LLM Law and Society

The LLM combines a set of foundational core modules in law and society with a flexible choice of electives. Studying the LLM supports a deep understanding of the relationship between law and society, provides training in innovative methods and the acquisition of transferable skills and promotes genuine interdisciplinarity.

We offer two pathways for the LLM that cater to different career paths:

Pathway One offers a balance between core foundational modules and a wide selection of elective modules.

Pathway Two is a research methods intense pathway for students who intend to pursue a Ph.D. and intend to apply for Ph.D. funding.

Pathway Two of the LLM in Law and Society is recognized as fulfilling the requirements of the Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC) postgraduate social science research training and development and as the first year of 1+3 awards made by the ESRC North West Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership to students registered at Keele University.

Course Structure

• Foundations in Law and Society Research: Theories and Concepts
• Socio-legal Studies: Approaches and Themes
• Philosophy of Social Sciences
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Quantitative Research Methods
• Ethics in Research

Optional Modules

You have a wide choice of electives from international law, international human rights law to childcare law, safeguarding adults, medical ethics, and law. You also have the option to choose from a number of advanced methods courses.

Pathway One LLM students choose a total of 60 credits from elective modules.
Pathway Two LLM students choose a total of 30 credits from elective modules.

Example electives are:

Socio-legal Modules

Law and Social Change (30 credits)
Community Outreach & Socio-Legal Advocacy (30 credits)

Safeguarding Adults Modules

Safeguarding Adults: Interventions (30 credits)
The Emergence of Adult Safeguarding (30 credits)
Mental Capacity (30 credits)
Safeguarding & Carers (30 credits)

Childcare Law & Practice Modules 

Foundations & Principles of Childcare (30 credits)
Contemporary Issues in Childcare (30 credits)
Children Looked After (30 credits)
Children & Medicine (30 credits)

Human Rights Modules

Foundations of Human Rights (15 credits)
Equality, Discrimination, Minorities (15 credits)
Human Rights & Global Politics (15 credits)

International Law Modules

International Humanitarian Law: War, Law & Justice (15 credits)
Foundations of International Law  (15 credits) – This module is recommended for students taking International Law electives who have no prior knowledge of International Law
International Law & Human Rights (15 credits)
International Refugee Law (15 credits)
Introduction to International Economic Law (15 credits)
International Environmental Law (15 credits)
Global Business Regulation (15 credits)
Global Health Law (15 credits)

Medical Ethics & Law Modules

Moral Theory and Medical Ethics (30 credits)
Principles of Medical Law (30 credits)
Life, Death and the Human Body (30 credits)
Healthcare, Justice & Society (30 credits)

Advanced Methods Electives (SSPP)

Advanced Quantitative Methods (15 credits)
Advanced Qualitative Methods (15 credits)
Ethnographic Research (15 credits)