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LLM Professional Legal Skills Susan Blake Associate Dean, Programme Director

LLM Professional Legal Skills Susan Blake Associate Dean, Programme Director. World-class legal education in the heart of London. www.city.ac.uk/law. Key points. Running for 3 years and well established Focus is on high quality legal professional skills training

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LLM Professional Legal Skills Susan Blake Associate Dean, Programme Director

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  1. LLM Professional Legal Skills Susan Blake Associate Dean, Programme Director World-class legal education in the heart of London www.city.ac.uk/law

  2. Key points • Running for 3 years and well established • Focus is on high quality legal professional skills training • BVC is at Master’s level, expecting independent work, dealing with up to date issues in practice etc • The conversion is demanding and rigorous. Significant research leading to 15,000 – 20,000 word dissertation • The option is by selection. The dissertation proposal needs to be sufficiently developed to show you have realistic plans • This is a good way to “customise” your BVC

  3. Comparison with other LLMs • All LLMs must be taught at the same level and have similar overall workloads, so they are equal • Traditional LLMs have taught modules and a dissertation. For this LLM the BVC classes take the place of the taught modules • There has been a rapid growth in professionally focused Master’s degrees, and now Professional PhDs • Completing a dissertation underlines personal interest and commitment

  4. Course Outline • Structured supervision involves 4 or more 1:1 meetings • There needs to be a written agreement with the supervisor covering submission date, meetings, research etc • Support materials on research resources, literature searches, research techniques etc • There will be full access to the CLS library, IT facilities etc • Support seminars may be organised depending on the range of dissertations being completed

  5. Timescale • December 2008 Register on programme • Spring 2009 First supervision • September 2009 First submission date • March 2010 Submission date • September 2010 Final submission date • (unless extension justified and approved with additional fee) • The research and writing should take 500-600 hours (that is about 3 months of full time work)

  6. Logistics • You can complete the dissertation over the summer following the BVC, but that is hard work! • We encourage completing a dissertation while in chambers or doing legal work, but this needs discipline • It is possible to complete a dissertation remotely, so long as you will be able to carry out research • The dissertation must be based on English law, but can include a comparative study

  7. Application process • The application form is available to download from the website. Search for BVC LLM then click on application links. • Applications should be returned by 31 October 2008 • Successful applicants should be notified by the end of term • Register and pay the fee to take up the place • It will be possible to apply at the end of the BVC or in later years, but you must apply within 5 years of registering for the BVC

  8. Choosing a dissertation topic • Must be focussed on legal professional practice/procedure • An in depth examination of a particular area of evidence or procedure eg the review of conditional fee agreements • A critical consideration of an aspect of professional practice eg the validity of pre-nuptial agreements • Analysis of how a professional skill is applied in practice eg developing a theory for a case • A topic linked to work experience eg pro bono work • Choose a topic linked to the career you want to build

  9. Completing the Application Form • Must be a proper proposal, not a very vague idea • Provisional title for proposed dissertation • Summary of the proposed dissertation (500 words). Should cover subject matter, coverage, issues, what you hope to discover. • Summary of proposed methodology (500 words). Should cover approach, possible sources, literature search, any relevant empirical research. Also how you might analyse the material and reach conclusions.

  10. Completing the Application Form • Summary of reasons for wishing to complete the proposed dissertation (500 words). Should include reasons for interest in the area, any work done on the area before, and how the topic might fit with your career plans. • Proposed timeline. In broad terms, when would you envisage doing the research and producing a draft? • Current CV, focussing on legal knowledge, skills and experience appropriate to the dissertation • There is an option to submit one reference

  11. Selection criteria • The quality and suitability of the proposed dissertation topic • Whether coverage, methodology and timeline are reasonably developed • The reasons for wishing to complete the dissertation, and appropriateness of the proposed dissertation within the applicant’s developing career • Quality of academic and professional skills ability • Satisfactory attendance/performance on the BVC • Whether the CLS can provide an appropriate supervisor

  12. Further information • http://www.city.ac.uk/law/vocational/bvc_llm.html • …or search for “BVC LLM” • Application form at • Programme Director: Susan Blake • S.H.Blake@city.ac.uk • 0207 400 3623

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