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LLM Resources and Further Information

Here we have information about the latest issues affecting LLM students, including Covid-19 and Brexit.

Plus we have a roundup of useful websites, books and associations for LLM (Master of Laws) students to use as their resources.

LLM student societies and associations

Law is not a solitary profession; unlike writers and artists you won’t get much done if you shut yourself off from the rest of the world! Because the social and professional interactions that will fuel your legal career start in the early stages of academic training and continue after graduation, we’ve drawn up a list of some associations you might find useful during your LLM program and beyond. Joining them could help improve your legal skills or enhance your CV as well as provide networking opportunities and global connections. Some associations are viewed as prestigious and could impress potential employers, particularly if you played an active leadership role within the association.

Improving your legal skills while studying

Mooting: mooting involves arguing a fictional case, against an opposing team, in front of a judge (or a legal academic playing the role of a judge.) Mooting improves your skills in advocacy, legal research, analysis, interpretation, argument and presentation and can be very useful, particularly if you’re a non-law graduate who is converting to law and thus did not take part in mooting as an undergrad. Practically every university offering law degrees has a mooting team or club so there’s no excuse for you not to join them and become an expert in mooting! Some law schools even have mock courtrooms which can really enhance the experience and help you understand what a real-life court case could be like.

Toastmaster clubs: skilful legal advocacy requires the confidence to speak authoritatively in public and unfortunately this isn’t always something that comes naturally. Toastmaster International is a global organisation with club branches in nearly every country, set up to help its members get rid of stage fright and develop confident, assertive public speaking and communication skills. Members meet regularly and hone their skills in delivering presentations and speeches through practical workshops. Information on local toastmaster clubs can be found online. There might even be a club in your university, and if there isn’t, perhaps you could set one up!

Networking and enhancing your CV

Student law societies: being a member of your school’s law society will demonstrate your interest in, and commitment to, law. Run by students, your institution’s law society will organise a wide range of social and professional activities, from parties and sporting events to careers events, law fairs, seminars with guest speakers, networking evenings, and visits to legal institutions. Mooting is usually coordinated by the student-run law societies (in collaboration with university staff), and some law societies even organise pro-bono opportunities that will provide the essential work experience you need on your CV.

Law journal editorial committee: playing a role in the planning and publishing of a legal journal will be a good boost to your CV, demonstrating a commitment to the profession. However if you can’t find the time to be an active member of the editorial committee, getting an article published will also be viewed favourably by employers, as it indicates a willingness to engage in scholarly research and discourse about law reform.

Other useful student associations to join: other associations that you might want to consider are the International Law Students Association (ILSA) and the European Law Students Association (ELSA).

Global connections after you graduate

Global LLM connections

International associations: while national associations provide valuable focus on issues relevant to your legal jurisdiction, the frequency of inter-jurisdictional transactions calls for up-to-date understanding of how things are done further afield – having a network of legal professionals to call on in other countries will be a definite advantage. There are international associations for general legal practice, for instance the International Bar Association, which has law societies and individual lawyers (barristers and solicitors) as members. There are also international associations for specific practice areas, from intellectual property law to media law or sports law. Here are a few examples:

  • Centre for International Environmental Law
  • European Communities Trade Mark Association
  • International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
  • International Association of Constitutional Law
  • International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property
  • International Association of Sports Law
  • International Tax Planning Association
  • International Technology Law Association
  • International Trade Mark Association
  • Pan-European Organisation of Personal Injury Lawyers.


Niche associations: these are the associations that have been set up for select groups of lawyers with a common background, history or purpose to have greater influence on the profession, for instance:

  • Commonwealth Lawyers Association
  • Criminal Bar Association of England & Wales
  • Muslim Lawyers Guild
  • International Federation of Women Lawyers.


In some cases these niche associations are a sub-group of larger organisations. Niche associations tend to be smaller than the general associations and thus present more of an opportunity to meet and get to know senior professionals. Securing a mentor within a smaller niche association of a few hundred or thousand members could also be a lot easier than within an organisation with tens of thousands of members.

Non-negotiable associations: certain associations are non-negotiable; for instance in the US, qualified lawyers must be members of the American Bar Association. In the UK, the Law Society and the Law Society of Scotland provide representation, accreditation and training for solicitors in England, Wales and Scotland respectively, while the Bar Council and the Faculty of Advocates do the same for barristers in England, Wales and in Scotland. With these sorts of associations, membership is not viewed as optional and so it would be more a case of ensuring you keep your membership up-to-date and pay your membership dues promptly!

Essential LLM books

Now that you’ve taken the decision to do a Masters in Law, we present a few helpful books that we guarantee won’t gather dust on your bookshelf! Packed with practical tips, advice and information, you’ll find yourself reaching for these handy books again and again.

Choosing the right law school and LLM program

The first thing you need to do is choose your LLM program and law school.

