Can anyone comment on the reputation of these unis and or/rank them for public international/human rights law
Essex
Surrey
Kent
Brunel
Westminster

I hear Essex is good at human rights but for public international i'd say

Brunel!

I am just finishing my LLB there and I have to tell you some of the lecturers we have here are fantastic. School of law became independent last year and since the rankings have improved incredibly - but they are expanding and have hired a number of superb staff which would mean that Brunel Law might soon enter top 12 in the rakings,it is now 20th in the UK. it is up and coming - the right place and the right timeto be there!

They are heavily armed when it comes to PIL...some of the lecturers here among the best in the world and are really inspiring. I personally have the possibility to go to Cambridge and i will leave Brunel but would wholeheartedly reccommend it to anyone!

If you want I can give you more info.

I am really interested by your reply as I was considering Brunel to be at the bottom of that list perhaps only before westminster. I do like the look of the course but what worries is me that Brunel is not considered as a first rate university and a lot of bad things have been written about it on this site. Plus all the comments about there being no point in doing an LLM from a university like Brunel. Whats your take on that. If you did not have a place at Cambridge would you have done your LLM at Brunel? Also do you know if they are still places on the LLM? And do you think I would be accepted. My degree is a 2:2 in modern languages and I have passed the CPE with distintion but I have no work experience in this area? Thanks so much for your reply by the way you are the first person to give me good vibes about Brunel.

Firstly all the universities you listed are not first rated.
Secondly, an LLM in the UK is more like a year on top of your LLB, the idea is that if you come from a crappy uni you improve your CV a little or if you are from abroad you get that different experience; also LLMs in the UK are more geared towards the academic side.

Brunel has one down thing but that is nothing to do with the school itself....

Would I go to Brunel if it werent for Cambridge? No, i would still go to LSE, and then if not that, UCL- been accepted by all. I want to improve my CV with a top LLM, that's all, otherwise I would stay at Bruni, would even get a discount. And I want to move from west london as well. But rest assured, there are so many firms like Herbert Smith etc who show a lot of interest in Brunel, as well, because the faculty runs a sandwich course it has links with certain firms and organisations who do recognise Brunel students believe me. Research is of a high level at Brunel,it is easily comparable to top london universities such as UCL, Kings, SOAS etc. So for example, my dissertation supervisor is head of a centre for PIL research at Cambridge, and she is quite important at british centre for international and comparative law, and now they have a very international staff which just keeps getting better.

Now, that thing that brings it down: Uxbridge is a rubbish place, if you are in london it will take you an hour to get there plus a nice 20 min or so bus ride from uxbridge to the campus.
I have no idea about your qualifications...give them a call.