Girne American University offers two programmes for Master of Laws on International Law and International Business Law. Girne American University has established programmes of LLM (Master of Laws) with and without thesis for those students that have earned an undergraduate law degree from an accredited university.
The typical student will take 18 months to complete the programme. This will cover three academic semesters plus an optional summer session. A normal academic graduate student load is three courses per semester. A part-time programme is also available.
Course Descriptions
GAUKARTAL Girne American University offers two programmes for Master of Laws on International Law and International Business Law. Girne American University has established programmes of LLM (Master of Laws) with and without thesis for those students that have earned an undergraduate law degree from an accredited university.
The typical student will take 18 months to complete the programme. This will cover three academic semesters. A normal academic graduate student load is three courses per semester. A part-time programme is also available.
Girne American University has established two degree programmes of LLM (Master of Laws) for those students that have earned an undergraduate law degree from an accredited university.
A typical student will take 18 months to complete the programme. This will cover three academic semesters.
LLM without thesis requires 10 courses and a graduation project.
LLM with thesis requires 8 courses plus thesis. Master thesis can be carried over one semester.
Core Courses for both Programmes:
The following are core courses for both of our offered Masters Programs on International Law and International Business Law: LLM501, LLM502, LLM503 and LLM 504.
Core Course Descriptions:
Modern Research Methods (LLM 501)
We will concentrate on legal research methods, including classic research through law books, as well as more modern research through the Internet and other research means, including Westlaw, Lexis/Nexus etc
Alternative Dispute Resolutions (LLM 502)
This course will deal with the advantages and disadvantages involved in resolving disputes through other means than litigation. Accordingly, we will analyse arbitration, mediation, negotiation, conciliation, fact-finding etc.
Legal Writing (LLM 503)
Writing like a lawyer and also as an academician is what we will experiment, by using different techniques, concentrating on the best use of English language in getting our message forward as simply and efficiently as possible.
Comparative Constitutional Law (LLM 504)
This course will introduce students to the comparative study of the Constitutions. The main areas covered are
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the characteristics and sources of the Constitutions
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the Legislature
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the implications of membership of the European Union
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the Executive and Administration and their controls
Master of Laws in International Business Law
The Law Master’s Programme in International Business Law is designed to equip the lawyer or business person with a complete grounding in the concepts and practice of business law in the global economy.
The International Business Law specialisation requires various elective courses to be in addition to the core subjects noted above. The student must take the courses from this following list of elective courses:
Course Descriptions for the LLM in International Business Law
European Union Law III & IV (LLM 505)
These courses provide an introduction to the law of the European Union (EU). EU law is a newer legal system with some of the characteristics of international law combined with some features of a national legal system based on a written constitution. In addition to studying the areas of social and economic life in which the EU has exclusive or shared power to act, a large part of the course will deal with the relations between EU and national law.
The social, political and economic context of the EU and the legal rules and judicial decisions will be analysed.
Public International Law III (LLM 506)
This course concerns legal relations between states as well as the role of the United Nations and other international organisations and, in the fields of human rights and international criminal law, the rights and duties of individuals. Students will be expected to have a grasp of basic principles of international law, including its sources, jurisdictional immunities, treaties and state responsibility; and of the application of those principles in such fields as international environmental law and the law of the sea.
Public international law is important not only to provide an informed understanding of international affairs but also to increase the working understanding of the practitioner in a modern legal environment in which rules made at the international level have a growing impact domestically.
Private International Law III (LLM 507)
The private international law, also known as the conflict of laws, is the body of rules applied by the Courts to cases with a foreign element. It may be used to answer three questions: whether the Court should hear the case at all (jurisdiction) where it does hear the case, what law should apply to determine the substantive issue (choice of law) whether a judgement, decree or award of a foreign Court or tribunal should be recognised and enforced in England and Wales. Despite statutory implementation of a number of International Conventions and Law Commission reports, many issues on private international law are answered by reference to case law.
Company Law III (LLM 508)
This course deals with the way in which the law regulates companies and the facilities that the law offers to those in business such as limited liability and transferability of shares. It is also concerned with the corresponding burdens that they shoulder, such as duties of disclosure, compliance with statutory procedures and common law duties and the dynamics of the relationship between the shareholders, who own the company and the directors who manage it. The European Union policy of harmonising the company law of its members and the legislative changes of the United Kingdom will be analysed. The students will also be exposed to learning the skill of interpreting complex statutes and develop a critical analysis of the reasons for the change.
