llm thesis format

HLS Dissertations, Theses, and JD Papers

S.j.d. dissertations, ll.m. papers, ll.m. theses, j.d. papers, submitting your paper to an online collection, other sources for student papers beyond harvard, getting help, introduction.

This is a guide to finding Harvard Law School (“HLS”) student-authored works held by the Library and in online collections. This guide covers HLS S.J.D Dissertations, LL.M. papers, J.D. third-year papers, seminar papers, and prize papers.

There have been changes in the HLS degree requirements for written work. The library’s collection practices and catalog descriptions for these works has varied. Please note that there are gaps in the library’s collection and for J.D. papers, few of these works are being collected any longer.

If we have an S.J.D. dissertation or LL.M. thesis, we have two copies. One is kept in the general collection and one in the Red Set, an archival collection of works authored by HLS affiliates. If we have a J.D. paper, we have only one copy, kept in the Red Set. Red Set copies are last resort copies available only by advance appointment in Historical and Special Collections .

Some papers have not been processed by library staff. If HOLLIS indicates a paper is “ordered-received” please use this form to have library processing completed.

The HLS Doctor of Juridical Science (“S.J.D.”) program began in 1910.  The library collection of these works is not comprehensive. Exceptions are usually due to scholars’ requests to withhold Library deposit. 

• HLS S.J.D. Dissertations in HOLLIS To refine these search results by topic or faculty advisor, or limit by date, click Add a New Line.
• Hein’s Legal Theses and Dissertations Microfiche Mic K556.H45x Drawers 947-949 This microfiche set includes legal theses and dissertations from HLS and other premier law schools. It currently includes about 300 HLS dissertations and theses.
• Hein's Legal Theses and Dissertations Contents List This content list is in order by school only, not by date, subject or author. It references microfiche numbers within the set housed in the Microforms room on the entry level of the library, drawers 947-949. The fiche are a different color for each institution.
• ProQuest Dissertations and Theses @ Harvard University (Harvard login) Copy this search syntax: dg(S.J.D.) You will find about 130 SJD Dissertations dated from 1972 to 2004. They are not available in full text.
• DASH Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard Sponsored by Harvard University’s Office for Scholarly Communication, DASH is an open repository for research papers by members of the Harvard community. There are currently about 600 HLS student papers included. Unfortunately it is not possible to search by type of paper or degree awarded.

The Master of Laws (“LL.M.”) degree has been awarded since 1923. Originally, the degree required completion of a major research paper, akin to a thesis. Since 1993, most students have the option of writing the LL.M. "short paper."  This is a 25-page (or longer) paper advised by a faculty supervisor or completed in conjunction with a seminar.  Fewer LL.M. candidates continue to write the more extensive "long-paper." LL.M. candidates holding J.D.s from the U.S. must write the long paper.

• HLS Written Work Requirements for LL.M. Degree The current explanation of the LL.M. written work requirement for the master of laws.

The library generally holds HLS LL.M. long papers and short papers. In recent years, we require author release in order to do so. In HOLLIS, no distinction is made between types of written work created in satisfaction of the LL.M. degree; all are described as LL.M. thesis. Though we describe them as thesis, the law school refers to them solely as papers or in earlier years, essays. HOLLIS records indicate the number of pages, so at the record level, it is possible to distinguish long papers.

• HLS LL.M. Papers in HOLLIS To refine these search results by topic, faculty advisor, seminar or date, click Add a New Line.

HLS LL.M. Papers are sometimes available in DASH and Hein's Legal Dissertations and Theses. See descriptions above .

The HLS J.D. written work requirement has changed over time. The degree formerly required a substantial research paper comparable in scope to a law review article written under faculty supervision, the "third year paper." Since 2008, J.D. students have the option of using two shorter works instead.

Of all those written, the library holds relatively few third-year papers. They were not actively collected but accepted by submission from faculty advisors who deemed a paper worthy of institutional retention. The papers are described in HOLLIS as third year papers, seminar papers, and student papers. Sometimes this distinction was valid, but not always. The faculty deposit tradition more or less ended in 2006, though the possibility of deposit still exists. 

• J.D. Written Work Requirement
• Faculty Deposit of Student Papers with the Library

HLS Third Year Papers in HOLLIS

To refine these search results by topic, faculty advisor, seminar or date, click Add a New Line.

• HLS Student Papers Some third-year papers and LL.M. papers were described in HOLLIS simply as student papers. To refine these search results, click "Add a New Line" and add topic, faculty advisor, or course title.
• HLS Seminar Papers Note that these include legal research pathfinders produced for the Advanced Legal Research course when taught by Virginia Wise.

Prize Papers

HLS has many endowed prizes for student papers and essays. There are currently 16 different writing prizes. See this complete descriptive list with links to lists of winners from 2009 to present. Note that there is not always a winner each year for each award. Prize winners are announced each year in the commencement pamphlet.

The Library has not specifically collected prize papers over the years but has added copies when possible. The HOLLIS record for the paper will usually indicate its status as a prize paper. The most recent prize paper was added to the collection in 2006.

Addison Brown Prize Animal Law & Policy Program Writing Prize Victor Brudney Prize Davis Polk Legal Profession Paper Prize Roger Fisher and Frank E.A. Sander Prize Yong K. Kim ’95 Memorial Prize Islamic Legal Studies Program Prize on Islamic Law Laylin Prize LGBTQ Writing Prize Mancini Prize Irving Oberman Memorial Awards John M. Olin Prize in Law and Economics Project on the Foundations of Private Law Prize Sidney I. Roberts Prize Fund Klemens von Klemperer Prize Stephen L. Werner Prize

• Harvard Law School Prize Essays (1850-1868) A historical collection of handwritten prize essays covering the range of topics covered at that time. See this finding aid for a collection description.

The following information about online repositories is not a recommendation or endorsement to participate.

• ProQuest Dissertations and Theses HLS is not an institutional participant to this collection. If you are interested in submitting your work, refer to these instructions and note that there is a fee required, which varies depending on the format of submission.
• EBSCO Open Dissertations Relatively new, this is an open repository of metadata for dissertations. It is an outgrowth of the index American Doctoral Dissertations. The aim is to cover 1933 to present and, for modern works, to link to full text available in institutional repositories. Harvard is not one of the institutional participants.
• DASH Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard

Sponsored by Harvard University’s Office for Scholarly Communication, this is an open repository for research papers by members of the Harvard community. See more information about the project. 

Some HLS students have submitted their degree paper to DASH.  If you would like to submit your paper, you may use this authorization form  or contact June Casey , Librarian for Open Access Initiatives and Scholarly Communication at Harvard Law School.

• ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (Harvard Login) Covers dissertations and masters' theses from North American graduate schools and many worldwide. Provides full text for many since the 1990s and has descriptive data for older works.
• NDLTD Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations Union Catalog Worldwide in scope, NDLTD contains millions of records of electronic theses and dissertations from the early 1900s to the present.
• Law Commons of the Digital Commons Network The Law Commons has dissertations and theses, as well as many other types of scholarly research such as book chapters and conference proceedings. They aim to collect free, full-text scholarly work from hundreds of academic institutions worldwide.
• EBSCO Open Dissertations Doctoral dissertations from many institutions. Free, open repository.
• Dissertations from Center for Research Libraries Dissertations found in this resource are available to the Harvard University Community through Interlibrary Loan.
• British Library EThOS Dissertation source from the British Library listing doctoral theses awarded in the UK. Some available for immediate download and some others may be requested for scanning.
• BASE from Bielefeld University Library Index of the open repositoris of most academic institutions. Includes many types of documents including doctoral and masters theses.

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• Last Updated: Sep 12, 2023 10:46 AM
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Guide To LLM Dissertation Writing

Find your perfect llm program search our database of over 2500 courses.

Choosing the topic

Five key considerations when choosing your dissertation topic are:

• Why are you studying an LLM in thr first place?
• Which modules have you enjoyed the most?
• Which areas of the law have a good support base at your institution?
• What are the strengths of your law library?
• Is your potential topic a wide enough question?

Obviously, choosing a topic is a necessary stage to get underway before you can start researching and writing your dissertation. You should spend time carefully considering the subject of your dissertation as it might end up being the clincher for that  first job  after you finish your studies. Make sure you pick a topic that you find interesting, but that also has the balance of support from your lecturers and professors.

