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Last modified June 25, 2008 by Louisa Smith
LLM International Human Rights
A Masters in International Human Rights Law will enable you to specialise and hone your legal skills in the subject area.
Why study the LLM International Human Rights at Birmingham City University?
- From academic year 2007/2008 there will be two start dates in both September and January, offering more flexibility to students.
- A three month internship in America, working in an American legal firm or Public Defender's Office.
- Opportunities to work directly with human rights organisations around the world, such as international institutions or tribunals, NGOs and lawyers.
- The possibility for some students to attend the Annual Session of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR) in Geneva.
- The opportunity to be creative through your own individual human rights project.
| FULL-TIME | PART-TIME | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 1 year | 2 years |
| Fees | £3600 | £1980 per year |
| Start Dates | September and January | |
| Study Commitment | 6 hours teaching per week | 4 hours teaching per week |
| Private Study | Private study, reading and preparation in your own time will be expected |
|
| Placement Opportunities | US/International Placement | |
| Entry Requirements | Normally a good law degree or degree which includes law as a substantial component will be required, or ability to demonstrate legal knowledge or experience. | |
| Apply | Direct to Admissions Office | |
LLMS are an increasingly common and important feature of legal education around the world. they typically require one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study. If you have studied law, have a degree with law as a major component, or have extensive experience of working in the legal sector a masters in law (LLM) will give you additional expertise in a specific area of the law. It is not just the increased complexity of legal practice that may make you choose to complete an LLM, you may want to strengthen your core skills – writing and research, to be a better lawyer.
You may be considering a LLM to develop your career, change employer, change the field in which you work, earn more money or move into teaching law. there is no set time to do an LLM. Some people do so immediately after completing their first law degree, whereas others wait until they have been in practice for many years.
We offer the course in two pathways, U.S and International. You will take all compulsory modules to give a base level of understanding in a complex area of the law.
US Pathway
This pathway focuses on the conflict between the American constitution, American law and international human rights standards. Most students on this pathway undertake the US Placement; but if you do not travel to the US you will be involved in the preparation of an‘Amicus’ brief, arguing a point of human rights law for submission to the US Supreme Court.
International pathway
The International pathway examines human rights from both a global and local perspective. For the Human Rights Internship, students work as interns with lawyers, organisations, institutions or tribunals either overseas or in the UK to contribute to the research and preparation of cases or projects relating to human rights or social justice. If you do not undertake an internship you will design and execute your own practical human rights project locally.
Employability
Many students are already working in or have experience of the voluntary sector where they have dealt with issues relating to refugees and human rights breaches. The course will help you gain experience in this sector of legal work enabling
you to build a career in areas such as United Nations Agencies, Civilian Peacekeeping, Foreign Office/ Dept for International Development , Specialist Human Rights Law practice, International Tribunals and the International Criminal Court.
Examples of further study opportunities at Birmingham City University
As an international student, originally from, Argentina, I liked the diversity of a big city like Birmingham and was impressed with the experienced and friendly staff here. For my dissertation I wanted to analyze how the “best interest of the child principle” was taken into consideration in a refugee context particularly with the unaccompanied minors (UAMs).
I had the opportunity to go to the refugee camps in Nzerekore, Guinea, where hundreds of UAMs sought refuge after the atrocities committed by Charles Taylor during his tenure in Liberia from 1997 to 2003. The LLM in International Human Rights has helped to give me the tools I need to make a difference, part of the reason I have gained so much from the unforgettable experience at Birmingham City University.
Justo Casal
Contact Details
Faculty Admissions Office
Level 4, Dawson Building
Birmingham City University
City North Campus
Birmingham B42 2SU
Email:law@bcu.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 121 331 6600
Fax: +44 (0) 121 331 6622