Characterization of the “Master of Legal and Judicial Studies Program”
This program mainly aims to provide students with profound knowledge in contemporary theoretical and practical cases in the various branches of law, that was not studied in the primary university stages. The program will enrich students with a set of basic skills necessary to practice legal and judicial work in its various specialties and forms within the social and cultural context of the UAE society, which represents the vital field in which legal professionals in general, judges, prosecutors and lawyers in particular, work and perform their jobs.
Program Duration
The duration of the program is two years divided into four semesters, each semester is divided to two terms, in which the last term is entirely devoted to preparing the master thesis under the supervision of a Faculty in either the public or the private law branch.
At the end of the last term, the thesis is discussed through a tripartite committee in accordance to Zayed University’s policy in this regard, along with the procedures and controls set by the Department of Legal Studies.
The Contents of the Program
The program consists of fifteen courses (15 course), of which 12 are scheduled (compulsory), and three (3) courses are to be chosen by the student from among ten courses; in which the student chooses one from three or four courses offered within the second term of each semester in the first three semesters.
The program Credit Hours
The number of hours of the program is 38 credit hours; 6 credit hours are allocated for the master thesis, each course requires two credit hours except for the criminal and civil procedures courses, each of which requires three credit hours.
The Program’s Study timing
The program is held in the evening and during the official working days, it is scheduled to take place within two or three days a week, according to the number of courses offered in each term. The program is organized to start at 4:00pm and end at 8:00pm.
The program campuses
The program’s study place is at the university’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, depending on the foreseen number of students in accordance to Zayed University’s policy.
Tuition Fees
The tuition fee for the program is 96 thousand dirhams, of which a down payment is made and determined by the financial management of the university. There are several ways of payment in accordance to Zayed University’s policy in this regard.
The Program Admission conditions
- Admission is open to males and females of all nationalities.
• The applicant must obtain a bachelor’s degree in law, or Sharia and law, or the Dubai Police Academy for a four-year system, provided that the cumulative total is not less than 2.5 from an accredited university in one of the following specializations:
- Law
- Graduates of Sharia and Law from the UAE universities, Imam Muhammad ibn Saud
and others.
- Police Sciences and Law
- The applicant must be familiar with the Arabic language.
- To pass an English test and obtain a language certificate such as IELTS at least 4.5 and valid, or an IMSAT score between 950-1075, or TOEFL certificate of 139CBT, 51iBT, 450 PBT
For more information about the registration requirements and application procedures, please visit the Admission and Fees section in the website.
Graduation requirements
Postgraduate students must maintain the minimum average of the grades with a cumulative average of no less than 3.0 in the total courses, so as to meet the requirements for obtaining a master’s degree.
Master’s in legal and Judicial Studies (MALJS) Description
This program aims to enable the student to study in depth the contemporary theoretical and practical issues in the various branches of law that he did not study in undergraduate level, and to provide him with a set of basic skills necessary to practice legal and judicial work in various disciplines and forms within the social and cultural framework context of the UAE society, which represents the vital field In which legal practitioners in general, and judges, prosecutors, and Lawyers in particular, carry out their work and perform their mission.
The program learning outcomes are:
1- Analyze the new Issues in legal studies to form an appropriate legal opinion.
2- Evaluate the judicial process procedures efficiently and effectively through the proper implementation of laws to the presented cases.
3- clarify evidences and proofs to apply justice in a Fair way.
4- understand the issues and evidences introduced to him, to justify and put appropriate reasons to the verdicts That meet with the provisions and spirit of law.
5- Explain legal provisions and codes of honor related to the ethics of practicing the profession, regardless of his position.
6- Analyze in a right way and independently the difficulties that may affect the justice process.
7- Suggest the proper solutions to the practical cases.
Courses Descriptions
First: Required courses
1- Law 602 – In – depth studies in Civil Law
This course aims to enable students to absorb the most important Cases and topics emerging in civil law that have not been studied in the bachelor's stage, and also aims to achieve a link between what has been learned from theories and topics of civil law with the community in UAE through training students on models And practical applications in the field of civil law, so that upon graduation, legal and judicial work effectively to achieve comprehensive and completed justice.
2- Law 603 – In-depth studies in penal law
This course aims to provide students with a profound knowledge of the most important phenomena in penal law, which they did not study at the baccalaureate level.
The course also aims to link between the penal law subjects and real-life in the United Arab Emirates Through training students on penal law practical cases, whether from the judge’s, prosecutor’s or lawyer’s position, students will be able upon graduation to exercise legal and judicial work effectively to achieve complete justice.
3- LAW 604 – In - Depth studies in Commercial law
This course primary aims to make students able to deeply grasp the most recent topics in commercial law, that was not studied at the undergraduate level. Moreover, the course intends to establish a practical link between the commercial law issues and topics, and its relevance with the real life in the UAE. This is achieved by training students to understand and analyze practical cases in the commercial field, so that upon their graduation, students shall be able to exercise judicial & legal work effectively in order to pursue the goal of universal and comprehensive justice.
