LLM in Public Law
The LLM in Public law is a one year full-time and two year part-time programme offered by DCU’s School of Law and Government. We welcome applicants from Ireland, the EU and the wider world who are interested in constitutional affairs, the courts, and how Irish, European and International public law functions. Students will learn about the process of judging, the importance of public institutions and how public law influences the social world in which we live.
The programme is designed to prepare students for the 21st century, where the world needs adaptable and outward-looking critical thinkers. The LLM in Public Law will provide students the opportunity to greatly develop their ability to analyse current issues in public law such as International law and conflict, climate change, and the role of the EU institutions (see section below for programme structure and module choice).
Programme Structure and Content
- Students will be on-site for timetabled classes for two or three days a week in each semester (depending on the module choices).
- Each semester runs for 12 weeks, semester one running from September to December and semester two running from January to April.
- Students will undertake a research dissertation on a subject related to Public Law (subject to approval from the programme chair) which is usually completed during the summer.
- Students will be supervised in their dissertation work by a member of staff and there will be a collective dissertation workshop after semester two.
- Students must take Legal and Socio-Legal Research Skills and Judges and Judging (semester one) plus the independent research Dissertation (15,000 words).
- Along with these compulsory courses, full time students choose four modules; one in the first semester, and three in the second semester. In year one, part-time students take the two compulsory modules in semester one and two modules in semester two.
Mandatory Modules
Judges and Judging
Legal and Socio-Legal Research Skills
Dissertation
Options
Semester 1
- Law, Ethics and the Person
- EU Institutional Law
- Principles of Public International Law
- International Law and Conflict
Semester 2
- European Employment Law
- Climate Change Law
- EU Banking and Finance Law
- Race, Minorities and Indigenous in International Law
- EU Trade Law and Policy
- European and International Human Rights Law
All optional modules will be offered, subject to staff availability and student demand in any year.
Programme Aims and Objectives
- To facilitate students analysing key issues in modern public law
- To create an authentically postgraduate and scholarly orientation with genuine intellectual depth through a small-group seminar model that promotes more intensive lecturer-student interaction
- To make graduates better problem-solvers, critical thinkers, and more confident advocates, thus preparing them for careers in law and public policy
Why Choose DCU?
- a young and innovative university with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research (consistently rated in the ‘Top 50 under 50’ by the QS World University Rankings)
- an English-speaking, European university engaged with Europe and the broader world, in an English-speaking country similarly engaged and committed
Why Do This Programme?
- A School with a strong research and teaching focus in public law including constitutional law, EU law and public international law.
- a programme designed to develop the student’s critical, analytical and interdisciplinary thinking skills so that they are better positioned for access to, and advancement within, higher-end careers in law firms and in governmental bodies
- a School with active links with major law firms; international and European institutions; NGOs; and other potential employers
- an environment that facilitates the student in preparing for a career in academia or research, with opportunities to edit and contribute to academic journals, blogs, and to present academic papers
- runs in conjunction with postgraduate programmes in international relations, public policy, privacy, climate change, international development.
Law postgraduates from DCU have established careers in the legal professions (including the bar), academia and research (including a high proportion in funded PhD programmes and research positions), as well as in public institutions and NGOs.
The LLM in Public Law is designed to make graduates better problem-solvers and more confident advocates: thus it prepares graduates for work as in-house lawyers, and for careers in government and non-governmental roles.
Potential Careers
- The legal professions
- Academia or research careers
- NGOs and advocacy
- Civil service and public administration
- European and international organisations
Requirements
For admission to the LLM in Public Law programme, successful applicants will have:
- Normally have achieved a Second Class Honours Grade One (H2.1) in a primary degree (level 08) in law or an interdisciplinary degree which includes law as a significant component.
- Applicants who have not achieved a H2.1 may apply but applications will be assessed on a competitive basis.
- If an applicant has not yet completed their degree, then a conditional offer may be made on the basis of most recent grades and pending the achievement of no less than a H2.2 degree.
- Applicants with appropriate combinations of professional qualifications and experience may also be considered. This includes discipline-specific knowledge and know-how; transferable skills; basic research competency; personal effectiveness.
- International candidates who are non-native speakers of English must satisfy the University of their competency in the English language. More information about DCU's English language requirements can be found here: https://www.dcu.ie/global