LLM International Business Law

• Introduction
• Modules
• Features
• Careers
• Fees

Introduction

The LLM International Business Law is designed for law graduates and professionals who wish to develop the specialist legal expertise required in today’s global economy.

The significance of national boundaries is diminishing and a comprehensive knowledge of the law governing international trade and commercial relationships is of the utmost importance. This programme provides you with the opportunity to develop an in-depth knowledge of the law and regulations which govern corporate and commercial activities across national borders.

Allowing you the opportunity to reflect on the private and public dimensions of the legal rules necessary to govern the world economy, this programme aims to prepare you to respond to the changing and dynamic nature of legal relations between corporations, individuals and states.

A substantial dissertation is required as part of your study, and this is designed to enable you to enhance your research skills as you undertake a detailed investigation in an area of your choice.

How You Study

The LLM gives students the chance to reflect the private, corporate and the public dimensions of the legal rules necessary to govern the world economy with modules on international business law (including both international trade and international sale of goods), private international law, and public rules on the EU internal market and the World Trade Organisation, amongst others.

Contact and Independent Study

The programme is delivered by two-hour seminars, once per week, in each module. Extensive preparation is required for each seminar, and wide reading is expected.

Postgraduate level study involves a significant proportion of independent study, exploring the material covered in lectures and seminars. As a general guide, for every hour in class students are expected to spend two - three hours in independent study.

For more detailed information please contact the programme leader.

How You Are Assessed

All modules are assessed by written assignments. There is also a requirement to write a substantial dissertation. There are no examinations, written or oral.

Assessment Feedback

The University of Lincoln's policy on assessment feedback aims to ensure that academics will return in-course assessments to you promptly – usually within 15 working days after the submission date.

Entry Requirements

A minimum 2.2 honours degree with significant law content

International Students will require English Language at IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each element, or equivalent. http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/englishrequirements

Key Contacts

Academic:
Dr Graham Melling
gmelling@lincoln.ac.uk
+44 (0)1522 835522

Enquiries:
pgenquiries@lincoln.ac.uk
+44 (0)1522 886644

Master's Level

DISSERTATION (International Business Law) (Core)

The Dissertation module comprises two elements:

1. Research methods (20%)

The research methods element of the dissertation module comprises a total of four research training workshops (4 x 3hrs), two taking place in the Autumn term and two taking place in the Spring term. Students are assessed through a dissertation proposal.

2. The Dissertation (80%)

The production of the dissertation itself provides the student with an opportunity to undertake a substantial piece of investigative academic work on a chosen area of international business law. In the dissertation the students may develop ideas encountered in the taught modules or with other issues relevant to international business law.

The completed dissertation is expected to be an original and independent piece of work. It should, in the context of existing knowledge, demonstrate in-depth understanding, critical analysis and original thinking, as well as general academic and communication skills. Undertaking the necessary research and writing the dissertation is designed to provide academic opportunities to apply the research skills and presentational techniques developed during the programme.

EU Internal Market Law (Core)

This module is designed to introduce the basic principles of law and policy on the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital within the internal market of the European Union. Current developments in legislation and case law on freedom of movement of goods, persons and services in the European Union will, in turn, be evaluated; as will the limits of integration. The module will also seek to examine recent legislative developments in and the evolving concept of Union citizenship involving critical examination of the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Finance and Security Law (Option)

This module aims to give students the opportunity to develop an insight into the legal issues arising from and surrounding bank borrowing and the means by which banks seek to document these transactions. In doing so, the module will provide students with an opportunity to develop a solid understanding of the legal aspects of a lending transaction. The module will also aim to introduce the key concept of “risk” and how banks use various legal documents to limit and manage this risk. The module will also examine the issues which arise when the bank-customer relationship turns sour and the bank enforces its security.

International Business Law (Core)

This module focuses on two transactions of central importance to international sale of goods – contracts for the sale of goods, and contracts for carriage. In relation to sale of goods it considers contracts governed either by the English law of sale of goods, Sale of Goods Act 1979 (“SGA”) or by the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods 1980 (“CISG”). In relation to carriage it considers the different types of carriage contract, the problems of carriage of goods by sea, and methods of payment.

International Corporate Governance (Core)

This module aims to give students the opportunity to develop a thorough insight into the theoretical, legal, practical and ethical issues surrounding corporate governance and its influence on the management structure of modern companies. It will explore the relationships which exist between directors, shareholders, management, the company itself and other internal and external stakeholders. Students will have the chance to develop a firm understanding of the concept of corporate governance and the basic principles underlying the implementation of UK and international corporate governance codes.

