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Posted April 16, 2026

Should I study an LLM or MBA?

LLM or MBA

Master of Laws and Master of Business Administration degrees are two of the most popular and potentially profitable professional masters courses that can be undertaken – and both are excellent ways to advance your career in the legal profession.

In the UK, LLM degrees and MBA programs are both usually studied full time over one year or part time over two years. Both an LLM degree program and an MBA degree will give the student specialised knowledge leading to career advancement – and this can be equally applicable to legal professionals. While an LLM can provide a student with specialised knowledge in afield of law, an MBA can be particularly useful for those who work in business law, corporate law, company law or some other business-related legal field.

To put it simply, LLM degrees give students knowledge of legal principles, whilst MBA students will gain skills and knowledge in business and managerial expertise. So, to decide which one is best for you, you first need to work out what your professional goals are.

In this blog we are going to look at how they compare.

What is an LLM? What can it do for me?

A Master of Laws is an advanced law degree designed for postgraduate law students and legal professionals who want to specialise in a particular area of law – be this a niche area, for example an LLM in Legal Tech Law or LLM in Sports Law; or a more traditional field of law such as LLM in Intellectual Property Law or LLM in Human Rights Law. Alternatively, students can simply choose to study a General LLM program to get an overview of law.

An LLM degree is often undertaken by students who want to become higher level legal professionals, particularly corporate lawyers, or those who want to work in academia.

Benefits of studying an LLM degree

Here are some of the key benefits of studying an LLM degree program:

  • Specialisation in a particular legal field.
  • Advancing a career with deeper legal knowledge.
  • Networking potential with peers, academic staff and legal professionals.
  • Global recognition of the qualification and/or a specific law school.
  • Further academic and research opportunities.

Who should study a Master of Laws?

  • Legal professionals wanting to specialise in a particular area of law.
  • People looking to advance in a global law firm or international corporation.
  • Researchers keen to continue in the world of academia.

What is an MBA program? What can it do for me?

A Master of Business Administration is a management-focussed postgraduate degree that provides students with expertise in leadership, business, finance and marketing. It is often the masters degree of choice for business professionals who want to advance in global corporations, SMEs or even entrepreneurs looking to start their own business. Lawyers and legal professionals are also increasingly choosing to study an MBA to give them specialist knowledge in managerial and leadership roles or to move into corporate leadership, consulting roles, entrepreneurship and many other careers.

MBAs can also be undertaken with niche specialisms, for example Cardiff University offers an MBA in Artificial Intelligence which could be a great choice for a legal professional who specialises in tech law or AI. Alternatively, UCL’s MBA Health is an ideal course for people working in healthcare law, for example NHS lawyers or those working in the legal department for a private healthcare company or pharamceuticals corporation.

Benefits of studying an MBA

Here are some of the key benefits of studying an MBA degree program for a legal professional:

  • Develop stronger business acumen.
  • Networking opportunities with peers, academics and business leaders.
  • Expanding career opportunities.
  • Increase potential for executive roles.
  • Gain managerial expertise.

Who should study an MBA?

  • Lawyers and legal professionals who want to move into business leadership roles.
  • Legal professionals interested in corporate strategy, business, finance or management consulting.
  • Entrepreneurs who want to develop business management skills alongside their legal expertise.

LLM v MBA – which one should you choose?

Whether you choose to study an LLM or an MBA as a legal student or legal professional depends very much on your career goals.

A Master of Laws expands legal knowledge and expertise, and can advance careers in judiciary, in-house legal departments, policy making, academia, and more.

A Master of Business Administration develops business, management and leadership skills, and can advance careers in corporate law and leadership, consulting, entrepreneurship, business strategy, executive roles and more. Lawyers working in company law, compliance, mergers and acquisitions, or legal consulting could benefit from studying an MBA as they will gain business acumen and leadership skills.

Whilst an MBA qualification generally has broader global recognition and applicability across various industries, an LLM degree is more widely recognised within the legal profession. And although an LLM is not required to practice law, it is certainly useful for lawyers who want to gain international credentials or gain expertise in niche areas.

Interested in studying an LLM degree program? Use our course search to find your perfect Master of Laws.

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