1. 1. Master of Laws (LL.M)

1.1 1.1 Overview of the LLM Programme

The LLM program is a two-year, full-time, 33-credit hours of study in advanced legal topics, designed primarily for law graduates, professional lawyers, judges trained inside / outside country and this programme can be tailored by individual’s interests, thus uniquely equipping students with the knowledge and skills to excel in today’s global legal community, whatever their personal and professional goals may be. This programme accepts research proposals in a variety of subject areas, including; Administrative Law, Alternate Dispute Resolution, Banking Laws, Commercial / Business Laws, Company / Corporate Law, Comparative Constitutional Law, Comparative Environmental Law, Comparative Human Rights Law, Comparative Study of Islamic and Western Jurisprudence, Constitutional Law of Pakistan, Criminology, Intellectual Property Laws, International Economic Law, International Trade Law, Islamic Laws, Labor Laws, Law and Politics, Law and Society in South Asia, Law of Evidence, Law of International Institutions, Law of Taxation, Legal History of Pakistan and India, Shipping Law, Western Jurisprudence and Legal Theory and any other area / topic as per the requirement. This program gives a formidable range of skills which can transfer to many other sectors from multinational organizations to banking and finance, to technology, media and charities. This wide range law qualification is job oriented and highly valued by employers everywhere, so students should ensure that they have the commitment and the staying power to commit them fully for this period of time to ensure that they can take in the knowledge and learn the skills in which they will be instructed.


This course is a pathway to LL.M degree and the duration is for the period of 2 years and it has 04 semesters. This course enables students to earn a high level, specialist qualification, acquiring a skill set and expertise that could benefit them in every legal aspect of human life. This programme will prove invaluable to anyone wishing to success in the world of law, and will enable students to gain both the skills and knowledge to perform effectively in all legal aspects of life. With this sort of qualification students can look forward to a rewarding career, a good salary, and a challenging and interesting role with great promotional prospects.

1.2 Rationale for the LLM Programme

There is an increasing demand from employers for graduates, who has an essential skills of being adaptable, creative, working as a team and problem-solving skills and ready for challenging modern work-force with respect to law.


More & more research scholars in the field of law are the dire needs across Pakistan. Research scholars in the field of law will bring about the possible ways to easy access to justice situation in this particular society where it is swelled by the pessimism. These students may become research scholars, professors, research based law practitioners, research based judges, research oriented company secretaries / advisors etc. There is an increasing demand from employers for specialized law professional, who has an essential skills of being adaptable, creative, working as a team and problem-solving skills and ready for challenging modern work-force with respect to law.

1.3 Aims of the LLM Programme

The goals of the LL.M program is to provide academic & research training to our those students who previously had very rare opportunity to even enroll in such research based LL.M Program in this province. The goal of this LL.M program is to provide quality research in the field of Law. The goal of this Program is to contribute more and more research for the betterment of access to justice situation in Pakistan. The programme design is based on the research curriculum framework which ensures that all the required areas of research related discipline on subject matter are effectively covered within the teaching provision and the learning strategy. The programme is designed to provide students with the opportunity to engage in a coherent research based learning experience aimed at providing;-
? A research based learning experience in which the discipline and subject knowledge, and understanding and individual capability of each student is fostered with a view to establishing their professional law abilities and application skills and enhancing their career development opportunities.
? Develop research based intellectual and practical skills necessary for employment in the legal profession and other careers.
? a curriculum which fosters the development of key research skills within the learning experience provided by the programme.
v a research based conducive learning experience which is designed to engage students in the requirements of establishing firm academic understanding of the law studies discipline while evaluating their future professional and career direction.
? An appropriate learning experience which provides a foundation for access to further study or professional qualifications through the encouragement and development of the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed by the student in order to become life-long learners who recognize the need to engage in Continuous Personal and Professional Development.

1.4 Objectives of the LLM Programme

? To be in line with Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan Bar Council and Sindh Bar Council and Sindh Higher Education Commission.
? To provide research conducive approach in the legislation process in all aspect of life at students’ choice of related field of law;
? To equip students with the necessary tools of research knowledge of civil, criminal and corporate laws skills for the effective implementation of law in the context of the business , government and non government organisation and individually;

1.5 Programme Outcomes

The programme is designed to provide opportunities for students to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:

a) Knowledge and Understanding Skills

? To develop and deepen knowledge in the same or in a different field to the proficiency level based on Bachelor level qualifications.
? To conceive the interdisciplinary interaction which the field is related with.
? To advance the knowledge of research in the chosen field.
? To have knowledge and understanding the recent development in one’s related field of study.
? To have cognitive, creative, constructive skills for research and reporting results.
? To have utilitarian applied research to solve socio-economic problems

b) Cognitive Skills

? To use of theoretical and practical knowledge within the field at a high proficiency level.
? To interpret the knowledge about the field by integrating the information gathered from different disciplines and formulate new knowledge.
? To solve the problem faced related to the field by using research methods and tools.
? To critical ability to analyze and synthesize technical knowledge and apply it to solve complex problems.

