.
If you're considering an LLM, it's crucial to understand your academic and career goals. The entry requirements for LLMs can be very specific and vary from one provider to another. While some may require a minimum undergraduate degree classification, others may have different expectations regarding professional and academic experience.
Ultimately, an LLM is a challenging and prestigious degree that requires a high level of passion and interest. If you are certain that this is the right path for you, there are plenty of providers that may accept non-law students.
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It can help you specialise
An LLM, or Master of Laws, is a postgraduate law degree that allows students to deepen their knowledge in specific areas of law. While some institutions require applicants to have a law degree or extensive relevant experience, others accept non-law students.
Completing an LLM can help you specialise in a particular area of law, making you more valuable to your organisation. For example, Northeastern University's LLM program features three in-demand focus areas: Bar Examination Preparation, Intellectual Property and Technology, and International Business. The University of Law also offers an LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) with exam preparation incorporated into the course.
In some US states, earning an LLM degree may make internationally educated students eligible to take the bar exam. For international students, an LLM can offer exposure to the US or Canadian law systems, common law legal reasoning, and comparative law studies. This can be useful for global credibility, engaging in international law and legal practice, or dealing with North American clients in areas such as business law.
For those who know they want to spend their career in a particular area of law, a specialised LLM can be highly attractive. However, it's important to consider that a formal specialisation could limit career options outside of that specific area of law. An alternative is to choose a general LLM program and focus on preferred areas of law through the selection of appropriate subjects.
An LLM is a challenging degree that requires strong research and writing skills, as well as a high level of passion or interest in the subject matter. It is not a qualifying law degree and will not provide the skills necessary to pass the SQE exams. However, it can provide valuable insights into the legal profession and help keep your skills up-to-date.
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You can gain legal knowledge on the job
While a legal education provides a good foundation for a law career, you can also gain legal knowledge on the job. This is especially true if you have a specific set of legal skills to put your knowledge into practice. For example, you'll need to be able to think creatively and problem-solve, as well as possess knowledge of current developments in local, national, and world business.
Gaining work experience in a commercial organization, such as a law firm, can provide you with legal knowledge. You can also develop legal knowledge by attending careers events, listening to business-related podcasts, and reading business publications. These sources will help you stay up-to-date with current events and business issues, which is essential for understanding your client's needs and providing viable solutions as a lawyer.
In the context of patentability and intellectual property, legal knowledge involves understanding relevant prior art, correct date ranges for searches, types of legal documents, legal status determination, and interpretation of claims. Patent researchers, in particular, need a combination of basic patent legal knowledge and strong information search skills to effectively navigate legal information sources.
For internationally educated students, an LLM degree can provide exposure to the U.S. or Canadian law systems, common law legal reasoning, and comparative law studies. This knowledge can be beneficial for global credibility, engaging in international law, and dealing with North American clients in areas such as business law.
Overall, gaining legal knowledge on the job is possible, but it may be challenging and time-consuming. You will need to be proactive in seeking out opportunities to learn and develop your legal skills, and you may also need to build a strong foundation of independent research and writing skills to keep up with the demands of a legal career.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, it is possible to do an LLM without a law degree. While some providers require a law degree or relevant experience, others accept non-law students. However, it is important to note that an LLM is a challenging and research-intensive degree, and students without a legal background may need to develop their research and writing skills before enrolling.
An LLM, or Master of Laws, allows students to gain specialised knowledge in a specific area of law. For international students, an LLM can provide exposure to the US or Canadian legal system and enhance their credentials for global practice. For US and Canadian JD graduates, an LLM can make them more valuable to their organisations and open up career opportunities in various fields.
The requirements for applying to an LLM program can vary across different institutions. Some programs may require a minimum undergraduate GPA or a certain level of professional and academic experience for non-law students. International students may also need to demonstrate proficiency in English through tests like the TOEFL. It is important to research the specific requirements of the institution and program you are interested in.
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