Course summary
The LLM in Criminal Justice gives you a panoramic, 360-degree view of the criminal process, and a multidimensional perspective which explores organic synergies between domestic, transnational and international criminal justice. It opens up diverse career paths in the criminal justice and human rights sectors. Why study LLM Criminal Justice
- The LLM puts you in a strong position to pursue a career as a criminal law practitioner in the UK (as a barrister, solicitor, member of the Crown Prosecution service or in other parts of the UK criminal justice system), and internationally.
- You’ll take developments in UK criminal justice as a starting point and extrapolate from their study modern trends in criminal law and criminal justice thinking worldwide.
- You’ll learn by doing, for example in the 'Criminal Evidence' module, where you examine in chief and cross-examine witnesses in fictional criminal trials, before experienced barristers and Judges, at the Old Bailey (the central criminal court) in London.
- You’ll explore some of the most cutting-edge criminal justice debates of our times, from the relationship between counter-terrorism and family law to algorithm-based predictive policing and the use of improperly obtained evidence in criminal trials.
- You’ll learn from important legal thinkers, internationally leading barristers and politicians. Our Law faculty and Visiting Professors include pioneering criminal justice experts such as Her Honour Judge Alison Levitt KC (a Circuit Judge sitting at Snaresbrook Crown Court, who was previously the Principal Legal Advisor to the Director of Public Prosecutions), the former Attorney General, Dominic Grieve KC, the founder of Reprieve, Clive Stafford-Smith, who has gained global admiration for his work for people on death row in the US, or the barrister who prosecuted Slobodan Milošević at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, Sir Geoffrey Nice KC.
- We’re focussed on employability, and you’ll have the opportunity to gain practical experience through taking criminal justice placements and clinics modules (for credit). Our Careers Service is here to support you every step of the way.
- You’ll collaborate with renowned legal scholars, eminent legal practitioners and NGOs working in the field of Criminal Justice and International Human Rights, including leading UK NGOs such as Fair Trials, Big Brother Watch, Reprieve, as well as Liberty, which leads on our pioneering 'Criminal Justice and Human Rights: NGO Advocacy, Litigation and Practice' module.
Modules
You must complete the following compulsory modules: Advanced Criminal Law and Criminal Justice: Domestic, Comparative and International Human Rights and Criminal Justice: NGO Advocacy, Litigation, and Practice Criminal Justice Dissertation Optional modules You will also choose 2/3 optional modules to the value of 75 credits. These can be made up exclusively of Department of Law modules, or you may choose to select up to 30 credits from the interdisciplinary module lists below (which include options from other social science departments). Department of Law modules International Human Rights Law: Theory and Practice International Human Rights: Advanced Themes and Contemporary Debates Environmental Challenges, Social Justice and Human Rights Gender, Sexualities and the Law Law and Policy Clinic: Criminal Justice Criminal Justice Placement Interdisciplinary modules from the Department of Law Criminal Evidence (with Advanced Mooting and Advocacy) Interdisciplinary modules from other social science departments Option modules from other departments, such as Politics and International Relations and Sociology, are confirmed on an annual basis. Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.
Entry requirements
Applicants will normally have a degree in Law, a related social science discipline (such as criminology, politics and international relations, sociology, anthropology, media & communications, economics or psychology) or a humanities degree (such as English, history, philosophy or art). We also accept applications from people with professional, transferrable experience working in: NGOs Charities Criminal justice and human rights organisations Journalism The civil service or other governmental positions Students will normally be expected to have an upper second-class honours degree or its equivalent. There is some flexibility where applicants demonstrate exceptional commitment or abilities to study for the degree because of their possession of other qualifications, or because they have relevant experiences that would qualify them for the programme. If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Provider information
Goldsmiths, University of London
New Cross
Lewisham
SE14 6NW