WhatsApp Chat
An LLM, or Master of Laws, is a graduate qualification in the field of law. The LLM was created for lawyers to expand their knowledge, study a specialized area of law, and gain international qualifications if they have earned a law degree outside the U.S. or Canada. If you’re looking to advance your legal career or take the next step in your academic journey, an LLM could be for you.
This course is aimed at 3rd / 4th Year (7th Semester) LLB students to pursue in LLM UK. The LLM UK program involves the following:
- Psychometric Analysis to determine branch of Law (General or emphasis LLM)
- CV / Resume Structuring & Strengthening
- Internship planning
- Monthly monitoring of activities
- Selection of University based on Psychometric result
- Guidance / assistance in Form Filling
The growing complexities and competition that the legal world now faces has resulted in the late years increasing demand for LLMs. In the current, the legal profession involves dealing with global trade, transnational families, human rights, and areas such as social, economic, and environmental policy issues, thus allowing lawyers to pursue an LL.M. Employers favor lawyers in the current scenario who have developed additional expertise in some field or the other.
This course is 100% online and packed full of engaging learning materials, and includes a personal action plan for each learner.
Reasons
to join this course for achieving top score in LLM UK
Given below are a few reasons why the UK is one of the best countries around the globe for studying Masters in Law:
• According to QS World University Rankings for Law (2020), 3 universities of the UK ranks among the top 10 Universities in the World for Law.
• The UK Legal Industry generated revenues of 37.1 billion GBP in 2019 which is 4.8% higher than the last year, according to the data released by the Office of National Statistics.
• The Average salary earned by individuals in the legal sector is 20% more than the average of all jobs in the UK.
• The increment in paygrade in this sector is 11% per annum while the UK's average for all jobs is only 7%.
• Legal Department is the 4th highest paying sector for graduates and alumni of UK universities.
Students spend around 40 hours a week analysing and solving complex legal issues or advising clients how to structure their businesses.
Some LLMs focus on the theoretical aspects of a certain subject, such as constitutional law or administrative law. In addition to a standard set of modules, students choose a number of electives in subjects ranging from financial crime to international financial transactions. Generally, students also do a dissertation on a chosen subject area.
LLM in UK is generally a 1-year long course where you will be made familiar with multiple concepts of the field. Furthermore, you will gain hands-on experience through industrial training programs which form a part of the course curriculum. Apart from the core subjects, you will also get to choose from amongst the list of electives like Commercial Law, Intellectual Property, etc. Tabulated below are the important topics that are taught throughout the journey of the course.
| Legal Theory | Feminist Jurisprudence | International Trade and Corporate Laws | Historical and Anthropological Jurisprudence |
| Constitutional Law | Law Relating to Industrial Relations | Pure Theory of Law | Human Rights Law |
| Law and Social Change | Corporate Governance | The Concept of Federalism | Law Relating to Service Regulation |
| Law Relating to Labour Welfare | Hierarchy of Courts | Right to Constitutional Remedies | Forms of Legislation |
Let us take a quick look at some of the popular specializations which you can consider pursuing:
- Taxation Law
- IT, Media and Communications Law
- Corporate and Securities Law
- Cyber Law
- Financial Regulations
- Criminal and Criminal Justice Laws
- Commercial Law
- Gender Studies
- Intellectual Property Rights
Note: The subjects mentioned above are for indicative purposes. The syllabus and subjects can vary from one university to another.
There are general LLMs, which are often called LLM Law, LLM (General) or LLM and cover a broader subject area. You can also specialise in a particular area of law and study subjects including:
- criminal litigation
- employment law
- environmental law
- international business maritime law.
The majority of LLM degrees are taught courses, although some may have a research element.
There are several areas of specialization that you can do for your LLM in UK. Let's check them out:
- Technology Law
- Corporate Law
- Gender Studies
- Human Rights Law
- Intellectual Property Rights
- Public Law
- Regional Law
- Religious Law
- Resources and Environment
- Telecommunications Law
- Transportation Law
How to Apply?
Applications are made directly to the chosen institution either online or via a paper form. Each institution will have its own process and guidelines but you may need to provide:
- an application form
- a personal statement detailing why you want to study the LLM at that particular institution and where you plan to go in your career
- an academic reference or a professional one if you've been out of education for more than two years
- degree transcripts
- writing samples from previous studies to prove that you can cope with the academic demands of the LLM.
What is the process like?
The LLM is not a direct route to qualification and from September 2021 new entrants will need to complete the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and a two-year period of qualifying legal work experience in order to become a solicitor. Transitional arrangements are in place for those who have already started their training journey.
