About us
"With its impressive diversity of expertise, the Law School at the University of Exeter offers a unique and multi-faceted academic environment that leads to creative and audacious research but also to innovative ways of teaching and very active learning for our students. We offer a variety of internationally renowned programmes of study, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, which were all designed to meet our students' academic interests and professional needs, and to deliver our ongoing commitment to creating a fairer and socially just society."
Professor Caroline Fournet
Head of Law School
Leadership team
Head of Law School
Professor Caroline Fournet
Caroline started her academic career as a lecturer, and then senior lecturer, in law at Exeter Law School (2004-2011). She became Head of School in June 2024. Prior to this she was Director of Postgraduate Taught Studies. She is the Director of the Exeter Centre for International Law.
Email: C.I.Fournet2@exeter.ac.uk
Co-Deputy Head of School
Co-Deputy Head of School
Dr Leanne Smith
Leanne Smith is a family law researcher with particular interests in parenting disputes, access to family justice and effective family dispute resolution.
Leanne is a founding member of the interdisciplinary Network on Family, Regulation and Society, which has brought together top international and UK researchers to debate research questions critical to the future of family law and policy. She is a member of the advisory board of the Journal of Law and Society and has served on the editorial board of that journal and of the Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law. Before leaving Wales to take up her post at Exeter Law School in 2019, Leanne also served for many years as a trustee for Family Mediation Cymru.
Email: L.Smith9@exeter.ac.uk
Wellbeing and Inclusion Officer
Dr Annika Jones
Annika joined the Law School in 2022. Annika's research explores the pursuit of efficiency in international criminal courts and tribunals and the impact of efficiency-building on the nature and function of these institutions.
Email: A.Z.Jones@exeter.ac.uk
Director of Education and Student Experience
Professor in Law, Director of Global Engagement (Law)
Professor Joasia Luzak
Professor Joasia Luzak is a full Professor of Private Law and one of the leading voices in the field of European consumer law, the Director of the Centre for European Legal Studies (CELS) and Director of Global Engagement for the Law School.
Email: J.Luzak@exeter.ac.uk
.jpg)
Co-Director of Research and Impact (Outputs)
Professor Stephen Skinner
Stephen Skinner is Professor of Comparative Legal History and Legal Theory in the Law School. His principal area of specialism is the comparative history and theory of criminal law under Italian Fascism during the 1920s-40s, as well as its legacies and implications in Italy and beyond from the end of the Second World War to today. He also works on current issues of state accountability for the use of lethal force in domestic policing and law enforcement operations, including the law and theory of the right to life under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. He is currently Co-Director of Research in the Law School with a focus on supporting research publications.
Email: S.J.Skinner@exeter.ac.uk
Co-Director of Research and Impact(Funding)
Professor Ana Beduschi
Ana is Professor of Law, Co-Director of Research and Impact (Funding) and Co-Director of Postgraduate Research.
Email: A.Beduschi@exeter.ac.uk
Director of Business Engagement and Innovation
Professor Rachel Fenton
Rachel is Director of Business Engagement and Innovation in the Law School. Professor Fenton's research interests lie in the areas of gender and the law, violence against women and assisted reproduction. She has published widely in these areas, including on Italian law. She joined Exeter in 2017.
Email: R.Fenton@exeter.ac.uk
.jpg)