Durham Law School | LLM Medical Law and Ethics

LLM Medical Law & Ethics at Durham University

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A multi and interdisciplinary course that offers an intellectually challenging exploration of the legal and ethical areas of medical practice that are growing in relevance and application to the modern world.

The LLM in Medical Law & Ethics explores some of the most intellectually challenging and sensitive areas of medical practice and science and, at the same time, develops your legal and ethical knowledge and skills in areas which continue to grow in significance. The course has been developed by specialists in the field who not only deliver the course, they are also involved in setting the legal agenda.

While the course is led by Durham Law School, you will have the opportunity to study modules from other Departments, ensuring you will gain a broad appreciation of the relevant areas of Law and Ethics.

You will also benefit from the research strengths and reputation of Durham’s Centre for Ethics & Law in the Life Sciences. As a Medical Law & Ethics student you will be invited to become a member of this vibrant team and encouraged to take part in the many activities organised by the Centre.

During the first two terms you will study taught modules selected from a wide variety of topics and then you will complete your studies by writing a dissertation on a Medical Law-related topic of your choice, under the supervision of a member of staff with expertise in your selected subject area.

Modules delivered by other Departments are diverse and include Divergence, Deviance &  Disability in 19th Century Literature, the Anthropology of Global Health and the Philosophical Issues in Science & Medicine.

Teaching is a mixture of lectures and smaller, student-led, seminar or tutorial groups, taught by lecturers who are actively researching in the areas that they teach and the dissertation is undertaken on an independent basis. We anticipate that students attending the course will be drawn from a broad range of countries and disciplines and believe that their diverse academic and professional experiences will enrich the course.

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!