LLMs also don't automatically strengthen applications for training contracts. Further study is likely to be the most fruitful where its subject is a specialism that you wish to pursue as a solicitor.
The same goes for qualifying as a barrister. In order to achieve this you'll still need to complete a Bar course and pupillage.
More about the SQE...
The SQE is a new centralised exam for solicitors, which will be introduced by the SRA in September 2021. So far the COVID-19 pandemic has had no affect on the SRA's plans for introducing the new assessment.
The SQE will eventually replace the GDL and the LPC, but don't be misled - it's not a course but a series of examinations taken in two stages. If you started your law training before September 2021 the SRA expect a long period of transition.
Under the new system trainee solicitors must:
- hold a degree or equivalent qualification (such as a degree apprenticeship) in any subject
- pass stages 1 and 2 of the SQE
- complete two years qualifying work experience
- meet the SRA's character and suitability requirements.
While the SRA has not specified that the degree level qualification must be in law, it will be helpful, in a practical sense, to have an education in law to pass the SQE assessments. However, SQE preparation course will be available for non-law graduates.
Following the SQE route, law graduates will qualify as a solicitor in five to six years, while it will take apprentices and non-law graduates five to seven years.
The SQE will be split into two stages - SQE1 and SQE2, and will be assessed on a pass/fail basis. Assessments will be provided Kaplan and they will pair up with Pearson to utilise the latter's extensive network of test centres across England and Wales. There will be multiple sittings of the exam per year.
SQE1 should be taken after your degree. It tests functioning legal knowledge in two exams, each made up of 180 multiple-choice questions. The first exam covers:
- business law and practice
- dispute resolution
- contract
- tort
- legal system of England and Wales
- constitutional and administrative law and EU law and legal services. The second part of SQE1 covers:
- property practice
- wills and administration of estates
- solicitors accounts
- land law
- trusts
- criminal law and practice.
This first stage of examinations will be taken on a computer, in one assessment window - meaning they must all be taken together, within the same sitting. SQE1 must be passed in its entirety before attempting SQE2, but this is the only restriction on timings.
The two years qualifying work experience can be taken at any point throughout the SQE, but the SRA expect that the majority of graduates will pass SQE1 before embarking on their main period of work experience.
SQE2 tests practical legal skills. The assessment is taken over five days and is comprised of 16 practical exercises involving both written and oral tasks. Ethics and professional conduct are assessed throughout. SQE2 assesses the following skills:
- client interview and attendance note/legal analysis
- advocacy
- case matter analysis
- legal research
- legal writing
- legal drafting.
The practice contexts are:
- criminal litigation
- dispute resolution
- property practice
- wills and intestacy, probate administration and practice
- business organisations rules and procedures.
- legal drafting.
As far as resitting the exams go (SQE1 and SQE2), you'll only be allowed three attempts at the assessments and these must be taken within six years.
According to the SRA the total candidate fee for the SQE will be £3,980.
- SQE1 will cost £1,558
- SQE2 will cost £2,422
You'll pay the fees when you book your assessments.
These figures don't include any additional training costs such as SQE preparation courses. If institutions incorporate SQE preparation into their law degrees there will be no additional charge, however if you choose to take preparation courses separately bear in mind that costs could be considerably higher.
What does qualifying legal work experience mean?
Traditionally a training contract is the essential element to qualification, but it's also one of the main barriers, as placements are notoriously difficult to secure.
The SQE is designed to offer more flexibility when it comes to work experience, so aspiring solicitors won't necessarily need to do a training contract. However, it's likely that many firms will stick with the traditional training contract format.
Under the SQE route, you'll still need to do two years qualifying legal work experience, but this can be completed at a maximum of four organisations. The experience can be paid or unpaid and must provide you with the opportunity to develop the prescribed competencies for solicitors and be confirmed by an appropriate person, for example the Compliance Officer for Legal Practice. Formal training contracts, working as a paralegal, completing a placement as part of a sandwich degree or volunteering in a student law clinic or with Citizens Advice all count towards the SQE's work experience requirements.
For example, you could complete a two-year training contract at one City law firm or, alternatively, carry out six months of pro bono work at your university law clinic and then work as a paralegal for 18 months.
Each placement will need to be signed off by a solicitor at the organisation, or a solicitor outside the organisation who has direct experience of the candidates work.
