NUS Law Launches New LLM in Asian Legal Studies

The NUS Faculty of Law has launched a new Masters in Law (LLM) in Asian Legal Studies, to be offered for the first time from the 2007-08 academic year (commencing August 2007).

The one-year coursework programme adds to the diversity of the NUS law school’s graduate offerings, and rides on the momentum generated by the Asian Law Institute (ASLI),  established in the law school in 2003. The programme is an innovative one which allows students to study in depth the laws, legal systems, institutions and legal traditions of South, Southeast, and East Asia, as well as affords the opportunity to focus on particular areas of law (e.g. commercial law, constitutional law and international law) as these are treated across the dynamic continent that is Asia. The programme will enable students to understand not only the law in its wider socio-cultural context, but to appreciate its linkages with regional commerce, trade and politics.

The LLM (Asian Legal Studies) degree requires a total of 40 credits of subjects, at least 24 credits of which must be in the Asian law specialization. Students must thus take at least six subjects (24 credits) from a list of specialized subjects, including a compulsory overview course on Asian Legal Systems. The list includes courses such as Competition Law in Asia, Foreign Investment Law in Asia, Chinese Contract Law, Chinese Intellectual Property Law, Commercial Law of Vietnam, Development of the Indian Legal System, Introduction to Indonesian Law, Islamic Law and Law, Governance and Development in Asia.

While these courses form the mainstay of the new LLM specialisation, they will also be open to our undergraduate students whom we believe will benefit tremendously from a greater exposure to Asia. Our objective is to continue strengthening our core common law courses, while underlining the importance of the region and its diversity of cultures and legal traditions. In this way, we hope to further enhance our students' learning and scholastic experiences, and to continue to deliver on the NUS Law advantage - the unrivalled diversity and choice in courses offered.