Open the door to an international career in law
Year of entry: 2020
Join us at our next online event on Thursday 4 June. Chat with current students and academic staff to discover more about postgraduate study at York.
Find out moreLearn from experienced legal professionals and world-class academics as you immerse yourself in realistic simulations of legal practice.
Intellectually challenging and skills-focused, this course will ensure you are ready to embrace the challenges of an international career in law. You'll be challenged to identify client interests, analyse legal issues, research relevant law and procedure and develop solutions.
We teach in small groups using our groundbreaking Problem Based Learning methodology to develop your personal, professional and legal skills.
You'll graduate with a unique combination of insight into how professional legal practice works. These legal and interpersonal skills and values will enable you to perform at the highest levels and in firms of all types. The JD (Juris Doctor) is recognised across the globe as an entry-level qualification into legal practice. Subject to any local requirements, completing this course could be a stepping stone to sitting Bar exams in jurisdictions as diverse as the USA, Australia and Hong Kong.
This degree is a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD)*, accredited by the Bar Standards Board and Solicitors Regulation Authority.
*The Solicitors Regulation Authority is making changes to the system of qualification in England and Wales. These may affect the status of 'Qualifying Law Degrees' for all Law Schools.
The Department was equal fifth in the Times Higher Education's rankings of the 2014 Research Excellence Framework assessment results and had the highest overall proportion of research designated as internationally excellent or world-leading.
A key feature of our course is problem-based learning - a modern, dynamic learning method that ensures you experience and understand law in its practical, social and theoretical contexts.
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 develop an understanding of how professional ethics guide and inform practice, as well as vitally important legal skills such as critical thinking, communication and teamwork.
In your final year, you'll form a simulated Law Firm with a small group of fellow students, which will reflect the reality of legal practice. Under the supervision of a Supervising Partner, who will ordinarily have a background in legal practice, you will work on a variety of client matters and transactions, developed in consultation with legal practitioners. These will involve the core practice areas of a commercial law firm (business, real estate and dispute resolution).
Core modules
Core modules
Option modules
You'll also choose two option modules from options that may include:
Please note, modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
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.
| Study mode | UK/EU | International |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (3 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. |
£9,250 | £17,890 |
Students on a Tier 4 Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study. Fees for subsequent years are subject to increase (no more than 2% each year).
UK/EU or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK/EU or international student.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
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 you will see the 'messiness' of law as it arises in real-world contexts.
Your firm will be faced with complex legal issues as part of each of your modules. You will learn to identify the key legal principles and establish what you know and what you need to ascertain in order to unravel the problem. Through the process, you will reflect on deeper social and theoretical issues, such as questions of justice, fairness and human rights. Tutor-facilitators will guide you through particular points and issues, helping you to gain the maximum possible from each study.
You'll also learn through a range of other resources including plenary lectures, written subject guides and a variety of relevant material in our virtual learning environment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=637V80WxvLw
York Law School is located on Campus East. Nearly all of your teaching will take place within the Law and Management building or nearby on Campus East.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
You'll produce a range of internal and client-focused reports and pieces of legal advice, legal documents and presentations. You'll also prepare an extended piece of professional writing in the form of a major piece of client advice or a practice know-how report set by a current legal professional.
The LLM Law (Juris Doctor) is a key stepping stone to legal practice in jurisdictions across the globe. As an internationally recognised qualification with an emphasis on combining functioning legal knowledge and a strong base of practice skills, it provides a clear pathway into the law and legal services sector and corporate/commercial practice.
The PBL approach together with masterclasses from practitioners and professionals develops students' commercial and client awareness. You'll have access to Link Days with law firms, plus a full range of employability sessions and networking opportunities on legal and other careers, arranged and facilitated by the Law School's dedicated law employability tutor.
Many graduates pursue careers such as:
Some of our students also go on to work in sectors not directly related to law such as:
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:1 or equivalent |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 7.0, minimum 7.0 in Writing and 6.5 in all other components |
| PTE Academic | 67, minimum 67 in Writing and 61 in all other components |
| C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency | 185, minimum 185 in Writing and 176 in all other components |
| TOEFL | 96, minimum 24 in Writing and 23 in all other components |
| Trinity ISE III | Distinction in all components |
| Duolingo | Minimum overall score of 125 |
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 IELTS 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 electronically through our online system. 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.
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to premium.
Explore campus and city life and hear what our current students have to say about living here.
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