LLM GUIDE - Master of Laws (LL.M.) Programs Worldwide

The LL.M. in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law

How programs can boost careers of lawyers and professionals in this field of law

By V. Wish, Dec 22, 2008

European Court of Human Rights

Sixty years ago this month, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Drafted in the aftermath of World War II, this landmark document touched on everything from asylum, freedom of expression, and the right to education to issues of discrimination, arbitrary arrest, torture, the right to a fair trial, and even paid holidays.

Today, thousands of lawyers around the world work to uphold the principles of this declaration, and the national policies and international instruments to ensure basic human rights, including the European Convention on Human Rights and its American, African, Arab, and - most recently - Southeast Asian (ASEAN) counterparts. Many others work on related issues like refugee law, gender equality, and international criminal justice.

Even though human rights is not a field of law one chooses expecting a Wall Street-sized paycheck or a partnership in a white shoe law firm, this is not to suggest that human rights lawyers lack ambition

"Most of the students are interested in doing something in the field, which is to say to make a difference in the world in terms of affecting what I would call a social justice agenda," says John Packer, director of the Human Rights Centre at Essex University, one of first universities in the world to offer an LL.M. in the field.

Packer says an International Human Rights LL.M. can help advance a lawyer's career by sharpening their analytical skills and providing a wider conceptual framework.

"Maybe they were a protection officer in the field somewhere, and they were dealing with refugees in say, West Africa," says Packer of a possible student. "But did they have a solid understanding of where this refugee system came from? How it developed? What its potential is for elasticity and greater effectiveness?"

According to Bridget Arimond, director of the International Human Rights LL.M. program at Northwestern University School of Law, most students begin her program having a few years of experience under their belt.

"Our students tend to be lawyers who have worked for a short while in something related to human rights, rule of law, access to justice, that kind of thing," says Arimond.

"Occasionally, we get someone with more than a few years working as a lawyer, but generally, they tend to be three, four, five, six years out (of their first law degree)," she adds. "The preference is for people with some work experience."

For non-lawyers, too

But perhaps more than any other field of law, human rights and humanitarian law attracts students without a formal legal degree or legal background.

"At the international level being a qualified lawyer accredited to a bar association is of limited significance, unless of course the employment is with a tribunal, where a legal qualification may not only be desirable, but indispensable," says William Schabas, director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the National University of Ireland, Galway.

"But the importance of a legal qualification should not be exaggerated," says Schabas. "Employers are looking for intelligent and versatile individuals, with a variety of skills and experience. Being able to say one is a lawyer is not insignificant, but it is not decisive either."

The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights enrolls several Master's students each year who are not trained lawyers.

"If you studied constitutional or commercial law, perhaps you have mastered these subjects, but this is not really essential to understand international humanitarian law, which is quite a peculiar body of law," says Paola Gaeta, who directs the Master's program at the Geneva Academy.  

"You can be a very good lawyer in private, commercial law, but not understand anything about international relations and international law," she says.

Rather than focusing on human rights, Gaeta's program deals with humanitarian law related to armed conflicts. Students take core courses in international law in armed conflicts, refugee law, peacekeeping, and international criminal law.

"It's a program that tends to give the full picture," says Gaeta. "I would not suggest it to people who want to specialize in human rights. For this, there are other universities which are more focused on Human Rights Law and International Criminal Law."

Graduates of the humanitarian law program often land jobs in Geneva, at places like the International Committee of the Red Cross. Like with graduates of human rights LL.M. programs, many students return to their home countries or into the field, and go to work for organizations or institutions in developing countries that are dealing with these issues.

Some programs offer a regional concentration on the human rights, such as the Africa focus of the University of Pretoria's Centre of Human Rights, the coverage of the Mediterranean region by the University of Malta, and the European focus of the LL.M. program at Utrecht University.

Growing demand

Unfortunately, human rights abuses continue to happen on a daily basis around the world; some make headlines while many more go unreported. This means that the demand or "market" for people trained in human rights law is unlikely to disappear.

