Reporter 1/5/02: LL.M. Examination

LL.M. Examination

(Statutes and Ordinances, p. 430)

With effect from 1 October 2003

The purpose of the amendments is (i) to allow for the introduction of a seminar option into the LL.M. course and (ii) to clarify the arrangements by which area specializations may be indicated on the class-list.

Regulation 1.

By inserting in the second line after the words 'Faculty Board of Law,' the words 'which may include a seminar paper, to be assessed by thesis only, and'.

Regulation 2.

By labelling the current paragraph as (a) and amending the labelling of sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) to (i) and (ii), and by inserting the following new paragraphs (b) and (c):

(b) At the same time, the Faculty Board shall prescribe and give notice of those subjects, if any, which will be assessed by examination only.

(c) At the same time, if a seminar paper is one of the subjects prescribed under Regulation 1 for the academical year next following, the Faculty Board shall prescribe and give notice of those courses (not exceeding six in number) in which seminars are to be held that year.

Regulation 3.

By labelling the current paragraph as (a) and by inserting the following new paragraph (b):

(b) Courses prescribed by the Faculty Board under Regulation 2(c) shall be published in the Reporter before the end of the Long Vacation period of residence next preceding the academical year in which those courses are to be conducted. Any such course prescribed by the Faculty Board may be withdrawn by the Board upon notice given in the Reporter within the first three weeks of Full Michaelmas Term in the academical year in which the course was to have been conducted. Each candidate who has applied to take part in a course so withdrawn shall be informed of its withdrawal by the Secretary of the Faculty Board.

Regulation 4.

By replacing the regulation with the following new regulation:

4. (a) Each candidate shall offer:

(i) four subjects prescribed for examination under Regulation 2(a), or

(ii) three subjects prescribed for examination under Regulation 2(a) and a thesis in lieu of another subject which is prescribed under Regulation 2(a), but not prescribed under Regulation 2(b), provided that the title of the thesis has been approved in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 9; or

(iii) in a year where the seminar paper is offered, three subjects prescribed for examination under Regulation 2(a) and the seminar paper, provided the title of the thesis by which the seminar paper is to be assessed has been approved in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 9.

(b) A thesis offered under Regulation 4(a)(ii) or (iii) shall be submitted in accordance with the provisions of Regulations 9 and 10.

Regulation 9.

By replacing the regulation with the following new regulation:

9. (a) A candidate who intends to offer an essay under Regulation 2(a)(ii) or a thesis under Regulation 4(a)(ii) or (iii) shall submit the title of the proposed essay or thesis, together with a statement of the subjects he or she intends to offer in the LL.M. Examination, to the Secretary of the Faculty Board no later than the third Friday of the Full Michaelmas Term next preceding the examination.

(b) A candidate may only offer such an essay or thesis if the Faculty Board has approved its title. The Faculty Board shall approve such a title, or reject the candidate's application to offer such an essay or thesis, as soon as practicable following the third Friday of the Full Michaelmas Term next preceding the examination, and in any event no later than the end of that Full Term. The Faculty Board shall promptly communicate to a candidate any decision made under this paragraph.

(c) The Faculty Board shall only approve the proposed title for a thesis under Regulation 4(a)(ii) if it is, in the opinion of the Board, within the scope of a subject prescribed for examination under Regulation 2(a) for the academical year in question.

(d) The Faculty Board shall only approve the proposed title for a thesis under Regulation 4(a)(iii) if it is, in the opinion of the Board, within the scope of a seminar course prescribed under Regulation 2(c) for the academical year in question.

(e) Without prejudice to any other power of the Faculty Board, it may reject a candidate's application to offer a thesis under Regulation 4(a)(ii) or (iii) having regard respectively to the number of candidates who have applied to offer a thesis in lieu of a particular paper, or to the number of candidates on a particular seminar course.

(f) The Faculty Board shall not, save in exceptional circumstances, approve a title for a thesis under Regulation 4(a)(ii) or (iii) if the proposed title falls within the scope of any of the subjects which the candidate in question is offering for the LL.M. Examination.

(g) When the Faculty Board has approved the title of an essay or thesis, no change shall be made to it, or to the candidate's scheme of subjects offered, without the further approval of the Board.

(h) A candidate for the LL.M. Examination shall submit any essay or thesis he or she is offering to the Secretary of the Faculty Board no later than 1 May next preceding that examination. A candidate who submits an essay or thesis to the Secretary of the Faculty Board after this date may be penalised by the Examiners of the LL.M. Examination.

Regulation 10.

By replacing in line 1 the reference to Regulation 4 by reference to Regulation 4(a)(ii) or (a)(iii), by deleting the final sentence, and by moving the first sentence of the final paragraph to line 8.

Regulation 11.

By replacing the references to Regulations 2(b) and 4 by references to Regulations 2(a)(ii) and 4(a)(ii) or (a)(iii).

Regulation 12.

By adding the following to the end of the first paragraph:

In any case where a candidate offers a combination of papers (including any thesis designated as falling within a particular field under Regulation 10 above) whereby, under the foregoing provision, the class-list could indicate that the candidate has satisfied the Examiners in one of two or more of the fields specified in Regulation 1, that candidate may give notice that he or she wishes the Examiners to indicate that he or she has satisfied them in a stated field only. Any such notice shall be given by letter to the Secretary of the Faculty Board no later than 1 May of the Easter Term in which the candidate concerned takes the LL.M. Examination. If a candidate gives notice pursuant to the preceding provisions, and satisfies the Examiners in a sufficient number of papers (including any thesis) falling within the field indicated by the candidate, the class-list shall indicate that he or she has so satisfied the Examiners. If a candidate who is eligible to do so does not give notice in accordance with the preceding provisions, the class-list shall (a) if the candidate is classed and satisfies the Examiners in one field under Regulation 1, indicate that he or she has so satisfied the Examiners; or (b) if the candidate is classed and satisfies them in two or more fields under Regulation 1, indicate that he or she has satisfied them in whichever of those fields is indicated by a letter earlier in the alphabet than any other such letter.

Regulation 13.

By inserting before the final sentence the following:

A lecturer conducting a seminar course prescribed under Regulation 2(c) shall, if not an Examiner, be an Assessor for the LL.M. and shall report to the Examiners a mark for each candidate in that course (equivalent to the mark for a paper in the examination) based upon his or her assessment of the candidate's thesis.

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