Socio-legal courses

This page draws together postgraduate courses which focus on socio-legal studies or have a socio-legal approach to research. If you would like your course to appear on this page, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

MA in medical law & ethics

Queen Mary, University of London 

This master's level course will provide students, from both a legal and a non-legal background, with an advanced understanding of the ethical and legal issues raised by scientific advances and contemporary medical practice and policy. It can be taken full-time in one year, or part-time over two years.

Contact details

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MA by research in law

Queen Mary, University of London

The MA by Research is provided for students wishing to undertake in-depth, individually supervised research on topics of their own choice. It is ideal either for students wishing to proceed to doctoral study, or simply for students wishing to enhance their career prospects by developing expertise in a specific area of law. Theoretical and interdisciplinary, as well as more practical and traditional approaches, are all accommodated in this programme.

All students enrolled in this programme will attend a research methods course, exposing them to a broad range of theoretical and practical approaches to legal research. The bulk of the course, however, will consist of a programme of individual research devised specifically to support the student’s individual research interests. Students who perform well in their dissertation are eligible for admission to the Phd programme.

Contact details
  • Janette Monk
    tel: +44 (0)20 7882 5139
    fax: +44 (0)20 8981 8733 

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MSc in socio-legal studies

University of Bristol 

The socio-legal studies programme at the University of Bristol is a taught-level Masters Course which also provides an entrée into a 3 year PhD Programme in Socio-legal Studies (also accredited by the ESRC).

The MSc offers a range of units, suitable for graduates from any discipline who have an interest in the way law works in society. The programme of study is interdisciplinary. Students take a core of three compulsory units from sociology, two further compulsory courses from law tailored specifically for socio-legal students without law backgrounds, and an optional subject that can be taken almost anywhere in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law (and even beyond in Social Anthropology). A 10,000–15,000 word dissertation completes the programme.

Contact details 
  • downloadable application form and guidelines on writing a research proposal 
  • This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • website 

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MRes in criminology & socio-legal studies

University of Manchester 

The School of Law at the University of Manchester is offering a MRes in criminology and socio-legal studies commencing September 2007. The programme will run for one year full-time (or two years part-time) in which students undertake taught courses totalling 120 credits, and to write a research dissertation.

Students will be able to choose between specialisations in either criminology and socio-legal studies. Students taking the socio-legal studies specialisation will study at least 60 credits of core units that focus on the conduct of socio-legal research. These units cover topics such as: conducting socio-legal research; qualitative and quantitative research methods and analysis; evaluation and policy research; and sociological theories of law and society. At least 30 credits of taught courses include options that cover substantial issues in socio-legal studies and will cover topics such as: economic analysis for law and policy; the meaning and use of surveillance within the criminal justice system; corporate environmental responsibility; corporate governance and social responsibility; risk and society; relationship between law and economic development; and strategies of conflict.

Contact details
  • More information at the School of Law website

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MRes in social science research in law

Keele University 

This is a new interdisciplinary masters programme in socio-legal studies offered by the School of Law at Keele University. The programme offers the opportunity to acquire research skills and knowledge in socio-legal studies. Socio-legal studies critically examines the law in its political, economic and social contexts. The MRes in social science research in law prepares for careers in social science research relating to law in government, academia and consultancies. It also provides the necessary research training for the pursuit of a doctorate in the field of socio-legal studies. The new MRes draws on the considerable research expertise and reputations of staff from Keele law school as well as staff from criminology and sociology who also teach on this course.

This course is designed for students who have completed a first degree in law, sociology, criminology or politics and for professionals already working in legal research careers in the public or private sector who want to further develop their research skills.

There are six core modules: introduction to socio-legal research methods; innovation and creativity in socio-legal research; socio-legal theory; research design and process; qualitative research or ethnographic research; and quantitative research. A dissertation is also required.

Contact details
  • Course director: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    tel 0044 1782 58 43 58

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MA in European environmental politics & regulation

Keele University 

This is a new interdisciplinary masters program offered by the Department of Politics and International Relations and the School of Law at Keele University. This programme is currently being approved by Keele University as a new course. As recent debates about global climate change illustrate, the management of environmental risks is now a key topic in political and legal debates, both in the general media as well as in academic research and teaching. Moreover, recognition of the significance of environmental dimensions of  social organisation has been the springboard for key new intellectual developments within the social sciences, such as work on the ‘risk society’ as well as new forms of governance and regulation. Increasingly the management of environmental risks occurs at supranational and international levels, with the European Union being a key player both in international relations and domestic politics, by shaping the environmental policies of its current 25 member states. The new MA provides an opportunity to focus on learning about the European Union’s response to environmental problems. The programme is unique because it combines the study of EU environmental politics and EU legal regulation. It also offers the opportunity to pursue modern European languages training. In an expanding European Union, language skills are important for effectively participating in environmental policy development and understanding environmental legal developments which originate from outside the UK.

