In the first two years of the programme, you will work collaboratively with around 12 other students on a series of real-life legal problems. These will develop your knowledge of the core legal subjects:
You will also, in our core Skills modules, develop a range of professional legal skills, such as writing, interviewing, negotiation and advocacy. These will supplement other vital skills, including critical thinking, communication and teamwork.
In your second and third years, you'll have the opportunity to develop your specific legal and career interests from a selection of option modules that span a wide range of areas of law and practice. This covers corporate, commercial, human rights, international, constitutional and criminal law, as well as legal theory and philosophy. You will complete your final year with an independent learning project that will enable you to pursue an area of interest related to modern legal practice, drafting a piece of professional know-how.
Core modules:
Core modules:
You will also study two option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
You will also study three option modules in Semester 1 and three option modules in Semester 2. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
York Law School is the only Law School in the UK to build its LLM (JD) programme around problem-based learning. In PBL, you will encounter a range of authentic 'problem' scenarios raising a wide range of legal issues. These will usually involve more than one area of law, so you will come to understand the interrelationships between areas of law that exist in practice and society, and the 'messiness' of law as it arises in real-world contexts.
In addition to PBL, you will learn through simulations of legal transactions and matters, as well as traditional seminars, tutorials and lectures. Through this variety of learning approaches, you will develop an understanding of legal practice, as well as reflect on deeper social and theoretical issues, such as questions of justice, fairness and human rights. Tutors will guide and facilitate your learning, helping you to gain the maximum possible from each mode of learning.
Your learning will also be supported by a range of learning resources, including subject guides, legal documentation, realistic client scenarios, and a variety of other materials in our virtual learning environment.
York Law School is located on Campus East. Nearly all of your teaching will take place within the Law and Sociology building or nearby on Campus East.
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements .
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses . These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York .
You can apply and send all your documentation online. You don’t need to complete your application all at once: you can start it, save it and finish it later.
Part of our selection process involves a formal interview. The interview is designed to explore and assess attributes and competencies, such as your suitability for problem-based learning, from your written application. We want to identify students who are best suited to our unique learning environment, and so are likely to thrive here. It is also a means by which you can find out more about the programme. If you want to find out more, you can read our interview guide.
As we interview, we do not require the LNAT to apply for our course.
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