Course description
Course Description:
The LLM (Canon Law) provides an opportunity for postgraduate study in the canon law of the churches of the Worldwide Anglican Communion, particularly that of the Church of England, and the Roman Catholic Church and the law of the State applicable to these churches.
The degree, a response to the practical need for scholarly study of church law, provides academic training, but with a substantial emphasis on practical application. The degree is research-led and has attracted students of the highest quality, including secular and ecclesiastical judges, university academics, barristers, solicitors and clergy from both the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches.
Students must complete four modules (one assessment for each module comprising of a 6,500 word essay or examination) and a dissertation (not exceeding 15,000 words). It may be possible to undertake two modules from the Masters of Laws (LLM) route, however, for the Canon Law route some or all of the specialist modules are compulsory.
Depending on the route and the particular module, these comprise a mix of lectures and seminars, individual and joint written and oral presentations and distance learning. All modules are supported by extensive IT provision available on and off campus. Modules are typically led by staff actively engaged in research relevant to their subject matter.
Special Feature:
Taught by means of lectures and seminars on eight residential weekends held at St Michael College, Llandaff.
Introduction
Like other major institutions in society, both groups and private individuals with religious convictions function within a legal framework. The lives of religious organisations and their members are both facilitated and regulated by complex systems of rules. In recent years, the UK has seen a renewal of interest in the law relating to churches and other religious organisations. The LLM in Canon Law provides an opportunity for postgraduate study in the canon law of the churches of the Worldwide Anglican Communion, particularly that of the Church of England, the Roman Catholic Church and the law of the State applicable to these churches.
The LLM in Canon Law was first introduced in 1991, with the support and encouragement of, amongst others, the Ecclesiastical Law Society, founded in 1987. It is the first degree of its type at a British University since the Reformation, when the study of canon law was abolished at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The degree, a response to the practical need for scholarly study of church law, provides academic training, but with a substantial emphasis on practical application. It is designed, in particular, for those who practice or are involved in the administration of church law, and for those wishing to pursue an interest in this developing field of legal scholarship. The degree is research-led and has attracted students of the highest quality, including secular and ecclesiastical judges, university academics, barristers, solicitors and clergy from both the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches.
The Centre for Law and Religion was established at Cardiff Law School in 1998 to promote research in the field of law and religion. The activities of the Centre are carried out in relation to both the theory and practice of substantive law concerning religion. The focus is upon canon and ecclesiastical law, with regard to their historical, theological, social, ecumenical and comparative contexts.
Course structure
The LLM in Canon Law is a two-year part-time programme comprising two parts:
Part 1 takes place through eight residential weekends in Cardiff in September, December, April and July of each year. Provision is made for those who have not studied law before. Students are provided with reading lists and assignments in advance of each residential weekend. These form the basis of lectures, seminars, and workshops.
Students may also be required to give their own presentations at seminars.
Part 2 consists of a dissertation. Students are encouraged to study a topic of their choice within the fields covered by the eight modules of Part 1. Each student is provided with a supervisor with whom regular contact must be maintained.
Diploma
Students who pass Part 1, but do not complete the dissertation satisfactorily, are eligible for the award of a Diploma.
