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Get one step ahead of the competition in your legal career. Top up your existing legal qualifications to masters-level.
Do you want to specialise in a new area of the law? Are you struggling to progress your career and want a way of boosting your skills and standing out?
This LLM in Legal Practice is designed for people like you. We’ll help you deepen your knowledge of an area of the law directly related to practice.
It’s the ideal way to develop detailed knowledge of a new area. It’s also an opportunity to delve deeper into your current specialism.
Building experience
You’ll learn about research methods. Then apply them in a dissertation or research project.
Choose an area of practical law that you’re interested in and benefit from the extensive skills and knowledge of our teaching team.
This top-up degree is for those who already hold a Postgraduate Diploma ...
1 year accelerated
2 years part-time
1 year distance learning*
*Only the distance learning route will be suitable for international students.
District Judge Sufiyan Rana“Manchester Met allowed me to use my BVC as a means towards being able to do a masters. I met some really interesting people, and my studies were a lot more fluent than they were when I was an undergraduate, largely because I knew what I was doing.”
Top-up LLM in Legal Practice
Our LLM in Legal Practice provides a top-up for qualified legal professionals, helping you to achieve a full masters qualification, and to open up new and exciting opportunities in your career.
We know that many of our students are working professionals, so while we offer our 1 year accelerated course, we also offer a 2 year part-time option. You can even complete the course via distance learning, which means that you can complete your masters from anywhere in the world*.
You’ll pick an area of practical law that’s right for you, with the guidance of your tutors, whether it’s a topic that is relevant for your current job or a new area that you want to move into. You’ll then take this topic and use it to complete a dissertation or research project.
Throughout the process, you’ll have the support of our expert teaching team, either in person or online. And once you’ve finished, you’ll have a full masters qualification and the expert understanding to give your career a boost.
*Only the distance learning route will be suitable for international students.
Whether you've already made your decision about what you want to study, or you're just considering whether postgraduate study is right for you, there are lots of ways you can meet us and find out more about postgraduate student life at Manchester Met.
We offer:
Your studies are supported by a department of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field.
We often link up with external professionals too, helping to enhance your learning and build valuable connections to the working world.
These typical entry requirements may be subject to change for the 2025/26 academic year. Please check back for further details.
Applicants should possess either a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice following successful completion of the Legal Practice Course or a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice at the Bar following successful completion of either the Bar Vocational Course, the Bar Professional Training Course or the Bar Training Course - or equivalent professional legal qualification.
International students please refer to mmu.ac.uk/international
Overseas applicants will require IELTS with an overall score of 7.0 with no less than 5.5 in any category, or an equivalent accepted English qualification. Accepted English qualifications can be viewed here.
Fees for this course have yet to be confirmed and will be updated shortly.
Part-time fee: £3000 per 30 credits studied. The fee per credit will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (eg no repeat years or breaks in study). The total amount you pay each year may differ based on the number of credits studied.
Fees for this course have yet to be confirmed and will be updated shortly.
A masters qualification typically comprises 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, a PGCert 60 credits, and an MFA 300 credits. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of study provided the course is completed in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Optional estimate: £400
All of the books required for the course are available from the library. The University also has PC labs and a laptop loan service. However, many students choose to buy some of the core textbooks for the course and/or a laptop. Students may also need to print their assignments and other documents. Campus printing costs start from 5p per page. Estimated costs are £300 for a laptop and up to £100 each year for books and printing.
The LLM is an excellent addition to your CV. It can complement your existing legal qualifications by allowing you to gain specialist legal knowledge. Use it to enhance your career prospects with your existing employer. Your research project could explore an area of law that your firm or chambers is interested in pursuing.
Or, it could open doors to new opportunities all over the world. It shows prospective employers that you’re committed to the legal field and understand the value of continuing professional development.
It’s also an opportunity to explore an academic career route. This top-up course is the perfect stepping-stone from practice to research. It will prepare you for PhD research and could lead to roles in academia.
Our team have excellent connections to law firms in Manchester, the UK and around the world. Take advantage of our network to develop new professional relationships while you’re studying.
Please contact our course enquiries team.
Get advice and support on making a successful application.
You can review our current terms and conditions before you make your application. If you are successful with your application, we will send you up to date information alongside your offer letter.
Programme review
Our programmes undergo an annual review and major review (normally
at 6 year intervals) to ensure an up-to-date curriculum supported by the
latest online learning technology. For further information on when we
may make changes to our programmes, please see the changes section of our
terms and conditions.
Important notice
This online prospectus provides an overview of our programmes of study
and the University. We regularly update our online prospectus so that
our published course information is accurate. Please check back to the
online prospectus before making an application to us to access the most
up to date information for your chosen course of study.
Confirmation of regulator
The Manchester Metropolitan University is regulated by the Office for
Students (OfS). The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education
in England. More information on the role of the OfS and its regulatory
framework can be found at
officeforstudents.org.uk.
All higher education providers registered with the OfS must have a student protection plan in place. The student protection plan sets out what students can expect to happen should a course, campus, or institution close. Access our current student protection plan.