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Directors' duties, boards and modern compliance for legal professionals
Online or on campus

Corporate governance failures destroy value and public trust. This LLM equips lawyers, company secretaries, compliance officers and governance professionals with rigorous knowledge of directors' duties, board systems, financial services conduct regulation, ESG disclosure law and corporate investigations. Teaching combines doctrinal analysis with board case clinics and comparative governance systems. The dissertation enables specialisation — from financial crime to data governance or sustainability law. LLM Corporate Governance & Compliance is taught as one award, not a list of unrelated modules. The published length is 12 months, and the credit total is 30. Students move from Corporate Law & Boardroom Dynamics through Corporate Law & Boardroom Dynamics; ESG & Sustainability Reporting; Executive Remuneration & Shareholder Rights; Financial Crime & Anti-Money Laundering; Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Law; Risk Management & Internal Audit, and finish on Dissertation & Research Portfolio. Each course has a question, a method, and a submission. In this field, students say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read. Reading is a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. The artefact a marker expects is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. The award is built so that a graduate can do the following in practice: Advise boards on directors' duties and conflicts of interest Design governance and compliance systems proportionate to risk Interpret conduct and market regulations affecting corporations Teaching assumes the student can read a source, attempt a problem before the seminar, and revise after feedback. Attendance at live seminars is part of the design. The capstone or final course must use the methods of the earlier courses; a project that ignores them does not pass. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree. The pages for each course name the topics that are examined. Those topics are the syllabus. A brochure line is not a substitute for them.
Complements the LLM International Commercial Law for candidates focused on internal corporate control rather than cross-border commercial contracts. Practising professionals can study entirely online around full-time roles.
Faculty spotlight
Practising counsel and academic lawyers co-teach board clinics; financial regulation specialists lead conduct and financial crime modules.
Study online
Online tuition is free. Online examinations are free. There is no exam fee for online study.

On-campus study
Prefer to learn at our Edinburgh campus? Campus tuition and campus examinations are charged. The published campus price is on each programme page.
| Code | Course | Credits · hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW501 | Corporate Law & Boardroom Dynamics Corporate Law & Boardroom Dynamics (LAW501) is a 3-credit course on LLM Corporate Governance & Compliance, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read, using Corporate Law & Boardroom Dynamics as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree.
| 3 · 30 h |
| LAW502 | ESG & Sustainability Reporting ESG & Sustainability Reporting (LAW502) is a 3-credit course on LLM Corporate Governance & Compliance, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read, using ESG & Sustainability Reporting as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree.
| 3 · 30 h |
| LAW503 | Executive Remuneration & Shareholder Rights Executive Remuneration & Shareholder Rights (LAW503) is a 3-credit course on LLM Corporate Governance & Compliance, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read, using Executive Remuneration & Shareholder Rights as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree.
| 3 · 30 h |
| Code | Course | Credits · hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW504 | Financial Crime & Anti-Money Laundering Financial Crime & Anti-Money Laundering (LAW504) is a 3-credit course on LLM Corporate Governance & Compliance, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can read a set of figures, build a small case, and state which assumption moves the result, using Financial Crime & Anti-Money Laundering as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses financial statements, a recognition note, and a risk report. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a recommendation that separates the decision, the numbers, and the risk. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course does not confer an accounting, audit, or financial-services licence.
| 3 · 30 h |
| LAW505 | Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Law Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Law (LAW505) is a 3-credit course on LLM Corporate Governance & Compliance, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can map one named system, write a threat model, and specify the controls that would stop the most likely path, using Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Law as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses control catalogues, incident write-ups, and a short technical standard. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a defensive design with a test plan and a statement of residual risk. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.
| 3 · 30 h |
| LAW506 | Risk Management & Internal Audit Risk Management & Internal Audit (LAW506) is a 3-credit course on LLM Corporate Governance & Compliance, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can read a set of figures, build a small case, and state which assumption moves the result, using Risk Management & Internal Audit as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses financial statements, a recognition note, and a risk report. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a recommendation that separates the decision, the numbers, and the risk. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course does not confer an accounting, audit, or financial-services licence.
| 3 · 30 h |
| LAW507 | Cross-Border Regulatory Compliance Cross-Border Regulatory Compliance (LAW507) is a 3-credit course on LLM Corporate Governance & Compliance, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read, using Cross-Border Regulatory Compliance as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree.
| 3 · 30 h |
| Code | Course | Credits · hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW508 | Corporate Integrity & Dispute Resolution Corporate Integrity & Dispute Resolution (LAW508) is a 3-credit course on LLM Corporate Governance & Compliance, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read, using Corporate Integrity & Dispute Resolution as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree.
| 3 · 30 h |
| LAW509 | Dissertation & Research Portfolio Dissertation & Research Portfolio (LAW509) is a 6-credit course on LLM Corporate Governance & Compliance, with 60 notional learning hours. By the end, students can say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read, using Dissertation & Research Portfolio as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree.
| 6 · 60 h |
Modules are assessed through a published mix of coursework, applied projects, and examinations. Exam windows are announced in advance so students in other time zones are not forced into overnight sittings. Alternative arrangements are available where documented.
The published duration is 12 months. Teaching language: English. Actual time-to-complete depends on mode and any recognised prior learning.
You may study this award fully online from your country, or — where published — on campus at Brigant. Online study does not require a student visa. Campus study may.
Degree tuition for this award is published as £0 / tuition-free on the online pathway. Examination or administrative fees may apply at checkout — never an annual tuition invoice. Check the Fees page for any extras.
Requirements are grouped on this page (academic, English, documents). Equivalent qualifications are considered. English may be waived after prior English-medium study.
Assessment is typically a mix of coursework, projects, and examinations. Doctoral awards include a thesis or dissertation and an oral examination. Details sit in the programme specification and module outlines.
Recognition of the award for local employment, professional licence, or ministry attestation is decided by your employer or regulator. University of Brigant publishes verification pages for certificates. We do not claim automatic equivalence in every country.
Start an application on this website. Progress is saved from the first step. Admissions: admissions@brigant.uk.
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