Law (Jurisprudence)

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. In addition to being experienced teachers, Oriel’s law tutors are engaged in internationally-leading research.  

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: firstly, the student-run Holt Society, whose activities include a sponsored textbook scheme for new students, internal and inter-collegiate mooting competitions (including an annual moot against Regent’s Park College, in which college teams compete to ‘win’ possession of a replica Ashes Urn for the year!) as well as numerous careers and and social events; secondly, thealumni-run Oriel Law Society, which offers a range of functions from the highly academic to the delightfully social and which provide excellent links for Oriel lawyers over generations.  Highlights include the annual Oriel Law Society dinner in late Michaelmas Term, the annual lecture in Hilary Term, and the London Careers Day in Trinity Term.