MA in Government and Law Integration
Course Overview
The MA in Government and Law Integration is a UK Level 7 research-informed Master's degree running one year full-time or two years part-time, with online and distance-learning routes. The programme focuses on how legal constraint shapes governmental process, from primary legislation drafting through statutory instruments, delegated powers and the operation of public bodies. The syllabus is aligned with themes referenced by the Political Studies Association, the Institute for Government and the Law Society of England and Wales.
By graduation you will have prepared draft policy submissions with attached legal risk analyses, mapped statutory frameworks against operational public administration, drafted delegated legislation-style provisions, and completed a dissertation, capstone or sponsor consulting project for a public body or think tank.
Key Features
- Level 7 credential aligned with Political Studies Association and IfG themes.
- Integrated teaching bridging policy submissions with statutory instruments.
- Case-room seminars using real UK legislation and secondary provisions.
- Guest sessions from former parliamentary counsel-adjacent practitioners.
- Named programme-tutor support across all three study modes.
- Dissertation supervised by an LSLPE tutor with active integrated profile.
- Careers-service introductions to Whitehall legal directorates and think tanks.
What You Will Learn
- The UK legislative process from policy to statute.
- Statutory instruments and secondary legislation practice.
- Legal risk analysis for policy submissions.
- Judicial review considerations for policy design.
- Public law constraints on ministerial discretion.
- Reading Cabinet Office and IfG process outputs.
- Drafting mock statutory instruments for policy problems.
- Producing an integrated dissertation for a policy audience.
Who This Course Is For
- Whitehall staff working at the policy-and-law boundary.
- Public sector lawyers moving into senior policy roles.
- Bachelor's graduates in law, politics or public policy.
- Think tank researchers on statutory reform.
- International applicants planning national policy-and-law careers.
Career Pathways
- Policy Adviser at Whitehall or a devolved administration.
- Legal Adviser to a public body.
- Government Affairs Manager in a corporate setting.
- Think Tank Researcher on legislative reform.
- Strategy Adviser to a public body.
- Public Sector Consultant on integrated projects.
- Public Leadership Fellow on a graduate scheme.
The LSLPE careers service coordinates introductions with Whitehall, legal directorates and think tanks and runs at least one careers day each academic year.
Entry Requirements
- A UK Bachelor's degree (2:2 or above) or equivalent in law, politics, public policy or a related discipline.
- IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
- Applicants without a Bachelor's but with 5+ years of senior policy or legal drafting experience are considered on portfolio.
- One academic and one professional reference.
- A 500-word research proposal or professional practice statement.
Why Study at LSLPE
The London School of Law, Politics and Economics teaches in small, tutor-visible cohorts and explicitly reads law, politics and economics as three interlocking disciplines, giving the MA in Government and Law Integration a natural home. Central London gives MA students access to Parliament, Whitehall legal directorates and the Institute for Government within a short tube ride of every classroom.
Every intake shares the same weekly seminar structure, and the careers service refreshes curriculum alignment annually against Political Studies Association and Law Society guidance.
Apply for MA in Government and Law Integration
Applications for the MA in Government and Law Integration are reviewed on a rolling basis. Enrol on an LSLPE Master's programme, dissertation, capstone or sponsor project supervised by practising policy advisers. Enrol Now.
