Law at Exeter

An International Experience

The School of law has a world-wide reputation for excellence, attracting academics, visiting lecturers and students from across the globe. The student body is truly international: over the past five years, 55 different nationalities have been represented on the School's undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. In addition to our strong research led expertise in international law, the School is a founding member of the European Law Faculties' Association (ELFA) and was one of the first British universities to teach European Community Law.

Expert Teaching

All teaching members of the Law School engage in original research and scholarship, so you will be taught by academics who are experts in their field. In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise 2008, 75 per cent of our research was judged to be of international quality with 10 per cent considered world-leading. The Law School looks to the future with confidence, to build on this achievement and consolidate our research performance with our large complement of younger staff and the thriving initiative of our Cornwall campus.

This leading research feeds directly into our programmes, ensuring that your learning is informed by the latest theories and legal thinking. The normal programme of teaching and learning is supplemented by lectures on topical subjects by high-profile figures from both the British and overseas judiciaries as well as members of the European Commission.

Excellent Employment Prospects

Exeter Law graduates are very popular with employers. The development of legal, personal and practical skills is an important element of our programmes and contributes significantly to enhancing employment prospects. Indeed, the first year of the undergraduate degree begins with an innovative team development project and includes the option of undertaking a work placement or pursuing training in advocacy skills. In addition, new for 2007, students will undertake a careers session which will include learning practical interview skills.

Over half of our LLB graduates go on to pursue a legal career: a proportion are called to the Bar but the majority undertake qualification as solicitors. Although graduate entry to the major law firms is very competitive, and Exeter degree at undergraduate or postgraduate level is highly valued in the profession in the UK and overseas.

Exeter's former students include highly respected judges and leading legal practitioners Recent overseas graduates have gained employment in law firms in the legal departments of major companies based all over the world. Others have pursue careers in banking, business or the civil service, including the Ministry for European Integration (Directorate for the Harmonization of the Legal System) in Zagreb, Croatia. Click here to see our alumni and where they are now.

James Brokenshire graduated in 1990 and is now a Shadow Minister for Home Affairs

Law Facilities

Our Parker Moot Room, a purpose-built moot court, is equipped with the latest audiovisual facilities and has seating for around 250. In addition to mooting competitions, it is used for large-group teaching sessions and high-profile public lectures.

Our Lasok Law Library boasts a collection of about 40,000 volumes including law reports and statutes (from various jurisdictions), monographs, textbooks and periodicals. There are a number of public computer terminals installed in the library (and in other dedicated computer rooms in the building) affording access to the increasing amount of legal information that is now available on-line.

The Parker Moot Room

Student Support

Staff publish times when they will be available each week for private consultation. Every undergraduate has a personal tutor who is responsible for overseeing academic progress and personal welfare. Similarly postgraduate research students are allocated a 'mentor' who is a member of the academic staff. All postgraduate students are allocated a supervisor for their dissertation/thesis. Special provision is also made for postgraduate research students, including a new postgraduate suite, which provides study space and a computer.

The School also has a Student Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC) which exists to facilitate discussion between students and staff and to effect any change that students may want to see in the School.

In addition there is the Student Study Support scheme which is designed to help first year law students settle into the subject. Second or third year students hold meetings with groups of about 10 or so first years in which they have the chance to raise and discuss any study issues such as essays, revision etc.

Legal Skills

Elements of legal research, problem analysis, teamwork, legal writing and reasoning, negotiating, advocacy and other personal and communication skills are incorporated into the programmes of workshops and seminars that are offered at all levels throughout the academic year. Postgraduate students are expected to have developed skills in such areas, but there are opportunities to enhance their abilities by making academic presentations and by receiving constructive feedback from peers and staff. Research students undertake a course in research skills and methodologies that draws on the research expertise of members of the School and are also encouraged to attend generic research skills training provided by the Graduate School. Undergraduate students are able to develop their skills at an early stage through undertaking the innovative Advocacy and Work Experience Options in the Introduction to Law modules.

Bracton Law Society

All students are encouraged to join the prestigious Bracton Law Society a student-led and student-run organisation existing for the benefit of students and other members of the Exeter Law School. The Society is one of the most active and high-profile student societies on campus; it organises social functions (such as balls, discos and formal dinners) and arranges fixtures in a variety of sports. The Society encourages mooting, both within the School and in competitions held at national level against other universities. The Society also produces a newsletter Obiter Dicta. The Bracton Law Journal, produced by the School is subscribed to by law firms and academic institutions in the UK and overseas.

Bracton Mooters Victoria Carpenter and Sam Carroll

Links with the Legal Profession

The School of Law enjoys extremely good relations with members of the legal profession both regionally, nationally and internationally. Students have the option of undertaking real work on a part time basis over several weeks as part of the School's Pro Bono Project. Placements have been at magistrates' courts, law centres, the local Criminal Justice Board and CAB (Citizens Advice Bureau). Our current joint project with Exeter CAB is the Debt Literacy Project .

The most senior judges in England, the Lord Chief Justice (Lord Woolf) and the Master of the Rolls (Lord Phillips) have visited the School, as have senior Commonwealth judges and European commissioners among others. The prestigious series of Hamlyn Lectures have been held at the University and the yearly Bracton Lectures and Lasok Lectures attract eminent speakers.

The many legal firms which target Exeter graduates attend the Law Fairs and general careers Fairs held at the University and also make private visits. The Friends of the Law School also helps to maintain links with local law firms.