LL4Z7 Half Unit
Comparative Constitutional Rights
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Prof Kai Moller
Availability
This course is available on the LLM (extended part-time), LLM (full-time), MSc in Law and Finance and University of Pennsylvania Law School LLM Visiting Students. This course is not available as an outside option to students on other programmes. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
How to apply: Priority will be given initially to LLM, MSc Regulation and MSc Law and Finance students on a first-come-first-served allocation.
Spaces permitting, requests from all other students will be processed on the same first-come-first-served allocation from 10am on Thursday 2 October 2025
By submitting an application, students are confirming that they meet any pre-requisites specified. Providing an additional written statement will not aid a student's chances of being accepted onto a course, and statements are not read.
Deadline for application: Not applicable
For queries contact: Law.llm@lse.ac.uk
This course has a limited number of places and demand is typically high. This may mean that you’re not able to get a place on this course.
Course content
This course examines a range of controversial issues in human and constitutional rights law from a comparative perspective. These issues include: abortion; sexual freedom; same sex marriage; religion in the public sphere; hate speech and genocide denial; obscenity, indecency, and blasphemy. We will approach them by comparing and contrasting judgments from courts all over the world, with a certain emphasis on cases from the U.S. Supreme Court, the Canadian Supreme Court, the South African Constitutional Court, the European Court of Human Rights, the U.K. Supreme Court, and the German Federal Constitutional Court. The goals of the course are, first, to introduce the students to the jurisprudence of those powerful and influential courts, and, second, to invite them to think about and critically analyse some of the most controversial, difficult, and important rights issues of our time from a comparative perspective.
Teaching
2 hours of seminars in the Spring Term.
20 hours of seminars in the Autumn Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn Term.
Formative assessment
One 2,000 word essay.
Indicative reading
The course is mainly case-based. Students will be provided with course packs including shortened versions of the relevant judgments via the Moodle page for this course.
Assessment
Written test (100%)
This assessment will be held under exam conditions and will take place in the January exam period.
Key facts
Department: LSE Law School
Course Study Period: Autumn and Spring Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 29
Average class size 2024/25: 29
Controlled access 2024/25: YesCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
For this course, please see the following link/s:
LL4Z7 Comparative Constitutional Rights Course Guide Video https://youtu.be/Tv5xGhEf0TM
Personal development skills
- Communication
- Specialist skills