Durham Law School | LLM International Dispute Resolution

LLM International Dispute Resolution at Durham University

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Our LLM in International Dispute Resolution provides you with you with an advanced understanding of International Arbitration Law.

In the first term, you will take a compulsory module providing a solid grounding in the subject. In the second term, you have the opportunity to take more advanced core modules that cover a range of topics in International Dispute Resolution. On completion of your choice of taught modules, you will be able to apply the knowledge, lawyering skills and legal reasoning to real-life situations to resolve issues, problems and disputes within the legal parameters.

We deliver teaching through student-led seminars. Your dissertation is pursued by independent research with individual supervision.  You will be part of an inclusive and diverse community of students from different countries and backgrounds, who enrich the course with their academic and professional experiences.

Durham Law School hosts the Durham International Dispute Resolution Institute and the Institute of Commercial & Corporate Law. You are encouraged to participate in their many activities. Upon completing the curriculum, you will be able to demonstrate a strong understanding of legal knowledge and be able to critically analyse and evaluate legal principles and arguments at a required level to meet the legal profession’s standards and expectations and the community. You will also be able to present effective legal arguments in the professional context and explain the Law effectively to lay clients and members of the larger community.

Students join the LLM from a broad range of countries and backgrounds, enriching the learning experience through the academic or professional experience they bring to the course. You will be able to participate in activities hosted by research centres who have their homes in the Law School, including the Institute for Commercial & Corporate Law, the Durham European Law Institute, the Centre for Criminal Law & Criminal Justice, Law & Global Justice at Durham and the Human Rights Centre.

We are fully aware of the degree of competition that exists in securing a role in the legal profession and the Law School provides a range of resources to help alumni stand out as ideal candidates during the recruitment process. This includes detailed information about the steps involved in becoming a Solicitor or Barrister, visits from law firms and guidance on preparing for interviews and assessment days.

Durham Law School graduates are highly sought after by leading national and international law firms. To promote career opportunities, these law firms regularly visit Durham University or offer online events exclusively for Durham students.

Durham Law School offers students online access to a comprehensive Employability Handbook that includes detailed timelines on the steps involved from starting as a first-year Law undergraduate to becoming a Solicitor or Barrister, and guidance on preparing for interviews and assessment days.

Students have access to the Durham University Careers & Enterprise Centre which supports students in developing their career planning and employability skills.  It is a free service and is available to students throughout the duration of their academic studies.

The Durham University Law Society, supported by Durham Law School, organises the Peer Mentorship Scheme. This Scheme provides students who take up that option with a student mentor in another year who can offer support and advice in relation to all of the opportunities available at Durham Law School, including societies and module choices.  This opportunity is available to first year Law undergraduates who will have the opportunity to be connected with a peer mentor who is a year two or year three law undergraduate.

In addition, the Durham University Law Society runs a mentoring scheme which connects second and third year law school students with Durham alumni who can offer support and advice in connection with career and other development.

Durham Law School's academic staff produce world-leading research creating significant legal impact. The School's scholars advise parliamentarians and policy-makers around the world, called to give evidence in Parliament, and have their research cited and quoted by the courts and international bodies.

Durham Law School is proud of its dynamic, diverse and high-achieving community of postgraduate researchers. We currently have over 70 excellent research students - from around the UK, mainland Europe and all corners of the globe - carrying out work under the supervision of our academic staff, many of whom are global leaders in their field.

Research students are integrated fully into the life of the Law School. All research students become a member of at least one research centre or group. These groups include the Human Rights Centre, Durham European Law Institute, Law & Global Justice and Gender & Law at Durham. A full list of our centres and groups are available online. Research students participate fully in the research events of these centres and groups, and opportunities exist for them to play an active role in their organisation by becoming Deputy Conveners.

To facilitate our students’ engagement with external activities and conferences while studying at Durham University, the School provides a competitive postgraduate funding scheme, which in the past year provided £16k to support research students in attending research events in the UK, France, the US, Switzerland, Ireland, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Turkiye and Nigeria.

In addition to the formal supervision process, our research students have opportunities for intellectual stimulation and development through the Law School’s and University Graduate School’s Training Programmes. These offer insights into research methods, qualitative and quantitative databases and time management. The courses also help students manage their research projects, plan their future careers and provide an excellent opportunity to meet students from across the many subject disciplines studied at Durham University.

Durham University: Inspiring the Extraordinary

We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world.

A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting - Durham is a university like no other!