LLM Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law (Part Time)
Key Details
- Attendance
- Part Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Laws
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2024
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Course Overview
Information Technologies and Intellectual Property have become ubiquitous in modern day life. On this course you will bring together two of the most important legal questions of the 21st century: the fate of law in the information age, and the management and exploitation of diverse forms of creativity, reputation and innovation in a digital age, and debate the answers to them.
You will study with a strong team of scholars investigating everything from Intellectual Property enforcement to the rights and risks associated with the Information Age. You will graduate with the legal knowledge and skills needed for a successful career in IT and/or IP law. You could also go on to academic legal research or work for a law reform body or legal pressure group. Alternatively, you could continue your studies with an MPhil or PhD.
Study at UEA Law School and you will be joining a School that excels in its dedication to offering intellectually diverse, varied and stimulating postgraduate courses, supported by a wide range of subjects or modules taught by leading experts. The School is based in Earlham Hall, a building of significant historical importance, built in 1642 but recently refurbished.
Each year we welcome around 100 postgraduate students from a wide variety of geographical and personal backgrounds, and it is the vibrant and dynamic community they create that completes the student experience.
We place significant emphasis on choice, building your confidence, maximising your employability, and developing adaptable transferable skills. We believe small-group teaching at postgraduate level is important, and we aim to keep class sizes low, offering you an unparalleled personal teaching environment with access to our team of international specialists drawn from academia and practice.
We also believe practical and careers experience is extremely valuable, and we’ve developed a programme of opportunities tailored specifically to the needs of our postgraduate students, including placement opportunities for both UK and overseas students. You will have many other opportunities to build your skills, confidence and professional CV through extra-curricular activities and the Law School’s unique employability programme. You could also benefit from the alumni-mentoring scheme, where Law School graduates offer career mentoring to individual students. Our many events with law firms, barrister chambers and alumni create great opportunities for finding out about the options for when you graduate. You could make a difference in the local community, working for the public good (pro bono). In less than five years, our students have recovered no less than £7 million for welfare benefits claimants wrongly denied payments. We have won the national LawWorks Best Partnership in Pro Bono award no fewer than four times.
You can also have fun, build your profile and hone valuable skills by joining in Law Society activities. As well as social events, these include beginner and advanced mooting contests where a point of law is debated in a simulated court hearing. Finals are judged by actual judges or barristers. The Law Society also holds negotiation, client interviewing, mediation and legal triathlon competitions, the finals of which are hosted by law firms. In 2016 the UEA Law Society won LawCareers.Net award for ‘Best Pro Bono’ activities and in 2019 the award as the best law society for Commercial Awareness.
Law Masters (LLM) degrees are increasingly seen by employers as a means to distinguish applicants. Our graduates have progressed to a wide variety of successful careers, from private practice to government legal departments and international organisations, and from universities to industry and commerce.
Study and Modules
Structure
In year 1, you will undertake the compulsory non-credit bearing Postgraduate Legal Skills module. You will then undertake two further compulsory modules in the first semester. You will be introduced to the key principles of Internet Law, including competing views on its status and its relationship with other legal principles. You will also consider the question of the relationship between law and technology
Intellectual Property Rights are increasingly pervasive and important in the information age. You will explore different forms of intellectual property within their international legal framework. You will discover their rationales and investigate how they influence current debates and topical issues within intellectual property. Your focus will be global, with particularly detailed consideration of UK, US and European law, where appropriate.
You will then choose two further modules in your second semester.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 40)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
This course gives you an excellent balance of independent thinking and study skills, helping you to grow into a self-motivated learner, expert researcher, and analytical thinker.
Teaching is provided by academics including those who have been in legal practice (often international city law firms) who are specialists in their fields. Teaching formats include interactive lectures and seminars. Whatever the format, you will learn how to listen to and critique the ideas of others, as well as how to present and defend your own theories.
Your module organiser will provide you with a list of compulsory and optional further reading material in advance of each class. This means that you can fully prepare for your small class meetings, having identified areas for further discussion. We advise at least 10 to 15 hours preparation per week for each of your modules.
You will develop accuracy and precision in your written work and you will become well versed in time management, graduating as someone who is highly organised and confident in self-directed study.
To make sure you get the most from your studies and to help you reach your full potential, you will have an Academic Adviser who will help you through the year.
In addition, our Learning Enhancement team, based in the Student Support Service, are on hand to help in various study areas, including study and writing skills, academic writing (including how to reference) and research skills.
If you have additional needs due to disabilities such as sensory impairment or learning difficulties such as dyslexia please talk to our Student Support Service about how we can help.
Assessment
You will experience a variety of assessment methods, including on coursework, but also timed exam-style formats. We believe this enables you to best demonstrate your attainment of the learning objectives, and therefore enhances your performance, aiding your successful completion of your Masters degree.
Throughout your course, you will be given guidance on your work and constructive feedback to help you improve. This feedback will be on both your formative and summative assessments and can be discussed with your Academic Adviser and your module organiser.
Structure
In year 2, you will again select an additional 20 credits from this list and complete the compulsory 40 credit dissertation. With the consent of the Course Director, you can also choose to take one 20 credit module from other postgraduate courses offered by UEA in your second year, allowing you to personalise your course to your specific interests.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 40)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
You will undertake the compulsory dissertation module worth 40 credits and in addition, select 60 credits-worth of optional modules.
Assessment
As in Year 1, assessment methods will vary and involve coursework and timed exam-style formats.
Entry Requirements
- Degree Classification
- UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent
- Degree Subject
- Law
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in Writing & Speaking and 5.5 in Listening & Reading.
Test dates should be within 2 years of the course start date.
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
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- Intakes
This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year .
Additional Information or Requirements
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2024/25 are:
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UK Students: £9,975 (full time)
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International Students: £21,200 (full time)
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
We estimate living expenses at £1,023 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
FURTHER INFORMATION
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.
Employability
After the Course
You will graduate ready for a variety of exciting legal careers, including legal practice, practice before the bars of various jurisdictions, posts in government and international organisations, and public service. Past LLM graduates have gone into specialist areas of law, finance, the civil service, local government, administration or even teaching.
Alternatively, you might continue your studies with a PhD.
Careers
A degree at UEA will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We've been ranked 1st for Job Prospects by StudentCrowd in 2022.
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
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Private practice in local and international law firms
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Academia
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Patents and IP registration positions
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Government legal departments
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International organisations in industry and commerce
Discover more on our Careers webpages.