The History of the LL.M.

The LL.M., in its present form, came into existence in 1982. Its origins lie in two degrees offered previously by the University – the degree of Bachelor of Law, or LL.B., and a prior version of the LL.M.

The LL.B. was for several hundred years the University’s only degree in law and was an undergraduate degree. In 1922 the B.A. became the only degree in Law awarded to Cambridge undergraduates. At the same time, the LL.B. acquired the role of a master’s degree in all but name, as only students who had obtained a degree could take the course and a syllabus distinct from that of the undergraduate course (known as the “Law Tripos”) was offered.

The LL.M., introduced initially in 1857, was originally available only to Cambridge graduates. Those who had graduated in law were entitled to the degree without examination after the expiry of a certain number of terms. Those who had graduated in another subject could be awarded an LL.M. after taking prescribed Law Tripos papers.

From 1922 to 1982, the LL.M. became a follow-up degree for those graduating with the version of the LL.B. introduced that year. LL.B. graduates could obtain an LL.M. upon satisfactory completion of a dissertation.

In 1982, the dissertation-oriented LL.M. degree was abolished and the LL.B. was re-named the LL.M.

Many LL.M. graduates have achieved distinction in their legal careers, with many prominent judges, practicing lawyers and academics holding the LL.M. degree or its predecessor, the LL.B.