Course Curriculum

The LLM General at University of Galway is a highly flexible programme that allows students to design their own legal pathway while gaining a broad international perspective. Over the course of one year, students complete 90 ECTS credits through a combination of required core modules, optional subjects, and a substantial dissertation, providing the opportunity to specialise in areas of law that match their personal and professional ambitions. Core modules include Advanced Legal Research and Method and a Dissertation, which together develop essential research skills, critical thinking, and the ability to engage with complex legal problems independently. Students can then choose from a wide range of optional modules to tailor their studies, including topics such as Gender and Human Rights, International Human Rights Law, International Child Rights, European Convention on Human Rights, Transitional Justice, Climate Justice, International Refugee Law, Public International Law, and Legal Skills in Commercial Practice and Advocacy. The programme also offers modules on specialised areas such as EU Competition Law, Advanced Intellectual Property Law, Digital Transformation and Access to Justice, Law and Economics of Corporate Transactions, and more, allowing students to combine theoretical knowledge with practical legal expertise. Semester 1 focuses on foundational legal research and a selection of optional modules to refine areas of specialisation, while Semester 2 continues with advanced optional modules and provides opportunities for interdisciplinary integration, such as Economics and the Global Economy. The dissertation component allows students to conduct independent research on a topic of their choice, consolidating learning and contributing to scholarship in their chosen field. Graduates of the LLM General emerge with advanced legal knowledge, research capability, and analytical skills, prepared for careers in law, policy, international organisations, advocacy, or further academic research. Its flexible structure enables students to pursue personal interests while developing the expertise and critical insight necessary to respond to contemporary legal challenges in Ireland and globally.