This popular course is offered by an array of universities in UK. Moreover, you can also opt for specializations as per your interests and inclinations. Make sure you go through the curriculum of the program, research facilities, and career opportunities before sending your applications. Enlisted below are the top Law colleges offering LLM in UK-
| University | QS 2021 Global Rankings [Law] |
|---|---|
| University of Oxford | 2 |
| University of Cambridge | 3 |
| London School of Economics and Political Science | 6 |
| University College London | 15 |
| King's College London | 16 |
| The University of Edinburgh | 23 |
| The Queen Mary University of London | 29 |
| University of Durham | 50 |
| University of Glasgow | 65 |
| University of Bristol | 76 |
For securing admission in the LLM program offered by eminent universities, there are certain parameters that you need to follow. Though the entry requisites can vary from one university to another, here are some general eligibility criteria for pursuing LLM in the UK:
- You must hold a Bachelor's degree in Law like LLB, BA LLB, etc.
- Must have scored good scores in English language proficiency exams like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc.
- Though not mandatory in all the universities, but for some, you will have to qualify the LSAT exam.
- Some universities prefer candidates with work experience. However, it's not mandatory.
- Letters of Recommendation (LORs), Statement of Purpose (SOP), transcripts, updated CV, etc form an essential part of the admission package.
| University | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| University of Oxford | Bachelor's (3/4 years) with 65%-75% |
| University of Cambridge | Bachelor's (4 years) with 75% |
| London School of Economics and Political Science | Bachelor's with 65%-75% |
| University College London | Bachelor's degree with 60% |
| King's College London | Bachelor's with 65%-70% |
| The University of Edinburgh | Bachelor's with 60% |
| The Queen Mary University of London | Bachelor (min 3 years) with 60% to 70% |
| University of Durham | Bachelors with 60%-70% |
| University of Glasgow | Bachelors with 50% |
| University of Bristol | Bachelors in Law |
Here are the documents required for Masters in law in UK:
- Application form
- College Transcripts
- English proficiency certificate like IELTS, TOEFL
- CV/ Resume
- SOP
- Letter of Recommendation
- Written Work
Studying LLM in the UK can cost anywhere between 19,000 GBP – 44,000 GBP depending on location, quality of university, etc. Here is the cost of studying LLM in top Universities in the UK.
| University | Full-Time Course Tuition Fees for International Students |
|---|---|
| University of Oxford | 36 930 GBP. |
| University of Cambridge | £ 33,738 |
| London School of Economics and Political Science | £25,224 |
| University College London | £28,500 |
| King's College London | £28,770 |
| The University of Edinburgh | £21,900 |
| The Queen Mary University of London | £24,950 |
| University of Durham | £20,500 |
| University of Glasgow | £20750 |
| University of Bristol | £19,900 |
While the cost of living anywhere in the world depends on your personal choices, the cost of living in UK is calculated in the city you reside in. it is difficult to come to an absolute value of the cost which will be spent, but we can arrive at an estimated living cost. It is tabulated below.
| Kind of Expense | Cost in GBP and INR |
|---|---|
| Fees for Visa Application | 348 (INR 34,528) |
| Housing | 500 (INR 49,622) |
| Transportation | 40 (INR 3,970) |
| Housing | 500 (INR 49,638) |
| Food | 150-200 (INR 14,883 to INR 19,844) |
| Clothing and Leisure | 50 (INR 4,961) |
| Telephone and Mobile | 50 (inr 4,961) |
Securing LLM from one of the leading law schools in the UK will open the door to copious career opportunities. Often, upon completing LLM, many start their independent practice as an Advocate. However, you can also pursue a doctorate level degree like PhD in Law. Another option to explore would be of working with Law Firms or private/ government organizations. Here are some job profiles you can work in after completing LLM in UK-
- Magistrate
- Trustee
- Notary
- Advocate
- Legal Documents Reviewer
- Legal Consultant
- Legal Associate
Salary for Different Job Opportunities
Now, let's check out the average package of these jobs in international standards:
| Job | Salary |
|---|---|
| Arbitrator | £65,000 |
| Barrister | £65,000 |
| Lawyer | £38,000 |
| Paralegal | £ 29,042 |
| Legal Executive | £35,000 |
| Legal Consultant | £41,231 |
| Legal Writer | £23,923 |
Here are the scholarships available for LLM in UK:
| University | Scholarships Available |
|---|---|
| University of Oxford | Oxford-Finnis Graduate Scholarship in Law |
| University of Cambridge | Prathiba M Singh Cambridge Scholarship |
| London School of Economics and Political Science | Marchant Foundation LLM Scholarship |
| University College London | LLM Opportunity Scholarship |
| King's College London | Norman Spink Scholarship |
While an LLM degree is a great opportunity for anyone in the legal field, an LLM in UK can be expensive. So, it's important to know your financing options so you don't end up with heavy debt on yourself:
- The best option for financing is getting a scholarship of the highest cost that you can and then take an education loan for the rest of the amount
- If you plan to work in India after your post-graduation, make sure that you have a company that will pay you enough to cover the education loan costs.
