LLM Criminal Justice & Human Rights

This cutting-edge LLM places you in the unique position to develop advanced knowledge and expertise in two specialist fields: criminal justice and international human rights. It will empower you to pursue legal practice in the UK and internationally, opening diverse career paths in the criminal justice and human rights sector, or advancing you to the position where you will choose to undertake a PhD in criminal justice or human rights or their interactions.

• This pioneering LLM introduces you to the history, theory and practice of international human rights law, while highlighting abuses of human rights in the criminal process and suggesting reforms.
• You’ll get a 360-degree view of the criminal process, and a multidimensional perspective that explores organic synergies between domestic, transnational and international criminal justice systems.
• You’ll be able to choose interdisciplinary modules that will broaden your view of advanced criminal justice and human rights topics.
• You’ll learn by doing, for example in the Criminal Evidence module, where you examine in chief and cross-examine witnesses in fictional criminal trials, before experienced barristers and Judges – for example, at the Old Bailey (the central criminal court) in London.
• You’ll learn from important legal thinkers, internationally leading barristers, judges and politicians. Our Law faculty and Visiting Professors include pioneering human rights and criminal justice experts such as Professor Dimitrios Giannoulopoulos, a leading authority on criminal process and human rights perspectives in Anglo-American and Continental European law; former director of leading human rights NGO Liberty, Martha Spurrier; the Chair of the Criminal Bar Association of England and Wales, Kirsty Brimelow KC; the founder of Reprieve, Clive Stafford-Smith, and Gresham Professor of Law, Leslie Thomas KC.
• We’re focussed on employability, and you’ll have the opportunity to gain practical experience through taking criminal justice placements and clinics modules (for credit). Our Careers Service is here to support you every step of the way.
• You’ll collaborate with renowned legal scholars, eminent legal practitioners and NGOs working in the field of criminal justice and human rights, including foremost NGOs such as Fair Trials, Big Brother Watch and Reprieve, as well as Liberty, which leads on our pioneering 'Criminal Justice and Human Rights: NGO Advocacy, Litigation and Practice' module.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact the Programme Convenor.

Applicants will normally have a degree in law, a related social science discipline (such as criminology, politics and international relations, sociology, anthropology, media and communications, economics or psychology), or a humanities degree (such as English, history, philosophy or art).

We also accept applications from people with professional, transferrable experience working in:

• NGOs
• Charities
• Criminal justice and human rights organisations
• Journalism
• The civil service or other governmental position

Students will normally be expected to have an upper second-class honours degree or its equivalent.

There is some flexibility where applicants demonstrate exceptional commitment or abilities to study for the degree because of their possession of other qualifications, or because they have relevant experiences that would qualify them for the programme.

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate study.

Preparing you for a successful future

The LLM equips you with advanced knowledge and expertise in specialist areas of law, putting you in a strong position to pursue professional legal practice (in the UK and internationally).

It will also open up diverse career paths in other areas of professional practice associated with law, or quickly advance you to the position where you will choose to undertake a PhD as your next academic destination.

Employment opportunities you may take up following the LLM include:

• Barrister
• Solicitor
• Prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service
• NGO expert
• Criminal justice expert
• Member of the Civil Service or a government organisation

Collaborations, placements and partnerships

Partnerships with leading organisations

Cutting-edge collaborations with global law firms, government organisations, local councils, NGOs, think tanks and academics in world-leading universities support the delivery of all our programmes, exposing you to unique opportunities to grow a strong awareness of future career destinations and develop dynamic professional networks throughout your degree.

These include:

• Linklaters LLP
• Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and Boies Schiller & Flexner LLP
• UK Supreme Court
• National Justice Museum at the Royal Courts of Justice
• Kalisher Trust
• Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants and Migrants’ Rights Network
• Fair Trials
• Big Brother Watch
• Liberty
• Crown Prosecution Service
• Law Commission
• Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
• Stanford Law School
• Berkeley Law
• Loyola Law School (Los Angeles)
• New Europeans
• Human Rights Lawyers’ Association
• Forensic Architecture
• Lewisham Borough
• Council of Europe
• British Academy
• Garden Court Chambers
• Doughty Street Chambers

And many others.