Full-Time LL.M. in Energy Law and Policy
Our LLM programme is designed for lawyers and non-lawyers to gain an understanding of the legal and regulatory environment and processes in the international energy and resources industries. It is suitable for those aspiring to be practising lawyers, legal advisers, contract managers and negotiators in these industries.
Structure
| The LL.M. is made up of 200 credits as follows: | |
|---|---|
| Induction Programme | 20 credits |
| Core Modules: Compulsory | 40 credits |
| Core Modules: Optional | 40 credits |
| Elective Modules | 60 credits |
| Dissertation, Internship or extended PhD Proposal | 40 credits |
200 credits |
|
Note: The Diploma and Certificate are available as exit qualifications.
To find out everything you need to know about the programme, please click on the headings above. Additional useful information about the LL.M. can be found using the links in the table below:
Induction Programme (20 credits)
The Induction Programme provides students with vital knowledge and skills before they embark of the main components of CEPMLP's taught Masters and Diploma programmes. CEPMLP students have a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds and the Induction Programme provides each student with a basic introduction to all the main disciplines included in the degrees programmes, namely law, economics, finance and geology. It also provides training in research methods.
Core Modules: Compulsory
Candidates should choose a minimum of 40 credits from the list below:
Downstream Energy Law and Policy (20 credits)
The primary objective of the course is to provide an introduction and background to the way in which legislation and regulation can be used to implement policy decisions in the downstream energy industries. The emphasis is on understanding the way in which policy decisions to restructure the (electricity and gas) industries lead to changes in both legislation and the approach of regulators. The skill is to identify what makes particular approaches successful in particular legal environments. This course is not aimed only at lawyers, but also at those influencing the policy debate who must have an understanding of the implementation of policy changes.
Legal Framework for International Project Finance (20 credits)
The module aims to demonstrate how project finance can be used to fund investment in energy, petroleum and mining (and infrastructure) projects. Another objective of the module is to provide an understanding of the issues surrounding project financing in the mentioned sectors.
The emphasis is on providing the student with a practical understanding of the issues and key areas of concern which are revealed by careful examination and analysis of proposed energy, petroleum or mining projects.
The module will also look at how governments might encourage the use of project financing in cases where domestic funding is not sufficient to meet demand.
Core Modules: Optional
Candidates should choose a minimum of 40 credits from the list below:
EC Energy, Environmental and Natural Resources Law and Policy (20 credits)
The principal aim of the course is to provide an introduction to the main law and policy issues relating to the energy sector of the EC. An introduction to EC institutions, its legal system and its procedures and origins is provided, with particular reference to energy issues. Particular emphasis is placed upon the policy of increasing energy integration among the 27 Member States, known as the Internal Energy Market, and the possible lessons it may yield for liberalisation in other parts of the world (in addressing problems such as stranded costs, unbundling and third party access, for example). The EU external policy towards non-member countries is also considered as is the growing role of environmental policy in fields such as renewable energy and climate change. The approach does not presuppose any previous knowledge of EC law on the part of the student, but this would be an advantage.
Energy and Climate Change Law and Policy (20 credits)
On successful completion, a candidate will:
(1) have an understanding of international law relating to climate change obligations
(2) have an understanding of regional mechanisms relating to climate change obligations
(3) have an understanding of the variety of national approaches to climate change mitigation be able to discuss climate change obligations in the context of the legal requirements for mitigation
Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development - Economics and Policy Issues (20 credits)
The aim of this course is to help students to understand: the interactions between energy, environment and the climate; economic and other instruments to deal with energy-environment problems; the role of energy in achieving sustainable development; policy issues and options related to energy, environment, climate change and sustainable development. The course will not require any prior knowledge of economics.
International Developments in Energy Policy (20 credits)
The main aim is to equip the students with an understanding of how economic analysis can help inform and understand energy policy issues. This requires the students to be familiar with the relevant economic analysis the technical dimensions of energy and the policy making process. In addition the course enables the student to become familiar with current issues in energy policy.
Renewable Energy: Technology, Economics and Policy (20 credits)
The aim of this module is to:
To develop an understanding of renewable energy resources and the numerous technologies that converts it into useful forms.
To develop an understanding of the economic issues of renewable energy research, development and deployment at both private and commercial scale.
To develop an understanding of government and industry policies to encourage the deployment of renewable energy production and use.
Elective Modules
Candidates are advised to choose additional modules from what is available on the academic timetable subject to any restrictions that may apply.
Together with the core modules above, excluding the Induction Programme they should add up to 140 credits for the LL.M..
Full list of available modules.
Dissertation, Internship or extended PhD Proposal
Compulsory Core Choice Modules - choice of 40 credits from:
Dissertation (40 credits)
The dissertation contributes to the achievement of the aims of the Masters degree namely:- to promote a deeper and critical understanding of selected areas relating to the specialisation of the student; to develop originality of thought and skills of research, analysis, argumentation and expression; to build upon, develop and integrate the knowledge and skills acquired in the taught modules.
A dissertation of up to 15,000 words on a topic approved by an academic supervisor
Extended PhD Proposal (40 credits)
The Extended PhD proposal contributes to the achievement of the aims of the Masters degree namely:- to promote a deeper and critical understanding of selected areas relating to the specialisation of the student; to develop originality of thought and skills of research, analysis, argumentation and expression; to build upon, develop and integrate the knowledge and skills acquired in the taught modules. In addition, the PhD proposal should provide the basis for significantly more specialised and detailed research to be undertaken as part of the PhD programme.
Students who propose to follow up their degree with a PhD may, with the approval of an academic supervisor, submit a 10,000 word PhD proposal.
Internship (40 credits)
The internship provides the student with the opportunity to apply in the workplace the knowledge and skills learnt at CEPMLP and to learn how professionals in the field perform their tasks.