Masters in Law

The Masters in Law (MLaw) is an accelerated two-year, full-time (or four-year part-time) postgraduate degree in law. It is designed for graduates in a discipline other than Law who wish to obtain a Law degree for professional practice for England & Wales and Northern Ireland or in aid of other career goals.

The MLaw is recognised by the Law Society and the Bar Council as a qualifying law degree for practice in

Northern Ireland, England and Wales. Students hoping to practise in another jurisdiction should contact that jurisdiction's regulatory body.

Career Development

We are dedicated to student employability, and our strong industry links mean over 94% of Queen's postgraduates are in employment or further study six months after graduation.

Internationally Renowned Experts

Law at Queen's is taught by world-leading experts in the area of Law. Our staff have close research links with the professions, government and Civil Society. Law at Queen's is in the top 125 Law Schools worldwide, and we are ranked 14th in the world for the global outlook. Research in Law was ranked 15th in the UK in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (2014). Over 95% of the Research Activity in the School was judged to be of international quality and above.

Student Experience

At Queen's, you will be part of a thriving postgraduate culture built on teaching excellence, leading-edge research, innovation, collaboration and engagement. These components are woven together in our Graduate School. It is here you will develop new skills and increased personal effectiveness that will enable you to stand out in the crowded and increasingly competitive global job market. Life at Queen's is not just about the degree. We offer our students the opportunity to really enrich their studies. Whether you're into student societies, sports, music, dance, or just a coffee with your friends, Queen's has exceptional facilities to cater for all interests.

Compulsory Modules

The MLaw is offered on a modular basis. To complete the degree, a total of 300 CATS points must be obtained. Twelve modules (20 CATS each) must be taken, and a dissertation (60 CATS) must be completed. The structure is as follows:

Year 1 Modules

• Constitutional Law in Context
• Criminal Law
• European Constitutional Law
• European Internal Market Law
• Legal Methods and Skills
• Rights and Accountability
• Dissertation (commenced over the summer between Years 1 and 2 and submitted at the end of Year 2)

Year 2 Modules

• Company Law and Corporate Governance
• Contract Law
• Equity
• Evidence
• Land Law
• Torts

This Master's programme is designed for UK non-law graduates and for law and non-law graduates from other countries who wish to acquire a thorough grounding in Law. It is particularly attractive for those who wish to enter the legal profession, for whom it is an alternative to a graduate-level CPE/GDL programme. By spreading study over two years of intensive postgraduate-level work, students gain a greater depth of understanding than is possible in one-year CPE programmes. Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus, bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes alongside sterling integration with business experts help our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.

Degree plus award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's, you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world-leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.