Global Law

Global law is a distinctive approach to legal education that takes seriously the international and comparative dimensions of legal practice, recognising that legal firms, organisations, and governments increasingly operate across jurisdictions in ways that require more than knowledge of a single domestic legal system. Where a conventional law degree focuses primarily on one national legal tradition, global law examines how different legal systems interact, how international law governs relations between states, and how legal practice adapts to commercial and regulatory environments that span borders.

At Queen Mary University of London this four-year full-time degree provides the experience of studying in a different country and learning law in a different jurisdiction, giving you a genuinely comparative legal education rather than simply an English law degree with some international content. Legal firms are expanding internationally, and graduates with experience of multiple legal systems and the confidence to work across them are increasingly sought after. You will develop a strong foundation in English law alongside the comparative and international perspective that the global law framework provides, and the year spent at a partner institution abroad gives you the kind of direct cross-jurisdictional experience that few UK law graduates have.

Graduates of global law programmes are well placed for careers in international legal practice, whether in large commercial firms with international offices, in international organisations, in cross-border arbitration and dispute resolution, or in the legal teams of multinational companies. The international experience and legal versatility the degree develops also suit careers in diplomacy, international trade, global policy, and academia. Many graduates complete professional training to qualify as solicitors or barristers in England and Wales.

Postgraduate study in international law, comparative law, or a specialist area such as international commercial law or human rights law is a natural further step.