c) Practical Skills

? To recognise the personal attitudes and dispositions that underpin effective communication in various contexts, and have practised interpersonal skills in various situations.
? To demonstrate an ability to conduct research into legal studies and allied issues, fields and environmental contexts either individually or as part of a team through researching and research design; data and evidence collection, evaluation and synthesis; critical analysis, synthesis of interpretation and formation of judgments, and the reporting of findings.? To demonstrate critical skills of numeracy, literacy, and qualitative and quantitative abilities in researching, collation, analysis, synthesis and evaluation of evidence. To utilize a variety of interpersonal and transferable communication skills including listening to alternative viewpoints and undertaking the evaluation of argument and intellectual positions; engaging in critical discourse, and debate with peers and responding to the views of others; engaging in critical discussion and persuading or influencing others.
? To self manage their professional activities and communicate effectively and efficiently while utilizing appropriate means and media of communication including new technologies/information technology and within peer groups and other professional groupings.
? To solve problems, articulate conclusions, make judgments, and form recommendations based on evidence and which are subject to a well developed capacity for critical appraisal and which are based on imaginative, robust judgment, and firm foundations.

d) Transferable Skills

? To independently conduct studies that requires proficiency in the field.
? To take responsibility and develop new strategic solutions as a team member in order to solve unexpected complex problems faced within the applications in the field.
? To demonstrate leadership in contexts that require solving problems related to the field.
? To evaluate knowledge and skills acquired at proficiency level in the field with a critical approach and direct the learning.
? To ethical use of knowledge created by others.
? To fidelity of data gathering and its use in technical reports.
? To complete and report an innovative research project to positively impact society.
? To present reports of the research activities to peers and other senior scholars.
? To communicate current developments and studies within the field to both professional and non- professional groups systematically using written, oral and visual techniques by supporting with quantitative and qualitative data.
? To investigate, improve social connections and their conducting norms with a critical view and act to change them when necessary.
? To communicate with peers by using a foreign language proficiently.
? To use advanced informatics and communication technology skills with software knowledge
required by the field.
? To audit the data gathering, interpretation, implementation and announcement stages by taking into consideration the cultural, scientific, and ethical values and teach these values.
? To develop strategy, policy and implementation plans on the issues related to the field and assess the findings within the frame of quality processes.
? To use the knowledge, problem solving and/or implementation skills in interdisciplinary studies.
? Be familiar with professional codes of conduct and adhere to them for academic integrity.

1.6 Programme Entry Requirement

To be admitted to the Master of Laws degree programme students normally will satisfy following requirements:
? On Entry a student must have: LL.B Degree or Minimum 17 years of studies in Law or its equivalent qualification with at least second Division in the relevant degree.

English Language Requirement

? Candidate must be well versed in Written and Spoken English.

Eligibility For LL.M.

Minimum seventeen years of studies (LL.B) with at least second Division in the relevant filed recognized by HEC Pakistan.

Admission Procedure of LL.M

1. LLB from a recognized University.
2. The Admission will be granted on the basis of Test/ Interview by Department Research Committee of the concerned Department/ Centre/ Institute for admission in LL.M Program Distribution of Interview marks are given in Annexure-II.
3. The candidate is required to appear in the Entrance Test conducted by the relevant
Department/Centre/Institute of SZABUL Karachi.
4. The candidate shall submit the following documents along with the Entrance Test Application Form:
i. Photocopy of the last transcript/marks statement.
ii. Photocopy of Computerized National Identity Card. iii. Two Passport Size Photographs.
iv. Copy of Valid NTS/ SZABUL Entrance Test if available.
5. There will be 20 percent weight-age for NTS score, if valid, and the candidate will be exempted from appearing in section 1 (English + Communication skills) of the SZABUL Entrance. However, the candidate will have to clear section II (Subject knowledge and application of 80 % marks).
4. The test shall comprise of the following sections:
Section-I English+ Communication Skills 20%
Section-II Subject Knowledge and Application 80%

2. STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAMME

2.1 General Information

STANDARDIZED TEMPLATE / SCHEME OF STUDIES FOR FIVE-YEAR LLM DEGREE PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
SrCategoriesNo. of courses Min – MaxCredit Hours Min – Max
1Compulsory Requirement (No Choice)01 – 0103 – 03
2Electives within the major08 – 0824 – 24
3Dissertation / Thesis00 – 0006 – 06
 Total09 – 0933 – 33
  • Total numbers of Credit Hours 33
  • Duration 2 Years
  • Semester duration 16-18 weeks
  • Semesters 04
  • Credit Course Load per Semester 06-12 Cr Hrs
  • Number of courses per semester 2-4

The LLM is offered on a full-time basis and duration is of the course is for twenty four months (two academic years) and comprised of 04 Semesters, two semester in each year delivered over the sixteen week terms. In all two terms students study two to four modules, each of which is equivalent to 3credit hours which means 48 teaching hours.


A candidate admitted to LL.M. degree programme shall be required to complete his course studies and submit his research thesis/dissertation of 10,000-12,000 words in a period not exceeding four years from the date of his registration/admission. Students who successfully complete the programme will only be awarded the Degree of Master of Laws. Such students will be eligible to enter the Ph.D. Law degree named Doctor of Philosophy in Law.


To be awarded a LLM students must gain as highlighted in the GPA table given below to pass each module.

Master of Laws
GradeGPAPercentage
A4.0093%=
A-3.6787%-92%
B+3.3382%-86%
B3.0077%-81%
B-2.6772%-76%
C+2.3367%-71%
C2.0060%-66%
C-1.6755%-59%
D1.0050%-54%
F0.00< 50%