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Quick Summary: Transitioning from an LLB to an LLM — or specialising in a specific area of law? This guide covers the essential advanced law books for postgraduate study in the UK, including the definitive texts for international arbitration, competition law, IP law, international trade, and human rights.
The step from undergraduate law to postgraduate study changes what you need from a textbook. LLB books introduce principles and build foundations. LLM books assume those foundations and go deeper — into specialist doctrine, contested areas of practice, and the scholarly debates that define each field.
This guide is for three groups: students starting an LLM or MA in Law in the UK; final-year LLB students preparing to specialise; and practitioners and PhD candidates who need authoritative reference texts in specific areas of law.
A note on publishers: At postgraduate level, the key publishers shift. Oxford University Press and Cambridge dominate undergraduate law. At advanced level, Kluwer Law International (part of Wolters Kluwer) becomes the leading publisher in international arbitration, competition law, IP law, and international trade. Their titles are typically £80–£250 but are the definitive works in their fields — the texts cited by courts, arbitral tribunals, and practitioners worldwide.
📋 In This Guide
LLB to LLM — What Changes
At undergraduate level, you read textbooks that synthesise the law for you. At postgraduate level, you engage directly with primary sources — cases, treaties, conventions, arbitral awards — and use scholarly texts to interrogate them rather than simply understand them.
The practical implications for your reading list:
Buy fewer, better books. An LLB student might own 15–20 textbooks across all subjects. An LLM student typically owns 3–5 specialist texts in their field, plus access to a university library for everything else. Quality and depth matter far more than breadth.
Expect higher prices. Advanced law books are expensive because they are produced in smaller print runs for specialist audiences. A Kluwer Law International treatise may cost £150–£250. These are reference works designed to last years, not single-semester reads.
Publishers shift. Kluwer Law International dominates international arbitration and much of international commercial law. Hart Publishing is strong in jurisprudence and public international law. Sweet & Maxwell covers practitioner-focused English law. Oxford and Cambridge retain strong positions in academic international law.
Check your module reading list first. LLM programmes vary significantly in their book requirements. Some are heavily seminar-based and reading-list driven; others are more independent. Always check what your programme actually requires before purchasing.
International Arbitration
International arbitration has become the dominant method of resolving cross-border commercial disputes. LLM programmes in international commercial law, dispute resolution, and international arbitration are among the most competitive and career-defining postgraduate law courses. The books below are the standard texts in the field.
International Arbitration: Law and Practice — Gary B. Born (Kluwer Law International)
Gary Born is the world’s leading authority on international arbitration. This single-volume work — a condensed version of his three-volume treatise — is the primary student text for LLM international arbitration modules worldwide. It covers the entire arbitral process systematically: arbitration agreements, arbitral proceedings, and enforcement of awards. The third edition is comprehensively updated. Required reading on virtually every international arbitration LLM module in the UK.
International Commercial Arbitration (3 Volumes) — Gary B. Born (Kluwer Law International)
The definitive scholarly treatise on international commercial arbitration — 4,250 pages across three volumes, referencing over 20,000 cases. Used by courts, tribunals, and senior practitioners worldwide. This is the research reference for practitioners and PhD students; the single-volume Law and Practice above is sufficient for LLM study. Price reflects its status: £300–£500 for the set.
Price: ~£300–£500 (set) | Buy from Wolters Kluwer →
Redfern and Hunter on International Arbitration — Blackaby, Partasides & Redfern (OUP)
The other essential arbitration text — published by Oxford University Press. Follows the chronology of an arbitration from agreement to enforcement. More practitioner-focused than Born; excellent for understanding how arbitration actually works in practice. Widely used on LLM modules alongside Born. A key learning text for students, potential arbitrators, and practitioners alike.
Price: ~£75–£95 | View on Amazon UK →
Competition Law
Competition law — covering EU and UK competition law, merger control, cartels, state aid, and antitrust — is one of the most commercially valuable areas of legal specialisation. LLM competition law programmes at King’s, UCL, and Queen Mary are highly sought after for careers in City law firms and regulatory bodies.
EU Competition Law — Jones, Sufrin & Dunne (OUP)
The most widely used competition law textbook on UK LLM programmes. Covers all aspects of EU competition law comprehensively: Article 101 and 102, merger regulation, state aid, and enforcement. Clear, accessible, and regularly updated. The seventh edition fully incorporates post-Brexit UK competition law developments. Essential for students on EU or UK competition law modules.
World Competition: Law and Economics Review (Kluwer Law International)
The leading journal in international competition law and economics. Not a textbook but an essential ongoing resource for advanced competition law study and research — particularly relevant for LLM dissertations and PhD research. Available via Kluwer Law International.
Subscription / institution access: View on Wolters Kluwer →
Bellamy & Child: European Union Law of Competition (OUP)
The practitioner’s bible for EU competition law. Extensively detailed and comprehensively referenced — used by solicitors at major City firms as their primary reference. More expensive than Jones & Sufrin, and more detailed than most LLM students need, but invaluable for dissertation research and for those entering competition law practice.
Price: ~£350–£450 | View on Amazon UK →
Intellectual Property Law
IP law — covering patents, trademarks, copyright, and design rights — is one of the fastest-growing areas of legal practice, particularly in tech, pharma, and creative industries. LLM IP programmes at Queen Mary and UCL are highly regarded. Wolters Kluwer publishes several key advanced texts in this field.