4- Law 606 - English for Legal purposes
The aim of this course is to provide students with a general knowledge of the fundamentals of the English legal vocabulary. In addition to that, this course presents basic legal English terminology relating to the concept of law, the judiciary and the various branches of law. Furthermore, this course broadly covers general legal terms as well as specialized legal terminology related to different branches of public and private law, including constitutional law, civil law, criminal law, administrative law, commercial law and public international law. It casts light on the general theory of law: sources of law, legal personality, and types of legal rights. This course also provides an overview of universally recognized human rights.
5- Law 607 - English Legal Studies
This course aims to enable students to English legal resources in order to understand the legal language to use legal vocabulary and terminology and to enable successful and efficient communication (oral) appropriate to each situation in the different branches of law; by studying and discussing some cases and legal studies in-depth in the English language. In addition to that, this course introduces students to various forms of legal writing appropriate to their specific needs. In addition to that. this course aims to provide students with opportunities to develop basic English skills (written) in respect to topics dealt with in class. Furthermore, it focuses on understanding statutory, regulatory, and case-based rules; brief a case; apply legal rules to new facts; analyze and write effective memos and client letters in English; cite statutes, regulations, cases, and other texts correctly as well.
6- Law 611- In- Depth studies in Criminal Procedure Law
This course intends to provide students with a profound knowledge of the most important aspects of criminal procedure law, which they did not study at the baccalaureate level.
The course also aims to link between the criminal procedure law subjects and real-life in the United Arab Emirates Through training students on criminal procedure law practical cases, whether from the judge’s or prosecutor’s position, students will be able upon graduation to exercise legal and judicial work effectively to achieve complete justice.
7- Law 612 - In – depth studies in Civil Procedures Law
This course aims to enable students to absorb the most important Casees emerging in the civil procedure law that have not been studied in the bachelor's stage, and also aims to achieve a link between what has been learned from the Cases and issues of Civil procedural law with the community in UAE through training students on models And practical cases in the field of civil procedures Law, so that when they graduate, they are able to practice legal and judicial work effectively in order to achieve comprehensive and completed justice.
8- Law 613 - In – depth studies in personal status Law
This course aims to provide a holistic vision of the general theory of Islamic jurisprudence by focusing on the Major purposes of Sharia and jurisprudence rules such as: (La Darar Wa La Derar) Don’t ham yourself or ham others, and hardship brings facilitation and ward off spoilers is superior than bring benefits and other rules, and the higher purposes of Sharia and jurisprudence will be conected to the law of status Personality in a way that enables students to understand the law’s provisions and its application within the overall framework of Islamic law in a way that achieves its purposes and rules by connecting it with judicial models of personal status courts for some modern issues.
9- Law 620- Evidences and Expert role in judicial Actions
This course aims to enable students to assimilate the latest developments in the field of scientific evidence and how to identify and use them in criminal and civil evidence processes, as well as the ability to explain and interpret stable judicial and legal principles in the field of criminal evidence and the extent of the judge's authority vis-à-vis the scientific evidence presented to him such as fingerprint and electronic evidence, the role of judicial experience in the field of criminal and civil proof and the authenticity of expert reports.
10- Law 621 - Legal Research Methodology
This course aims to empower students to become familiar with the methods and approaches of legal scientific research. This shall be through practicing the research and writing processes in various legal topics in different fields, each of which signifies a research challenge for students. Students must present their papers in a written form at the highest levels of clarity, rhetoric, coherence, authenticity and persuasion, while adhering to the controls and standards of the scientific integrity. Furthermore, its aims to provide the students the ability to face research challenges and deal with scientific sources in both Arabic and foreign languages.
11- LAW 624 - Alternative Disputes
This course aims to provide students with the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical experience and provide them with the needed skills to understand the different methods and means of settling judicial disputes in non-traditional ways.
Furthermore, the content of the course focuses on cases that can substitute the alternative ways of resolving disputes, the terms and conditions for utilization, their authority, their role in achieving justice and the jurisdiction attached.
12- Law 640 - Legal & Judicial Writing
This course aims to give the learner the ability to understand the principles of legal writing in general and judicial in particular in civil and penal cases, by identifying the principles of judicial writing and the skills that must be acquired and the types of judicial documents and how to write them in an integrated manner, and the ability to deduce aspects of deficiency that may affect the acceptance and validity of these documents before the courts of various kinds and levels as well as law enforcement authorities.
13-
MALJS Thesis
( Master Dissertation in legal & Judicial studies)
The student is supposed to introduce a thesis at the last semester of the program in a topic that he chooses under the supervision of faculty member in LSD according to ZU policy and LSD regulations & procedures
Second: Elective Courses
- the student will choose one elective course every semester from a group of courses (3 Or 4 courses) offered in term B of the Semester. (3 courses only from this list during the program)
1- LAW 601 - Legal Sociology
This course develops students & analytical skills to understand the social, cultural, economic and international influences on the legal system of their society. In addition to that, this course focuses basically on those facts that directly impact the judicial process and are closely related to the judges; and prosecutors; work and their efforts to achieve the maximum justice in accordance with the highest world standards. Furthermore, this course aims to enable students to understand the relationship between law as one of the social phenomena whose study is of great importance in its interaction with other social phenomena in society. Therefore, this course intends to address the relationship between law and society in terms of images of this interaction and its mechanisms and social problems that emerge as a result of the interaction between its people; Individuals, groups and institutions. Moreover, this course also highlights the role of law in controlling and framing societal behavior within a framework of rules that control behavior and then achieve peace within society.
