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Posted Oct. 7, 2024

Best law schools for corporate law in the UK

Best UK law schools for corporate law

When deciding where to study corporate law as a postgraduate student in the UK, you need to consider several factors.

Academic reputation

Top of your list is likely to be academic reputation – certain UK law schools stand out for their prestige in law, particularly corporate law, and these are often found topping law school rankings. Some UK law schools offer specialised programs in corporate law, such as the University of Cambridge’s Master's in Corporate Law (MCL) or UCL’s LLM in Corporate Law. When choosing where to study postgraduate corporate law, start by having a look at renowned rankings and see if any of the law schools featured fit the bill for you in terms of course content, location and cost.

Faculty expertise

Faculty expertise is another critical factor when choosing where to study corporate law. A UK law school with well-regarded professors in corporate law will make it more likely that you will have excellent mentorship and the chance to gain deeper insights into the subject. Faculty facilities are also important, as access to resources such as well-stocked libraries, research centres and moot courts will enhance your overall learning experience. Such faculties will also usually have good industry connections, providing internships and networking events that in turn can provide career advantages further along your corporate law journey. Good university career services and a strong alumni network in corporate law are also invaluable for job placements and mentorship.

Location, location, location

Location is another key factor when choosing the best UK law school for corporate law. If you want to advance your career in this field once you have finished your course, it might be a good idea to study in a larger city or legal hub like London, Manchester or Glasgow as these larger urban areas are likely to offer more opportunities for internships and professional networking. However, you will also need to take into consideration your personal circumstances. For example, do you have family or work commitments that you need to stay close to while you are studying?

What UK law schools stand out for corporate law?

If you're planning on studying corporate law in the UK, several universities stand out for their strong programs related to this topic. Some of the top institutions include:

UCL (University College London) – renowned for its comprehensive legal education and strong emphasis on corporate law, UCL consistently ranks highly in UK law school rankings. UCL’s LLM in Corporate Law provides an in-depth introduction to UK corporate law and related subjects. Areas of study include: How common problems in corporate law are regulated in different legal systems; how law shapes the economic and financial context within which firms operate; how law responds to challenges posed by modern financial markets; how the legal framework is applied in practice; and which issues lawyers and businessmen face in complex corporate transactions.

LSE (London School of Economics) – LSE has a selection of world-renowned LLM programs, including one with a Corporate and Commercial Law Specialism. With modules including Corporate Governance, Corporate Crime and UK Corporate Law, students on this course are also strongly supported by LSE’s reputation in business and economics.

King's College London – King’s offers a variety of LLM programs, one of which is an LLM in International Business Law.  This Master of Laws includes modules on Corporate Governance, Taxation of Business Enterprises and International Commercial Arbitration.

University of CambridgeCambridge offers a Masters in Corporate Law (MCL) which is specifically designed to provide in-depth knowledge in corporate governance, finance and business law. Areas of study include specialist fields within corporate law, such as shareholder litigation, international merger control and the law firm as business.

University of Oxford – known for its rigorous academic environment, the University of Oxford offers an MSc in Law and Finance, a course that combines legal studies with financial principles. It is taught jointly by the Law Faculty and the Saïd Business School, providing students with an advanced interdisciplinary understanding of economic and financial concepts and their application to legal topics.

University of Bristol – the University of Bristol has an LLM in Company Law and Corporate Governance that provides students with a deep understanding of the legal, financial and governance issues in corporate activity within a real-world context.  This course can be studied full time over one year or part time over two years.

University of Edinburgh – the University of Edinburgh is internationally recognised for its research and teaching excellence in commercial and corporate law, and offers and LLM in Corporate Law that teaches the legal, economic, financial and governance matters covering the most relevant aspects in a corporation. The three main areas of study on this LLM program are: Comparative and international corporate governance; Economic analysis of corporate law and finance; and UK company law.

Where to study corporate law

This is just a small selection of law schools you could choose to study corporate law at. There are plenty of other great options in the UK, so make sure you choose the course and law school that best suit your needs. Use our LLM course finder to find your perfect LLM in Corporate Law.

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