Postgraduate courses in Civil Law

There are a number of areas of law you can choose from and here we will focus on Civil Law. 

Civil Law is a set of laws that refers to the private affairs of citizens such as marriage or property ownership, professional negligence. Civil Law is a generic term for non-crime related law. 

There are a few different routes you can take with a degree in the area which are mentioned below. 

What do civil rights lawyers do?

There are a few routes you can take with a degree in Civil Law. The main option is to become a civil rights solicitor. Aside from that you could also go down the route of becoming a legal secretary or working as a lecturer or researcher in Universities across the UK. We’ll take a look at the day to do duties of a civil right solicitor: 

• Meet and liaise with clients
• Present cases in courts
• Investigate legal data
• Negotiate settlements of legal disputes
• Formulating legal briefs
• File legal appeals 
• Represent clients

Courses

There are many courses to choose from in this area across the UK. Some courses offer the option of studying both part-time or full time. Some courses may have restrictions or changes due to Covid-19. More detail on courses can be found on university websites or course overviews. Examples of courses include:

Intellectual Property Law

Postgraduate courses in intellectual property law focus on management and policy relating to patents, copyright, trademarks and other intellectual property rights. Areas covered include industrial property, artistic works and brands, digital economy and biotechnology. These courses reflect the growing importance of international developments in intellectual property and addresses the controversies in this area including access to knowledge, human rights norms and new technologies. 

International Human Rights Law

Students who take a postgraduate course in this area will gain the necessary knowledge and gain insights into legal protection and human rights debates. Different areas such as domestic, regional and international human rights legal systems in order to analyze how rights are legalized, developed and enforced through the practice of human rights and the theory behind it.

Entertainment Law

Postgraduate courses in entertainment law combine academic analysis and commercial practice elements of entertainment law in an international perspective. Students will gain an understanding of how key fields within the entertainment industries operate, the impact of law on them and also gain the relevant practical skills.

Human Rights

Postgraduate courses in human rights fit into the civil law area as civil law solicitors deal with cases in relation to protecting people from discrimination and harassment on grounds of physical or mental disibility, gender, religion, race, national origin and more. These courses will allow students to gain the skills and knowledge to deal with some of the biggest challenges facing society today. 

Other courses available include International Business Law, International Corporate Law, European Trade and Commercial Law, Corporate Law and International Trade and Commercial Law, Corporate Finance and International and Commercial Dispute Resolution Law, to name a few.

Entry requirements 

Entry requirements may change from course to course and University to University so it is important to research your specific course to be sure you meet the criteria. In most cases, a bachelor’s degree in civil law or a relevant discipline is required. Some courses will look for a 2.1 degree while a 2.2 may suffice in others. More detailed course outlines can be found on University websites and course overviews. 

Typical employers

Typical employers may include: 

• Central government bodies
• Local government bodies
• International government bodies
• Non-governmental organisations
  – Charities
  – Campaigning organisations
  – Universities – lecturer/researcher

Salary 

The law sector in the UK pays some of the highest salaries in the country to graduates. They may differ from company to company and location plays a large role too. There is no general minimum salary as every firm is different but trainee solicitors in London can earn a minimum of £22,000 while those outside London may learn closer to £19,000. The average pay for a civil litigation solicitor is around £49,062. If you decide to take the route of becoming a lecturer in a University, you can earn between £35,211 and £58,089. 

Skills and requirements 

Skills and requirements needed in this area include:

• Commercial awareness
• Ability to work well with others
• Attention to detail 
• Strong communication skills
• Problem solver
• Critical thinker
• Organisation skills
• Time management skills
• Confidence
• Ability to be vocal in front of others
• Leadership skills