This programme develops your knowledge and understanding of interdisciplinary approaches to the study of law and legal phenomena. It provides sound research training for students wishing to proceed to a PhD or a career in socio-legal research through the study of different research methodologies across the social sciences and law. You will pursue independent, in-depth study in socio-legal studies, engaging in lively debates in a thriving research culture across social sciences and law. A range of units is offered, suitable for graduates from any discipline who have an interest in the way law works (or fails to work) in society. Methods of assessment may include essays, presentations and/or written examinations, depending on the optional subject(s) chosen, together with the dissertation. The MSc offers useful preparation for a number of careers. The first of these is that of academic work, often after the completion of a doctoral degree. The emphasis on practical research training, on the ability to plan, research and write a sophisticated dissertation, and on the ability to think in broad theoretical terms about law in society, provide an ideal introduction to academic research. The skills of research and writing which are central to the programme are ideal preparation for working for an NGO or other organisation working for legal or social change. The skills of research and writing which are central to the programme are invaluable for work of this kind. A third possibility is working within government, again through the development of rigorous research training skills and the ability to engage in broader social understanding. Finally, some students choose to enter the legal profession carrying with them a broader understanding of the way law operates within society.