You'll need to be uniquely motivated to produce a dissertation about a subject that none of your lectures or professors knows much about. Understanding why you have picked the particular subject will ensure you're choosing the right topic, but don't spend too much time considering what to do as you'll need to get on with it. 

Dissertation support

You will have plenty of dissertation support organised through your law school. Some of it might be compulsory sessions that you must undertake as part of your LLM program, while others may be support sessions that can help you stay focused throughout your dissertation work.

Make sure you attend these sessions and don’t hesitate to ask questions if in doubt. It might be a good idea to share your dissertation structure with tutors or designated academic contacts that can give you feedback on your progress. Law school libraries usually have  books  that tell you how best to prepare for your dissertation. Keep an eye out for skills sessions on writing or research methods. These will prove useful when you get down to drafting content for your dissertation and will enable you to put to practice acquired skills that you picked up during these sessions.

Planning and organisation

Some people love creating a filing system and hopefully, you're one of them as this is a great way to organise your LLM dissertation. You'll need to keep your research well organised to enable you to quickly access it when you are writing your dissertation. It's a good idea to have research divided into chapters early on.

It's a good idea to follow a file management procedure to save your dissertation material. This material could consist of both printed (photocopies from the library or print-outs of research articles) and online documents. Try to follow a consistent labelling/naming convention so that you can locate documents quickly. For instance, if you have a vast number of online articles and research papers to go through, then categorise them in such a way that they fall under relevant chapters of your dissertation.

Any research you do online will need to be backed up, and of course, you will have the dissertation itself backed up too. Do not have everything saved on one ancient laptop, instead build in a routine for how you save and backup your data daily so it just becomes part of how you work. If you start as early as you can on your dissertation, then you'll be able to build in planning time and create a realistic timetable for your work, with escapes from your dissertation to let you reflect on what you have done so far. 

Researching

There is no easy or quick way around this, you are just going to have to get going with the research as soon as possible. Remember that law libraries get busy during the second semester so you'll need to get there early in the mornings or stay late sometimes.

You also don't want to wait around for particular texts that have a limited availability. If you realise you need a book that someone else has checked-out of the library, then let the staff know as soon as you know so you have a chance of getting it. Don't forget about online law libraries and resources too, and speak with your academic staff if you are really struggling to access what you need. 

Don't wait until you think you've done all the researching before you start writing up your findings. Writing up an LLM dissertation takes time and thought. Start writing as soon as you start researching and keep planning the chapters of your dissertation as you delve deeper into the research. With a bit of luck and good planning, you will find that the chapters are easy to write. 

Editing and formatting

Find out before you write a single word what format your dissertation needs to be in for printing and submission. Your law school will likely have their own standards, so you should familiarise yourself with this document before you get started. Establish the right format straight away so you are not spending time at the last minute changing formats or the way you have referenced the whole document.

Don't underestimate how long it will take to edit your dissertation – expect to read through each chapter many times as each read through will show you new and interesting mistakes. And if possible, find a willing friend or family member to give it a final read – fresh eyes are likely to pick up small typos or mistakes.  

Printing and submitting

Aim to finish your LLM dissertation with a little time to spare. Towards submission deadlines, university printers are busy places and if you need to print your dissertation at a particular printer then check with them early on to understand how much time they need to get your document ready. You need time for them to print it and time for you to check the printed material as you need to check for formatting errors or any printing mistakes like double pages.  Once you've written your dissertation you can take a calm walk into your submissions office and hand over your dissertation. Obviously, everything went to plan and you've finished your dissertation with time to spare and now it's time to  relax a little .

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Home > Dean Rusk Center > LLM Theses and Essays

LLM Theses and Essays

Submissions from 2013 2013.

Some Important Causes for Settlement in American Civil Litigation , Felipe Forte Cobo

Submissions from 2011 2011

TO REVEAL OR CONCEAL?—AN ISP’S DILEMMA, Presenting a New “Anonymous Public Concern Test” for Evaluating ISP Subpoenas in Online Defamation Suits , Cayce Myers

Submissions from 2008 2008

Infrastructure Development in Emerging Economies and the Roles Played by Multilateral Institutions , Amjad Ahasan Basheer

Universal Human Rights and Threat to International Peace and Security: The United Nations' Obligation to Intervene , Godfrey Mhlanga

Submissions from 2007 2007

Applicable Law Provisions in International Uniform Commercial Law Conventions , Paolo E. Conci

Licenses, Leases and Other Contractual Arrangements for the Exploration and Production of Petroleum A Comparative Study Between Nigeria and the United States , Omolara Elumelu

Judicial Review of International Commercial Arbitral Awards by National Courts in the United States and India , Aparna D. JUJJAVARAPU

Ethiopia's Sovereign Right of Access to the Sea under International Law , Abebe T. Kahsay

Comfort Women: Human Rights of Women from Then to Present , Jinyang Koh

Imports or Made-in-China: Comparison of Two Constitutional Cases in China and the United States , Xiao Li

Taxing Emotional Distress Recoveries: Does Murphy Show the Way? , Kaushal P. Mahaseth

The Land of the Free: Human Rights Violations at Immigration Detention Facilities in America , Caitlin J. Mitchel

International Legal Standards Governing the Use of Child Soldiers , Dorcas B. Mulira

Corporate Restrictions in Mexico and the United States , Dennis Rios

Regulating Transnational Corporation for Environmental Damage , Sonal Sahu

The Need for a Transnational Appellate Arbitral Review Body , Priya Sampath

A Consumption Tax versus a Federal Income Tax in the United States , Shelly-Ann R. Tomlinson

Financial Holding Company System and Relevant Legislation , Ye Wang

Submissions from 2006 2006

The Hamburg Rules , Kweku G. Ainuson

Tourism in Antarctica: History, Current Challenges and Proposals for Regulation , Juan Y. Harcha

Reconsidering the Medical Expert Witness System , Yunwei Jiang

A Comparative Study of the Legal Responses to Domestic Violence in the United States and Hungary , Adam Keri

Enforcement of Human Rights under Regional Mechanisms: a Comparative Analysis , Fekadeselassie F. Kidanemariam

Shareholders' Agreements in Close Corporations and Their Enforcement , Ricardo Molano Leon

A Comparative Study on the Trade Barriers Regulation and Foreign Trade Barriers Investigation Rules , Junrong Song

How to Deal with Multi-party Nominations of Arbitrators in International Commercial Arbitration - a Comparative Study of Appointment Procedures with Emphasis on U.S.-European Commerce between Private Entities , Marie-Beatrix Tupy

Balancing Regulations and Incentives for Foreign Direct Investment: a Case Study of Mexico and Kazakhstan , Dauren B. Tynybekov

Submissions from 2005 2005

The Legality of Humanitarian Intervention , Eric Adjei

A Comparative Assessment of U.S. Direct Investment in China and India , Kalpana Arjunan

Pre-contractual Obligations in France and the United States , Florence Caterini

Comparative Law: Alcohol, Drug Abuse & Jurisprudence from the United States to Korea , Hyun J. Cho

Commercial Speech in the United States and Europe , Oxana Valeryevna Gassy-Wright

Accountability of Transnational Corporations under International Standards , Lea Hanakova

Protection of "Persona" in the EU and in the US: a Comparative Analysis , Anna E. Helling

Income Tax Preferences to Foreign Investment in China since the Late 1970s , Xiaoyang Hou

Role of the World Bank and IMF in Issuing Loans to Russia: Responsibility, Tricks, Corruption, Mafia, and Important Use of Legal Enforcement , Elmira A. Makova

Governance and Responsibility of Multinational Enterprises: the Use of Codes of Conduct and Litigation to Change Multinational Enterprises' Behavior , Maria Fernanda Matach

Free Movement of Goods: a Comparative Analysis of the European Community Treaty and the North American Free Trade Agreement , Pedro A. Perichart

The Drafting Process For a Hague Convention on Jurisdiction and Judgements with Special Consideration of Intellectual Property and E-Commerce , Knut Woestehoff

The Drafting Process for a Hague Convention on Jurisdiction and Judgments with Special Consideration of Intellectual Property and E-commerce , Knut Woestehoff

Trade-related Environmental Measures and GATT: the Conflict between Trade Libralization and Environmental Protection , Fang Zheng

Submissions from 2004 2004

The Question of Non-trade Issues in the WTO from a Developing Country Perspective , Cecilia Alzamora

