The term ‘LLM’ stands for Legum Magister, which is Latin for ‘Master of Laws’. The degree is a historic and well-established legal qualification, recognized in higher education systems around the world.
An LLM is a non-professional qualification. You don’t need an LLM qualification to practice law, but the advanced training and expertise you’ll gain can make you more attractive to law firms.
Most programs are quite specialized, allowing you to study a specific branch of law in depth.
This can be useful if you wish to enter a specific area of legal practice – such as criminal law or family law.
LLM programs can also benefit careers in other fields. If you work in business or management, for example, you may benefit from a knowledge of relevant economic and corporate law.
Some universities offer LLM degrees in conjunction with a Legal Practice Course (LPC). The LPC is an important step on the way to becoming a qualified solicitor and has a more vocational focus than the LLM.