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Introduction
Introduction
Why choose this course?
Course structure
This course has two modules: Advanced Legal Research Methods (ALRM) and the Dissertation. ALRM will help you to research and write at an advanced level, using legal sources. The module covers research design, researching relevant sources and materials, legal referencing, and citation.
You’ll think deeply about the writing process and the finished work, including how you might present your findings to different audiences. The 2,000-word essay you’ll write at the end of the module is good practise for the Dissertation.
For the Dissertation, you’ll research and write about an aspect of the legal profession in great detail. This is your chance to hone a niche within a niche. If you work in employment law, you might focus on workplace discrimination for example. Your tutor will help you decide what to research.
Overview
Our LLM in Legal Practice provides practising, qualified graduates with an additional qualification. With our legal practice postgraduate degree, you can pursue a speciality with support and advice from expert tutors; reflecting on your experience in your career so far.
The programme recognises your professional achievements and helps you to take them further. Graduates from England and Wales, or countries with a common law heritage, can convert their professional law qualification into a masters degree. Examples of these qualifications include PG Dip in Legal Practice, LPC (Legal Practice Course), BPTC (Bar Professional Training Course).
The course is taught online, so you can balance your learning with your personal and professional commitments. The course is ideal for:
 solicitors
 barristers
 practising lawyers
 those about to enter the legal profession.
Modules
Compulsory modules
Advanced Legal Research Methods
You’ll hone the research and writing skills needed to carry out legal research at an advanced level. These include research design, searching for relevant sources and materials, legal referencing and citation skills. You’ll think about the process of writing, as well as the end product, including presenting findings to different audiences. You’ll consider the distinctive features of legal research and approaches and research methodologies you might use. The work you do in this module gives you excellent preparation for your dissertation.
Final Project
Compulsory modules
Dissertation
Your dissertation of up to 12,000 words is an extended, supervised piece of work on a particular area of legal practice set out in the research project, which you’ll agree on in consultation with your tutors. It’s your opportunity to gain knowledge and insight through sustained research, and to demonstrate your ability to explore and present legal arguments.
Research
Staff from the School of Law carry out advanced research at the international level across a range of topics relevant to legal practice both in the UK and internationally. This includes:
 commissioned work for state bodies
 publications in leading journals in law and cognate disciplines
 scholarly monographs.
We have particular strengths in the law of the small jurisdictions with a common law inheritance, through the Small Jurisdictions Service, and in international law.
Recent student topics have included:
 The regulation of banking in the UK – to split or not to split?
 How can Europe achieve a unified system for the protection of patents?
 Does the established nature of the Church of England provide a model for other faith based jurisdictions?
 How compatible are the powers in the Digital Economy Act 2010 relating to disconnection of internet access for repeat copyright infringers with European Union Law and human rights law?
Entry Criteria
ENTRY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Home Office Share Code
For EU students only.
IF no Qualification
Please provide CV with at least 2 years of work experience, and employee reference letter.
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
Applicants to the programme must have a prior legal vocational qualification, such as the LPC/BPTC or their equivalent.
The legal vocational qualification should normally have been obtained within 5 years of commencement of the LLM (Legal Practice), but currency can be maintained either through continued work in legal practice as a solicitor or barrister or through teaching on a legal professional training course.
Students will be expected to demonstrate the ability to work independently in a self-directed way. As a significant part of the programme involves the application of academic research skills, students will be required to think critically, deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively and evaluate research including current problems and/or new insights.
English language requirements
If your first language is not English you will normally only be admitted to the LLM in Legal Practice if you have reached an overall score of 7.0 (Level 7) of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
The entry requirement for your course will be expressed as an IELTS level and refers to the IELTS Academic version of this test. We are now also accepting the IELTS Indicator test, you can find out more about the test on the IELTS Indication site. The University however does accept a wide range of additional English language qualifications, which can be found below.
The university’s English language requirements in IELTS levels are as follows:
Course IELTS level
All other undergraduate courses 6.0 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Law, Architecture, Interior Architecture, English Literature (including combined honours), English Literature and Creative Writing 6.5 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Health and Social Care courses 6.5 or 7.0 overall with 6.5 or 7.0 in all components (see individual entries for course details)
Nutrition BSc (Hons) 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Built Environment Foundation,
Computing Foundation,
Engineering Foundation 6.0 with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
International Foundation Business and Technology,
International Foundation Arts, Humanities and Law 5.5 overall with 5.5 in all skills
International Foundation Diploma 5.0 overall with 5.0 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
International Foundation Diploma (Extended pathway) 4.5 overall with 4.5 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
Assessment
ASSESSMENT METHODS
1. INTERNAL ENGLISH TEST if you don't have an English accredited certificate
2. Academic Interview
Learning and teaching
We use a variety of teaching methods to provide a high quality learning experience. These include:
 directed reading
 narrated PowerPoints
 eSeminars
 video consultations with your supervisor.
Assessment
Advanced Legal Research Methods (ALRM) module
You will be expected to engage with set reading and/or prepare certain aspects of the seminars, for example:
 writing a preliminary case analysis
 outlining an interesting research idea
 preparing a 3 minute oral presentation.
Dissertation module
You will be required to engage with relevant primary and secondary materials using suitable research skills. You will receive feedback from your supervisor on your evolving research. This will be through supervision sessions and written comments on draft chapters.
You will have an academic supervisor who is a member of the Law School. We endeavour to match student research interests with supervisor expertise. So we ask you to give a brief initial indication of your research interest in the personal statement section of your application. You can meet/communicate with your supervisor either in Oxford or via email or Skype.
Career Opportunities
Careers
This course allows you to develop specific expertise within your legal field. A recent graduate, who works in employment law, has pursued a specialism in religious discrimination. Another has covered the increase in remote trials during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the implications this has on the right to a fair trial.
You’ll be confident in overcoming complicated legal challenges with new and interesting ideas. Your research skills and your ability to understand complex policies will be useful in many professions.
Our academic staff will help you explore your career options, and they’ll support you in taking the next steps.
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