LLM Roadmap (An International Student’s Guide to US Law School Programs) by George E Edwards
George Edwards’ book has received very positive reviews for the depth of its coverage of issues facing international students in search of a US LLM. Presented in a clear, uncomplicated format, this “Roadmap” is a reference guide that simplifies the task of finding the right program at the right school, with the funding you need; applying, and then surviving your LLM program.

Click here to find it on Amazon in the UK.

The Times Good University Guide 2024 by Zoe Thomas
If you’ve decided to make Britain your base, then get yourself the latest copy of the Times Good University Guide, which has provided information and advice on British Universities, for over 20 years. The Guide covers various aspects of choosing the right institution, looking at ranking, location, living costs, the application process and much, much more.   

Click here to find it on Amazon in the UK.

Finding funding 

LLMs are expensive business and every penny helps. While some students are able to secure one main scholarship that takes care of a chunk of their LLM tuition and living costs, others offset part of their costs by pulling together various little sources of funding. We’ve got some great LLM funding opportunities worth £500 each here, in the meantime here is our roundup of books to help you out.

The Grants Register 2023 by Palgrave Macmillan
This book is a stress-buster for the postgrad candidate seeking financial help. The annual Grants Register lists various sources of funding around the world so sit back, relax and flip through; the funding you need just might be on the next page. But be warned, the book comes at a rather hefty price!

Click here to find it on Amazon in the UK.

Application and admissions

Once you've chosen your law school, selected your area of interest and sourced your LLM funding, your next hurdle is getting your application accepted...

The Law School Admission Game: Play It Like An Expert by Ann K Levine Esq
Written by a former director of admissions for law schools who is now a law school admissions consultant, this book was first published in 2009 with an updated second edition released in May 2013. It is primarily focused on anyone wanting to enter a US law school and covers law school essays, personal statements and scholarships, CVs and resumes, how to explain low grades, securing strong letters of recommendations and many other elements of the ‘game’, as experienced by the author in her decade of work in the admissions field.

Click here to find it on Amazon in the UK.

55 Successful Harvard Law School Application Essays by Staff of the Harvard Crimson
For those of you setting your sights on the big ‘H’, or another Ivy League or Russell Group university, here’s a book you might find useful. It features application essays of successful candidates, collated and analysed by staff of the Harvard Crimson, the school’s daily newspaper (who themselves are successful Harvard applicants!). You may find some of the essays impressive and some a bit blah, so it’s worth bearing in mind that the success of their applications did not rest solely on these essays – it makes for interesting reading.    

Click here to find it on Amazon in the UK.

Study skills

Once you start your Master of Laws program you will soon realise that postgraduate study is very different to studying at undergrad level, and a bit of advice with regards to planning and writing your dissertation will probably be very welcome!

Writing Law Dissertations: An Introduction and Guide to the Conduct of Legal Research by Michael Salter and Julie Mason
Drawing mixed reviews from readers, this book offers specific advice to the legal students about to embark on planning, researching and writing a dissertation and includes advice on choosing a topic. It is marketed at both LLB and LLM students but delivers more value to postgrad legal students.  

Click here to find it on Amazon in the UK.

The Postgraduate Research Handbook by Gina Wisker
General advice on researching a postgrad dissertation by the publishers of the well-known Palgrave Study Skills series. The author walks you through the various stages involved in research in a clear, easy-to-read format, including tips on managing the relationship with your supervisor. Although it is targeted at all postgrad students, the content does seem better suited to those doing their masters degree program, rather than PhD candidates. 

Click here to find it on Amazon in the UK.

Law and LLM websites

Study information

EnglishUK.com
English UK is the national association of accredited English language centres in the UK, with over 350 member centres in private schools, educational trusts and charities, further education colleges and universities. Visit the English UK site to search a database of English language courses at institutions accredited by the Accreditation UK Scheme, which English UK runs in partnership with the British Council.

Postgrad.com
The Postgrad site offers in-depth information and advice about studying in the UK at postgraduate level.

Careers information

grb.uk.com
The Graduate Recruitment Bureau (GRB) specialises in placing graduates into graduate jobs, advertising student jobs, internships, placements, gap years and courses.

Irishjobs.ie
Offers visitors a searchable database of up-to-date vacancies at graduate recruiters across Ireland, the option to register their CV for recruiters to search, and the latest career information and advice.

lawsocietyofireland.ie 
Features a listing of legal vacancies currently on offer in Ireland.

UK university/law school rankings

The Guardian University Guide 

Times Higher Education World Rankings

US university/law school rankings

US News's law school rankings

Brian Leiter's law school rankings

TopLawSchools.com rankings

Apply for one of our LLM & PG Law bursaries

We've launched our new bursaries worth £500 each for LLM & PG law courses taught anywhere in the world. Study full time, part time or online. January start dates 2023 & 2024 students are also eligible.

Find out more
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