How long does the LLM in Family Law take?

The LLM in Family Law runs one year full-time or two years part-time. Distance-learning students on the LLM in Family Law usually complete over the two-year part-time schedule alongside practice.

Is the LLM available online?

Yes. The LLM in Family Law is delivered on-campus in central London, online with live seminars, and by distance learning. All modes require the dissertation and follow the same tutor-supervised structure.

Does the LLM qualify me as a family solicitor?

The LLM in Family Law is a strong academic and practice-informed foundation for family solicitor and barrister routes, but qualification requires the SQE, Bar training or CILEX pathway separately. LSLPE prepares you for those routes rather than replacing them.

What are the entry requirements?

You need a UK Bachelor's in law (2:2 or above) or an equivalent international law qualification, plus IELTS 6.5 where relevant. Senior practitioners without a Bachelor's may apply on portfolio for the LLM in Family Law.

What are the fees and is funding available?

Fees for the LLM in Family Law vary by mode and are published on the LSLPE fees page. Instalment plans, employer sponsorship and postgraduate loan guidance are supported by the admissions team on request.

LLM in Family Law | LSLPE | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The LLM in Family Law is a UK Level 7 postgraduate degree running one year full-time or two years part-time across on-campus, online and distance routes. The programme reads family law as both a doctrinal and highly practical field, moving from the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 and the Children Act 1989 through to contemporary developments in financial remedy, domestic abuse protection and cross-border child arrangements, with reference to Family Court and Family Division practice.

By graduation, students on the LLM in Family Law are producing appellate-standard case notes, drafting Form E financial statements to practitioner style, preparing structured position statements for hearings, and completing a substantial dissertation or capstone on a live family-law reform question aligned with Law Commission consultation themes.

Key Features

Doctrinal and practical modules mapped to competence areas of the Solicitors Regulation Authority and CILEX family-law route.
Advocacy seminars conducted in the case-room and hearing tradition, drawing on Bar Standards Board advocacy criteria.
Guest sessions from practising family solicitors, barristers and mediators registered with the Family Mediation Council.
Dissertation supervision by tutors with practice or judicial-clerk experience in family proceedings.
Access to LSLPE's central London seminar rooms and the Royal Courts of Justice for observation of Family Division hearings.
Small cohort model with named programme tutor for every student on the LLM in Family Law.

What You Will Learn

Analyse financial remedy jurisprudence from White v White through to current Supreme Court authority.
Advise on private and public law children matters, including Section 8 orders and care proceedings.
Draft Form E disclosure statements and position statements to practitioner standard.
Apply the welfare checklist under the Children Act 1989 in complex fact patterns.
Handle cross-border family disputes under the 1980 Hague Convention framework.
Advise on domestic abuse protection orders and the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 remedies.
Design a family-law dissertation project with a defensible methodology.
Present advocacy submissions to LLM standard in oral and written form.

Who This Course Is For

Family solicitors and barristers extending doctrinal depth for senior practice.
Legal executives seeking postgraduate specialisation aligned with CILEX family-law progression.
Judicial clerks and researchers supporting the Family Division.
International lawyers seeking a UK Master's in family law with cross-border capability.
Senior policy or safeguarding professionals working on domestic abuse, adoption or children services.

Career Pathways

Senior Family Solicitor in a City, regional or legal-aid practice.
Family Law Barrister on the Family Division circuit.
Legal Executive with a CILEX practising certificate in family work.
Judicial Clerk supporting family judges at the Royal Courts of Justice.
Legal Researcher for a family-law reform project or the Law Commission.
Policy Adviser on domestic abuse, adoption or private children reform.
In-house Counsel to a national children's charity or safeguarding board.

The LSLPE careers service works with every LLM in Family Law student on senior applications to chambers, family firms, judicial-support roles and the Government Legal Department.

Entry Requirements

A UK Bachelor's degree (2:2 or above) in law, or an equivalent international law qualification, for the LLM in Family Law.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
Applicants without a law degree but with 5+ years of senior professional experience in family practice, safeguarding or family policy are considered on portfolio.
One academic and one professional reference.
A 500-word research proposal on the intended dissertation theme.

Why Study at LSLPE

LSLPE reads family law inside a broader map of law, politics and economics, recognising that family policy is shaped by legislation, court practice and social provision together. Central London places the Royal Courts of Justice, family-specialist chambers and Whitehall departments within a short tube ride, and every LLM cohort is taught in the small select-committee format that defines the school.

Three parallel study modes allow practising solicitors, barristers, judicial clerks and international applicants to complete the LLM in Family Law without stepping away from live case-loads. Dissertation supervision draws on practising family lawyers, senior mediators and policy advisers.

Apply for LLM in Family Law

The LLM in Family Law closes with a dissertation, capstone or sponsor project supervised by practitioners active in the Family Division. Apply for the LLM at LSLPE and open your senior-practice, judicial or policy route in the family jurisdiction. Enrol Now.