Common Law/Economic & Social History

Common Law and Economic and Social History is a pairing at the University of Glasgow that brings the study of legal systems into dialogue with the historical analysis of economic development and social change. Common law, the tradition of judge-made law that evolved in England and spread to many former British territories, is one of the most influential legal traditions in the world, governing legal systems from the United States and Canada to Australia, India and much of sub-Saharan Africa. Economic and social history examines how economies have developed over time, how social structures have changed and how historical processes have shaped the distribution of wealth, opportunity and power.

The combination is intellectually powerful because law and economic history illuminate each other. Property rights, contract law and commercial regulation are central to economic development. Conversely, understanding the common law tradition historically reveals how legal rules reflect and reinforce particular economic arrangements.

At Glasgow, this four-year full-time MA programme develops your understanding of both disciplines with rigour, including a year abroad to study in a different academic and legal context.

An important note for prospective students: the Common Law LLB is not accredited by the Law Society of Scotland, and is not a qualifying degree for practice in Scotland. It is however a valuable academic qualification for those interested in legal history, comparative law, international law or careers outside Scottish legal practice.

Graduates work in academia, legal research, policy, international organisations, journalism, the civil service and financial services. The combination of legal analysis and historical thinking is valuable in any context where understanding complex systems and their development matters. Postgraduate study in law, legal history, economic history or social science is a natural continuation.