Course specification and structure
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PMFRCMDL - LLM Financial Services Law, Regulation and Compliance

Course Specification


Validation status Validated
Highest award Master of Laws Level Masters
Possible interim awards Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate
Total credits for course 180
Awarding institution London Metropolitan University
Teaching institutions London Metropolitan University
School Guildhall School of Business and Law
Subject Area Law
Attendance options
Option Minimum duration Maximum duration
Part-time Distance Learning 2 YEARS  
Full-time Distance Learning 1 YEARS  
Course leader  

About the course and its strategy towards teaching and learning and towards blended learning/e-learning

RATIONALE FOR THE COURSE

Since the banking crisis, there has been increased interest in the regulation of Financial Services as a subject area, and a need for accessible training packages geared to the needs of employers and employees in the financial services sector, both in the UK and globally. This distance-learning programme meets the increasing demand for legal awareness in the financial services sector. By taking a practice-focused, industry-led approach throughout, study of this course will give a professional edge to anyone seeking employment or advancement in this highly competitive field, giving them the confidence and knowledge to transform their lives.

LEARNING TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES

Overview

Students will be taught by a combination of online lectures, interactive online seminars, one-to-one supervision, and self-study of a comprehensive module, with students encouraged to read from specified case law and legal journals. Students will be given the opportunity to discuss theoretical issues as well as practical problem solving. Students will be supported in undertaking on-line research using electronic law databases and encouraged to use on line legal resources on a regular basis.

There is a virtual learning environment (VLE) containing handbooks, lecture notes, weblinks, discussion groups, study skills materials and assessment criteria.

Experiential Learning

Students will be encouraged to respond to realistic case-studies relating to the sector, giving written legal opinions to clients in the style of a professional legal advisor. As an alternative core for the LLM award, students will be able to undertake and experiential learning project. Students will also be able to participate in the extracurricular experiential learning offered within the Law School, including the Pro Bono Clinic and the Mooting Club.

Study Support

Students will have regular access to module tutors by email and by one-to-one video conferences to support their studies. They will also engage with one formative assessment for each module, which will be marked promptly with opportunities for feedback either by email or individual online discussion.

LEARNING RESOURCES

Each of the modules will have a bespoke manual, written exclusively for London Met by an expert in the field. Students will also have 24/7 access to the extensive online law library, including the professional primary and secondary source data-bases of Westlaw, Lexis Library and iLaw. Blended learning pervades the delivery of the module and is actively encouraged as students will engage with digital materials, use on-line discussion groups (blogs) and achieve a competent standard of digital literacy during their studies.

MARKET DEMAND AND EMPLOYABILITY FOCUS

The modules have been designed to be totally relevant to professionals who work in, or wish to embark on careers within the Financial Services Industry. The distance learning nature of the course is designed so that it can be accessed conveniently and realistically by busy professionals, providing full support to enable them to pursue the course to completion.

We expect that all the modules offered will be in demand, but if there are not sufficient student numbers to make a module viable, the School reserves the right to cancel such a module. If the School cancels a module, it will use its reasonable endeavours to provide a suitable alternative.

Students will gain confidence to act independently in relevant areas of legal practice, including the enhanced ability to articulate and communicate their opinions and advice with persuasive eloquence, both orally and in writing. They will also be able to devise creative solutions to complex problems. This in turn will enhance their employability and promotional prospects in a competitive sector where substantive knowledge and effective advocacy is always at the fore.

Course aims

The purpose of the course is to deliver an academically rigorous programme of study, which provides students with the opportunity to study the major disciplines in Financial Services Law, Regulation and Compliance and to relate these to the professional practice.

Students will develop an in-depth and practical understanding of Financial Services Law, Regulation and Compliance. They will be able to learn both the substantive legal principles and also detailed Regulatory requirements and obtain practical guidance and understanding of compliance issues. The course aims to develop skills and enable students to gain knowledge in an area of considerable commercial interest which will in turn enhance graduating students’ employability potential in the financial services and other regulatory sectors.

In particular the course aims to provide a detailed, critical and evaluative knowledge of Financial Services Law, Regulation and Compliance.

On successful completion of the course, you will be able to:

  • appraise the international importance of Financial Services Law, Regulation and Compliance.in a modern global economy
  • have a critical understanding of the influence of European Law on Financial Services, Law, Regulation and Compliance.
  • appreciate the commercial importance of Financial Services Law, Regulation and Compliance.
  • evaluate critically the impact of global and commercial policy issues relating to Financial Services Law, Regulation and Compliance.