- Since the salary after an LLM does not go very high in India, your other option to pay off the student loan can be through working in a UK-based company itself where your payment will be optimum. Since the UK provides post-study work visas, you can stay after your college is finished and take a job. But that is only applicable if you have a job so work hard for that
- If you want to not have a huge debt by the time you graduate, the best option is to do part-time jobs during your postgraduate studies that can cover your living expenses
- If you have family members that can offer you soft loans that would be a great way to go ahead.
It's possible to get a government-backed Masters loan worth up to a maximum of £11,570 in the 2021/22 academic year.
Many institutions offer scholarships to help cover the costs of doing an LLM. For example, Birmingham Law School offer scholarships for LLM students including:
- the College of Arts and Law Masters Scholarships, which covers one year's tuition fees at UK or European Union (EU) rates for full-time students
- the Harding International Legal Scholarship offers £5,000 to international/EU students taking an LLM programme.
New students applying for an LLM programme at BPP University may be eligible for the Career Commitment Scholarship, which awards £2,000 towards tuition fees or the Full-Fee Scholarships, which are award to highly committed individuals.
You should contact the individual institution to find out about the scholarships they provide. If you're ineligible for awards discover other ways to fund postgraduate study.
Studying LLM in UK must be a dream for you but sometimes, those dreams come with a budget. There are several cheap universities in UK that do not compromise with their education quality. So, let's check out the best universities where you can study LLM for cheap:
| University | Fees |
|---|---|
| University of Lancaster | £19,940 |
| University of Exeter | £19,400 |
| University of Nottingham | £20,000 |
| University of Durham | £20,500. |
| University of Bristol | £19,900 |
| University of Manchester | £20,500 |
| King's College London | £28,770 |
In order to get a UK Student Visa for LLM, you need to have the following documents with you:
- A valid passport (Should have validity for more than 6 months from the date of application of visa)
- Proof of financial stability
- Details of your travel plans and where you are about to reside.
- Health checkup report.
- Keep a blank page on your passport for the visa.
- If you have collected all the documents, recheck and make sure that everything is in English. If not, then you need a certified translator who can translate all of them in English.
You can apply for a student visa online at the official immigration website of the UK.
You will have to sign, submit your application form, book an appointment, pay the application fee and collect the receipt. You will be required to visit the application centre to complete other relevant formalities. It is advised to apply for a visa 3 months prior to the initiation of your course in order to study in the UK.
UK Visa Application Fee
- UK visa application fee for Tier-4 Student Visa: £348 [roughly 28,650 INR]
- Application fee for short-term Student Visa: £97 [roughly 7,990 INR] for a 6-month visa & £186 for an 11-month visa [15,300 INR]
A law degree offers several career opportunities especially after an LLM degree. There are many options that are available after LLM. Let's check them out:
- Arbitrator
- Barrister
- Lawyer
- Paralegal
- Legal Executive
- Legal Consultant
- Indian Legal Services
- Legal Writer
If you are looking for an answer to the question- Can I pursue LLM in UK without qualifying IELTS, then, we would suggest you to get in touch with our experts. However, listed below are some of the universities in the UK that admit students without the score of IELTS-
- The University of Warwick
- Birmingham City University
- The University of Bristol
- London Southbank University
- Northumbria University
- The University of Bolton
- The University of Northampton
- The University of Plymouth
Once you complete LLM in UK, you also have the option of coming back to the country and practicing as a lawyer. Almost 35 UK universities have been recognized by the Bar Council of India and allow their graduates to practice in the country. The registration process of becoming a lawyer in India with a degree from BCOI recognized UK university are as follows:
- Apply at a State Bar Council forwards the application to Bar Council of India
- Pass all six subjects of the exam
- Given below is the salary estimate of the candidates pursuing the given below jobs-
| Job Role | Average Annual Salary (in INR) |
|---|---|
| Corporate Lawyer | 7,00,000 |
| Legal Manager | 4,00,000 |
| Associate Attorney | 3,00,000 |
| Legal Advisor | 2,50,000 |
| Legal Executive | 2,50,000 |
| Legal Counsel | 4.91 akhs |
Hence, pursuing LLM in UK is an excellent option for those who want to advance in this field.
There are 45 BCI approved law colleges and universities in UK where you can study recognised law degrees, therefore there are two different methods moving forward.
Registration for students having LLB degree from recognised UK University
Registration for students having LLB degree from non-recognised UK University
Job Prospects
In addition to becoming a solicitor and barrister, a law degree offers you a wide range of careers, including politics, journalism, accountancy, advice work, trading standards, police work, human resources and the civil services.
The Bar Council of India approved the following UK universities to study Law in the UK