Discover LLM Law and Social Justice

LLM Law and Social Justice

What is the LLM in Law & Social Justice?

The LLM is a new taught Masters degree offered by the School of Law at the University of Leeds and delivered by the Centre for Law and Social Justice and the Disability Law Hub.

You will develop the necessary tools for challenging a wide range of structural inequalities and social injustices. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, the degree draws upon different disciplines to highlight diverse understandings of justice and equality. As such, the Masters programme is ideal for advancing careers in healthcare, social work, law and policy development, with further room for specialisation through our range of optional modules.

Why take the LLM in Law & Social Justice?

At the University of Leeds, you will be working in partnership with world leading specialists at the cutting edge of issues in law and social justice. This partnership provides you with excellent guidance and expertise, as well as access to a research culture that you will have an active role in shaping as part of the LLM. The School has first-class facilities and skills development. In 2017 we were University of the Year in The Times and The Sunday Times' Good University Guide.

Teaching on the LLM is provided primarily through the Centre for Law & Social Justice, the Disability Law Hub and the Vulnerability and the Human Condition Initiative. Your work will be situated at the heart of these world leading research networks which are described in more detail below.

What is the Centre for Law & Social Justice?

The Centre brings together leading academics, lawyers, non-Governmental organisations (NGOs) and policy makers to address issues of inequality. The Centre's three strategic themes relate to Accessing and Enacting Justice; Sustainable Communities and Social Movements; and Health, Embodiment and Justice. Internationally recognised scholars from the Centre work on a range of important issues including those relating to race, indigeneity, gender, trans, intersex, disability, children, age, sexuality and mental health.

Meet our academic staff

Student view

"The university's academic and personal support for international students like me (from writing workshops to mental wellbeing clinics) is extremely helpful.

Many people will debate social justice on the internet as if it's only about ideological differences – but I think it affects everyone's daily life in detail. Studying this we can help and empower those who are powerless to pursue the justice and carry on."

Liu Hanxu, LLM International Human Rights Law

Professor Anna Lawson

Professor Anna Lawson is the Director of the University -wide interdisciplinary Centre for Disability Studies. Anna is a member of the Equality and Human Rights Commission's statutory Disability Committee for England, Scotland and Wales, an advisor to China Vision and a Council member of Justice.

Professor Martha Fineman

Professor Martha Albertson Fineman is a leading authority on vulnerability theory and feminist jurisprudence. Her scholarly interests are the legal regulation of family and intimacy and the legal and political implications of universal dependency and vulnerability. She teaches courses and seminars on vulnerability, the regulation of intimacy, and feminist jurisprudence.

Professor Michael Thomson

Michael Thomson is Professor of Health Law and the Director (with Jennifer Hendry) of the Centre for Law & Social Justice. He works at the intersection of health law, gender studies, and children's rights. He is particular interested in theories of the body, and the place of the body and health in approaches to social justice. He is also Professor of Law at the University of Technology, Sydney.

Dr Gauthier de Beco

Before joining the Centre for Law and Social Justice, Dr Gauthier de Beco (pictured left) taught international human rights law at the University of Leuven. Gauthier's research expertise concerns human rights and disability, and he is passionate about inclusive education. He has been engaged as an expert adviser by several international (governmental and non-governmental) organisations.

Professor Gerard Quinn

Professor Gerard Quinn holds research chairs at both the School of Law, Leeds and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute at the University of Lund, Sweden. Gerard is a leading authority on international and comparative disability law and policy and former Vice President of the European Committee on Social Rights (Council of Europe treaty body).

Dr Jen Hendry

Dr Jen Hendry is Associate Professor in Law & Social Justice and Director of the School's Centre for Law & Social Justice. Jen's research interests are in the fields of social and legal theory, socio-legal studies, and comparative legal studies

Dr Amanda Keeling

"Studying law is so much more than simply learning a set of rules. Whether you are studying, practising, or working in the third sector or as an academic, an understanding of social justice and the impact that the way we design and implement laws has on real people in the real world is so important."

Dr Angharad Beckett

Angharad Beckett is Associate Professor of Political Sociology and Deputy Director of the Centre for Disability Studies. Her areas of expertise include disability politics and human rights, political participation and resistance practices, inclusive education and play. Angharad's research activities have been funded by the EU, UK Research Councils and charitable foundations (e.g. Leverhulme Foundation, JRF, Sports England).

Dr Mitchell Travis

Dr Mitchell Travis is coordinator of the Law & Social Justice LLM. Mitchell is interested in a range of different issues that are underpinned by a theoretical commitment to feminist theory and the legal humanities. In particular, his work focuses on legal personhood, embodiment, intersex and sexuality.

Professor Luke Clements

Professor Luke Clements is the Cerebra Professor of Law & Social Justice at the School of Law and teaches on the Social Care Law: National and International Contexts module. Luke brings to the programme his experience as a practicing solicitor acting for people who experience social exclusion (in particular) disabled people and their carers. Luke has written extensively concerning the right to social care support.

The programme

The LLM offers an extensive range of optional modules. In addition to the compulsory modules (comprising: (1) Theories of Justice; (2) Postgraduate Legal Research Skills; and (3) the final dissertation) there is a choice from over 15 optional modules including:

Human Rights and Disabled People (1)
and (2)
Global Justice
Researching Culture and Society
Social Policy Debates
Disability and Development
Public Administration in a Globalised World
International Human Rights

Entry requirements

Usually we expect you to hold a degree with a 2:1 (hons) or a non-UK equivalent. If English is not your first language you will also need an English language qualification. Applicants who do not meet the academic qualification requirements may also be considered on a case-by-case basis, particularly if you have considerable relevant work experience.

Find out more about entry requirements and applying

Fees and scholarships

You may be eligible for one of our scholarships. Find our more about the scholarships on offer.

We also have the honour of hosting Open Society Foundations (OSF) scholars.
Find out more about OSF.

Student view

"When I made up my mind study an LLM with specific focus on rights of persons with disabilities, the University of Leeds was second to none in terms of reputation and staff experience in my field of interest.

In my view, social justice may be crucial in addressing both income and social inequalities between minorities like immigrants, persons with disabilities and the general population in their communities."

Peter Ochieng is an Open Society Foundations Scholar from Uganda

The Leeds experience

Expertise from our teaching team of highly internationally renowned scholars, researchers at the School's Centre for Law & Social Justice.

Choice of a wide range of module options covering, for example: Theories of Justice; Social Care Law: National and International Contexts; Human Rights and Disabled People; Disability and Development; Postgraduate Legal Research Skills • Policy, Planning and Development.

Benefit from working alongside a global hub of scholars dedicated to the study and practice of the law and its role in promoting social justice.

First-class facilities in the purpose-built Liberty Building, home to the School of Law.

Student view

Stacey Hallett, LLM International Human Rights Law

"For me, social justice is vitally important as it paves the way for human rights to become a reality for all, as opposed to a mere ideal.
I am passionate about achieving social justice for individuals with impairments/disabilities!

I want to use my experience living with a physical impairment/disability to help dismantle societal barriers faced by disabled people to enable them to have the same opportunities as their able-bodied counterparts.

Therefore, with unparalleled expertise in the field of Disability Law, Leeds was the perfect choice for me! The opportunity to learn from leading experts has been fantastic!

The Law School as a whole, has an ethos of striving towards the achievement of social justice for all - everyone is working together towards the same goal. As a result, I feel extremely included and valued by the Law School."

Email us:pglaw@leeds.ac.uk
Visit our website: www.law.leeds.ac.uk
School of Law, University of Leeds. Leeds, LS2 9JT