Both Master of Arts in Law (MA Law) and Master in Laws (MLaw) are legal qualifications offered by some UK law schools. They are postgraduate law degrees tailored for aspiring lawyers from different academic backgrounds. Here is what you should know if you plan to obtain one of these qualifications.
MA Law (Master of Arts in Law)
Target students: MA Law is typically designed for students who have completed an undergraduate degree in a subject other than law. It is a conversion course, allowing individuals to transition to the field of law. This programme is similar to the Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) or Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), but the difference is that it is a full master's degree rather than a diploma.
Curriculum: MA Law programmes cover the core legal subjects required for a qualifying law degree in the UK. These subjects include Contract Law, Criminal Law, Public Law, Equity and Trusts, Land Law, Tort Law, EU Law. Students also need to complete a dissertation in a specific legal topic of their choice. The curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the legal system and principles, enabling them to progress to the next stage of legal training or practice.
Duration: The duration of MA Law programmes can vary, but it is often a one-year full-time course, but some universities offer a two-year full-time course, similar to a two-year accelerated or senior status LLB. It can also be studied part-time, but this will take two to three years to complete.
Pathway to legal practice: Completing an MA Law allows graduates to proceed to the next stage of legal education, such as Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) for aspiring solicitors or the Bar Training Course (BTC) for those aiming to become barristers.
Target students: MLaw is designed for A-Level graduates who intend to study law at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. These programme combines the elements of LLB and LLM into one academic programme, allowing students to obtain an exempting law degree. It should be noted that MLaw is different from LLM which is typically a one-year full-time postgraduate programme designed for law graduates.
Curriculum: MLaw programmes cover all the required modules covered in MA Law, but it also offers a more specialised and advanced curriculum compared to undergraduate law degrees. Students may have the opportunity to specialise in some areas of law, such as Intellectual Property, Commercial Law, Family Law, Criminal Practice, Dispute Resolution, Evidence, Company Law, etc. Some MLaw programmes may also include a research component, allowing students to engage in independent legal research and produce a dissertation.
Duration: MLaw programmes are typically four years in duration on a full-time basis. Students normally follow the LLB study path in the first three years and then LLM study path in the final year. Because this programme is tailored to A-Level graduates, rather than working individuals or university graduates, it cannot be studied part-time.
Pathway to legal practice: Like MA Law, completing an MLaw allows graduates to proceed to the next stage of legal education or professional exams, including Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) and the Bar Training Course (BTC).
In summary, MA Law is a conversion course for individuals with a non-law undergraduate degree, providing the foundational legal knowledge needed to progress in legal education and practice. MLaw is a postgraduate degree for A-Level graduates who wish to pursue a law degree at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels and to specialise in specific areas of law.
