University of Leicester

What you'll study

The programme provides a detailed study of core and specialist areas of employment law, combining doctrinal analysis with critical and comparative perspectives. You will engage with mandatory and optional modules and complete a substantial research dissertation.

• Core themes: individual employment rights and contract law, unfair dismissal, redundancy and termination, statutory protections and remedies, and tribunal procedure.
• Discrimination and equality: legal frameworks for prohibited conduct, reasonable adjustments, indirect discrimination and intersectional claims.
• Collective and industrial relations: trade union law, collective bargaining, industrial action and the limits of collective regulation.
• Dispute resolution and enforcement: employment tribunal practice, alternative dispute resolution, regulatory enforcement and remedies.
• Comparative and international perspectives: modules may examine cross-jurisdictional approaches to labour regulation, multinational employment issues and transnational standards.
• Research and dissertation: a supervised research project enabling you to pursue a specialised topic in employment law, develop research methods and produce a sustained piece of original legal scholarship.
• Optional specialist modules: depending on availability, options can include workplace human rights, regulatory governance, employment aspects of corporate transactions, and occupational health and safety law.

The course is delivered via distance learning, using online lectures, seminars, guided reading, formative assessments and one-to-one supervision. The modular structure allows study on a full-time or more commonly part-time basis to fit around professional commitments.

Entry requirements

Applicants typically hold a UK law degree (or recognised overseas equivalent) at a lower second-class (2:1) honours level or higher. Graduates in other disciplines with substantial relevant professional experience in law, human resources, industrial relations or employment-related policy may be considered; such applicants may be asked to demonstrate legal knowledge or undertake a qualifying conversion course first.

• Professional experience: relevant employment in legal practice, HR, trade unions, employer associations, regulatory bodies or policy roles strengthens an application.
• English language: applicants whose first language is not English must meet the University of Leicester’s English language requirements.
• Supporting material: applications should include academic transcripts, a personal statement setting out reasons for study and how the programme fits career plans, and references where requested.

Career prospects

An LLM in Employment Law prepares graduates for a range of legal and employment-related careers. The programme is especially relevant for:

• Solicitors and barristers specialising in employment law or seeking to enhance their advisory and advocacy skills;
• HR professionals and in-house counsel responsible for employment policy, contracts, disciplinaries and tribunal work;
• Advisers in trade unions, employer organisations and regulatory agencies;
• Policy makers and civil servants working on labour market regulation and employment rights; and
• Those pursuing academic or research careers in labour and employment law.

Graduates commonly move into specialist employment law practice, senior HR roles, consultancy, tribunal clerking or legal policy positions. The dissertation and research training also support further doctoral study.

Why study at University of Leicester

The University of Leicester’s School of Law has a long-established reputation for research and teaching in labour and employment law. The distance learning LLM combines the School’s academic strengths with a flexible delivery model tailored for professionals.

• Expert teaching: modules are taught by academic staff who publish in employment law and by practitioners with current tribunal and advisory experience.
• Flexible learning: the online format allows you to study part-time from anywhere, with structured modules, virtual seminars and pastoral support.
• Research support: dedicated supervision for the dissertation and access to the University’s online library resources and research centres.
• Professional relevance: curriculum content is designed to reflect current tribunal practice, employer needs and regulatory developments, making the qualification directly applicable to practice and policy roles.
• Careers and networks: access to careers advice, alumni networks and opportunities to engage with practitioners through guest lectures and online events.

Overall, the programme is suited to those seeking specialist legal knowledge in employment law delivered in a way that accommodates ongoing professional commitments.