The legal systems of the world have long been led by Eurocentric ideas, but in the UK, there’s a law school that aims to change that: SOAS University of London’sCollege of Law.
Since SOAS’s founding in 1916, it has amplified the voices of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, striving for the decolonisation of research. In 2026, the college is continuing this mission unabated. It’s dedicated to the legal systems and legal challenges of the developing world, thriving in specialities such as human rights, international law and institutions, environmental law, and international trade and commerce. It ranks top 20 in the UK for law and is home to over 100 academics who study the complex dynamics of societies in the Global South.
If you’re seeking a one-year, transformative experience that stands out for its unique focus on legal challenges across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, the LLM (Master of Laws) programme is the ideal choice. Culminating in an extended research project, it challenges you to think outside the box and develop a more critical understanding of law from a myriad of perspectives from all around the world.
“SOAS has been an incredible experience,” one LLM student says. “The professors push you to think beyond the traditional legal answers and understand why the legal field has developed in the way it has. It felt like I was decolonising my mind, and I have never had such high-level conversations focused particularly on the circumstances of Africa and Asia.”
SOAS is ranked 11th for Academic Reputation in Law (QS World University Rankings 2026) and sixth in the UK for Research Quality (Complete University Guide Subject League Tables 2026)
Expand your knowledge of and critical engagement with the law
You can curate your LLM’s curriculum based on your interests and your aspirations. Choose between a general or specialist pathway – the latter includes specialisms such as Human Rights, Conflict and Justice,Environmental Law and Sustainable Development, and <a href="https://www.soas.ac.uk/study/find-course/llm-international-commercial-and-economic-law” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>International Commercial and Economic Law. You can even take courses outside the College of Law to broaden your skills. Students often explore fields like language, humanities, economics, finance, and more.
On top of 120 credits of taught courses, students are to complete a 60-credit research dissertation on a topic related to an LLM course. This gives you the opportunity to work independently on an original piece, while also receiving supervision from a faculty member who is part of a university rated first in the UK — the College of Law, sixth — in the Research Excellence Framework.
“It made me quite emotional, honestly, to go to class and get the privilege of studying from these professors and amongst incredible students,” says one LLM graduate. “I cannot express how much of a transformative experience this was, which I expected to some degree, but could not have fully anticipated.”
The campus is located in the north-west corner of Russell Square in the historic Bloomsbury area, right in the heart of London
Studying in a city that hosts the world’s most revered experts
London is home to hundreds of international law firms and legal organisation, from the Magic Circle group to Amnesty International UK and the British branch of Human Rights Watch. It is also Europe’s global business city, with a five-million-strong workforce that speaks hundreds of languages and share diverse strengths. Pursue the LLM at SOAS and you’ll have access to opportunities few other cities can match.
“Volunteering with the pro bono community is something I am very proud to have done,” another student says. “I was placed within the information and advice team at Age UK Islington, and was able to assist clients in directing them towards grants and benefits that can help them with their current difficulties. It gave me a great insight into the charity sector, which I wish to further explore in my career.”
LLM graduates join a global network of alumni with purpose. They’ve grown into civic-minded and critically engaged individuals who are now carving out careers across the United Nations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), private practice, policy work, and academia. Today, you’ll find SOAS law graduates at organisations like the British Medical Association, HM Treasury, The Economist, PwC LLP, and plenty more.
With a deeper understanding of the many layers that exist in today’s legal systems, these are lawyers who do more than win cases for clients. SOAS LLM graduates effectively contribute to their own communities.
“I cannot recommend the education here enough,” says a student of the LLM. “I truly wish this was accessible to everyone in the world, as I believe it’s this type of education that can enable necessary change.”
Inspired to create the same legal impact? Check out the LLM at SOAS today.
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