The first postgraduate degree course in the UK to be devoted exclusively to criminal litigation, the Criminal Litigation LLM at The City Law School concentrates on the principles that lie behind the criminal justice system and the need to place those principles in a critical and comparative context. It has been designed to allow students to examine important areas of criminal litigation in greater depth than is usually possible either at undergraduate level or on a professional training course.

The course appeals to practitioners in the field of criminal justice, particularly solicitors, barristers, CPS employees and police officers. Lawyers at the start of their career have found this course helps them to build their knowledge and expertise in a specialist area.

Past students have also included lawyers on a career break and those seeking judicial appointment wishing to broaden their knowledge and raise their practical awareness. Many students have taken this LLM as an in-depth transition from their LLB or BA courses prior to studying for the Professional Training Course (BPTC) and Legal Practice Course (LPC).

The course is delivered at our Gray’s Inn campus alongside our BPTC and LPC. Students learn from a team of experts with considerable experience of professional education for lawyers and many years in practice. This unique mix of practice and educational experience is fully utilised on the LLM course.

Accreditation

The SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority) has approved this course for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for solicitors. Further details about CPD accreditation can be found at www.sra.org.uk.

Entry requirements

Applicants normally hold an upper second class Honours degree or the equivalent from an international institution. However, credit is given for an appropriate professional qualification and/or relevant work experience.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the following qualification is required:

• IELTS: 7 or above, with a minimum of 6 in each area
• TOEFL (internet-based): 107 or above.

• Full-time EU/ Non EU: £12,000

Postgraduate study at City University London is an affordable option for students from wide-ranging backgrounds. Although you will usually have to pay for postgraduate study yourself, many sources of funding exist, including scholarships, studentships and professional development loans. And during your time at City you can get financial advice and support from our award-winning Student Centre.

Rewarding excellence

Investing in your future through education and training is important and at The City Law School we understand how difficult it can be to make ends meet whilst studying.

Our range of scholarships, prizes and gifts are there to make things just that little bit easier for you. We offer a total of 17 full fee scholarships and 18 part fee scholarships, along with more than £35,000 worth of cash prizes. 

Masters of Excellence Award 

Our Masters of Excellence Award gives students the opportunity to apply for eight full fee scholarships when they accept their place on the following courses:

• International Commercial Law LLM, International Commercial Law MJur, EU Commercial Law LLM, International Banking and Finance LLM, International Competition Law LLM or Maritime Law LLM (UK)
• Criminal Litigation LLM
• Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution LLM
• Public International Law LLM.

The City Law School Prize for Excellence

Two prizes worth £1,500 are awarded to the students with the best overall result on the Maritime Law (Greece) LLM.

Three prizes of £1,500 each are awarded to the students that achieve the best overall result, best module performance and best dissertation in the following courses:

• Criminal Litigation LLM
• Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution LLM
• Public International Law LLM.

Future Lawyer Advancement Reward – £1,500 off your next course!

Once you have studied at City we are sure you will want to stay with us to progress to the next stage of your legal training. As an added incentive, we offer City students a loyalty reward upon enrolling on a second course here at the School (Taught LLMs, PhD/MPhil).

All you need to do is meet the minimum entry requirements for your second course and we will automatically take £1,500 off of your tuition fees.

City University London is proud to have a large population of international students. We are a truly global University, located in the heart of a cosmopolitan city, and we benefit from the diverse cultures, skills and experiences of our students. Our students benefit from our internationally recognised research and the quality of education that keeps us in the top 5% of universities worldwide.

Entry qualifications

To gain a place at City, you will need to meet the University’s general requirements and the specific requirements of the course. Our Admissions Office is experienced in dealing with international qualifications and can help you with any queries you may have.

English language courses and support

As City’s courses are taught in English, you will need to provide proof that you are competent in English before admission. We run full-time courses in English during the summer to help students improve their English before their course starts.

Visa requirements

City University London retains Highly Trusted Status from UKBA, enabling us to sponsor international students to study in the UK.

The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course at City, there are different rules for:

• Students on courses of more than six months
• Students on courses of less than six months
• Students on a pre-sessional English Language course.

For further information, please visit: www.city.ac.uk/international

Career opportunities

Upon successfully completing the modules and a dissertation, students are awarded the LLM in Criminal Litigation. Alternatively, students can be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate (upon successfully completing half of the taught modules) or the Postgraduate Diploma (completing all of the taught modules but no dissertation).

Our graduates have reported that the course has helped them to advance through gaining a promotion, changing careers or professional progression.

Graduates of this course possess a substantial understanding of the fundamentals of criminal litigation and enhanced analytical abilities. These attributes enable students to make a substantial contribution to the criminal justice system.

Career development

You will be given a personal tutor who will guide your academic and professional progress. City University London's Career Skills and Development Service provides a range of events and advice services that may help to make you aware of career options.

Postgraduate experience

Students who complete the LLM may wish to continue their academic studies by enrolling in a PhD or MPhil offered by The City Law School.