LLM - The Sheffield LLM

Core Modules

Legal Research & Writing Skills

This module introduces students to the basic skills of legal research and legal writing, both essays and problem solving. The module includes lectures by academic staff, library staff and on-line specialists, hands-on workshops and structured seminars. The modules also covers referencing and the use of unfair means. Students are given formative feedback on essays. Students are introduced to the skills necessary to give effective oral presentations. Time will also be given to self-reflect on future employment opportunities.

Dissertation (LLM in Law)

Students must complete a 10,000-12,000 word dissertation on a legal topic of their choice, subject to approval by the Head of School or her or his delegate. The approval will include consideration of whether the dissertation is suitable for the student to graduate from one of the specialised pathways. To this end the student will be asked to nominate on the paperwork their interest in graduating with one of the specialised pathways. The dissertation gives the student the opportunity to explore an area of their interest in some depth. To achieve a Masters standard the student is required to demonstrate an up-to-date critical analysis of the topic chosen for discussion.

60 credits

Optional modules - examples include:

Principles of International Law

This module provides students with a foundational knowledge of public international law. The topics covered include the theory and history of international law; the sources and subjects of international law; recognition; the international law adjudication and dispute settlement mechanisms; and the law of state responsibility.

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15 credits

WTO Law: Foundations, Institutions, Challenges

This module introduces the rules, institutions and policies of international trade law including the study of law and governance of the WTO, including core principles and institutional structures. The module will examine the functions and limits of international law in governing world trade in goods/services. Taking into account political, economic and historical contexts, it will discuss the effects of international trade law on states' interests, policies and individuals' lives/wellbeing. Topics may include trade negotiations, dispute settlement, core disciplines reciprocal exchanges, discriminatory treatment, interaction of trade rules with economic development, trade regionalism, intellectual property rights, environmental protection, and other societal values.

15 credits

International Humanitarian Law

This module considers the norms that apply to armed conflicts. In particular, it will consider the aims and purposes of international humanitarian law, the classification of conflicts into international and non-international (NIAC), the applicable humanitarian law principles, the relation between humanitarian law and human rights law and the enforcement of IHL. It will then consider the classification of combatants and civilians, the notion of direct participation in hostilities, the law relating to occupation and the treatment of civilians and prisoners of war. All the above issues will be discussed through cases such as Iraq, Syria or Afghanistan.

15 credits

Fundamentals of Intellectual Property Law

The module seeks to provide students with an introduction to UK intellectual property law including relevant European treaties and EU law and to some of the issues that are currently topical within the subject. It aims to provide an overview and a framework within which students can undertake detailed study of particular areas which may form the basis of students' assessed work.

15 credits

Information Technology Law

This module will address the regulatory framework that governs information technology within international, European and domestic settings. Information technology is an umbrella term for different areas of what can is commonly described as 'internet law' such as electronic commerce, intellectual property in the online context, privacy and data protection. The module will first discuss the legal challenges raised by the internet by, inter alia, looking at Internet Governance, the jurisdictional challenge of the internet as well as online dispute resolution. The module will then focus on electronic commerce. It will discuss e-contracts, both in the business-to-business and business-to-consumer scenario. The module then particularly focusses on the role and regulation of internet intermediaries (including key entities such as Google, eBay, YouTube) which has led to a number of cases recently, including diverging interpretations of the E-Commerce Directive in Member States. Hereafter, the module will address intellectual property as specifically applied to information technology. Finally, the module will critically discuss online privacy and data protection such as in the context of revenge pornography.

15 credits

International Institutional Law

This module is designed to develop students understanding of the role of international organisations in the contemporary world order. In particular, this module will examine whether a common law of international organisations has emerged and, if so, whether and how this international legal framework can be enforced and implemented. Topics to be covered include: legal rules relating to membership of international organisations; powers of international organisations; accountability and responsibility of international organisations; democracy promotion and international organisations.

