After two years of market research amongst legal professionals and a major review of the program at UQ's TC Beirne School of Law, the program changes will come into effect from 2011.

"Our market research found that legal professionals have two major requirements for continuing legal education," said Dean of Law, Professor Ross Grantham.

"The first is more specialist courses in their area of interest and the second is more intensive modes of study to minimise time away from the office."

Professor Grantham said UQ will now be offering over 40 LLM courses each year, introducing nine specialist areas.

"These specialisations include major legal areas such as corporate and commercial, international business, litigation and public sector as well as growing areas such as science and technology, environment, energy and resources and alternative dispute resolution," he said.

Professor Grantham said nearly 70 per cent of UQ's LLM courses will be offered intensively over four consecutive days, from Thursday to Sunday.

"This will not only make it easier for Queensland practitioners to coordinate their work and study commitments, but also for interstate practitioners to fly to Brisbane for a long weekend to complete a course," he said.

"The UQ LLM program is also extremely flexible in terms of completion requirements. Students can undertake as little as one or two courses a year, providing they complete the required eight courses within seven years."

The new TC Beirne School of Law Master of Laws program will be officially launched in Brisbane by the Chief Justice of Queensland, the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, on 21 October.