2- Law 605 - In-Depth Studies in Administrative Law
This course aims to enable students to understand the most important emerging issues in administrative law that have not been studied at the university level. In addition to that, this course also aims to achieve a practical link between what has been learned from the issues and issues of administrative law and the facts they live in the United Arab Emirates, by training students on practical issues in the field of administrative law, to practice the judiciary work efficiently and achieve comprehensive justice after their graduation.
3- LAW 608 - In- Depth Studies in International Humanitarian Law
This course aims to enable students to study and analyze the topics developed in identifying international humanitarian law as one of the most important branches of public international law. In addition to that, International Humanitarian Law seeks to limit the effects of war by protecting persons who are not, or are no longer, participating in the hostilities, and by restricting the means and methods of warfare. Furthermore, this course will introduce the international legal parameters relating to the conduct of war, this course that is also known as the Law of Armed Conflict. In addition to that, this course will focus on clarifying the role and efforts of the United Arab Emirates in providing humanitarian assistance to countries that need during the period of armed conflict.
4- LAW 610- Ethics of the judiciary and lawyers
This course aims to provide the ethical foundations for the judges and lawyers, so as to prepare, train and develop legal cadres that adhere to these ethical foundations and utilize them in their public and private behavior along with, the litigation process.
This course is organized to address the Islamic rules and values of the judiciary and the legal profession, and their behavior, due to its cognitive, emotional, and behavioral impact on its affiliates by being both a religion and a culture. The course provides a combination between the Islamic experience in this matter and the contemporary international best practices, regardless of their cultural and religious backgrounds.
5- Law 622 - Cases Analysis for Judicial Decision Making
This course aims to empower students to discover the factors and determinants behind the judge's decision-making process in the presented cases. The course also pursues to train students to discover themselves as judges, prosecutors or legal professionals, and to determine their methods of decision-making and the factors that affect them, with a view to neutralizing these factors and establishing awareness of them in order to maximize their ability to achieve justice when practicing judicial work.
6- LAW 623 - Economics of justice
This course mainly aims to provide students with a profound knowledge of economics of justice, ways to improve the efficiency of court administration, the most efficient selection of punishment commensurate with the nature of crime, means to develop the performance of justice aides, and improve the ways of integration between the roles of judges, lawyers, notaries, and judicial assistants, and the most efficient modern methods in resolving and settling disputes. This is achieved by training students on practical models and applications, so that upon their graduation, they shall be able to practice judicial work effectively to achieve comprehensive and universal justice.
7- Law 625 - Legal reasoning and persuasion with argument
This course aims at development and increase the mental capabilities of the students by providing them with in-depth knowledge of the bases and methods of the logical thinking and training them to practice this thinking in dealing with legal Cases from multiple fields and subject them to logical analysis that leads to a right and reasoning legal action and logical convincing to all its parties. As well as to train them on how to build the legal argument with rationale and persuasion by training through the means of persuasion and its skills, and to understand the nature of the speeches, its backgrounds and approaches to influence and persuade it.
8- LAW 626 Advanced Studies in Financial and Tax Laws
This course aims to provide students with the most important phenomena developed in public finance and tax legislation, through demonstrating the concept of public finance and the principles that govern them in the comparative legal and economic systems, especially public finance sources and public revenues, expenditures, their types and their different divisions, and the consequent role of the regulatory institutions such as the Central Bank and its role in regulating the banking system, the Securities and Commodities authority and its role in supervising the capital market, besides the Accounting Office and its role in overseeing the finances of the executive agencies in the country.
Moreover, the course provides a comparative in-depth study on the comparative tax systems and Islamic law, through several axes, the most important of which is the concept of tax policies and mechanisms, and a study of the tax burden and problems related to it, with a focus on practical applications of tax legislation, such as value-added tax, income tax, and methods of estimation, along with the methods of resolving disputes arising thereof.
9- Law 627 - In-depth studies in labor disputes
This course aims to enable students to know what labor disputes are and explain the legal procedures that they go through until they are settled judicially or out courts. It also aims to achieve a link between the theoretical and applied aspects of laws and regulations of the labor market in the United Arab Emirates, by training students on practical and applicable models in the field of settling labor disputes, so that when they graduate they will be able to practice the labor settlement procedures effectively to achieve comprehensive and Completed justice.
10- Law 641- Legal Skills
This course aims to train students on the skills necessary to practice various legal work, and this is done through theoretical assimilation and practical application of public speaking and oral advocacy skills, critical thinking, investigation, interrogation, and arguments.
Prof. Emam Attallah
LSD Chair
For more information on course Delivery Format and admission requirements, please visit Graduate Studies Deanship.