International Environmental Law (LLM 509)
This course aims to provide students with an understanding of the legal and administrative framework that regulates decision-making concerning the environment. It deals with legislation relating to town and country planning, certain special controls designed to protect the environment, and the basic statutory regime concerning the control of pollution. It is intended to give students an understanding of the legal concepts, processes and techniques which have been developed and the problems involved in defining and enforcing environmental standards, the way of making official decisions affecting the environment and the methods by which these decisions can be challenged.
Telecommunications Law (LLM 510)
This area, which is heavily regulated by international law, will be analysed in light of EU regulations, and other laws in the UK, USA as well as the TRNC
Cyber Law (LLM 511)
The regulation of the Internet via international law and the possible legislation to avoid internet-related “crimes” will be discussed.
Maritime Law (LLM 512)
This course will be a thorough search into trade by sea and the legal implications involved to facilitate this important means of trade.
International Business Transactions (LLM 513)
We will discuss international trade as regulated by the EU, NAFTA, and other international organisations/instruments in light of the case law that has accumulated over the years.
Public Policy Development and Legislation (LLM 514)
This course will be an exercise in drafting of legislation and public policy in various areas.
Master’s Thesis (LLM 520)
The student is required to work with an approved advisor to prepare a well-researched and organised thesis in a topic to be approved by the Faculty.
Master of Laws in International Law
To be able to complete the LLM Master of Laws in International Law programme, the students must take the four core courses indicated above in addition to courses from the following list of elective courses:
Course Descriptions for the Master of Laws in International Law Programme:
International Business Crimes (LLM 515)
This course will address the law of transnational business and white collar crime. In today’s global economy, and particularly in light of the recent worldwide financial crises, international white collar crime is an increasingly relevant and important facet of international business law. In this course, we will consider substantive crimes (e.g., international tax and money-laundering crimes); relevant procedural doctrines (e.g., extraterritorial jurisdiction); the role of international organizations in enforcing the law; and some of the important policy issues and challenges posed by international business crime.
International Insurance Law (LLM 516)
This course will examine insurance contract law - including the basics of insurance techniques - on a comparative basis. It will focus on the different legal systems of the EU`s Member States including the common law system and harmonization within the EU.
The first part will give a general introduction into Insurance Contract Law and into the several insurance contracts and their wordings. It will also cover the specialities of property, liability, life, disability, accident and health insurance. The second part will deal with the activities of insurance agents and brokers. The third part will consist of a description of the particular requirements of extra contractual obligations between Insured and Insurer, focusing upon the duty of utmost good faith owed between the parties
International Business Law (LLM 517)
A course in law as it applies to international business transactions in the global legal environment. Study of inter-relationships among laws of different countries and the legal effects on individuals and business organisations will take place. Topics include agency agreements, international contracts and regulations of exports and imports.
Master’s Thesis (LLM 520)
The student is required to work with an approved advisor to prepare a well-researched and organised thesis in a topic to be approved by the Faculty.
International Human Rights (LLM 521)
Legal Environment of Business (LLM 523)
This course is designed to provide student with an overview of various legal concepts and principles impacting business. This course concentrates on the legal aspects of business ownership and management. Legal issues will include contracts, sales, consumer law, agency and employment law, property, risk management, environmental law.
International Arbitration Law (LLM 531)
The course will review the law and practice of international commercial arbitration as one of the key approaches to international alternative dispute resolution. The classes will cover a brief history of international commercial arbitration, the appointment and role of the party-appointed arbitrator and the chairman, jurisdictional issues, the role of national court systems, the organization of an international arbitration, provisional relief and interim measures of protection, discovery and production of evidence, the conduct of hearings, the tribunal`s deliberations and award, annulment and enforcement of awards, and the responsibilities of international arbitral institutions.
International Investment Law (LLM 532)
International investment law is emerging as a distinct and important field of international law. International investment law addresses the regulation of the behavior of sovereign States towards foreign investors; issues such as the rights and obligations of international investors and also the rights and obligations of the host states. This Course will analyse the aim and evolution of the law of investment. We shall focus on examining the rapidly evolving treaty law establishing international efforts to regulate foreign investment by the United Nations, WTO, OECD and World Bank. We will go on to look at Bilateral Investment Treaties and analyse the case-law on the treatment of foreign investment. We shall also examine the way in which investment disputes are solved – particularly focusing on the World Bank’s International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).