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LLM (Master of Laws) in Labour Law

The importance of labour law has been around since the 1800s and came about with the rise of the Industrial Revolution in the UK and elsewhere when governments saw people flock to the cities to pursue waged labour. The popularity of this type of work meant that many employers and corporations could easily take advantage of the thousands of newly recruited employees. This is where trade unions and labour laws came to fruition, to help assist the often uneducated or mistreated working class.

Today, the discipline of labour law adheres to the rights and responsibilities of the employee, employer and the organizations and institutions that they stand for. An LLM in Labour Law will deal with cases such as: wage, pensions, compensation, union activity, workplace safety and discrimination. Due to the fact that labour lawyers deal with a very broad spectrum of issues, they are always in demand by the various clientele that require their expertise. This means that obtaining an LLM in Labour Law is a highly prestigious and competitive area of study. 

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Number crunching the LLM in Labour Law

Labour Law70 page major research paper

83% graduation rate from 2006-2009 (UBC)

70+ countries participate in the LLM in Labour Law

LLM in Labour Law – who's it for?

The Master of Laws program in Labour Law is intended for lawyers who have passed the bar examination and are looking to get ahead of their peers. However, if we look outside of the field of law, we find Human Resource specialists, Social Workers, Union Representatives and Civil Servants who could all benefit from an LLM. Anyone who has a passion to change the current working environment in society or are eager to defend particularly jarring cases in defence of groups or individuals should consider an LLM in Labour Law.

Where can you study an LLM in Labour Law?

The LLM in Labour Law is available all throughout the world. Some of the most reputable institutions to obtain an LLM in Labour Law are: South Africa’s University of Stellenbosch, The Netherland’s Tilburg’s University, The UK’s University of Oxford and Canada’s University of British Columbia.

What qualifications do you need to study an LLM in Labour Law?

Qualifications needed to study an LLM in Labour Law are different the world over. In order to even be accepted to take on an LLM in Labour Law, those studying law in the UK will have to pass their Bachelor of Laws (LLB), US citizens will have to complete the Juris Doctor (JD), while others in different countries might have to pass a bar examination or equivalent. Some of these requirements while working on an LLM entail completing a set amount of credits that are usually broken up into coursework, a major research paper or thesis, or a combination of both.

Student case study

“I decided to do the course mainly for self-achievement; I wanted to learn and for that learning to assist me further in my day to day position as HR Director. I work with highly educated lawyers so I also wanted the credibility that having an LLM in employment law would give.”

Sarika Lynch, a Human Resource Director, Employment Law & Practice LLM 2009 graduate from Robert Gordon University.

An LLM in Labour Law advances careers in...

• Creating a Firm

• Teaching

• The Public Sector

• Diplomacy

• Human Resources Specialist

• Union Representative

• Labour Relations Officer

Fascinating facts about Labour Law

Since the 1800s, employees who joined forces to strike for better working conditions were marked as criminals! Baffling, right?

Modern labour law has existed since the inception of the passing of the Wagner act of 1935, also known as the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).

Collective Bargaining is an agreement bound by both an employer and an employee representative to negotiate terms concerning hours, wage and other conditions of employment.

Recommended reading

A History of British Labour Law 1867-1945 by Douglas Brodie

Labour Law in the USA Third Revised Edition by Alvin L. Goldman, Roberto L. Corrada

International Maritime Labour Law by Laura Carballo Piñeiro

Labour Laws and Global Trade by Bob Hepple

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