The course is designed for students who have completed a first degree in politics, international relations, EU studies, law, environmental sciences, human geography and professionals already working in environmental management and legal practice.

There are three core modules: the European Union and the global commons; environmental risk regulation in the European Union; research training in politics, international relations and the environment legal research methods; and a choice from a range of optional modules.

Contact details
  • Course director: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    tel 0044 1782 58 43 58

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Postgraduate programmes at QUB

Queen's University Belfast 

The Law School at QUB is home to internationally renowned research centres in human rights, criminology and criminal justice, and governance. Applications are currently invited for the following taught postgraduate programmes: LLM in human rights law; LLM in human rights (cross border); LLM/MSSc in human rights and criminal justice; LLM in law and governance; LLM in human rights and criminal justice (cross border); LLM in corporate governance and public policy; MSSc in criminology; MSSc in criminal justice; MLegSc Masters in Legal Science. A number of studentships are also available for the taught programmes for outstanding research candidates.

Contact details 
  • Further information on closing dates and applications forms at
    This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    tel +44(0)28 90973451 
    website

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MA(PGDip/PGCert) in criminology

University of Brighton

The MA Criminology at the University of Brighton offers an opportunity for rigorous, critical and theoretical analysis of crime, criminality and justice. This course is primarily sociological and criminological in its focus, designed for students with an undergraduate background in a relevant social science. Prior study of criminology is not required, although it would be helpful. The course promotes innovative reflection on contemporary issues of crime and justice and develops applied research and academic skills.

 

Students of all nationalities are welcome to apply. Graduates leave equipped with skills relevant to a range of careers in criminal justice, community and voluntary organisations, research and development, amongst others. Themes and topics include theoretical issues in contemporary criminology, youth justice, violence culture and society, substance misuse, governing urban disorder, policing and society.

Key Staff: Craig Johnstone, Lynda Measor, Peter Squires, Dawn Stephen, Paula Wilcox (course leader)

Contact details
  • For more information about staff research interests visit the university website
  • For information about the course or applying please contact
    This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    tel +44 (0)1273 643494

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MA in socio-legal research

University of Sheffield

The Centre for the Study of Law in Society at the University of Sheffield is launching a new MA programme in socio-legal Research. The aims of the programme are to respond to the need for the UK to develop research capacity in all types of legal research, in particular socio-legal research, as recognised by the research councils, the learned societies for law (SLS and SLSA), the Committee of Heads of Law Schools, and independent research such as the Nuffield Foundation Inquiry into Empirical Research in Law (2006). The programme consists of compulsory modules in legal research methods and socio-legal theory and methods, as well as modules in social science research theory, qualitative and quantitative research, and a dissertation. A wide range of optional modules from among those offered in the School of Law and other departments in cognate disciplines is available.

Contact details
  • Further details are available from the law school website 
  • or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

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LLM in EU Law and Comparative Legal Studies

University of Essex

Full-time or part-time

This LLM in EU law and Comparative Legal Studies at the University of Essex offers an opportunity for developing students' ability to understand law in a global and comparative context. This scheme is primarily designed for students with an undergraduate background in law but social and political scientists may be considered. It promotes both cute edge teaching of EU law and innovative comparative law courses imbedded in the current issues like globalisation and transnationalisation of law.

  • Full details are available from the law school website

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MA in international childhood studies

University of Sheffield

This new MA, which is provided in close collaboration with the University’s Centre for the Study of Childhood and Youth, is an innovative and exciting programme that explores recent developments in the study of the social construction of childhood. Providing first-class teaching by scholars of international repute, it offers the opportunity to learn in a research-led, inter-disciplinary environment. The programme will provide an excellent grounding for those wishing to pursue or develop further their careers and skills as researchers and practitioners. It will especially benefit those working for the continued development of services and rights for children, whether in the public, private or not-for-profit (NGO) sectors. 

