Master's (LL.M) Program
The Master of Laws (LL.M) Degree
The LL.M. degree prepares graduates for opportunities in
law teaching, legal research, policy making, public and governmental
service, and the practice of law. It does not, however, of
itself give entry to the Bar of British Columbia or any other
certification for practice, and is not a substitute for an
LL.B. The program attracts a large number of candidates with
overseas training in common and civil law, as well as those
with an LL.B. or J.D. degree from Canada and the U.S.
The program is of one year's duration, and combines course
work with preparation of a thesis of acceptable quality. Students
are required to complete successfully 36 credits of work,
of which 20 credits are allocated to the thesis, 12 credits
to course work (usually comprising four one-term courses or
seminars), and 4 credits to the required Master's Seminar.
Completion of a substantial thesis forms the core of the
LL.M. degree and it is important to pair students with Faculty
supervisors. A list of eligible
faculty can be found on this web site as well as a list
of faculty
research interests.
Admission to the LL.M. Program
To be eligible for admission into the LL.M. program, a candidate
must have a Bachelor of Laws degree or its equivalent from
an approved law faculty. In addition, all applicants must
meet the Faculty of Graduate Studies' minimum academic standards
for admission. For example, North American applicants must
possess an LL.B with standing in the A-letter grade range
(80% at UBC) in at least 12 credits of coursework or a minimum
overall average in the B+ grade range (76%) in all the courses
taken during the final 2 years of the program. External
or correspondence degrees are not eligible for consideration.
click here for minimum academic standards for admission.
http://www.grad.ubc.ca/
Curriculum
-
Full-time continuous residence at the University for
one academic year;
-
Satisfactory participation in lectures and seminars amounting
to 36 credits of study. A candidate must obtain at the
minimum an overall average of 70% on work for the year
with not more than one mark falling below 70% and no mark
below 68%. The curriculum is arranged as follows:
- Master's Seminar (4 credits) - The Master's
Seminar (Law 500: Concepts and Methodology in the
Study of Law) meets every week during the two Winter
terms of the University year and is related to current
legal issues regarding methodology and perspectives.
Guest speakers participate during the first term,
and students are required to deliver class presentations
on their thesis topics during the second.
- Course Work (12 credits) - Courses operate
either on a lecture basis or as seminars for smaller
groups. The usual method of assessment in lecture
courses is by single examination at the end of the
course. Seminars are assessed by means of research
papers. Course work is selected from the LL.B. curriculum,
2nd and 3rd year. All courses are conducted in English.
A candidate may be allowed to select courses in other
faculties of the University, but the major part of
the program must be undertaken in the Faculty of Law.
- Thesis (Law 549 - 20 credits) - The thesis
(described below) is allocated 20 credits toward the
candidate's curriculum requirement.
-
Completing a thesis of satisfactory quality, prepared
under the direction of a member of the Faculty of Law
on a subject of the student's choice. The thesis must
be a substantial piece of research, written in English,
and of publishable quality. The thesis should normally
be completed within the period of residence.
- An oral examination may be required, at the discretion
of the Faculty of Law.
Time Limits
Under general university regulations, a student in the masters
program must complete the program within five years of initial
registration. The Faculty of Law expects students to complete
the Master of Laws program well before the expiration of that
final deadline. Students require permission from the Faculty
of Law Graduate Admissions committee in order to register
for a second or subsequent year in the Master of Laws program.
Part-Time Studies
Students admitted to the LL.M. program may elect to complete
the requirements for the degree on a part-time basis. Part-time
students must still complete the Law 500 Masters Seminar during
the first academic year in the program. Subject to the requirements
of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and individual course instructors,
students may complete the balance of course requirements and
the LL.M. thesis on a part-time basis. As with full-time students,
part-time students must complete all requirements for the
degree within five years of entry into the program.
Inquiries
For all inquiries regarding the Master of Laws (LL.M) Degree
please contact: graduates@law.ubc.ca. |
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