LLM Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Pathway

University of Birmingham

Criminal Law is concerned with the most potentially invasive assertion of authority by the state: if you fail to comply with the law you will be punished.

Providing a holistic analysis of the criminal process through an analysis of the law, its philosophical underpinnings and its operation in practice, this LLM pathway offers the opportunity for broad or deeply specialised study within an innovative research-led teaching environment which benefits from Birmingham's longstanding stature in this field.

You can study to attain a broad overview of criminal justice processes, or for those wishing to gain in-depth understanding of criminal law and criminal justice, you can specialise in particular aspects as diverse as underpinning theories, policing, health aspects of criminal justice or indeed international aspects of law enforcement co-operation.

The modules on this LLM will allow you to study the five separate objectives used in enforcement of Criminal Law: retribution, deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation and restitution taught. All of these are subjects of great debate and controversy across all jurisdictions and students benefit from debating these informed by and in exchange with our broad range of experts.

Our graduates move onto a diverse range of careers, with many going on to work in top law schools and law firms. Some examples of where our recent graduates have gone on to work include: Linklaters LLP, 5 Pump Court Chambers, Bar Pro Bono Unit and Squire Patton Boggs. A number of our postgraduate students go directly from Birmingham to complete the Legal Practice Course or the Bar Professional Training Course.

The Careers Network

The Careers Network organises regular events including presentations by top law firms and the annual Law Fair. It also runs workshops to help students prepare effective applications and to prepare for their next move. Its events on non-law careers, including journalism, marketing and working with charities, can be of interest to law students.