HR & Law, Should they be combined?

I have been in HR now for a number of years (15+) and over this time I have noticed the need for HR professionals to be more aware and knowledgable of the legal side of things. Not just the normal basics such as the equality act and working time directives, but more important things like contract law and case law.

Given this new side to HR I am thinking it might be beneficial rather than just do the normal law updates we attend a few times a year, but also doing a part-time law degree. I feel it will make me a better HR professional and of course more employable in the future. But I would like to know what other peoples experiences and advise would be on this as I know its an extra cost to the layout but feel it's going to be worthwhile in the long run.

Parents

Simon Connors over 6 years ago

Thanks for all the comments I think a distance learning approach is best and at least part time or a more long term open university course.

Helps me feel like I am not being mad trying to do a law degree of any kind as a HR professional which is nice :)
Cancel
Vote Up 0 Vote Down

Sign in to reply

Cancel
Peter Stanway over 6 years ago in reply to Simon Connors

A masters degree is the way to go
You may struggle to get much H&S law as tends to be a bit specialised and even Smith & Wood have dropped it.
As for contract law you could probably benefit by buying a decent book on the law of contract and self studying. A lot of employment law will suddenly make more sense.
Cancel
Vote Up 0 Vote Down

Sign in to reply

Cancel
Simon Connors over 6 years ago in reply to Peter Stanway

Hi Peter I have already completed a HR masters degree the other year., This is more of a degree to help on the legal side of the HR roles.

Will definitely try and find a few good books on contract law to get reading before signing up for a new course.
Cancel
Vote Up 0 Vote Down

Sign in to reply

Cancel
Paul over 6 years ago in reply to Simon Connors

What are your career intentions? Is this investment going to advance you into a higher-level job? What future roles are going to need such an in-depth knowledge of employment law? To be honest, I think your boxing yourself into a corner that may be difficult to move on from.
Cancel
Vote Up 0 Vote Down

Sign in to reply

Cancel
Peter Stanway over 6 years ago in reply to Simon Connors

I meant a master in emp law ie usually a LLM
Cancel
Vote Up 0 Vote Down

Sign in to reply

Cancel
Fiona Maclachlan-Morris over 6 years ago in reply to Simon Connors

Hi Simon I'm just completing an LLM in Employment Law and Practice through Robert Gordon University, although I don't believe the course is running, in the same way, this year. I've completed it full time by distance learning.
It may be that while you would not wish to complete an additional Masters level qualification you could look at studying the modules individually.
A number of universities now offer the online delivery model: as David states, Northumbria, Manchester Metropolitan also offers it and the OU may too. There are often more flexible start dates with these courses. I started mine in January.
Mine was a conscious choice to do instead of the L7 HRM as it is where my particular interest lies.
Cancel
Vote Up 0 Vote Down

Sign in to reply

Cancel

Reply

Fiona Maclachlan-Morris over 6 years ago in reply to Simon Connors

Hi Simon I'm just completing an LLM in Employment Law and Practice through Robert Gordon University, although I don't believe the course is running, in the same way, this year. I've completed it full time by distance learning.
It may be that while you would not wish to complete an additional Masters level qualification you could look at studying the modules individually.
A number of universities now offer the online delivery model: as David states, Northumbria, Manchester Metropolitan also offers it and the OU may too. There are often more flexible start dates with these courses. I started mine in January.
Mine was a conscious choice to do instead of the L7 HRM as it is where my particular interest lies.
Cancel
Vote Up 0 Vote Down

Sign in to reply

Cancel

Children

No Data