International Dispute Resolution (Option)

The module aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop an understanding of the theoretical and practical issues of contemporary dispute resolution and the tactical decisions taken by parties or prospective parties, particularly commercial parties, involved in disputes or contemplating disputes arising out of transactional work. Whilst dealing with court based dispute resolution (Litigation) the module will principally focus on ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) in particular the effectiveness of negotiation, mediation and arbitration.

International Economic and Investment Law (Core)

The aim of this module is to provide students with the opportunity to develop a critical understanding of the principal legal frameworks that underpin the functioning of the international economy and international investment. As such students have the chance to analyse the legal architecture relating to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as well as international foreign investment and multinational corporations. The module therefore aims to provide a broad foundation for students’ critical understanding of the international economy and the ways that international economic and investment law can affect developing countries, human rights, and the environment.

International Environmental Law (Option)

This module examines the development and operation of international environmental law, considering in particular the historical evolution of the law, the elaboration of multilateral environmental regimes and the increasing judicial attention given to environmental issues. The module will also consider the issue of responsibility and liability for harm from environmental degradation as it is tackled at the international level.

Private International Law (Option)

This module examines the application of private law rules in cases involving an international dimension. It aims to enable students to analyse the theoretical and practical applications of Private International Law and provides the opportunity to gain a critical understanding of a subject whose scope extends beyond English law and the EU to national legal systems throughout the world. In particular, the module will focus on the operation of Private International Law in cases involving contractual obligations and commercial disputes.

The EU as a Global Actor: EU External Relations Law (Option)

This module aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop an insight into the international role of the European Union (EU) and its global presence in an increasing number of areas beyond the regulation of external trade. The module offers a critical and contextual analysis of the role of the EU as a global actor, which is subdivided into two main parts: the constitutional aspects of EU External Relations Law and substantive aspects of EU External Relations Law.

The module covers the following policy areas: the EU Common Commercial Policy (CCP), the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EUROMED), the role of the EU in global humanitarian and development action and EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).

The Law and Policy of the World Trade Organisation (Option)

This module aims to introduce the scope, legal principles, policies and practice of the World Trade Organization (WTO); to examine the position of the WTO and the regulation of international trade in its economic, historical, political and social context; and to consider the constitutional arrangements of the GATT and the WTO and how its dispute resolution system has developed over time. The role of regional trading blocks, such as the EU, within the international trade and WTO context will be discussed.

Career and Personal Development

The LLM courses at Lincoln Law School are designed to provide students with the opportunity to develop a solid bedrock in terms of knowledge and skills to pursue, or further develop their careers, whether they be in legal practice, working in business or industry, working for governmental or international organisations, for non-governmental organisations or in academia.

For those pursuing legal careers, there has been an increasing demand for lawyers with the necessary knowledge of international law and international business law to provide services to clients both in terms of transactional and litigation work. This is particularly true in the case of commercial law firms undertaking work for multinational corporations and those businesses involved in multi-jurisdictional transactions and/or disputes.

Similarly our LLM programmes aim to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills that are required to conduct trans-national work within business and industry. The understanding of the legal issues at stake in terms of international economic law, international trade law and international investment law especially aim to provide a grounding for those pursuing careers in firms that either invest and operate in a number of different jurisdictions or which have strong commercial relationships with investors or customers in other countries.

Many governmental and international organisations such as the United Nations require the expertise of those with backgrounds in international law and international business law. The Law School at Lincoln has a strong corpus of lawyers with a range of expertise in different aspects of international law and aims to provide the perfect training ground from which lawyers seeking these types of careers can develop.

The Law School can also provide a particularly strong basis for any student that is developing or wishes to develop a career within one of the many NGOs that works on international issues. This is due to the specific expertise that members of the school have within the fields of international human rights law, international environmental law and international legal issues generally.

Finally, for those students seeking careers in academia, the LLM programmes that we offer, provide the opportunity to develop a natural grounding for anyone seeking to go on to study for an MPhil or PhD.

Whatever career path you are pursuing, Lincoln Law School in conjunction with the bespoke careers advice service within the University of Lincoln are on hand to work with you to maximise your potential and aim to ensure that you are best placed to be able to achieve your objectives.

Other Costs

For each course you may find that there are additional costs. These may be with regard to the specific clothing, materials or equipment required. Some courses provide opportunities for you to undertake field work or field trips. Where these are compulsory, the cost for travel and accommodation will be covered by the University and so is included in your fee. Where these are optional, you will normally be required to pay your own transport, accommodation and general living costs.

With regards to text books, the University provides students who enrol with a comprehensive reading list and you will find that our extensive library holds either material or virtual versions of the core texts that you are required to read. However, you may prefer to purchase some of these for yourself and you will be responsible for this cost.