Intellectual Property Law: Text, Cases and Materials — Aplin & Davis (OUP)
The most widely recommended IP law text for advanced students in the UK. Covers copyright, patents, trademarks, and design rights with clarity and depth. Strong on EU and international dimensions. The fourth edition is substantially updated. Used on LLM IP modules at Queen Mary, UCL, and other leading institutions.
Intellectual Property Law and Human Rights — Torremans (ed.) (Wolters Kluwer)
A specialist advanced text exploring the intersection of IP law and human rights. Published by Wolters Kluwer, the fourth edition is extensively updated and deals with a rapidly developing area — essential for LLM students interested in how IP law interacts with freedom of expression, access to medicines, and cultural rights. Widely cited in academic and judicial contexts.
Price: ~£100–£130 | Buy from Wolters Kluwer →
Intellectual Property Law — Bently, Sherman, Gangjee & Johnson (OUP)
The other major IP textbook used at advanced level in the UK. More comprehensive than Aplin & Davis on patent and trademark law specifically. The sixth edition is thoroughly revised. Some LLM programmes use Bently & Sherman rather than Aplin — check your module guide. Both are excellent; the choice often reflects tutor preference.
Price: ~£60–£75 | View on Amazon UK →
International Trade Law
International trade law — covering WTO law, customs, trade remedies, and regional trade agreements — is a specialised but commercially important field. Post-Brexit UK trade policy has made this area more dynamic and UK-specific than at any time in the past 50 years.
International Trade Law — Carr & Stone (Routledge)
One of the most accessible introductions to international trade law for advanced students. Clear on WTO architecture, GATT principles, trade remedies, and services trade. Widely used on LLM international trade modules. More readable than some heavier treatises and a good starting point before moving to specialist WTO texts.
The Law of the World Trade Organization (WTO) — Matsushita, Schoenbaum & Mavroidis (OUP)
The authoritative academic text on WTO law. Comprehensive, deeply referenced, and extensively used for LLM research and dissertations. More demanding than Carr & Stone but indispensable for serious WTO law study. Covers GATT, GATS, TRIPS, the dispute settlement system, and all major WTO agreements in depth.
Price: ~£70–£90 | View on Amazon UK →
Journal of World Trade (Kluwer Law International)
The leading scholarly journal in international trade law — published by Kluwer Law International. Essential for dissertation research and staying current with WTO developments, trade disputes, and emerging issues such as digital trade and environmental measures. Most UK university libraries subscribe; individual access available via Kluwer.
Journal access: View on Wolters Kluwer →
International Human Rights Law
International human rights law sits at the intersection of public international law, constitutional law, and ethics. LLM programmes in human rights are offered at Essex (the UK’s leading centre), UCL, and King’s College London. The field has a distinct reading list that combines doctrinal texts, UN treaty body materials, and Strasbourg jurisprudence.
International Human Rights Law — Moeckli, Shah, Sivakumaran & Harris (eds.) (OUP)
The most widely used academic text on international human rights law in UK LLM programmes. Comprehensive, authoritative, and regularly updated. Covers the UN system, regional mechanisms (including the ECHR), specific rights, and enforcement mechanisms. The third edition reflects recent developments including the post-Brexit Human Rights Act debate. Used at Essex, UCL, and most other leading UK programmes.
Law of the European Convention on Human Rights — Harris, O’Boyle & Warbrick (OUP)
The definitive text on ECHR law. Exhaustive, scholarly, and used by practitioners, judges, and academics. The fourth edition is comprehensively updated. Not a light read, but indispensable for LLM students focusing on the European human rights system or planning careers in human rights law.
Price: ~£85–£110 | View on Amazon UK →
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I budget for LLM textbooks?
Expect to spend £300–£600 on core texts for a one-year UK LLM, depending on your specialism. International arbitration is at the expensive end (Born alone is £85–£110); human rights and competition law are more affordable. Many institutions provide library access to key texts — always check before buying.
Which UK universities have the best LLM programmes in international law?
For international arbitration: Queen Mary University London (CCLS) and UCL are the strongest. For competition law: King’s College London and UCL. For IP law: Queen Mary (the Centre for Commercial Law Studies is internationally respected). For human rights: University of Essex. For international trade: LSE and UCL.
Can I use the previous edition of advanced law texts?
It depends on the area. International arbitration moves quickly — Born’s third edition is substantially different from earlier editions and you should use the most recent. Human rights and competition law also change rapidly. For areas with less recent doctrinal development, one edition back is often acceptable. Always check your module guide and ask your tutor.
Are Kluwer Law International books worth the price?
For the areas where they publish — particularly international arbitration — yes. Gary Born’s International Arbitration: Law and Practice is not just the leading student text; it is cited by courts and arbitral tribunals worldwide. If you are serious about a career in international arbitration, it is an investment rather than an expense. For other areas, compare carefully with OUP alternatives which are often more affordable and equally authoritative.
Starting Your LLM? Begin Here
The three books most LLM students need first, regardless of specialism:
1. Born — International Arbitration: Law and Practice (if specialising in dispute resolution)
2. Jones, Sufrin & Dunne — EU Competition Law (if specialising in competition)
3. Aplin & Davis — IP Law: Text, Cases and Materials (if specialising in IP)
Last Updated: March 2026 | Author: www.textbooks.co.uk/ Editorial Team
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