Cybercrime , Karissa Ayala

Protection of Children from Exploitation in West Africa: Illusion or Reality? , Afua Brown-Eyeson

Legal Structures of European Security and Defense Policy and War Powers under the U.S. Constitution , Heiko Buesing

U.S. Antidumping Law and Practices against Korean Exports , Jinwook Choi

Regulation of Hate Speech , Haiping Deng

The Institutional Framework of the European Union for the Conduct of Foreign Affairs , Frederic Eggermont

Comparison of New Zealand and United States Securities Markets through the Looking Glass of the Efficient Market Hypothesis , Carla Natalia Gargiulo

Private Party Participation in the World Trade Organizations , Taehyung Im

Issues Regarding the Most Effective Tool of U.S. Bankruptcy Law , Zeenat Kera

Contracts and Electronic Agents , Sabrina Kis

Historical Aspects of State Arbitration Policy , Elton R. Lanier

Regulating Non-territorial Commercial Environments in Territorial-based Legal Systems , Pedro Martin G. Less Andrade

Unilateral Refusals to Deal in Intellectual Property as Monopolistic Conduct , Bolanle Meshida

Comparative Analysis of Federal Income Tax Imposed on U.S. C Corporations and Russian Joint Stock Companies , Alina Y. Mitskevich

Legislation and Implementation of International Environmental Law by African Countries: a Case Study of Ghana , Brigitte L. Okley

The Challenges of Tax Collection in Developing Economies (with Special Reference to India) , Pramod K. Rai

Family Businesses, Choices of Legal Entity , Martina L. Rojo

Sound Record Producers' Rights and the Problem of Sound Recording Piracy , Stanislava N. Staykova

The Change of Corporate Governance Structure in the United States and Taiwan , Yifan Tseng

Fiduciary Duties of Directors in the Context of Going-private Transactions to the Minority Shareholders under Delaware Law , Yuan Wang

Recognition and Enforcement of International Commercial Arbitration Awards , Shouhua Yu

Submissions from 2003 2003

Interim Measures in International Commercial Arbitration: Past, Present and Future , Sandeep Adhipathi

Reservations, Human Rights Treaties in the 21st century: from Universality to Integrity , Pierrick Devidal

Technological Advances Leading to the Diminishing of Privacy Rights , Anabelle Maria D'Souza

Protection of Consumer Privacy in E-commerce , Choong L. Ha

Mergers and Acquisitions in Europe: Analysis of EC Competition Regulations , YoungJun Lee

Security Interests in Intellectual Property Rights: the Time Has Come for the Enactment of New Laws , Esteban Mazzucco

The Convergence of Trade and Environment and the Relative Role of WTO , Xiaoxi Meng

The Main Characteristics of State's Jurisdiction to Tax in International Dimension , Alfred Nizamiev

U.S. Foreign Direct Investment in Developing Countries: a Case Study of Malaysia, Mexico and South Africa , Abenaa A. Oti-Prempeh

Free movement of goods: A comparative analysis of the European community treaty and the north American free trade agreement , Pedro A. Perichart

A Historical View of Intellectual Property Rights in the Palestinian Territories , Ihab G. Samaan

Submissions from 2002 2002

An Analysis of the Duty to Negotiate in Good Faith: Precontractual Liability and Preliminary Agreement , Aarti Arunachalam

Multinational Corporations Facing the Varying Concepts of Jurisdiction : "forum non-conveniens", Contrasts between the Anglo-American and the European Law Systems , Sandrine Buttin

Minority Shareholders and Oppression in Close Corporations: Contracting as an Effective Protection Device , Marcella Machado Carneiro

Freedom of Speech, Cinema and Censorship: a Comparative Analysis of Issues of Freedom of Speech Violations as a Result of the Rating Regulation Authorities in the Motion Picture Industry in France and the United States , Stephanie Grenier

International Corporate Governance Practices and Their Implications on Investors , Namwandi Hamanyanga

Current Problems of International Taxation of Electronic Commerce , Nuran G. Kerimov

An End to the Political Question Doctrine in Korea?: A Comparative Analysis , Myeong-Sik Kim

The Evolution of the Law's Treatment of the Confessions of Mentally Disabled Criminal Suspects , John E. Knight

Public and Private Interests in Copyright Law: Creativity, Science and Democracy vs. Property and Market , Daryana I. Kotzeva

The Intra-enterprise Conspiracy Doctrine as Applied to Affiliated Corporations under Section 1 of the Sherman Act , Michael B. Menz

Privacy and Personal Data Protection in the Information Age: A Comparative Evaluation , Emeka B. Obasi

The Right to Freedom of Religion vis a vis Religious Intolerance in the New Millennium , Buihe P. Okenu

Conflict of Laws in the Enforcement of Foreign Awards and Foreign Judgments: the Public Policy Defense and Practice in U.S. Courts , Anupama Parameshwaran

Balancing Interests: Statute of Limitations and Repose in Medical Malpractice Cases , Laurie L. Paterson

A Comparison of Environmental Impact Assessment Process between the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and the Basic Environmental Protection Act (BEPA) , V An Rhee

Offshore Investments , Ana Maura M. Safrin

Lawyers' Value in Mergers and Acquisitions under the New World of Multidisciplinary Practices , Yunling Wu

Submissions from 2001 2001

FAIR USE AND THE DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION OF MUSIC - RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA v. NAPSTER, INC. (A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF A RESTRAINT ON COPYRIGHT IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO) , MICHELLE LISA ALEXANDER

THE IMPACT OF MODERNIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT ON MUSLIM WOMEN IN EGYPT: A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE , MAZAHIR MUHAMMED ATA EL-SID

David vs. Goliath (2001): An Analysis of the OECD Harmful Tax Competition Policy , Truman Butler

Transfer Pricing: A Comparative Study of the French and U.S. Legal Systems , Valerie Ciancia

REFORMING CHINA'S PARTNERSHIP LAW: ACHIEVEMENTS, PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS , HONGBING FAN

SHOULD AN EFFECTIVE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT HAVE PRIMACY OR BE COMPLEMENTARY TO NATIONAL COURTS? AN ANALYSIS OF CONCURRENT JURISDICTION IN THE AD HOC TRIBUNALS AND THE ROME STATUTE , GODWIN YENIKA FONYE

Foreign Direct Investment in Colombia , Juliana Gomez

LEGALIZE IT? -OSP AND PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK LIABILITY FOR ONLINE MUSIC COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND GERMANY , CHRISTIAN NILS JOCHEN ENGELHARDT

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LLM Research and Writing Options

Working as a research assistant for a law school professor.

Faculty members may offer students the opportunity to work as research assistants (RAs) for monetary compensation or, if the professor deems it appropriate based on the nature of the work, for academic credit.  For details, review information on serving as a research assistant for faculty .

Directed Research

 To undertake Directed Research, students contact individual instructors and agree on a research project. To register, a written proposal must be approved and signed by the instructor, and then submitted to the Office of Graduate Affairs. The written proposal should be at least 1000 words and describe the subject matter of the Directed Research and the issues the student intends to explore in the paper.  While any full-time faculty member or visiting faculty member may supervise the research, Adjunct Professors may supervise only with the permission of Vice Dean Hertz.

Directed Research credit may be added through Monday, October 2 for Fall 2023, and Monday, February 5 for Spring 2024.

The usual allocation for Directed Research is two credits. A student may write a one-credit Directed Research.  A two-credit Directed Research project should conform to the r equirements for an Option A paper ; a one-credit Directed Research paper should be at least 5,000 words, exclusive of footnotes. A three-credit Directed Research project is highly unusual and requires the approval of Vice Dean Randy Hertz.  Students considering a 3-credit Directed Research should contact the Office of Graduate Affairs to discuss. 

For non-tax students no more than four of a student's 24 credits may consist of directed research. Tax students may take a maximum of two credits of directed research. Regardless of the type of project involved, students are, of course, expected to submit original, non-duplicative work. When in doubt about proper use of a citation or quotation, discuss the issue with the instructor. Plagiarism is a serious offense that may merit severe discipline. Requests to add Directed Research after the deadline stated above require approval of Vice Dean Hertz. Such requests should be initiated by contacting the Office of Graduate Affairs and will only be considered if your credit load (not including the Directed Research credits) does not drop below minimum requirements after the add/drop period. Students who are granted permission to late-add Directed Research will not be permitted to drop courses if the result is inconsistent with the above; please plan your schedule accordingly. After March 15, the Vice Dean may allow a student to add Directed Research only in exceptional circumstances. No more than two credits can be earned in this manner.