15 credits

Introduction to Company Law and Corporate Governance

This module begins with an outline of the principles of company law for those who have not studied it before. It then offers an overview of directors duties, decision-making, and minority protection versus market protection. These topics are then set in their broader corporate governance context, with an overview of theoretical approaches to corporate governance, as well as some of the main mechanisms characteristic of the UK system

15 credits

Theoretical Foundations of International Organisations

This module examines the history, theories and principles that define and govern inter-governmental organisations (IOs). It seeks to discern unity, while recognising that each organisation has its individual legal characteristics. Issues to be considered include the constitutional basis of IOs, legal personality, legal powers, membership, representation, decision-making, law-making, democracy and legitimacy. The course will make references to particular IOs such as the United Nations (UN), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the European Union, and others

15 credits

Current Issues in Company Law and Corporate Governance

This module explores in detail a number of topical issues in company law and corporate governance. Topics may include corporate theory, board composition, remuneration, takeovers, codes of conduct, introduction to corporate social responsibility, corporate finance including creditor protection, stakeholder corporate governance and corporate governance and the financial crisis.

15 credits

Corporate Social Responsibility and the Law

This module will critically look at the developing legal regulation of CSR. The module will first look at the meaning of CSR, how it has evolved as a concept and how it is linked to law. The module will then approach CSR from the perspective of different legal fields. The focus will be on English law, but examples from other systems will also be referred to. The module will first look at CSR from a company law perspective, particularly focussing on reporting duties on CSR issues, but also covering directors' duties and the role of shareholders. Secondly, the module will address CSR in global supply chains, focussing on contract law. Thirdly, the module will discuss liability-based approaches to promoting greater CSR such as transnational tort litigation and corporate criminal liability with extraterritorial effects. Fourthly, the module will study CSR from a consumer (law) perspective which particularly raises questions of enforcement. Finally, the module will shift its focus to CSR in emerging economies 

15 credits

International Law and the Protection of Foreign Investment

This module introduces students to States' obligations under public international law toward foreign investors and their property and examines the substantive and procedural rules applicable in settling investment disputes. International law concerning the treatment of foreign nationals and their property has important consequences in facilitating foreign direct investment and for host States' capacities to define and pursue the public interest. Students will be encouraged to critically engage with existing law and practice concerning investment protection and the settlement of investment disputes, and to consider whether, and how, these rules and practices might be improved.

15 credits

International Law and the Use of Force

Recent conflicts in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq have attracted much debate on the legality of going to war. This module looks at that international legal debate, drawing upon practice and doctrine in the area known traditionally as the jus ad bellum. The topics considered are: limitations upon war in international war; the prohibition on the use of armed force in the UN Charter; the right of self-defence; humanitarian intervention; collective security and UN military action; and regionalism and collective security.

15 credits

International Commercial Arbitration

This module discusses and studies the international commercial arbitration legal framework based on the 1958 UN Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (New York Convention). It first introduces the sources and hierarchy of norms governing international commercial arbitration, and then focuses on the legal issues and processes concerning enforcing arbitration agreements, selecting and challenging arbitrators, choosing the procedure and applicable law in arbitral proceedings, and enforcing the resulting arbitral award. This module's unique approach presents commercial arbitration as a transnational phenomenon and not as a subject based in or controlled by any particular national legal system.

15 credits

International Security Institutions and Law

The module will examine the political and military approaches to security by certain international institutions such as the UN, EU, NATO and African Union as well as the legal framework that applies to their security mandate. More specifically, it will examine the mechanisms, resources, and activities of these institutions in the area of security and how law facilitates, regulates or even constrains their security activities. For example it will consider how the UN approaches security, what tools are at its disposal as well as the role of law in its security operations. It will also consider the political and legal relationship between different institutions in the area of security as for example in peacekeeping.

15 credits

Comparative Corporate Governance

The module introduces students to comparative law methodology, and compares the structure and function of a number of different company law and corporate governance systems from around the world (for example, the UK, the US, Germany, China, Japan, France), and offers an introduction to interdisciplinary debates on varieties of capitalism.

15 credits

Core Issues in International Dispute Settlement

This module explores the functioning of a wide range of methods for the settlement of disputes in international law, including: 'diplomatic' methods (negotiations, mediation, conciliation, enquiry); inter-state arbitration (e.g. the Permanent Court of Arbitration); 'mixed' arbitration between states and non-state entities (e.g. investor-state dispute settlement under the ICSID Convention); judicial settlement by the International Court of Justice; 'specialised' dispute settlement under the WTO framework and the Law of the Sea Convention. The module also considers issues of enforcement of international judgments and arbitral awards, with particular attention to the law of State immunity.

