Course summary

Fascinated by design, branding, and the business and legal frameworks which protect intellectual property? This highly practical and commercially-focused master’s in law is specifically designed to provide detailed insight into this dynamic, fascinating area of law – along with the legal expertise and commercial business understanding to apply your knowledge in a variety of careers and sectors. Highly valued in business, big tech, media, branding, creative industries and more, specialist knowledge of the legal framework behind copyright, trademarks and other intellectual property (IP) protections can help take your career in new and exciting directions. Students will develop a solid understanding of the fundamentals of IP law, building on existing knowledge from your law or other undergraduate degree, and enhancing your employability in business, management or other commercial areas – without the additional expense and investment of time required to become a fully qualified, court-specialised lawyer. As a graduate of this LLM, you will be well placed to work on IP and broader legal issues faced by businesses or other organisations – exploring the links between international trading and intellectual property rights and the role of the World Intellectual Property Organization. You will learn the standard of protection accorded to trademarks, patents, and designs, and how these protections differ across international jurisdictions; considering the impact of international, US and European policy on the scope of these rights in the UK, and exploring the economic justifications for copyright protection. The international element of this LLM offers significant value to international students who wished to study in the UK before returning home to work in their home jurisdiction. After an early focus on the fundamentals of IP law, you will develop your specialist expertise; exploring risk management and compliance within an organisation, and learning to reduce both internal and external risks. You will also look at alternative non-court-based dispute resolution mechanisms, from mediation to arbitration, and have the opportunity to develop your own negotiation and advocacy skills with our law school’s mooting and debate society. The course is ideal for students looking to add a legal element to their career, both in the UK and internationally – particularly those interested in brand and IP, managerial, or other in-house legal positions. While an undergraduate law degree is not required, prospective students should be able to show a passion for the law and interest in the practical implications of IP in the wider business world.