Read further about Requirements for Directed Research

Directed Research During the Summer Semester

Students may register for Directed Research during the summer semester. The summer registration deadlines is July 1, unless there is approval by the Vice Dean to add at a later date. Please note that full-time students will be charged per credit for Directed Research during the summer. All work must be submitted by September 1 or by an earlier deadline established by the supervising faculty member.

Writing Credit

In seminars, colloquia, and courses that offer the option to add an additional writing credit, students may earn one credit for writing a substantial paper (at least 10,000 words in length exclusive of footnotes). To earn the additional credit, students must register for the writing credit section of the course within the same semester the course is offered. The deadline for registering is Monday, October 2 for Fall 2023, and Monday, February 5 for Spring 2024.

LLM Thesis Option

LLM students have the option to write a substantial research paper, in conjunction with a seminar or Directed Research that may be recorded as a "thesis" on their transcript. At the onset of the seminar or Directed Research, the student must obtain approval from the professor that the paper will be completed for a "thesis" designation.

It should be substantial in length (at least 10,000 words exclusive of footnotes) and, like the substantial writing requirement for JD students, must be analytical rather than descriptive in nature, showing original thought and analysis. Please note the thesis designation is for a single research paper agreed upon in advance.

The student is required to submit an outline and at least one FULL PRE-FINAL draft to the faculty member in order to receive the thesis notation. When submitting a final draft of the thesis to the faculty member, the student must give the faculty member an LLM Thesis Certification form . The faculty member is required to return the signed form to the Office of Records and Registration when submitting a grade for the course.

Please note that the student will not receive additional credit for writing the thesis, but will only receive credit for the seminar or Directed Research for which he or she is registered.

International Legal Studies Students should review their program requirements for further information about writing an LLM thesis within their program.

Writing Assistance

Writing resources.

• Guide to Writing
• (excellent guide to legal writing generally)
• So You Want to Write a Research Paper...
• (Recording with Prof. Jose Alvarez)
• So You Want to Write About International Law...
• Some Thoughts on Writing by Barry Friedman (PDF: 106 KB)
• NYU Law Library Guide: Researching and Writing a Law Review Note or Seminar Paper
• NYU Law Library Research Guides
• Why Write a Student Note

© 2024 New York University School of Law. 40 Washington Sq. South, New York, NY 10012.   Tel. (212) 998-6100

The deadline for submission of the final version of the LLM thesis is normally 1 October of the year following admission to the EUI. The final version of the LLM thesis should be submitted to the supervisor's administrative assistant as one single PDF file.

The EUI print-shop will print and bind 8 copies of the thesis (3 for the readers, 3 for the researcher and 2 for the Library after the degree is awarded) at the EUI's expense.

The LLM thesis may be written in any language agreed with the supervisor. If language correction of the thesis is required, see the  Guidelines for Thesis Correction .

All LLM theses theses should be between 25,000 and 35,000 words, including footnotes, unless specified otherwise by the supervisor.They should be presented in a perfect academic format and the EUI template for the cover page must be used. Please also see the  Guidelines for thesis formatting .

Researchers are encouraged to publish the thesis electronically in the EUI repository by submitting the text to  [email protected]

Page last updated on 22 September 2023

Osgoode Digital Commons

Osgoode Home > Osgoode Digital Commons > Theses and Dissertations > LLM Theses

Theses from 2022 2022

Transcending the Impasse: Towards an Indigenous Vision of Legality in Palestine , Juman Abujbara

Accepting the Unacceptable: Trinity Western University, Religious Freedom, and the Meaning of Liberal Constitutionalism , Robert Stephen Boissonneault

Executive Power, Territorial Jurisdiction, and the (Non-)Protection of Human Rights in Canadian Extradition , Jay De Santi

Law and Indigenous Religion: Theorizing a Complex Relationship , Kristen Elizabeth Lewis

Hartazgo: Understanding how #YoTeCreo emerged in Venezuela , Maria Corina Muskus Toro

Understanding the Failure of Police Reform in Nigeria: A Case for Legal History Through Literature , Olaoluwa Folasade Oni

Safety Valves: A Band-Aid Solution to the Ills of Mandatory Minimums? , Venus Sayed

Theses from 2021 2021

Fighting Climate Change with the Charter: An Inquiry into the Effects of Litigating the Right to a Healthy Environment , Kevin Patrick Berk

Access to Environmental Justice: NGO Environmental Advocacy on Mining-Related Environmental Issues in Mongolia , Ulziilkham Enkhbaatar

Aandaakonan inaakonigewin: Considering an Anishinaabe meaning to the Canadian law on consultation and accommodation , Veronica Ann Guido

Self-determination as resistance to legal violence: Jurisdiction, property, and the geographies of conflict in Unistoten and Xolobeni , Daniel Luke Huizenga

To Set Aside or To Not Set Aside the Agreement Pursuant to Section 56(4) of the Family Law Act: Applying Relational Theory to Domestic Contracts Involving Spousal Support Releases and Waivers , Sara Kun

Finding a Governing Law to Resolve Conflicts of Tax Laws , Catharine Marie McMillan

Transitional Justice, Peace and Everyday Reality: Somalilands Experience with Justice and Security-Sector Reform , Siham Rayale

Health Insurance, a False Dichotomy and a Negative Right to Abortion in Canada's Maritime Provinces , Clare Joanne Shrybman

Doomed to Fail: Ag-gag Laws and the Canadian Charter , Samantha Lynne Skinner

Theses from 2020 2020

With Great Advantage Should Come Responsibility: How the Territorialist Approach in Private International Law Maybe Overcome to Ensure Justice is Done for those Left in the Wake of Canadian Business Abroad , Michele Dominique Lemieux Charles

Sex Workers and the Best Interests of their Children: Identifying Issues Faced by Sex Workers Involved in Custody and Access Legal Proceedings , Julie Eleanor DeWolf

Using Charter Damages to Provide Meaningful Redress and Promote State Accountability: A Re-examination of the Omar Khadr Case , Katharine June Fisher

Towards Implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action in Law Schools: A Settler Harm Reduction Approach to Racial Stereotyping and Prejudice Against Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous Legal Orders in Canadian Legal Education , Scott James Franks

Punishing Black Bodies in Canada: Making Blackness Visible in Criminal Sentencing , Danardo Sanjay Jones

Liquid Laws: Extractivism and Unstable Authority , Caitlin Rose Sargeant Murphy

Girls, Who Run The World? Not Yet: An Analysis of the Underrepresentation of Women on Boards in Canada and the Underlying Theory of the Regulation Thereof , Diana Christine Nicholls

Procedural Discretionary Decisions and Access to Justice Before Administrative Tribunals , Rachel Elizabeth Weiner

Theses from 2019 2019

The Nigerian Niger Delta and the Invisible Hand of TREMF: Exploring the (IM)Possibility of Socio-Economic Justice Under the Un 'Ruggie' Guiding Principles , Ikenna Emmanuel Aniekwe

Presumptive Deference and the Role of Expertise on Questions of Law in Canadian Administrative Law , Cheryl Laura Bowman

Understanding Trans Racialized Youth Autonomy in Health Care Decision Making in Ontario , Gitanjali Natasha Lena

Theses from 2018 2018

Charter Damages: Private Law in the Unique Public Law Remedy , Peter Krikor Adourian

The Legal Treatment of Informal Caregivers of the Elderly in Canada and Australia: The Importance of Recognizing Relations in Creating Reforms , Sara Nicole Pon

Toxic Enactments: Materializing Estrogen and Regulation Under Canada's Food and Drugs Act, 1939-1953 , Lara Jessie Tessaro

Theses from 2017 2017

Indigenous Blockades and the Power to Speak the Law: From Settler Colonialism to Indigenous Resurgence , Christopher Eric Jon Albinati

The ECOWAS Court, Activist Forces, and the Pursuit of Environmental and Socioeconomic Justice in Nigeria , Okechukwu Emmanuel Effoduh

Security and Liberty, Transparency and Secrecy, Parliamentary Control of the Secret Services in Canada and Germany: A Comparative Approach , Sophie Christine Barbara Wiesehofer

