General Law LLM

30 credits

Alternative Dispute Resolution is becoming increasingly important within the civil justice system and this module will provide students with an opportunity to evaluate the various methods available for resolving conflicts, including conciliation, mediation, negotiation and adjudication. Students will gain a theoretical and practical knowledge of dispute resolution procedures, particularly with reference to negotiation and mediation.

30 credits

Arbitration has been one of the most important processes for resolving disputes for several centuries and, although other methods of dispute resolution have evolved in recent years, (for example, mediation and conciliation), arbitration continues to retain its importance in both domestic and international contexts. This module seeks to provide a critical understanding of important aspects of international and domestic arbitrations. It explores the characteristics of arbitration and discusses its operation in various international forums. The main focus of this module is on arbitration on the international context, but reference is also made to domestic arbitration. It is assessed through coursework.

30 credits

This module provides an understanding of the potential problems posed as a result of the extensive power wielded by those in control of large companies and it explores ways in which society can control this. It aims to provide students with the opportunities to analyse the ways in which English law imposes liability on companies and with the understanding of how a business might be run, including the identification of any potential problems.

30 credits

This module examines the law relating to the individual relationship between an employer and a worker from its inception to its termination. Employment law is a dynamic amalgam of common law principles with significant statutory overlay.  International law, EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights are other important sources of employment law standards. This module explores the respective rights and duties of the parties to the employment relationship from a number of critical perspectives. There will be an emphasis on the most topical issues of the moment.

30 credits

This module seeks to provide one with detailed and systematic knowledge and understanding of the nature and forms of civil evidence. It explores the various techniques required in the assessment of evidence and in the analysis and drafting needed to prepare and write arbitral awards.

30 credits

International trade is an elective which would be of interest to students wishing to be employed in the commercial field in both the UK and overseas. This module covers the international legal and institutional framework for regulating international trade. The module helps students to understand different aspects of international law and be able to apply them to business and management problems arising in a global economy. It examines the legal, economic, political and institutional underpinnings of the world trade regime, the core principles and legal rules governing international trade in goods, and services. One of the focus will be the World Trade Organization (WTO), which began to work in 1995 as a general umbrella organization coordinating laws affecting trade, but is also having a much wider impact on the regulation of international business activities. It also examines the various contracts that are essential components of international trade transactions, such as international sales contracts, the contract of carriage and the insurance contract. In addition, legal issues arising from international trade and dispute settlement will be explored in the class.

30 credits

This module provides students with an overview of the legal issues concerning energy and climate change. It examines the legal frameworks that govern both international and domestic energy and climate change regimes. It does this within the context of the scientific, economic, social and political factors which influence the development of law and policy in this area. This module provides students with an understanding of the challenges that are faced in developing effective legal and policy solutions by evaluating existing methods and considering developments which are taking place on national and international levels.

30 credits

This module examines the regulation of collective labour relations between management and trade unions in the context of English law and international labour standards. This involves analysis of the development of collective institutions and procedures for the governance of labour relations at national and international levels. The study of labour law in a global context will be informed by policy debate on the effectiveness of enforcement of essential labour rights in a competitive economy.

30 credits

This module aims to provide students with an opportunity to gain an understanding of the methods available to businesses of raising finance. In particular, it seeks to identify the financial consequences of the choice of business form. Furthermore it is concerned with the legal rules, policy and theoretical underpinnings that exist to deal with insolvent juristic and natural persons. The corporate insolvency regimes (administration, company voluntary arrangements, schemes of arrangement) that facilitate rescue of the juristic person, as well as other avenues (liquidation, receivership, informal arrangements) are critically examined in this module, in addition to the procedures that exist for natural persons (bankruptcy, individual voluntary arrangements, debt relief orders). The relative use of each procedure, relevant case law and statute and academic and practitioner comment is examined so as to posit each procedure in their relevant practical context.

30 credits

From the origins of human rights discourse there has been a struggle for women to be seen as equal. Patriarchal societies and laws made by men to benefit men left women fighting for recognition to equal rights and protection under the law, from voting rights, the ability to own property and the right to work.

The concept of universalism in international law and prevailing concepts of non-discrimination have gone far in ensuring formal equality between the sexed under the law. However, there are still many areas in which the struggle is ongoing; from human rights law to family law, medical law to criminal law and employment law there are a multitude of scenarios in which women's rights fall short.

This module examines some of these core areas where the law has a significant and profound impact on women, examining the rationale behind these areas of legislation/regulation and analysing the impact that they have on women.

The overarching concept in this module is addressing whether women are, in the eyes of the law and society, equal by taking a critical approach to the areas examined while also addressing the underlying socio-economic factors that contribute.

30 credits

This module covers the formation and termination of marriage and civil partnership; how occupation and ownership of the family home is regulated and how effective these remedies are in cases of domestic abuse; the law's approach to finance and property division on divorce and maintenance for children, comparing this approach with the regulation of cohabitation.

The module then goes on to consider legal parentage and parenthood, parental responsibility and the regulation of disputes between parents about their children. Finally, local authority provision for vulnerable children and those who are experiencing harm in their families is considered, and adoption as a solution for children who cannot live with their birth families will be covered.

30 credits

This module explores the role of law in responding to, and shaping, technological innovation. It is designed to give students the competitive edge in evolving legal and non-legal markets that embrace technological development. Particular focus is given to standards and regulations of artificial intelligence, cyberspace and cybercrime, e-commerce, employment, environment, healthcare, intellectual property and outer space. These areas are of particular importance in the current global market. These are also the areas of research undertaken by academic members of staff at Kingston University, involved in teaching and development of the module. The module implements an international and interdisciplinary approach, covering different jurisdictions, technologies, and industries.

30 credits

This module offers a consideration of the legal challenges posed by the contemporary development of law in global and transnational directions; reflecting on the tools and perspectives available to address these challenges.

The module will consider law's ‘space' in an increasingly globalised world and some of the challenges posed by the tendency for law to apply beyond conventional state boundaries.

It will provide students with an appreciation of major aspects of contemporary jurisprudential thinking (including the concept of ‘globalisation' itself) and emerging legal perspectives and responses, such as the re-emergence of ‘cosmopolitanism' in juridico-political thought, encouraging reflection on the relative strengths and weaknesses of these perspectives.