15 credits

International Criminal Law

This module examines the material and subjective elements of international crimes namely, the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression; the criminal responsibility of individuals, and the mechanisms for the prosecution and punishment of the offenders. It also considers alternative methods of attributing justice. The module will mainly focus on the International Criminal Court and its jurisprudence and on the jurisprudence of the Yugoslav (ICTY) and the Rwanda (ICTR) Tribunals.

15 credits

Legal Tech and Lawyering in the Digital Age

This module will consider the changing face of 21st century legal practice, with a particular emphasis on the growing influence of digital technology. Students will explore the current and future uses of a range of legal tech and critically evaluate its impact on various aspects of legal practice, including professional ethics and notions of professionalism. Students will have the opportunity to contextualise this through reflection on the wider currents of change within the legal profession, enabling them to develop a vision for the future of lawyering in a digital age.

15 credits

Freedom of Expression in the Digital Age

The module will reflect on the state of freedom of expression across the world as well as considering the relevance of the dominant theoretical rationales for freedom of expression to today's digital environment. It engages with live and diverse challenges confronting the realisation of freedom of expression in the contemporary era, and involves students considering appropriate human rights-based responses to such issues as physical attacks on and the online harassment of journalists and others speaking out; the protection of journalistic sources and whistle-blowers; the use of surveillance technologies; the responsibilities of social media platforms for harmful content and artificial intelligence.

15 credits

Law and Development

This module will explore in depth the relation between law and economic development, the underlying theories, practice and lessons of law and development movement, both in the past and present. Topics include the theories of economic growth; the property right hypothesis; contract law; law and finance which consists of two parts: one is shareholders protection and stock market, another is creditors protection with a focus on insolvency law; reflection on the law and development movement.

15 credits

International Intellectual Property Law and Sustainable Development

The module examines the international frame of Intellectual Property (IP) and how, and to what extent, this can contribute to fulfil the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) whose agendas overlap with IP-related issues, i.e. most of them. In particular, the module will (a) analyse the 'Agreement on the Trade-Related aspects of IP Rights (TRIPs)', focusing on its key principles and outlining the key IP rights regulated therein; (b) discuss selected issues of international importance connected with IP and the SDGs frame such as: access to medicines; access to educational materials; protection of biodiversity and traditional heritage.

15 credits

The International Legal Profession and Transnational Legal Advisory

This module introduces students to theoretical and practical aspects of the international legal profession and of transnational legal advisory. It explores different limbs of the international and transnational practice of law - transactional advisory, adjudication, arbitration, government advisory, advocacy, international civil service - mapping out the field. It includes presentations by practitioners about their experiences of the international/transnational legal profession, and discussions about the theory, scope, and limits of transnational law, and expertise in international law. The module will provide students with intellectual and practical tools relevant to both the commercial- and the public-interest, international,legal job market.

15 credits

International Trade Law: Advanced Issues

This module covers in-depth topics of international trade law and governance. Building upon the foundational knowledge of international trade law (as offered in WTO Law: Foundations, Institutions, Challenges), this module explores advanced issues that are at the core of contemporary challenges facing the world trading system.
This module will address some of the following themes:
Advanced issues of the law and policy of the World Trade Organization;
The world trading system in a context of deglobalization of complex global value chains and increasing economic nationalism;
The future of global trade governance in a brave new world of regional trade agreements.

15 credits

International Law of the Sea

The international rules concerning the global ocean have perhaps never been more important. The ocean is vital to communication and trade, and is a critical source of energy, resources, and nutrition. Its use can also generate tensions between States and threats to security. This module introduces students to States' rights and obligations under international law relating to the use, preservation, and protection of the global ocean. We will consider States' jurisdiction, the exploitation of resources, environmental protection, maritime security, and dispute settlement, and will consider contemporary challenges — posed, for example, by migration, climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.

15 credits

Discrimination in Employment Law

This module examines the law of age, religion or belief, disability, race, sexual orientation and sex discrimination including direct and indirect discrimination, genuine occupational qualifications, justification, remedies and the duty of reasonable adjustment. Also investigated are positive action and positive discrimination, theoretical aspects including the economics of discrimination, the position of groups in the law, and the limits of the law.

15 credits