The programme promotes the use of a range of teaching, learning and assessment methods, which develop the students’ intellectual abilities, self-confidence and ability to study independently.

Course learning outcomes

The course will equip students with the skills and attributes that will enable them to compete with success in the complex and challenging financial legal sector and employment market.

The course has been devised with reference to the QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Law. The subject specific knowledge and skills, cognitive abilities and non-subject specific skills outlined in the benchmark statement are referenced below.

On completion of this course, students should be able to do the following:

LEARNING OUTCOME 1

To demonstrate extensive knowledge and understanding of the broad range of areas of Financial Services Law, Regulation and Compliance (QAA i, iii, iv and v)

LEARNING OUTCOME 2

To evaluate the commercial and government policy implications of Financial Services Law, Regulation and Compliance and appreciate its economic and social balance. (QAA iii, iv, viii and xii)

LEARNING OUTCOME 3

To synthesise relevant case and statute law in order to present conflicting arguments.

(QAA i, v, vi, vii, viii, ix, x and xi)

LEARNING OUTCOME 4

To apply the law to problem scenarios relevant to aspects of Financial Services Law, Regulation and Compliance. (QAA i, v, vi, vii, viii, ix, x and xi)

LEARNING OUTCOME 5

To demonstrate the ability to apply creative thinking to practical problems.

(QAA i, v, vi, vii, viii, ix, x and xi)

LEARNING OUTCOME 6

To have the confidence needed to take leadership decisions in challenging situations.

(QAA i, ii, vi, vii, viii and xi)

LEARNING OUTCOME 7 (ULO)

To demonstrate confidence, resilience, ambition and creativity and to act as inclusive, collaborative and socially responsible professionals in their discipline. (QAA i, ii, vi, vii, viii and xi) (ULO)

LEARNING OUTCOME 8

To possess extensive communication skills that will help them adopt a global and multicultural perspective in their professional context. (QAA xi and xii)

LEARNING OUTCOME 9

To be critically cognisant of the social and environmental effects of their decisions and to remain active citizens of the places they live and work. (QAA iii and iv)

LEARNING OUTCOME 10

To possess the analytical and organizational skills to translate creative ideas into operational solutions in the context of the course curriculum. (QAA i, v, vi, vii, viii, ix, x and xi)

LEARNING OUTCOME 11

To adopt an appropriate research strategy and techniques to support a sustained academic and professional argument on critical issues within the area of financial services law, regulation and compliance. (QAA i, v and vi)

LEARNING OUTCOME 12

To construct an academic and professional argument, including supported contextual and critical material suitable for inclusion and completion of a piece of sustained academic research on a subject related to the area of Financial services law, regulation and compliance. (QAA i, iv, v, vi, viii, ix and x)

APPENDIX

QAA: Subject Benchmark Statement for Law: November 2019

A law student's skills and qualities of mind

i intellectual independence, including the ability to ask and answer cogent questions about law and legal systems, identify gaps in their own knowledge and acquire new knowledge, and engage in critical analysis and evaluation

ii self-management, including an ability to reflect on their own learning, make effective use of feedback, a willingness to acknowledge and correct errors and an ability to work collaboratively

iii awareness of principles and values of law and justice, and of ethics

iv knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts, values, principles and rules of public and private laws within an institutional, social, national and global context

v study in depth and context of substantive areas of law

vi ability to conduct self-directed research, including accurate identification of issue(s) which require researching, retrieval and evaluation of accurate, current and relevant information from a range of appropriate sources, including primary legal sources

vii ability to work with a range of data, including textual, numerical and statistical

viii ability to recognise ambiguity and deal with uncertainty in law

ix ability to produce a synthesis of relevant doctrinal and policy issues, presentation of a reasoned choice between alternative solutions and critical judgement of the merits of particular arguments

x ability to apply knowledge and understanding to offer evidenced conclusions, addressing complex actual or hypothetical problems

xi ability to communicate both orally and in writing, in relation to legal matters, including an ability to listen and respond to written and oral stimuli, including questions and instructions

xii engagement with their own personal and professional development, and academic integrity.

Principle QAA benchmark statements

Law

Assessment strategy

Assessment strategy

The course adopts the four assessment strategy principles of the School that are developed in the spirit of ESJ. These are:

i) The School is committed to ensuring that each student should not have more no more than 2 assessment points per 20 credit module.

ii) We provide balanced forms of assessment, both in terms of its overall volume (measured in terms of assessment points and output required and the types used.

i) Group activities are part of the learning and teaching strategies but assessment is at the level of the individual. Thus, assessment focused on individual reflections and learning from participating in a group activity.

ii) Flexibility/choice in assessment methods will be introduced wherever possible in order to facilitate different learning studies and support personalization

The range of assessment methods to be employed on this course reflects the range of skills required by the discipline of law and the standards expected.