Theses from 2016 2016

Class Roots: The Genesis of the Ontario Class Proceedings Act, 1966 - 1993 , Suzanne Erica Chiodo

How Ontarians Experience the Law: An Examination on Incidence Rate, Seriousness and Response to Legal Problems , Matthew Dylag

The Role of Judicial Discourse in Distorting the Public Inquiry Image: Is the Inquiry Becoming an Endangered Species? , Diana Morokhovets

Lost in Translation? The Difference Between Hearsay Rule's Historical Rationale and Practical Application , Christopher Lloyd Sewrattan

Professional Discretion and the Law: Impact of Actuaries on the Underfunding and Decline of Private Sector Single Employer Defined Benefit Pensions in Canada: How Many "Post Nortel" Pension Fiascos are Brewing in Canada? , Paul Charles Walker

Theses from 2015 2015

The Political Economic Dimensions of Executive Compensation Reform: Can the Foundations of Shareholder Primacy Be Sustained in the Post - Crisis Regulatory Environment? , Dezso Peter Arpad Farkas

They Promised to Leave Us Some of Our Land: Aboriginal Title in Canada's Maritime Provinces , Robert Colin Hamilton

The Failure of the Canadian Human Rights Regime to Provide Remedies for Indigenous Peoples: Enough Time Has Passed , Jeffery Gordon Hewitt

The Rule of Liberal Legalism: The Challenge of the Normativities of Multiple Modernities and Religious Diversity , Noorjahan Pirani Hirji

The Right to Self-Determination of a People: A Twailian Analysis of ICJ Decisions in Cameroon v. Nigeria, East Timor, and Western Sahara Cases , Ngozi Sunday Nwoko

Lets Talk About Sexual Assault A Feminist Exploration of the Relationship Between Legal and Experiential Discourses , Dana Erin Phillips

The Globalization of Crime Control: The Use of Non-criminal Justice Responses for Countering Organized Crime , Bjarni Halldor Sigursteinsson

Theses from 2014 2014

Labour Law and Triangular Employment Growth , Timothy John Bartkiw

Responsibility to Protect (R2P), The Responsibility of the International Community to Protect Syrian Citizens , Ghuna Bdiwi

Workplace Harassment: A Cross-Jurisdictional Comparative Analysis of Legislative Responses to this Workplace Phenomenon in Canada , Kayla Alice Carr

Migrant Construction and Domestic Workers in the Arab Gulf States: Modern - Day Slaves? , Omaya Chidiac

Contesting Risk, Precaution and Legitimacy: A Case Study of Lafarge , Savitri Vasanta Gordian

Rules of Disengagement: "Low Skill" Migrant Workers, Law and the Social Dimensions of Exclusionary Inclusion , Brendan Breckman Jowett

Recovering the Promise of Public Truth: Juridification and the Loss of Purpose in Public Inquiries , Jessica Mckeachie

A Comparative Study of Patent Infringement Remedies Related to Non-Practicing Entities in the Courts of Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States , Aleksandar Nikolic

The Allocation of Burdens in Litigation Between First Nations and the Crown , Michael Wilfred Posluns

The Application of Gladue to Bail: Problems, Challenges, and Potential , Jillian Anne Rogin

The March of Judicial Cosmopolitanism and the Legacy of Enemy Combatant Case Law , Madalina Lulia Sontrop

Legal Ethics as a Moral Idea: A Theory of Philosophical Legal Ethics Based on the Work of Lon Fuller , Emanuel Raul Tucsa

Informal Transnational Police-to-Police Information Sharing: Its Structure and Reform , Michael Robert Walton

Theses from 2013 2013

Grounding Equality in Social Relationships: Suspect Classification, Grounds of Discrimination, and Relational Theory , Jessica Nichol Eisen

Fuller and Godel: Prophets Against the Evils of Positivism: How the Natural Law is Necessary to Provide Legal Meaning and Consistency , Henry James Garon

Mapping the freedom to learn: making the case for student academic freedom in Canada , Angela Sylvia Regnier

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LLM Thesis Guidelines

FORMAT OF SYNOPSIS (MS/MPHIL) Given below is an outline for synopsis writing. It provides guidelines for organization and presentation of research in form of synopsis as well as organization of material within each section. This formate is as per the uniform synopsis, uploaded at the SLP officialwebsite.For overall format guidelines please follow APA-7.

For APA-7, please visit the below link:

https://admin.umt.edu.pk/Media/Site/lrc/FileManager/Thesis/APA%208-11-2023.pdf

Overall synopsis organization Title Page: Title of the study, Participant (Student)’s name, Supervisor’s name, Name of the Department, Institute List of Contents Summary / Abstract (150-200 words) 1.Introduction (2-4 pages)

• Give Background information e.g. prevalence, statistics etc
• List down conceptual Definitions of the Constructs Under study
• Provide brief overview of theories / Models linking the topic to the available body ofknowledge
• List down the theoretical frame work you will base your research work on.

2.Literature Review (2-4 pages)

• It mainly consists of review of existing relevant and related research
• Subsections can be included based on the nature of your work.
• Presents relationships between different specific constructs the researcher wants tostudy i.e. specify the relationships between and among variables
• Correlates and predictors of outcome variable identified in research
• May consist of a combination of mathematical, graphical, and/or diagrammaticalpresentations
• Provide an overview of Indigenous Researches i.e. overview of relevant researchdone in Pakistan

Statement of the Problem

Identify the research gaps and justify the conduct of the study. It serves as a guide in formulating the specific objectives of the study  SCHOOL OF LAW AND POLICY

Significance / Rational of the Study

• It refers to justification, importance, and vital contribution of the findings of thestudy / research and its likely benefits.
• Why is it worth doing?
• While the particular topic and its context will determine a study’s significance andcontribution of a study in terms of: adding to the existing knowledge in the area;policy considerations; implications for practitioners etc.

Objectives of the Study

• List down main objectives of the Study
• Hypotheses / Research questions
• States the researcher’s expectations concerning the relationships between thevariables or differences in groups or treatment conditions in research

3.Methodology (2-3 pages) Research Design

• Specify whether descriptive, causal/explanatory, correlational, comparative,exploratory, evaluative or combination of two or more designs
• Design: Strategy & Frame work
• What strategy is proposed, quantitative or qualitative?
• If both quantitative/qualitative (mixed method) approaches are targeted then whatwould be the mixture of the proposed strategies.
• Sample/ Participants
• The sampling strategy, especially whether it is probability (its type), nonprobability (its type), or both and what claims will be made for thegeneralizability of findings.
• Inclusion / exclusion criteria of the sample
• How Sample will be recruited and approached
• What would be the Sample size and how the size will be determined

Operational Definitions of the Variables (optional)

• Define constructs of the study as they will be measured / assessed
• Data Collection Techniques / Assessment Measures
• Whether you will use already developed Instruments Used (provide detail).
• Whether Instruments will be development, (give detail)
• Other ways of eliciting Data (qualitative e.g. focus group discussion, interviews,texts etc)

Material and method for observations Procedure

• How the data will be collected i.e. taking necessary approvals /permissions,logistic arrangements and assessment etc
• Ethical Considerations: consent/access/and participants’ protection
• List down issues like informed consent, anonymity, confidentiality of data, datastorage, and the use of the results etc.
• Other can be study specific like intervention and advocacy etc. etc.

4.Proposed Analyses

• Indicates the most appropriate analysis used for both quantitative (descriptive, inferentialstatistics) and qualitative data.
• Mathematical expressions must be italicized and numbered accordingly
• All models/equations must be properly numbered
• All major/key variables must be properly measured/categorized, indicating their specificunits of measure.
• The sources of formulas must be indicated in the text.

5.Limitations & Delimitations (if Applicable)

• Limitations refer to limiting conditions or restrictive weaknesses
• Delimitations refer to defining the limits or drawing the boundaries around the study,and showing clearly what is and what is not included.

6.Time Frame of Dissertation

Must be provided for planning. 7.List of References

• Follow APA-7, format prescribed for your discipline for writing references
• Ensure to match list of references with those given in citations.

8.Appendices

Participant Information Sheet, Letter for permission, Participant Consent form,Measuring instruments Interview guides, observational schedule, Assessment tools Example of pilot study or any other data/work already completed.

