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LA-124
Fundamental Principles of International Trade Law
This module will be available only for visiting exchange students from Chinese partner universities.
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LA-300
Applied Commercial Law and International Business Practices
Contemporary concerns originating in market and business failures sufficiently indicate the vital importance of business law for accountability and performance. Taking account of the rapid developments in this field, this module offers students an unique opportunity to explore business law on a broad spectrum. It allows for an investigation into new and dynamic issues pertinent to the operation of businesses in the international context, including intellectual assets management, international payment and transactions, the governance of businesses and aspects of insolvency and personal responsibility. Designed to accommodate both legal and commercial perspectives, it allows students to obtain an understanding of cutting edge developments in a number of discrete legal areas.
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LA-M002
Independent Research Project
This module provides students with the opportunity to undertake an independent, in-depth research project on a topic relevant to their programme. It is designed to develop advanced research, analytical, and critical evaluation skills essential for legal scholarship and professional practice.
Students will identify a research question of significant relevance to the discipline and produce a substantial dissertation that demonstrates mastery of the subject matter. The module emphasises rigorous engagement with primary and secondary sources, enabling students to critically assess current research and advanced scholarship in the field.
Through sustained analysis, students will synthesise doctrinal principles and policy considerations, presenting a coherent and well-structured argument that reflects originality and intellectual independence. The dissertation process also fosters the ability to advance knowledge and understanding beyond existing literature, equipping students with transferable skills for future academic or professional development.
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LA-M003
Employability Skills in the Commercial and Maritime Industry
This module is a dedicated professional development programme designed to equip LLM students with the essential, practical skills required to successfully transition from academic study to a thriving career in the commercial and maritime law sectors. It bridges the gap between legal expertise and professional practice by providing hands-on guidance in critical areas such as effective written and oral communication, strategic career planning, and self-promotion. Through a series of interactive employability workshops, mock interviews, guest lectures from industry practitioners, curated networking events, and organised trips to leading industry organisations, students gain direct, immersive insight into the professional landscape. The module offers specific guidance on qualifying as a practicing lawyer in England & Wales and prepares students to articulate the value of their academic experience, navigate competitive application processes, and build a professional network, enabling them to represent themselves with confidence and competence.
The curriculum is strategically designed to foster not only technical proficiency but also a proactive professional mindset, encouraging students to critically engage with the evolving demands of global trade, shipping, and commercial dispute resolution. By synthesising theoretical knowledge with authentic industry engagement, students will develop a robust professional identity and a clear, actionable career strategy. This forward-looking approach ensures graduates are not just qualified in maritime and commercial law, but are also astute, connected, and strategic professionals ready to contribute meaningfully to their chosen field from day one.
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LACM004
International Commercial Arbitration
International commercial disputes that cannot be otherwise resolved are customarily referred to arbitration. As such, a global network of arbitration organisations and international institutions exists to address references to arbitration. The module examines the arbitration structures that exist to resolve international disputes in the context of commercial arbitration, as well as the associated questions of private international law.
It has two main aims, an internal and an external one.
The internal aim of the module focuses on the journey of an arbitration from start to finish, with the arbitration agreement at its core. This agreement is a foundational contract in which the parties agree to resolve any future disputes through arbitration rather than litigation. It is a key expression of party autonomy¿the principle that parties are free to choose the terms of their dispute resolution. The module will break down the process into several stages:
¿ Drafting and Validity: You will learn how to draft a valid arbitration clause and analyse common challenges to its enforceability, such as issues of capacity or duress.
¿ The Arbitral Tribunal: You'll study how arbitrators are selected, what qualifications they need, and the role of institutions like the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) or the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) in facilitating this process.
¿ The Hearing: This stage involves the presentation of evidence and arguments. You will likely cover the procedural rules that govern the hearing, which the parties or the arbitral institution often set.
¿ The Award: This is the final decision of the arbitral tribunal. Unlike a court judgment, an arbitral award is a private document. The module will cover the necessary elements of a valid award and the grounds on which it can be challenged.
¿ Enforcement: A crucial part of the process is making the award legally binding and enforceable across different countries. You will examine the New York Convention of 1958, a landmark treaty that provides a framework for the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards.
The external aim of the module is to explore the dynamic and sometimes tense relationship between arbitration and national legal systems. This is where private international law comes into play, determining which country's laws apply to a dispute and which country's courts have jurisdiction.
This part's fundamental question¿"what are the limits of the Court¿s role in the arbitral process?"¿highlights the principle of minimal curial intervention. National courts generally respect arbitration agreements and try not to interfere, but there are specific circumstances where they can get involved:
¿ Assisting Arbitration: Courts can assist the process by, for example, granting interim measures like freezing assets or compelling a reluctant witness to testify.
¿ Reviewing and Setting Aside Awards: Courts can review an award on a number of grounds that we will explore.
¿ Enforcing Awards: As mentioned above, a court may be asked to enforce an award under the New York Convention. However, the court can refuse enforcement if a party can prove one of the limited grounds for refusal, such as a lack of a valid arbitration agreement.
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LATM001
Artificial Intelligence in Commerce and Legal Practice
This module offers a comprehensive and in-depth examination of the legal and commercial implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI), with a primary focus on its applications in transportation systems, particularly automated vehicles. While AI is a staple of modern commerce, its integration raises fundamental questions about its function within existing legal frameworks. The module first establishes a foundational understanding of the core AI technologies and their limitations, before delving into the legal challenges they present.