  • Additional details can be found at the website
  • For informal discussion, please contact Professor Adrian James
  • For programme information and application forms, please contact: 
    Graduate Admissions
    Department of Sociological Studies
    University of Sheffield S10 2TU
  • tel 0114 222 6401
  • This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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MRes in socio-legal research

University of Exeter

The MRes in Socio-Legal Research is an interdisciplinary research training Masters programme.  It aims to provide training in socio-legal research skills to enable students interested in interdisciplinary approaches to carry out doctoral level research using legal and socio-legal methodology or alternatively to embark on a career as a specialist socio-legal researcher. The programme has been awarded Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) recognition, and was developed to meet with ESRC research training requirements, as the main funder of postgraduate research studentships in the UK. Applications are welcome from graduates in Law or any other Social Science discipline.The programme structure involves students taking 180 credits in total over a 12-month period – six taught modules worth a total of 120 credits followed by a dissertation module worth 60 credits.The taught programme has three elements. It first offers research training in generic social-science skills which provide students with a solid basis in social science theory and methodology through modules offered to all social science post-graduates across the university. These are then built on within the socio-legal context through two skills-based modules offered by the Law School. Students then choose one of the 15 specialist modules offered which reflect the socio-legal research expertise of staff within the Law School.

Contacts 

  • For further information see our website
  • or contact the Programme Director, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • For an application form, contact the Law Postgraduate Secretary  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • or apply online. 

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LLM/MSc in oil and gas law (distance learning)

Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen

The Department of Law at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen has launched the first one-year postgraduate masters degree in oil and gas law which is delivered solely online. The LLM/MSc Oil and Gas Law is aimed primarily at graduates with a law background but is also suited to graduates of other disciplines who would benefit from legal training in relation to their work. The course is designed to equip students with the analytical skills and knowledge to provide them with a solid foundation for work in the oil and gas sector and enable them to undertake more challenging roles within their present employment.

The distance-learning mode has been developed to accommodate the increasing number of oil industry professionals who need some law training but find it difficult to commit because of their work and schedules.

Students will critically assess and examine key legal issues in the oil and gas sector, both in the UK and in other leading jurisdictions. Course materials have been prepared and are delivered by specialist oil and gas industry lawyers and academics in the Department of Law. The online course also includes material on the environmental aspects of oil and gas law.

The Robert Gordon University has recently been quoted as the best modern university in the UK and is consistently ranked as one of the top universities for graduate-level employment.  RGU oil and gas law graduates are employed worldwide in all sectors – industrial, governmental, technical, administrative, operational and self-employed – in companies such as Agip, Halliburton, Amec, Marathon, Schlumberger, Shell, Stolt Offshore, Total and Weatherford.

Contacts

  • This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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LLM/MSc in international trade

Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen

The LLM/MSc in international trade combines academic and practical elements in the study of international trade with the legal framework, policy-driving organisations and economics. The objective is to provide a modern, multi-disciplinary course which combines investigation into contemporary, topical and relevant subject material with the fostering and refining of legal research and transferable skills, thereby enhancing career prospects. In an ever-changing and competitive market there is a clear need for professionals who come equipped with cutting-edge, up-to-date knowledge and understanding of commercially relevant aspects of international trade, such as the regulation of contracts, managing intellectual assets, economics and public policy, the resolution of disputes and corporate governance.

For more information, download further details.

Contacts

  • This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    Lecturer & Course Leader
    Department of Law
    Aberdeen Business School
    Garthdee Road
    Aberdeen AB10 7QE
    United Kingdom
  • tel +44 1224 263410

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Three new LLM programmes

Newcastle Law School

Newcastle Law School is pleased to announce three new LLM programmes in international business law, environmental regulation and sustainable development, and international legal studies. The new LLM programmes will commence in September 2011. The new programmes aim to provide specialised expertise and knowledge in the respective fields of study with a combination of compulsory and optional, short and long modules. Some of the new attractive modules include 'Legal and regulatory aspects of money laundering and financial crime'; 'International commercial arbitration; 'International sale of goods'; 'International law of credit and security; 'Legal and regulatory aspects of banking supervision'; 'Biodiversity and natural resources'; 'Science, climate change and environmental justice'; 'International criminal law'; and 'Contemporary problems of international law and international dispute settlement'.

Applications are welcomed by candidates with non-legal degrees. The Law School is also pleased to announce a number of international scholarships. For more information please email the law school.

Contacts

  • website
  • Newcastle Law School
    21–24 Windsor Terrace
    Newcastle-upon-Tyne
    NE1 7RU
  • tel +44 0191 2227941
  • This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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