International Law and Governance (Taught)

Course details
The Durham LLM in International Law and Governance offers a critical insight into the legal structure on which relationships between states are built. It provides you with the skills and knowledge to be able to analyse legal sources and literature and form independent opinions about international issues, policy and governance.
The one-year full-time course consists of three compulsory modules, a selection of option modules chosen from a wide range of topics and a major dissertation which is produced, under supervision, from your own independent research.
The compulsory modules will provide you with an in-depth understanding of the fundamentals of international law and governance, as well as introducing you to the latest research methods that are being applied to legal studies.

Why Durham University?
Durham Law School has an outstanding reputation throughout the legal world. Cutting-edge research led by academic experts enables us to make a significant contribution to creating and shaping law in the UK and internationally.
Durham Law School is a global leader in the development and framing of law. Led by academics who are experts in their field, we carry out cutting-edge legal research that feeds into our Masters and research qualifications, building knowledge and nurturing the skills needed to help shape law in the future.
The reputation of the School means our legal know-how is respected by parliamentarians and policy makers around the world. Our academics have been called to give evidence in Parliament and have had their research work quoted by courts and international bodies.
International law and questions of global policy and governance are an area of special interest at Durham, but our expertise extends to other areas including criminal law and criminal justice, ethics, human rights, European law, gender and law, Chinese law, Commercial and Corporate law and Global Justice.

Facilities
The Law School is located in the University’s award-winning flagship Palatine Centre, part of a £48.4m sustainable building development.
The School’s facilities are purpose-built and state-of-the-art, featuring a moot court, pro bono room, Harvard-style Hogan Lovells lecture theatre, spacious dedicated work suites and modern wireless and audio-video-enabled research spaces and attractive social areas.

Career Opportunities
Our global reputation for legal research and teaching of the highest quality is reflected in the career trajectory of our alumni.
Graduates serve across the full range of legal professions including solicitors, barristers, judges, members of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and as consultants and in government. Others have secured stimulating and rewarding positions in national and international law firms.
We are fully aware of the degree of competition that exists in securing a role in the legal profession and the School provides a range of resources to help alumni stand out as ideal candidates during the recruitment process. This includes detailed information about the steps involved in becoming a solicitor or barrister, visits from law firms and guidance on preparing for interviews and assessment days.

For current information please scroll to the bottom of the page for Provider Information and select Visit our Course Page under Course Contact Details.

Assessment is based entirely on writing tasks with the majority of the modules evaluated through essays of 3,000-6,000 words in length. A core module on applied research methods will be assessed by the quality of the research topic proposal you will produce.
You will also complete a dissertation on an area of international trade and commercial law of interest to you that has been approved by your supervisor. Depending on the route chosen your dissertation can be anywhere between 10,000 and 15,000 words.

In addition to the help provided by your subject lecturers, you can also access extensive support for your assessments through ASC, the Academic Skills Centre. See below for details: https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/centres/academic-skills-centre/