The module will begin with a non-technical overview of AI, differentiating between key technologies such as Machine Learning (ML) and Symbolic Reasoning. We will examine how these technologies are used in autonomous vehicles for perception (building a model of the surrounding reality) and reasoning (planning actions). This includes a critical look at the inherent limitations of ML, such as the Pareto principle and the ¿black box¿ problem of non-explainable AI, which can lead to biases and challenges in determining fault. The module will also explore data privacy issues related to in-vehicle cameras and the collection of real-world data.
Building on the technological foundation, the module will critically analyse how existing and new legal frameworks are adapting to AI. The core of the legal discussion will revolve around two key pieces of UK legislation:
¿ the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 (AEVA 2018). We will examine this innovative piece of legislation and its primary objective of providing a swift and seamless path to compensation for victims of accidents involving automated vehicles. The module will dissect its system of strict liability for insurers, the specific exceptions to this liability, and the complex issues it raises regarding causation and contributory negligence. We will also consider the commercial rationale behind this approach and the role of insurance in this new landscape.
¿ Automated Vehicles Act 2024 (AVA 2024): This module is among the first to explore the comprehensive regulatory framework introduced by this Act. We will delve into the new legal concepts it presents, such as the ¿self-driving test¿ and the designation of an ¿Authorised Self-Driving Entity¿ (ASDE), which is legally responsible for the vehicle's performance. The module will also examine the new licensing requirements for operators of automated passenger services and the marketing restrictions designed to prevent consumer confusion.
Beyond statutory law, the module will examine how traditional private law is grappling with the implications of AI. This includes an in-depth look at
¿ Product Liability: We will examine the liability of manufacturers and other parties (such as component suppliers and programmers) in cases of accidents caused by defective vehicles or embedded software, considering both negligence and strict liability under the Consumer Protection Act 1987.
¿ Law of Obligations (Tort and Contract): The module will address fundamental questions about whether AI can be a legal subject. Can a machine be negligent or malicious? Can it know or form a legal intent to contract? We will examine how concepts such as misrepresentation, duress, and professional duty of care apply when AI is involved in a transaction or service.
¿ Intellectual Property (IP): The module will analyse the complex challenges AI poses to copyright, patents, and trademarks. We will discuss the debate over AI-generated works, authorship, and whether AI can be considered an inventor, referencing key legal cases. We will also explore the impact of AI on trademark law, including the concept of the ¿average consumer¿ in an age of AI-driven commerce and product recommendations.
¿ LegalTech: Finally, we will examine the use of AI within legal practice itself, including a look at foundational technologies like Akoma Ntoso, which is a standard for tagging legislative and judicial documents, and how these technologies can
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LATM002
Digital Commerce and Technology Law: Regulation of E-transactions and Blockchain
The rapid evolution of digital technologies has fundamentally transformed the way commercial transactions are conducted and governed. This module examines the legal foundations, regulatory challenges, and private international law implications of electronic commerce and distributed ledger technologies (DLT).
In the first part of the module, students will explore the formation, content, and enforcement of online contracts, with a focus on consumer protection, jurisdictional challenges, and the regulation of online commercial activities such as domain name registration and brand protection.
The second part introduces the legal and commercial significance of distributed ledger technologies, including blockchain, smart contracts, and digital assets. Students will examine the emergence of electronic trade documents, the recognition of digital tokens as property, and the cross-border legal issues that arise in relation to jurisdiction, applicable law, and enforcement. The module concludes with an exploration of online dispute resolution mechanisms and their potential to enhance access to justice in the digital economy.
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LATM01
Artificial Intelligence in Commerce and Legal Practice
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming integral to the fabric of modern society and is already a staple of commercial organisations and businesses looking to enhance their productivity. It has been used for a variety of reasons, such as the reduction of financial paperwork via the electronicisation of commercial payments (that are now regularly made by computer), and increasingly for the incidence of smart contract payments automatically triggered by a payee¿s computer acting in collaboration with the debtor¿s IT systems. Where goods are ordered automatically (e.g. an industrialist¿s computer hooked up to a component supplier¿s server), they can also give rise to the formation of entirely new contracts.
This module will focus on the use of AI within commercial and legal settings. It is often the case that once the technology is put in place issues will arise, such as the question of whether such technology can function within the parameters of existing legal rules. Human rights ¿ even within a commercial framework ¿ must also be considered as part of any analysis concerning the use of AI (notably, for example, the right to privacy).
Overall, this module intends to provide an in-depth analysis of AI in the context of existing private legal rules while also exploring its role in society, what legal frameworks need to be developed.
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LATM02
Distributed Ledger Technology (Blockchain) and Commerce - Law and Regulation
Distributed ledger technology (DLT) is an integral part of the emerging digital transformation taking place within commercial and financial industries. It has the potential to dramatically alter the way businesses operate, providing improved efficiency of current client requirements and opening doors for new services.
In simple terms, DLT is a database that is distributed across several independent computing devices (nodes) where changes to data are protected and managed by cryptography and consensus ensuring that data cannot tampered with and that all parties have identical copies that can be considered as a reliable source of truth.
This module intends to analyse the legal position of those employing such ledgers in the context of their businesses. To appreciate the potential legal problems emerging, the applications of such ledgers in different areas of commercial law (finance, insurance, shipping) will be studied. The module will then discuss whether any change in private law rules is required to ensure that such ledgers do not create unexpected consequences for relevant parties. Regulators are also actively exploring the need to regulate the use of such ledgers. Regulation is rather challenging in this area due to potential jurisdictional problems, and overly strict regulation could potentially reduce the commercial values of such ledgers. These issues, along with others, will be discussed as part of this module.
