Law
Oxford’s undergraduate law programme is among the UK's most highly regarded. The structure and content of the course is complex and accommodates the requirements of the professional bodies that law graduates have a qualification in a number of specified subjects, whilst preserving some choice within the degree course. The competition for places is intense, and the qualities sought from applicants include analytical rigour, facility with language, ethical sensitivity, a commitment to the study of law as an academic discipline, a sense of purpose, and a capacity for sustained regular work. As well as a rich menu of lectures and seminars at the Law faculty, College tutorials are the essential and principal element of the degree. As well as being experienced teachers, the Oriel law tutors are engaged in internationally-leading research. Professor Keith Hawkins is the Acting Director of Studies for 2011-12 and Oriel will shortly be adding to its Law teaching with a new, permanent appointment. Professor Hawkins’ research interests are in the sociology of legal processes, and are concerned with legal decision making and the workings of governmental regulation in such areas as environmental control, and occupational health and safety regulations. Ms Ferguson is a University Lecturer in family law whose research interests include family and children's law, particularly children's rights, child protection, and interpersonal obligation. She also teaches Tort Law. Clive Newton QC and Charles Banner are practising barristers and teach Roman Law and European Union Law respectively. Oriel’s law community is made up of between 20 and 25 undergraduates and several postgraduates, in addition to the College tutors. As a discipline which attracts applicants from a wide range of ethnic and national origins, the community is characterized by diversity. Although there is no expectation that law graduates will qualify as practitioners, over the years many have and Oriel has well established connections with both branches of the legal profession and with industry and commerce. There are two flourishing Oriel Law Societies, the student-run Holt Law Society and the alumni-run Oriel Law Socitey, which offer a range of functions from the highly academic to the delightfully social and which provide excellent links for Oriel lawyers over generations.
Acting director of studies (2011-12)
Professor Keith Hawkins
Tutorial Fellows:
College Lecturers:
Mr Clive Newton QC, Mr Charles Banner
Admissions:
All candidates sit the LNAT test. No written work required. Conditional offers: AAA at A-Level (or equivalent).
Places: 6
Subject web pages:
http://www.law.ox.ac.uk (including selection criteria, FAQs and deferred entry policy)