In line with our policy on facilitating formative feedback to students, the assessment strategy is designed to provide formative feedback on a piece of contributing summary assessment before another summative component is due to be submitted.

Organised work experience, work based learning, sandwich year or year abroad

n/a

Course specific regulations

The course may be taken either full-time (one year) or part-time (two to three years). Part-time students may choose how many modules to do in each year, subject to a minimum of 60 credits in the first year.

Courses shall conform to both framework and University Academic Regulations.

Modules required for interim awards

Postgraduate Certificate: Any 3 of the 20 credit modules

Postgraduate Diploma: Any 6 of the 20 credit modules

LLM: Any 6 of the 20 credit modules and one of the core 60 credit modules

Arrangements for promoting reflective learning and personal development

Every module on this course has embedded within it reflective learning components and personal development planning relevant to the year of study. It will be encouraged in module handbooks and self-study questions and through assessment methods. Students will be directed to reflect on knowledge specific learning, personal and employability skills development. Students will be encouraged to engage positively with all feedback opportunities and to reflect and learn, resulting in the developing of further learning strategies.

Other external links providing expertise and experience

n/a

Career, employability and opportunities for continuing professional development

London maintains a solid position as one of the world’s leading centres of law and is unrivalled in European terms. Although there have been some major challenges in the sector over the past two years, legal services in London remains a strong service provider and a strong recruiter. Students graduating from this course are likely to be legal or financial professionals looking for a specialisation in their sector or a step up the career ladder. Some students may be undertaking this course as a specialisation without being a registered practitioner and looking for work within the wider legal profession or legal supply chain, and may go on to take professional qualifications later.

Career opportunities

These courses provide a stepping stone to career advancement, both as a legal practitioner or as a professional in the financial services sector. On successful completion, you could work in politics, the government, businesses, with the law commission, in insurance, banking, the civil service, local authorities or the media.

If you complete the LLM qualification, you will have a Master of Laws degree. The PG Dip and PG Cert are also postgraduate qualifications that will give you an insight into financial services law and can help you progress in this field professionally.

Entry requirements

You’ll be required to have:

  • a minimum of a lower second-class (2.2) undergraduate degree in a relevant subject such as law, commercial law, business law, financial law, maritime law or maritime practice (or an equivalent international qualification).
  • an IELTs score of 6.5 or above as a standard entry requirement for law courses.

If you have a degree outside of the subject areas listed above, you may still be considered. Please contact courseenquiries@londonmet.ac.uk to be referred to an academic for consideration.

For mature applicants without a degree, you may be considered on merit of 2+ years appropriate work experience and other professional development or professional qualifications.

Official use and codes

Approved to run from 2021/22 Specification version 1 Specification status Validated
Original validation date 29 Jul 2021 Last validation date 29 Jul 2021  
Sources of funding HE FUNDING COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND
JACS codes
Route code FRCMDL

Course Structure

Stage 1 Level 07 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
LL7P32 Law Dissertation Alt Core 60        
LL7P33 Law Experiential Learning Project Alt Core 60        
LL7174 Corporate Governance Option 20        
LL7175 Risk Management and Stress Testing for Financia... Option 20        
LL7176 Compliance, Supervision and Enforcement Option 20        
LL7177 Financial Services Complaints and the Financial... Option 20        
LL7178 Regulation of the Marketing of Financial Services Option 20        
LL7179 Global Financial Crime Option 20        
LL7181 Research Methods for Lawyers Option 20        
LL7182 The English Legal System and Commercial Law Option 20        

Stage 1 Level 07 January start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
LL7P32 Law Dissertation Alt Core 60        
LL7P33 Law Experiential Learning Project Alt Core 60        
LL7174 Corporate Governance Option 20        
LL7175 Risk Management and Stress Testing for Financia... Option 20        
LL7176 Compliance, Supervision and Enforcement Option 20        
LL7177 Financial Services Complaints and the Financial... Option 20        
LL7178 Regulation of the Marketing of Financial Services Option 20        
LL7179 Global Financial Crime Option 20        
LL7181 Research Methods for Lawyers Option 20        
LL7182 The English Legal System and Commercial Law Option 20