LLM Master of Laws

This module will enable you to undertake a detailed study of a clearly defined legal or criminal justice topic, issue or problem. It aims to:

• increase knowledge of a selected subject area and develop a greater critical awareness
• present findings in an appropriate form

This module introduces research methodologies available for conducting research in law and criminal justice. It aims to:

• facilitate development of Masters-level technical legal and criminal justice research
• encourage a Masters-level degree of independence and responsibility
• introduce key research methodologies for researching law and criminal justice
• develop the technical research requirements of a Masters dissertation

This module aims to develop your understanding of drug and alcohol use within contemporary society. It deconstructs the drug and alcohol status quo so you can acknowledge the complexities and contradictions that exist within this sphere. It aims to:

• provide a broad critical understanding of the different paradigms and perspectives on substance (mis)use and relevant policy in relation to crime and criminal justice
• set a critical socio-cultural scene for you to build up a comprehensive picture of drug and alcohol use within contemporary capitalist society
• develop your understanding of drug policy and critically consider the rationale and motivations that mould policy developments within this sphere
• develop your knowledge of how drug and alcohol users are responded to within a criminal justice context

This module is designed to examine the social construction of crime. It aims to:

• provide a balance between theoretical perspectives and empirical, practical knowledge about the power imbalances in society
• critically examine the relationship between these imbalances and crime (reported and unreported), as well as the criminal justice system's responses to them
• equip you with the skills required to demonstrate a critical understanding of crimes involving the abuse of social and/or individual power

This module critically evaluates, at an advanced level, the role and function of the prison and probation services in relation to the delivery of state punishment and rehabilitation. It aims to:

• critically reflect on the values and principles that underpin the delivery of contemporary penal policy through the creation of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS)
• scrutinise the extent to which contemporary penal policy and practice actually delivers a more systematic approach to the management of offenders

This module aims to give you a critical, theoretically-informed and socially-orientated grounding in the study of youth justice. It enables you to:

• develop an analytical approach to understanding the treatment and experiences of young people within, and at the hands of, the criminal justice system
• consider the historical basis of the youth justice system and how political influence has played a significant role in the current development of youth justice policy
• critically compare youth justice policy and practice in England and Wales

This module will enable you to gain advanced knowledge of key issues relating to international and comparative criminal justice. It aims to develop advanced:

• knowledge and critical understanding of the theoretical concepts that underpin policy and practice with regard to issues in the delivery and maintenance of International Criminal Justice
• critical awareness of social and political issues which have an impact on the institutions which form part of international-level criminal justice responses and implementation strategies

This module seeks to critically explore the complex and dynamic relationship between policing services/agents and members of the diverse public these organisations serve. It will help you develop a critical appreciation of the historical and conceptual development of modern policing forms, evaluate contemporary policing structures/methods/networks, and explore future challenges for service provision.

This module will:

• introduce you to the basic concepts, institutions and processes of international criminal law
• introduce you to current debates regarding the application of international criminal law
• provide you with an appreciation of contemporary issues of global concern relating to the prosecution of international crimes

This module aims to:

• consider current controversies in international law pertaining to the use of force between states
• provide you with an understanding of legal limitations on methods and means of armed conflict
• explore modern and emerging challenges to the law of armed conflict

The module aims to:

• introduce you to the work of the United Nations in the maintenance and restoration of international peace and security
• develop your understanding of the legal framework which governs the work of the UN in this area

The module aims to:

• introduce you to the basic concepts, institutions and processes of international law
• build knowledge in the themes of crime, justice and security within a global legal context
• provide you with an appreciation of selected contemporary issues of global concern in the context of conceptual themes of crime, justice and security

Introduces students to the basic conceptual, institutional and substantive elements of international human rights law, current debates regarding the interpretation and application of international human rights law.

The module will provide students with critical appreciation of contemporary issues of global and regional concern relating to the interpretation and application of international human rights law.

The module aims to teach the students the various theories on philosophy of history (linear and directional vs. cyclical history; ‘end of history’ theories; Marxist notion of history; recognition of patterns in history, such as, cycles; theory of history as history of ‘civilizations’; Nietzsche’s eternal recurrence theory; decline of the West; Carl Schmitt’s Land vs. Sea dichotomy) and to familiarize the students with the works of the thinkers who developed these theories (Kant, Hegel, Marx, Fukuyama, Popper, Tolstoy, Nietzsche, Huntington, Spengler, Schmitt, Toynbee, Gibbon etc.). The module aims in particular to show the relevance of these theories to international relations (IR) and European integration theory.

IR can indeed be understood in different ways depending on the different conceptions of history; for example, as international ‘class struggle’ (Marxist approach), as ‘clash or encounter of civilizations’ (Huntington, Spengler, Toynbee), as ‘struggle for recognition’ (Fukuyama), as conflict between terrestrial powers and thalassocracies (Schmitt), as ‘eternal recurrence’ of the same patterns and conflicts (Nietzsche). The module will therefore encourage the students to think about IR in combination with a particular conception of history.