Faculty members and Students

Please find below the outline for thesis writing. It is a guide to organization and presentation of research in form of thesis as well as organization of material within chapters. Chapter contents tell you what needs to be included in each chapter and how sequence of this content can be as consistent across different departments as possible. For overall format guidelines please follow APA-7 as prescribed for your discipline. This is not meant to be format guide. Overall thesis organization

Title Examiners’ certificate Dedication (optional) Acknowledgements Abstract List of Contents page No Contents I List of tables II List of figures III Declaration IV Acknowledgment V Abstract VI Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION (This is just an example) 1.1 Law: Conceptual Definitions 1.2 Applications 1.3 Law and Enforcement 1.4. Theories linking Application and Enforcement 1.4.1. theory 1 1.4.2 theory 2 1.4.3 Theoretical framework of your study 1.5 Summary Chapter 1I: Literature Review 2.1 Correlates and predictors of law and enforcement identified in your research 2.3.1 Sources of law 2.3.2 Actus reus 2.3.3 Mens rea 2.2 International Precendent 2.3 Indigenous Researches/ Research conducted in Pakistan 2.4 Rational of the Study 2.5 Objectives of Study 2.6 Research questions / hypotheses, hypothesized model Chapter III: METHODOLOGY 3.1 Research Design 3.2 Sample / Participants 3.3 Operational Definitions of the Variables 3.4 Measures 3.4.1 Legal Research 3.4.2 Common Law Customs 3.4.3 Scale development (if applicable) 3.5 Procedure 3.6 Ethical Considerations Chapter IV: RESULTS 4.1 Analyses 4.2 Descriptive analyses 4.3 Inferential analyses / Hypotheses testing 4.4 Summary of the Findings Chapter V: DISCUSSION 5.1 Discussion 5.2 Strengths and Limitations of the Study 5.3: Suggestions for Future Research 5.4 Implications of the Findings

References Appendices Content Guide for each Section

Should only mention (a) what was investigated clearly giving variables in your title for example “the study investigated the relationship between law and enforcement in patriachial society”, (b) hypotheses/ research questions; (c) sample; (d) measurement; (e) analysis; (f) findings and implications of the findings. Introduction and Literature Review

First paragraph of introduction should give a very brief (two -three sentences) description of variables under investigation then state what will be presented in the chapter in the sequence in which they are presented.

Below is an example:

This thesis analyzes the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB)’s treatment ofculture in recent family sponsorship decisions. This thesis argues that appellants and applicants before the ImmigrationAppeal Division often had to demonstrate that their family class relationships were“performed” in accordance with the norms of their culture. Many IRB Members reliedon essentialist conceptions of culture, and thus generated problematic images of bothcultural minorities and Canadian society. Further, the identity of parties was oftenconstructed in terms of defined categories such as ethnic background, religion, maritalstatus, age, and disability. In conclusion, this thesis offers reflections on how issues ofcultural identity can be more fairly and sensitively addressed by administrativetribunals such as the IRB.

Main body: Tips to remember

• Give sub headings in intro to organize your material.
• Link one paragraph to next with some explanatory or linking sentence.
• When providing summary of a research study or article include all relevant informationbut keep to format of citation. Do not give first names or initials.
• When a study is very relevant or your research is based on it, give detail as well asevaluation and comment how it could be done if repeated. What findings suggest, howfindings can be applied to our cultural context and what are implications for furtherinvestigation.

Remember thesis is a story and introduction is the main script of that story where you set the stage for investigation. So start with a preamble (tamheed), introduce the variables, say all you know about variables and their relationship, convince the reader why it is important to learn about this topic. Clearly and in detail describe what has been done before in this area. Also give relevant research conducted in Pakistan, What more can be done to improve the understanding of this phenomena and what unanswered or inconclusive findings are identified in research. These are called gaps in evidence. Once you identify the gaps (research authors sometimes comment upon these gaps and then choose one or two for their own study. You can choose from previous or by reading extensively will be able to develop your own gaps in existing evidence.

At the end a summary is mandatory. Summary should briefly overview all that was said in chapter and then identify questions or formulate hypotheses for investigation in view of the literature presented in introduction chapter. These must be linked both to existing research as well as theoretical perspective. Methodology

In case of more than one study, prepare method section for each study separately. Start method section with re-presenting your research statement. “This study is investigating quality of life among heart patients and examining its relationship with. Methodology for a Quantitative Study

Design: briefly describe design of the study e.g. between group design, correlational design, repeated measure design, Qualitative, Mixed methods etc. Sample: Describe you sampling strategy and sample, how it was selected, where it was recruited from, inclusion/exclusion criteria, sample size, demographic characteristics of the sample, response rate etc.

Operational Definitions

Define constructs (variables) in terms of their measurement / assessment or how you are going to assess them in your study e.g. if you assess through already developed scale/questionnaire then how the author of the respective scale defines that construct. If you develop your own scale/questionnaire then how you conceptualize the construct for development of the scale. Assessment Measures–give detail of scales/ questionnaires with author, reliability reports as well as item examples. Ifyou develop your own scale / questionnaires then give detail of the process in this section and if translated scale then give detail of the process.

Provide detail of procedure i.e. getting required approvals and permissions, making logistic arrangements for data collection; how the potential participants approached; how the data was elicited e.g. were the scales/questionnaires distributed among participants and collected later on or were they completed in the presence of researcher…. Ethical Considerations.Give detail of all ethical issues pertaining to your research e.g. getting proposal approval; permission for sample recruitment; permission from authors to use their scales / questionnaire and if need to translate; informed consent of the participants; maintaining confidentiality of data; storage of data; publishing data etc.

Demographics: can either go in sample section or presented in early part of results Descriptive Statistics of the variables under study; Psychometric analysis (reliability) of the questionnaires /scales used in the study Inferential Statistics for hypotheses testing give results one by one according to hypotheses Give preamble for each analysis, present analysis in table form and then interpret analysis in qualitative way. Conclude by stating whether hypothesis was supported, partially supported or not supported. Tables must be prepared as per APA-7 prescribed format. Conclude your results chapter with summary of the main findings.

First para should be summary of your findings- a brief one. Then address each finding, relate it to theory and previous research and also discuss in the cultural context, provide explanations for your findings. At the end provide a summary and general discussion. Limitations and strengths of your research, and further suggestions for future research can be a separate subsection in discussion chapter. Implications at end of discussion chapter and implications must be within the scope of your research, not generalized implications.

Methodology for a Qualitative Study

There is no qualitative methods but a number of approaches that fall under the paradigm of “qualitative.” Principles of selection

Qualitative research in many cases includes non-probability sampling. The researched elements could include one or more of various categories. The sample selection criteria should be clear, as well as the rationale for such selection from a theoretical point of view: 1.The sources of the data should have their own rationale; e.g. participants/respondents,documents, texts, settings, etc. 2.Limitations of the data should be analyzed, mentioned and discussed (non-response, refusal totake part, avoiding of questions by the respondents, etc.). During the research various matters should be considered: the access process, mode of data collection and record, individuals who collected the data, time or timeframe of data collection, how the study was explained to the respondents.

Ethical considerations

The following matters are important:

• a.Anonymize information regarding respondents.
• b.Provide details of ethical approvals or permissions, if unable to obtain permission for anypurpose it should be mentioned as well.
• c.Procedures for informed content needs to be provided.
• d.Any other ethical concerns that came up during the research need to be discussed.

Analysis & Interpretation

• The steps of the analysis need to be made as clear as possible one by one:
• How was the analysis conducted
• How were themes, concepts and categories generated from the data
• Whether analysis was computer assisted (and, if so, how, name of the softwarewith citation, etc.).

Analytic rigor:

• oSteps taken to guard against selectivity in the use of data
• oTriangulation and what frameworks or theoretical approaches were used
• oMember and expert examining or checking
• oThe researcher should state his/her own position. For example, have theyexamined their own role, possible bias, and influence on the research?

Consideration of context

• The research should be clearly contextualized. For example”
• How does the research fit in the culture where it was conducted? Information about thesettings and respondents needs to be provided.
• The study should integrate the phenomena being researched in its own social contextrather than keeping it de-contextualized.
• Any unique influences should be identified, mentioned and discussed
• Presentation of data:
• Quotations, field notes, and other data where appropriate should be identified in a waywhich can enable other researcher to make a connection between data, instrument andresults (validity).
• A clear line between the data and its interpretation

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Law thesis and dissertation collection

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Presented here is a selection of theses and dissertations from the School of Law. Please note that this is not a complete record of all degrees awarded by the School.