"The field continues to grow," says William Schabas. "The number of LL.M. programs in human rights, and of students interested in them, is constantly expanding. The creation of new institutions and the growth of existing ones accounts for this. This will not change anytime soon."

For more information about the programs mentioned above, and several other law schools offering LL.M. programs in Human Rights Law, please follow one of the links below.

Photo: Kpalion

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Comments

  1. nayomi, Sat Jan 03, 2009 10:46 AM

    it's very useful to search for LLM's in this way

  2. stella mapemba, Sat Jan 10, 2009 09:49 AM

    this is very useful

  3. SANDAMANI, Tue Jan 13, 2009 09:47 AM

    Its very useful for me

  4. Gizachew Girma, Tue Jan 20, 2009 07:16 AM

    it is better to do well in the third world countries as there is a growing demand and lack of specialised lawyers. so by opening a branch in such countries, or assist the higher institutions in developing thier capacity.

  5. farhan, Thu Jan 22, 2009 02:37 PM

    hi...........

  6. farhan abro, Thu Jan 22, 2009 02:41 PM

    it's realy gud n informative.

  7. Ali Palh, Mon Feb 02, 2009 06:59 AM

    Very useful information but it need to be circulated widely through e-networks.I am working in a conflict area of Sri Lanka where i had limited and some times no access to internet. I have come to know about LLM offered by Geneva Univerisity by one of the networks from Paksitan when its last date 31 Jan, 2009 has passed.I will suggest such opportunities need to be circulated by UNOCHA emails so they could reach to interested people working in conflict areas.

    Thanks for all that,

    Salams,

    Ali Palh, Head of Field Office, NonviolentPeaceforce, Trincomalee

  8. mirriam, Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:09 AM

    thanks

  9. Faysal Assowe Bouh, Wed Apr 15, 2009 02:37 PM

    very much intersting. human right and humaniterian law is the demand of 3rd World specialy sub sahara countries.This countries poor.i e their peoples cannot attend your law schools.for instance I am LLB holder who works in certian governmental institution my monthly salary is 250 us dollar. I am state mp member.so, I cannot up grade my education.Therefore, law very much inportant for Africa.It honar institute and great help Africn peoples if you give them fee free attendance
    thank you
    Faysal Assowe

  10. Robel A. Mengesha, Mon Apr 20, 2009 09:16 AM

    This is quite helpful but have you ever thought about proffessionals who are in asylum and under refugee of some states? i am one of them and i really find it hard to fit in to any program that is posted in websites. I am LLB holder and i\'ve worked with the profession for 7 years currently i am a refugee. I so much would like to commit myself for humanitarian purposes coz i\'ve witnessed the violation of the fundamental human rights and i know the pain and griefe tat such violations inflict on humanbeings. As of yet i am active only on an individual level but would like to be part of a certain Organisation which objectives go along side human respect and prosperity. I have a strong desire for this and how can this desire and thurst be served when all the apportunities are locked for refugee professionals.
    Thanks,
    Robel A. Mengesha

  11. yared, Tue Apr 28, 2009 05:04 PM

    it is very crucial for developing countries

  12. Prem Bahadur Thapa, Tue May 12, 2009 10:31 AM

    I have been working in National Human Rights Institution of Nepal for 5years as Protection Offocer. I wish to study in your LL.M.Human Rights program. I would like to request for further information.

  13. RAMESH pRASAD yADAV, Sun May 31, 2009 07:23 AM

    To tell you about my experience, I have been working as a Legal practitioner for eights years and involved in a human rights organization for five years. I obtained Master of Laws (LL.M., 2nd division) degree with specialization in Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Corporate law from the University of Pune, India. For last one year, I am one of the active member (researcher) of " Federal Nepal Research Group"(FNRG), a loose networks of lawyers, professors, journalists and social activists working for developing appropriate model of federal structure in Nepal .iwish to study in your LL.M.Human Rights programwith scholarship because i am veary poor student. I would like to request for further information.
    Thanks
    Ramesh

  14. Hanna , Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:32 PM

    Very important and useful article. Thanks.

  15. giovane86, Tue Oct 06, 2009 09:46 AM

    What about (ITALY)? I didn't see anything !

    Any help?!

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