International Law LLB (Hons)

30 credits

Land law studies the nature of land, the history of the current legislative structure and third party interests in, on and over private land in England and Wales. It introduces the concepts behind ownership and use of private land, considering also how the law operates in the context of freehold and leasehold title, rights of way and squatters' rights.

30 credits

This module studies the general principles of criminal liability, definitions of what constitutes particular crimes and offences, and how that law affects particular circumstances. This involves not only a critical examination of the law, but also, using hypothetical factual situations, an understanding its detailed application. 

30 credits

The European Union's (EU) development has had a significant impact in Europe and globally. Although the UK has left the EU, its law is still relevant not only because it remains part of the applicable law of the UK, but also to understand how the UK now interacts with the EU.

You will develop detailed knowledge and in-depth understanding of the core areas of EU law, and the relationship between the EU and its member states and the respective role of the Court of Justice of the European Union and national courts in applying EU law.

This module also has a strong focus on developing your employability skills. You will take part in personal development activities designed to strengthen your professional identity and global citizenship, while expanding your knowledge of legal practice in different professional contexts.

30 credits

This module aims to provide an understanding of how globalisation affects our lives, though a specific analysis of public international law, and a comparative study of the French, German and American legal systems.

The first part of the module is spent on the legal history and sources of law of these legal systems, and then the constitutions and court systems in France, Germany and the US. This module consists of feedback/feedforward sessions and workshops. Workshops will focus on the comparative aspects of the legal systems.

The module then introduces you to public international law, which is a globalised legal system regulating the relations between states. It focuses first on the relevant institutions, the sources of international law, as well as the concept of international legal personality and statehood. The substantive part consists mainly of the use of force, the title to territory, the right to self-determination as well as the law of the sea.

30 credits

This module examines the idea of conscience in English law. It looks at how, historically, equity developed from the King in order to ameliorate the problems caused by an increasingly inflexible common law, at a time when Parliament met infrequently. The concept of the trust, where ownership is divided between legal and beneficial owners, is examined, including the conscience-inspired constructive trust, and the use of the trust in many contexts, including charity law. The administration of trusts is also considered.

30 credits

This module will help you to develop legal reasoning skills in an international law legal context.

You'll analyse legal issues and how they apply to real-life scenarios, enhancing your employability skills. You'll also have a choice of pathways in which you can showcase your legal research, writing and presentation skills in a topic that interests you.

We will help you to further strengthen your professional skills, encouraging you to critically evaluate your own personal development and plan for your future career.

30 credits

International trade would be of interest to students wishing to be employed in the commercial field in both the UK and overseas. This module covers the international legal and institutional framework for regulating international trade. The module helps you to understand different aspects of international law, and to be able to apply them to business and management problems arising in a global economy. The module examines the legal, economic, political and institutional underpinnings of the world trade regime, and the core principles and legal rules governing international trade in goods, and services. A key focus is the World Trade Organization (WTO), which began to work in 1995 as a general umbrella organisation coordinating laws affecting trade, but which has a much wider impact on the regulation of international business activities. The module also examines the various contracts that are essential components of international trade transactions, such as international sales contracts, the contract of carriage and the insurance contract. In addition, legal issues arising from international trade dispute settlement will be explored.

30 credits

The dispute resolution module makes extensive use of role-play in order to develop a deeper understanding of the dynamics that underlie conflicts, and of the process of dispute resolution. Comparisons are made with litigation and with other adversarial and quasi-judicial mechanisms to place mediation and negotiation in context. Themes are identified and discussed, often using role-plays, and the social and psychological aspects considered. The module also covers theories of conflict and conflict management, and the general landscape of dispute resolution.

30 credits

This module introduces you to the criminal law responsibility of private individuals and their human rights protection under international law.

The first part of the module focuses on the mechanisms of international criminal justice, and the law that underpins it. The sources and fundamental principles of ICL, institutional aspects of ICL are explored, from the Nuremberg Tribunals, to the international Criminal Court (ICC), as well as established international crimes (genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes). 

The second part of the module focuses on essential aspects of international human rights law. It examines the main international instruments which provide protection for human rights, substantive established human rights, the importance of the distinction between global and regional protection of human rights, with a special focus on the European Convention of Human Rights, as well as the mechanisms in place to protect and enforce these rights.

The final part of the module focuses on a number of crimes, analysed both from an international criminal law and international human rights perspective, such as the crime of torture.

30 credits

This module explores the legal protection given to intellectual property, and considers the particular types of intellectual property, such as copyright and patents. This is considered in the increasingly influential international context, and also draws on comparative study of the protection afforded in other jurisdictions and enables you to pursue research in individual areas of intellectual property law.

30 credits

This module explores the role of law in responding to, and shaping, technological innovation. It is designed to give students the competitive edge in evolving legal and non-legal markets that embrace technological development. Particular focus is given to standards and regulations of artificial intelligence, cyberspace and cybercrime, e-commerce, employment, environment, healthcare, intellectual property and outer space. These areas are of particular importance in the current global market. These are also the areas of research undertaken by academic members of staff at Kingston University, involved in teaching and development of the module. The module implements an international and interdisciplinary approach, covering different jurisdictions, technologies, and industries.

30 credits

This module examines the most common juristic person, the company (limited by shares or guarantee and both public and private limited companies). The cornerstones of the module include critical evaluation of the role of the company as a separate legal juristic person; directors and their duties; shareholders and their rights and legal remedies; employees and their position under the Companies Act 2006. Close examination is undertaken of the policy and reform process leading up to the enactment of the Companies Act 2006. Primary sources (statute and case law) and secondary sources (academic comment, reform discussion) are used at length during the module. This module is relevant for anyone interested in working in the commercial world.

30 credits

The focus of this module is the legal framework surrounding the employment relationship - its formation, operation and termination.  The statutory and common law context of employment, including EU aspects, is considered, along with the now extensive law on discrimination. The main features of the module are the contract of employment, remedies for termination including unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal, equality law, and law relating to trade unions. The module is designed for students who are interested in discovering the practical problems concerning law at work in a modern flexible labour market. Employment law is of practical significance for all persons involved in the world of work. 

30 credits

This module will be of interest to students who wish to study how the law regulates family life and how effective it is in doing so. The module covers the formation and termination of marriage and civil partnership; how occupation and ownership of the family home is regulated, and how effective these remedies are in cases of domestic violence; the law's approach to finance and property division on divorce, as well as maintenance for children, comparing this approach with the regulation of cohabitation. The module then considers legal parentage and parenthood; parental responsibility, and the regulation of disputes between parents about their children. Finally, local authority provision for vulnerable children and those who are experiencing harm in their families is considered, and adoption as a solution for children who cannot live with their birth families will be covered. This module aims to consider the law in context of social policy which encourages desired types of family behaviour.

30 credits

This module provides an introduction to environmental law. It outlines the different sectors of environmental law as well as providing an insight and understanding of the principles and concepts upon which environmental law is based. It also analyses the ways in which particular issues are addressed and, where appropriate, places these in their international context. It introduces you to the role that international environmental law has within the development of national environmental law.

30 credits

This module considers the response of English law to a range of different wrongs and adopts a critical stance, encouraging students to question the effectiveness of the range of remedies available. It complements the study of contract, tort, equity and public law by placing them within a single coherent whole.

30 credits

Jurisprudence causes you to take an analytical step back to address issues that may have been presupposed, or simply left unspoken, during your degree. Jurisprudence builds upon the black-letter subjects you have studied and places them in a theoretical and social context: it is a meta-analysis of law, which pulls together themes from all of the areas you will have studied until now.