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Welcome to Durham Law School

Durham Law School is a world leader in legal education and research. Our award- winning academic staff produce ground-breaking research with impact. Durham Law School is ranked 6th in The Complete University Guide 2024 and we were awarded the Athena Swan Bronze Award for commitment to the advancement of gender equality: representation, progression and success for all in 2022.

We are proud to deliver some of the best results for student satisfaction and employability – and our graduates include some of law’s leading figures, such as current or previous members of the UK Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, Members of Parliament and others in Government. Our top-ranked global law courses are very competitive with an excellent and diverse student population from across the world delivering a cutting-edge, research-led curriculum with a commitment to small group teaching through seminars and tutorials much prized by employers.

Find Out More
100% of research impact and environment was ranked 3* or 4* (REF 2021)
6th for Law The Complete University Guide 2024
Top 10 The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024
Top 50 QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023

  

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Look closer at our Durham Law School

Press play to watch the video, and read more about us below.

Learn more about Durham Law School

COP and the Law School

Durham University has been directly involved in Conferences of Parties (COPs) under the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and in Meetings of Parties under the 2015 Paris Agreement since 2021. The Law School has led the application process of the University to become an observer.

The official observer status was awarded by Parties to the UNFCCC at COP26 in Glasgow. The Law School takes its responsibility on climate change research and education very seriously. Climate literacy is embedded into our curriculum that addresses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Our researchers are actively involved in addressing the complex legal issues of climate change.
Find out more about the COP Steering Group
COP28 logo

  

Study with Us

  • Undergraduate Study

    Durham Law School is a world leader in legal education and research. Our LLB degree is a flexible, full-time course delivered over three years – and fully approved as a Qualifying Law Degree for careers as a barrister or solicitor.

    Group of students working
  • Postgraduate Study

    Postgraduate study at Durham Law School opens doors. Our Law School is a global leader with award-winning academic staff, top ranked research publications and centres and distinguished alumni in government, the UK Supreme Court, the UK’s top firms and chambers and beyond.

    Lecturer and students in classroom

Undergraduate Study

Durham Law School is a world leader in legal education and research. Our LLB degree is a flexible, full-time course delivered over three years – and fully approved as a Qualifying Law Degree for careers as a barrister or solicitor.

Group of students working

Postgraduate Study

Postgraduate study at Durham Law School opens doors. Our Law School is a global leader with award-winning academic staff, top ranked research publications and centres and distinguished alumni in government, the UK Supreme Court, the UK’s top firms and chambers and beyond.

Lecturer and students in classroom

  

Science Site and Bill Bryson Library

Scholarships

Thanks to generous gifts from our alumni, we can offer scholarships to our students.

Read more about our scholarships

Summer Course on International Arbitration 2024

The course is targeted towards practitioners who are keen to expand their skillset or discover a new field of practice; scholars seeking to gain expertise in the application of concepts and norms within the field of international arbitration; and students seeking exposure to the world of international dispute resolution.

The course will run 22-27 July 2024. Click the button below to sign up for our mailing list to receive updates on speakers, registration release dates and much more!
Sign up
Students in Law seminar in the Palatine Centre

Research

We are at the forefront of doctrinal, theoretical and interdisciplinary debates where our contributions have made a significant impact.

Examples include our work on reforming the legal regulation of expression, especially media freedom and the availability of extreme pornography; debates on the meaning and contemporary shape of federalism, citizenship and immigration policies in the UK, EU and beyond; investigations into law's capacity to respond to technological change, especially in the fields of bio-technologies and multi-faceted security challenges, including oversight of intelligence agencies; and to debates around Brexit.
See our Research pages
Woman touching screen with image of world

  

Key Links for New Students

  • Student Hub

    Our Student Hub contains key information regarding your degree programme and the Law School. This is our student intranet and can only be accessed with your Durham University email.  

  • Learn Ultra

    Learn Ultra is our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You can find information and interactive resources for specific modules here.  

    Picture of a web page menu

Student Hub

Our Student Hub contains key information regarding your degree programme and the Law School. This is our student intranet and can only be accessed with your Durham University email.  

Learn Ultra

Learn Ultra is our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You can find information and interactive resources for specific modules here.  

Picture of a web page menu

News

Durham Law School talk on citizenship for ESRC Festival of Social Science at university

Professor Thom Brooks, Chair in Law and Government, delivered a sponsored public lecture on “Becoming British: The UK’s Citizenship Test” at Durham University on 25 October 2023.
FESTIVAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE

Prof McGlynn Influences new Online Safety Act 2023

Professor Clare McGlynn has welcomed new legislation in the UK aiming to reduce online harms which includes new offences and guidelines based on her research.
Code on a screen and an image of Prof McGlynn

Upcoming events

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Medicine: Opportunities, Challenges, Ethics, Fiqh, and Legal Consideration

Wednesday 13 December 2023 - Wednesday 13 December 2023
12:00 PM to 1:30 PM
Hybrid: Durham Law School, PCL057 and Online: Zoom
Durham Law school under a bright blue sky

Professor Muireann Quigley - The Drugs that Came in From the Cold: Confronting Legal, Ethical, and Other Challenges of the Psychedelic Renaissance

Wednesday 17 January 2024 - Wednesday 17 January 2024
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
PCL048 - Hogan Lovells Lecture Theatre, Durham University
Law School Exterior

Public Lecture on the future of international criminal justice - Judge Sir Howard Morrison

Tuesday 27 February 2024 - Tuesday 27 February 2024
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
PCL048 - Hogan Lovells Lecture Theatre, Durham University
Law School Exterior

Judicial Roundtable in collaboration with Singapore judiciary

Tuesday 23 April 2024 - Friday 26 April 2024
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Durham University
Law School Exterior

REF 2021 Result

Our Research Excellence Framework 2021 results

Durham Law School submitted fifty-five members of staff, comprising 53.97 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) staff, to the REF Law UoA. The submission included nine Early Career Researchers.
More about The REF 2021 Result
Research

  

  

Get in touch

Enquiries about Durham Law School and our courses should be sent via the contact links below.

Durham Law School

Durham University
Palatine Centre
Stockton Road
Durham
DH1 3LE



Questions about studying here?

Check out our list of FAQs or submit an enquiry form.

Your Durham prospectus

Order your personalised prospectus and College guide here.