This material is presented to ensure timely dissemination of scholarly and technical work. Copyright and all rights therein are retained by authors or by other copyright holders. All persons copying this information are expected to adhere to the terms and constraints invoked by each author's copyright. In most cases, these works may not be reposted without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.

Recent Submissions

Out of place and out of time: older prisoners in chile , mind the gap: an empirical study of terrorism offences, law-making, and discretion , challenges and limitations of granting legal personality to distributed/decentralized autonomous organizations , development of international shipping standards under the auspices of the imo and their implementation in practice: a case study of thailand , adequacy of the ex post armed attack framework of the jus ad bellum in relation to the evolving means and methods of warfare , governing disputed maritime areas , what we say when we criminalise: a metanormative inquiry , testamentary law in england, c. 1450-1540 , sovereign immunity from execution of foreign arbitral awards in the 21st century , conceptualizations of addiction in harm reduction strategies for effective and ethical uk drug policy , liminality and the lived experience of law in medicine: the legal consciousness of physicians in encounters with people living as undocumented migrants , contested citizenship and statelessness in question: an anlysis of cases of overseas taiwanese people and tibetan exiles in taiwan , eternity and the constitution: the promise and limits of eternity clauses , hate speech in the british press: a theoretical and practical assessment of the case for broader regulation , liberty versus security under illiberal constitutionalism: the legality of criminalising humanitarian assistance in hungary and greece , operationalising ‘publicness’ in data-intensive health research regulation: an examination of the public interest as a regulatory device , worldmaking powers of law and performance: queer politics beyond/against neoliberal legalism , development of law of the sea by unclos dispute settlement procedures: towards a coherent jurisprudence , evaluating the european union's response to online misinformation and disinformation: how to address harm while maximising freedom of expression , reconciling reverse burdens of proof with the presumption of innocence: a new approach .

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Dissertation Topics in Law for LLM Students

• Updated on  
• May 9, 2023

The last academic challenge before the completion of your postgraduate degree is a dissertation or thesis. Many students pursuing LLM are often confused while deciding the correct topic for the dissertation as it requires a lot of research. To help you with the dissertation this blog contains ideal law dissertation topics for LLM in India. Keep reading to know more!

This Blog Includes:

How to choose the best dissertation topic, advantages of choosing a good dissertation topic, criminal law dissertation topics, international law dissertation topics, family law dissertation topics, employment law dissertation topics, international commercial law dissertation topics, law dissertation topics india, intellectual property law topics in dissertation, constitutional law topics in dissertation, sports law topics in dissertation, medical law topics in dissertation, commercial law dissertation topics, company law dissertation topics, tort law dissertation topics, eu law dissertation topics, the english legal system and constitutional and administrative law dissertation topics.

A lot of research and hard work is required to decide what is a correct and valuable topic for the dissertation or thesis. It is seen in various students that before graduation the dissertation is the last hurdle in the way. It is advised to pursue a topic after valuable research and most importantly that goes with the student’s interests.

Also Read: Dissertation Topics

There are an array of benefits when you choose a good and valuable dissertation topic. These advantages include:

• This helps you in the analysis of the topic and deep research.
• Present you with a program to enhance your investigative skills.
• In explaining your subject option, you should be prepared to show how your previous research experiences ended up with great knowledge. 
• You can find a degree of education useful for postgraduate research.

Also Read: Law Entrance Exams: India & Abroad

Criminal law is the body of law regulating crime and criminal activities in India. This proves to be an important topic and is interesting as well. Some of the criminal law dissertation topics are:

• A Significant Study of Struggle against Girls in India
• Case Debate on business trial in India
• An Analysis on Terrorism and Lawlessness Against Infants in India
• A survey on Legislation against private terrorism in India
• Significant Evaluation Of Death Cost In India
• An Analysis of Juvenile Justice System and Order in India
• The appearance of the group is in the criminal law process
• The Root Elements of the Infant Mergers
• White-Collar Crime Law in India
• Criminology and Criminal Justice

Also Read: How to Write a Dissertation?

International law dissertation is another amazing topic where you can add your relevant thoughts. Some of the unique international law dissertation topics are:

• What are the significant aspects of collective civil obligations in now’s global order?
• What are the causes that cause application of foreign order at the state standard also complex?
• Figure out the very important issues encountered by establishing universal rules.
• What are the effects of accelerated market restraints on people? Can such a thing be explained?
• What are global challenges encountered by international businessmen, when installing service projects in third group societies?
• What are the effects of letting offenders continue to their native land for action?
• How seeing abuse as a foreign war case will change the position of African people?
• What are the important challenges encountered by companies that are coming in the global travel industry from the ocean.
• What universal rules regulate copy? How should this case be corrected?
• Which governmental law of the UK is sufficiently sufficient to be carried out universally?

Also Read: What is a Dissertation? Meaning, Projects, Report Work

Some of the most important and unique family law dissertation topics are:

• Separation case for father and female representatives of the group, makes it favour any particular gender or is it merely a sense
• Matrimonial Act and how it affects women who join without their permission. What is the attitude of decisions about made mergers and how can one explain it in the court of decision
• Residential part by stepmothers and offspring, how goes on the case provide everybody has their got right and place
• Youth insurance problems in the unified kingdom, which of the state shows to have very trouble with such arguments and why is it so
• Adolescent abuse-is it important to discipline your children and youths? What is the perimeter between youth abuse and correcting your children for setting their limits
• Internal disorder and its effect on the boy and female representatives personally, which of them picks up a greater claim in the mind of order and how can we get rid of that biasness
• Protection problems for separated mothers, how goes on it go and what goes on the statute have to do about the protection of the child for each mother
• How looks at the proper form thing if a man is incapable to provide and provide his house owing to lack or scarcity of means
• Long-distance communications and their fair significance cut off from the spiritual and artistic attitudes
• Minor job- what are we looking at to abolish it and how goes on our constitutional process set limits and provide that they are found

Employment law dissertation enables you to craft perfect research on your thesis or dissertation. Some of the employment law dissertation topics are:

• The link between trade and morality in the UK. An academic context.
• A study of the relationship between sports departments and their service contracts.
• The effect of variation in the business decisions of the UK after starting the EU.
• The task of infant employment regulations in the UK. How does the judiciary remain fighting developing youth employment?
• The influence of civil responsibility service in UK regulations.
• A study of the market association in the UK study of the business requirements and principles.
• A provisional review of business decisions in the station waggon part of the UK and EU. Who gets the first job benefit and rights insurance systems?
• An in-depth study of justice fees in the validities of UK legislation.

Some of the international commercial law dissertations you can choose from are:

• An assessment of the enemy-pollution bill in the UK. Its origins and effects on the state leaders.
• A strategic study of the joint cloak and how the decision can pass through it.
• The performance of UK legislation in affecting joint difficulties while preserving major human rights.
• A symposium on the differences enveloping the purview of field 33 groups do 2006 in the UK
• The effects of setting reasonable requirements for the principal’s needs. How does the organisation do well under this?
• An in-depth assessment of economic regulation programs at attending institutions in the UK.
• The effect of UNCITRAL’s performance on the unification of universal economic legislation in the UK.

Also Read: How to Write Acknowledgement for Dissertation?

Some of the Indian legal topics you can choose for your dissertation are:

• Handgun Case in India: Provision of a Different Structure
•  Animal investigation: Order in India
• Wire advertising and constitutional structure
•  Joint Civil Power and change
• Moral Orders and Cases in producing societies
• Men Investigations and Indian constitutional practice
•  Improvement of infants and proper conflict

Some of the catchy and interesting dissertation topics that you can choose as a dissertation topic for law assignment:

• Scientific advances and present IP rule in India
• IP rules and the safety of/on Internet
•  New patent statutes and digitalisation

Also Read: University of Law: Eligibility, Application, Courses & More

Here are some of the finest dissertation or thesis topics for constitutional law dissertation topics are:

• Accident plans in India: A study
• Legal exploitation and its interest: An assessment
• Application of International Cases in Indian Legal Structure
• Able expression in virtual life and Indian Custom

Also Read: Dissertation vs Thesis

A constantly fascinating subject, sports provides a large range of fields and issues to judge from to create your analysis report. It can deal with universal order, national order, carrying out parties, power, and often better.

