Dual Masters in Intellectual Property Law

LAWM640: Dissertation

This module is compulsory for students on the LLM programmes and relevant MRes programmes. It provides a valuable opportunity for you to gain experience in legal or socio-legal research, writing a dissertation on a particular legal or socio-legal topic of interest chosen by you and approved by your programme director.

You will be assigned an academic supervisor from the expertise available in the Law School, to match the proposed dissertation topic or your areas of interest. You will be given 3 research meetings with your supervisor during which they will guide your research and writing according to an individually agreed framework, but you are largely expected to determine your own deadlines and define your own work programme in order to meet the final submission deadline set by the Law School.

The module calls for excellent legal/socio-legal writing and research skills, personal discipline, and professional communication with the academic supervisor. For those of you who have not undertaken any large-scale legal research before, an introduction to the design and methodologies of legal research will be provided in Term 2. For those of you on the MRes programme, you are expected to draw on the grounding given in your core modules and any optional module relevant to your dissertation topic.

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LAWM166: Business and Human Rights Law and Policy

Since the adoption of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in 2011, business and human rights (BHR) has evolved into a complex and multi-faceted area of legal practice. This module will equip you with the practical and theoretical knowledge that you need to incorporate BHR into your career, whether in law, business, or policy making. As governments around the world have developed National Action Plans on business and human rights, and innovative legislation has been enacted, such as the French Duty of Vigilance Law of 2017, many of the world's major law firms have responded by developing dedicated BHR practice groups. This module will give you the background you need to engage effectively and knowledgeably in this exciting and growing area of expertise.

It is recommended, but not required, that students taking this module have some background in either human rights or business law.

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LAWM171: E-Commerce and Consumers

Consumer law plays a critical role in modern economy; supplying protection to the vulnerable in society, providing a framework for business in retail transactions. Digitalisation exacerbated transactional imbalances, due to architectural asymmetric design of the Internet. In this module, you explore: How traits of online transactions impact the market, consumers? What measures regulators adopted to assure effective consumer protection, further stimulation of e-Commerce?

Module is suitable for law and non-law students. Particularly suitable if you want to specialise in commercial/contract/competition law, law and technology, or if you are interested in business, digitalisation and consumer behaviour.

The module aims to provide a critical understanding of the instruments of European and English consumer law adopted to address risks that consumers and markets face as a result of digitalisation, and the era of Big Data.

The intention is to analyse legal solutions considering societal context and findings from consumer behaviour and/or market research. The analysis will be conducted considering benefits/drawbacks of adopted legal solutions to both consumer protection and market efficiency. Students should then gain understanding of the impact of legal frameworks in this area not only on consumer protection but also on costs of conducting business.

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LAWM174: International Arbitration

International arbitration is one of the most important methods for resolving international disputes. Disputes relating to foreign investments are often resolved by arbitration.

The module is suitable if you are interested in international commercial law and international dispute resolution. The module aims to provide you with a practical understanding of the mechanisms governing the arbitration of investment disputes and is thus particularly valuable for students considering working or pursuing further research in this area. No previous experience in the area is required/necessary.

The main aims of the module are to provide you with a solid understanding of international arbitration, its practical applications, alongside its underpinning legal principles. The module aims to provide legal insight in respect of many aspects of an international commercial arbitration agreement/procedure. This ranges from the procedural aspects of interational arbitration. These topics are the basis for critique of the resolution of disputes in the context of trade and investment.

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LAWM177: International Trade and Society

International trade is at the heart of world economy. Yet, the World Trade Organisation rules came under scrutiny for the way they affected societies. In this module you will discuss how WTO laws have raised issues regarding domestic regulation, food security, environment, public health and human rights. You will have a close look at the Agreements and at fundamental principles of non-discrimination as well as at their application and their interpretation by the WTO dispute settlement bodies. Due to the importance of these issues for domestic and global economy and the increasing number of inter-State trade agreements, the legal job market is looking for graduates who have adequate knowledge in this field. Therefore this module is suitable for anyone interested in a career in international trade and policy. The module doesn't require any prior knowledge or skills.

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LAWM178: LLM Law Clinic

The Community Law Clinic is a student-led pro bono opportunity run by the Law School. This module adopts experiential learning techniques to deliver a unique clinical experience as part of your LLM.

This module focuses on access to justice for those who are ineligible for legal aid but are otherwise unable to afford private legal advice. You will have the opportunity to undertake real casework for members of the public who have found themselves in a legal dispute. This module will enable you to develop the essential skills of communication, client interviewing, research, drafting legal advice and client record keeping. In addition, you will complete core clinic workshops on client skills, access to justice and professionalism.

Through this experiential learning you will be encouraged to reflect critically on your own individual learning process and gain a broader understanding of what access to justice really means and the barriers litigants in person face. This valuable clinical experience will increase employability for those wishing to go into the legal profession or any other professional service.

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LAWM183: International Banking and Fintech Law and Regulation

This module introduces you to key aspects of the operation of the law of international banking (and shadow banking) in the context of FinTech. You will start by exploring the role of banks in the economy and examining the regulatory structure in which banks operate at an international, EU and UK level, looking for example at the role the Financial Stability Board, the Bank of International Settlements, the European Central Bank, EU European Banking Authority and, in the UK, the role of the Prudential Regulatory Authority and Financial Conduct Authority. You will learn about the causes of the Global Financial Crisis and critically discuss the current regulatory and developments aimed at avoiding and mitigating current and future crises. You will review how common law influences the international banking regulatory scene through the banker-customer relationship. Further, you will consider the control of money laundering and terrorist financing, as well as the duties imposed on banks to assist law enforcement agencies. Finally, you will have an opportunity to put this knowledge in the context of FinTech developments (e.g blockchain, crypto currencies, quantum computing) that the global regulators and all major central banks currently engage with.

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LAWM191: Law, Digital Markets and Competition

The module focuses on studying the key elements of EU Digital Markets Act (DMA) and UK Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA). These rules have introduced a new regime for regulating competition in digital markets. You will learn the foundations of these two systems, the economic and commercial interests of the main stakeholders and mechanics of the legal rules underpinning the DMA and the DMCCA. You will examine the ways how the designated gatekeepers (Big Tech companies) comply with the new obligations imposed upon them by the DMCCA & DMA.

No prior knowledge of Competition Law is required for this module.

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LAWM193: Corporate Tax Law

Taxation law is a core element of commercial life. Each and every business will be required to deal with taxation and revenue requirements on a regular basis. This module will provide you with an introduction to the UK tax law system, consider corporation tax, capital gains tax and some aspects of international taxation.

The aim of the module is to provide you with a knowledge of UK tax law. The area of law is truly voluminous, which is why the module will focus on those aspects of the law that are most relevant to commercial practice. Students can learn some of the difficulties in ensuring the law adheres to the requirements of taxation; to be equitable, neutral, certain and administratively efficient. Students will learn about the schools of thought on how to approach taxation. The substantive focus will be on corporation tax, capital gains tax and some of the principles of international taxation. The challenge of tax avoidance will also be considered along with how the law is changing to overcome this challenge.

Where possible points will be illustrated using recent news reports on taxation law. Students can develop a critical understanding of the kinds of issue that face those seeking to apply and interpret the law.

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