The module is relevant to European integration theory. The most important theories on European integration (especially neofunctionalism, but also, although less evidently, liberal intergovernmentalism) adopt a deterministic approach or at least an approach which draws inspiration from historical determinism. Accordingly, European integration theories reveal an underpinning ‘philosophy of history’ that sees integration as an automatic result of certain premises (for example, economic integration as leading necessarily to political integration) and that sees the EU as the most important example of ‘post-historical’ (Fukuyama) and ‘post-political’ entity (Majone). The module will therefore disclose to students a new way to look at European integration theory in combination with a particular conception of history.

This module will give you an overview of the law governing the application of the death penalty in the context of the moral, social, and political questions raised by capital punishment. In discussing the legal principles and policies it offers students a “real world” view of capital litigation.

To provide students to examine the law relating to animals in terms of its ethical, political and practical implications.

This module seeks to develop a critical understanding of the challenges faced in protecting animals in modern day society. The module explores the changing ideas in the area of animal rights and personhood as a backdrop to analysing current areas of animal law development.

This module allows you to critically analyse contemporary legal issues regarding international trade.

This module seeks to introduce you to the intellectual and practical background of corporate governance in the UK and beyond. It aims to:

• provide an awareness and understanding of corporate governance through the critical examination of appropriate theoretical perspectives, models and practices
• examine critically the intellectual, practical and theoretical background to the concept of corporate governance in the UK and other international jurisdictions
• gain an understanding of the legal nature of corporations, their operations and global corporate governance failures and the reasons for such failures
• demonstrate legal and extra-legal solutions to perceived problems with past and present corporate governance regimes
• critically examine proposed future developments in and monitoring of corporate governance

The module allows you to undertake an analysis of the law as it relates to a range of contemporary issues in financial crime. It aims to provide knowledge and understanding:

• of the impact of a range of financial crimes
• plus analysis of attempts to curb financial crime and its impact

This module provides a detailed understanding and analysis of the various laws, regulations and systems applicable to the dispute resolution process. It aims to:

• provide a detailed understanding and analysis of the various laws, regulations and systems applicable to the dispute resolution process
• identify potential risk areas of conflict and develop effective processes, procedures and strategies to limit exposure to disputes arising notably within business, corporate or commercial situations
• increase the ability to create and implement action, highlight practices and manage disputes in both a national and international environment

This module provides an:

• understanding of essential elements of environmental law
• awareness of the impact of environmental issues both nationally and internationally
• understanding of broad theoretical global issues of the relationship between global trade and national regulation
• understanding of the issues relating to companies and businesses from a national and international regulatory perspective

This module aims to:

• review the global nature of international labour regimes and the regulatory mechanism
• investigate the link between international labour law; corporate governance and international trade
• describe each of the rights encompassed by the term international labour and to consider the main legal elements pertinent to each right
• review the operation of international labour regimes through specific industries
• place your study within the broader setting of economic policy and commercial application
• consider the importance of the law, policies and strategies regarding equality

This module aims to:

• introduce the basics of International Maritime Law
• develops a critical understanding of commercial maritime issues and adequacy of the published material in maritime law
• help students consider the adequacy of the current legal structure of the modern maritime contract
• facilitate critical assessment of contemporary issues surrounding the commercial vessel in law

As a business vehicle, the limited company is widely used. One of the reasons for its popularity is its ability to successfully raise business finance and diversify financial risk. All companies need to raise money to function successfully. And it is these issues of money which are the gravamen of international corporate finance law. An understanding of the ways in which companies can raise money, and the manner in which their money-raising activities are regulated, is central to an understanding of how companies function. Students taking this module have the opportunity to participate in wide-ranging but analytically precise discussions of international corporate finance law.

This module aims to introduce students to the core substantive, institutional and conceptual foundations of Foreign Investment Law, as well as the broader economic, political and social implications of international investment Law. It also aims to provide a critical appreciation of the competing interests within the sphere of Investment Law and an introduction to the contemporary issues and debates within Investment Law.

The impact of mergers and acquisition activities affects every corporate constituent, namely shareholders of target and acquiring companies, employees, creditors, directors and managers. In addition, it has an impact on the community, suppliers and national economy.

This module exposes students to the role of acquisitions in promoting corporate value, and looks at how the interests of different stakeholders and national economic development can be affected by acquisitions. Importantly, students benefit from an understanding of how legal regulations can promote mergers and acquisitions activities without stifling market functions relative to the role of managers who pursue acquisitions as investment decisions in business entities.

This module aims to:

• provide you with an appreciation of the nature of the state within international law
• develop an awareness of the causes, consequences and responses to statelessness and the awareness of the challenges posed to the integrity of the state and international laws response to these

The potential/actual insolvency of companies has a bearing on many areas of commercial law. The globalisation of commerce has added to the importance of understanding what makes a good insolvency regime, current approaches to insolvency law issues, and the extent to which it is possible to reconcile differences between national regimes. This course offers students an opportunity to engage with a range of issues that are pertinent to this subject area. Students will analyse theoretical and policy rationale for insolvency law and evaluate practice.