Here are some of the finest dissertation (thesis)points on Sports law:

• Doping and Sports: National and International fair innuendo
• Legalisation of speculating in India: Law and Cons
• Handling sports organisations and their constitutional ramifications
• Transgender animals and Indian Custom

Medical law dissertation is another great topic you can choose from, some of the medical law dissertation topics are:

• Member retention: Fair experts and cons
• Miscarriage in India: A global review
• Made fertilisation: Provision of primary training to find out these matters
• Supported suicide: Fair, honest and therapeutic ethics
• Animal torture: A fair claim research

Also Read: Law Courses

Commercial Law is one such topic where a wide area of study is to be covered because it cannot be described within a single legal jurisdiction. A commercial law dissertation often involves comparisons with other countries. Listed below are some topics for Commercial Law Dissertation:

• A critical assessment of the international commercial arbitration system as a cost-effective and efficient means to administer justice in commercial disputes
• An assessment of security over personal property when it comes to the matter of possessory and non-possessory forms of security and other legal devices
• An investigation of the emergence of new manifestations of international commercial law
• A critical assessment of the passing of risk in the commercial law in England and Wales
• A critical assessment of the Future of consumer protection in England and Wales in the post-Brexit era

There is a great scope of producing an effective Company Law Dissertation as it provides you with potential sources. From the Companies Act 2006 to corporate governance, you have a lot of options to choose from. Listed below are some great Company Law Dissertation Topics:

• A critical analysis of the shareholder versus stakeholder basis of corporate governance
• Arguments for and against ‘stakeholder theory’ and to what extent are they still valid?
• Should the OECD’s Model Tax Convention on Income and on Capital 2010 be ratified into UK Law?
• To what extent has Environmental Law merged together Vicarious and Corporate Liability
• Is the English maintenance of the “internal management” model failing to bring company law in the 21st Century?

The word Tort comes from the Latin term torture which means “Wrong”. In simple terms, Tort Law is supposed to address the civil wrongs done to a person, accidentally or incidentally. The victim/injured/aggrieved party is provided with compensation for the damages.

This area of law is one of the most important aspects of law study as it demonstrates the circumstances through which an individual is held accountable for another party’s injury either done intentionally or omissions or even by accident. Listed below are some topics for a Tort Law Dissertation to make it easier for you to draft an effective dissertation:

• Importance of foreseeability and policy in establishing a duty of care
• Analysis of the rules regarding the recovery of economic losses in tortious actions
• When it comes to matters of occupiers’ liability under the Occupiers Liability Acts of 1957 and 1984 respectively, when is a trespasser, not a trespasser?
• Wrongful Restraint of a man’s Liberty: Meaning, Defense and Remedy
• Why might the duty of care afforded to children be considered to be a step too far regarding the recognition of tortious liability?

Also Read: All About PhD Thesis

EU Law is considered as an expandable area of academic interest, particularly due to the UK’s recent Brexit from the Union. There is a wide range of dissertation topics you can consider for an EU Law Dissertation, from UK’s Brexit to the superiority of EU Law. Listed below are some great dissertation topics to start with your EU Law Dissertation:

• Critical Analysis of the UK’s Separation from the EU.
• Brexit and EU economy: How the UK’s decision has affected EU trade.
• An argument: Is EU Law actually superior?
• Importance of the enforcement actions against EU Member States as part of the European law-making process.
• How has the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of 1950 contributed to the recognition of human rights internationally?

The English Legal System and Constitutional and Administrative Law may be classified into 3 key areas-

• The nature of the Constitution may be considered in areas including, but not limited to, the recognition and application of conventions and the rule of law. 
• Evaluation of the roles of the legislature, executive and parliament in the context of the recognition of the separation of powers, which could include legislation’s passage through Parliament, the delegation of legislation, the relationship between Parliament, the crown and the Royal Prerogative, and the executive, legislative and judiciary’s relationship.
• Judicial Review includes the basis for intervention, such as ultra vires and illegality, procedural irregularity, irrationality, proportionality, and the nemo judex rule.

A number of areas can be covered in this dissertation as the English Legal System and Constitutional and Administrative Law is quite different from other legal systems as the role of the judge differs in an adversarial system. The major difference is in how a trial is pursued. Some topics for an English Legal System and Constitutional and Administrative Law Dissertation are as mentioned below:

• The Role of natural justice  in the UK Constitution
• Are conventions still a valid part of the UK Constitution?
• Is the Royal Prerogative an essential part of the British Constitution?
• Are the current models of statutory interpretation fit for purpose, especially as the jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) infer a more active approach for judges?
• In what ways will the relationship between constitutional and administrative law in England and Wales be affected by Brexit?

The following are the popular law universities in the world: Harvard University Columbia University Stanford University

Here are some of the finest dissertation or thesis topics for constitutional law dissertation topics are: Accident plans in India: A study Legal exploitation and its interest: An assessment Application of International Cases in the Indian Legal Structure Able expression in virtual life and Indian Custom

The average salary of a lawyer in India is 3.5 Lakh per year.

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2019, LLM thesis

Abstract This research entitled;ʻʻThe protection of human rights and environment during urbanization process in East African Community”, Case of Kenya,Rwanda,Tanzania and Uganda offers different scenarios on how urbanization process can bring various challenges on human rights and environment to the current and future generations in East African Community (EAC). The growth and physical expansion of existing towns as a direct consequence of urbanization is always accompanied by unplanned urban sprawl, environmental pollution, deterioration and deficiencies in modern basic facilities and general urban decay. These problems are compounded by urban poverty characterized by growth of substandard housing and slum settlements, deterioration of residential neighborhood and absence of capital spending on existing housing stocks thereby reducing accessibility to adequate housing particularly to low income earners who cannot afford decent shelter. All these challenges have negative implications on different human rights: rights to health, life, property, among others and the environment. This research investigates whether laws, policies, and strategies put in place to protect human rights and environment are being implemented in four East African Community country members. It therefore provides the extent to which such laws and policies contribute to the protection of human rights and environment against negative impacts of urbanization in examined countries. However, given the complexity of the subject and to better illustrate our work, we decided to base our study on only four of the six EAC members; Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, so that; we relied on their state of progress vis-à-vis the subject compared to Burundi and South Soudan which are actually characterized by political instability which lead to unclear urban development. We really avoided fumbling or making an uncertain analysis. Moreover, since the way of life seems to be the same in developing countries, we can be sure that the resultats would be similar in EAC country members. This research therefore makes suggestions and recommendations to redress the trends of urbanization, which should go hand in hand with protection of human rights and environment.

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Land Tenure Dynamics in East Africa: Changing Practices and Rights to Land

This chapter examines how contestation over land ownership and belonging to the land have shaped lines of conflict in the world’s newest state, South Sudan. He argues that the South Sudanese government has actively, if unwittingly, worsened the situation by enacting community-based land legislation that pushes people to exclude others from their group and what they claim as their soil. This has ignited a debate over federalism and decentralisation with severe overtones of ethnic cleansing. At the same time, land has become an increasingly valuable asset both for the state in its attempt to diversify away from oil revenues, and for individuals and groups eager to cash in. He further contends that the alleged foreign grab is a chimera that may change once the ongoing fighting in the country subsides. Therefore, highlighting and understanding how much and in what way land matters will not only be of academic interest but will lay out a map of sources of potential future conflicts in the country.

Arbind Tuladhar

SUMMARY Systems of Land Administration are not an end in themselves. The design and development of those systems find their rationale and justification in the broader framework of land policy and land management. The way governments intend to deal with the land issue in their society, determines the requirements to the institutional and operational set up of land administration systems.

Tom Goodfellow

Richard Black

Camaren Peter , Marlene Laros , Gillaume Iyenda , David Simon , Sean Fox , Richard Cornwell

UN HABITAT publication on the state of African cities produced every two years. Accounts for the state of African cities and recommends a vision for sustainable African urbanism.

Dorcas Nthoki Nyamai

Joseph Maseland

Robert Home

Edgar Pieterse , Susan Parnell , Anton Cartwright

Citation: Cartwright, A., Palmer, I., Taylor, A., Pieterse, E., Parnell, S., Colenbrander, S. (2018) Developing Prosperous and Inclusive Cities in Africa - National Urban Policies to the Rescue? Coalition for Urban Transitions Working Paper. London and Washington, DC.

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