MRes (Law) and MRes (Law & Society)

About MRes (Law) and MRes (Law & Society)

Courses duration: 1 year full-time/2 years part-time Courses start: October

Masters of research courses in law at the University of Reading aim to provide you with advanced skills in legal research, the ability to undertake high level analysis of law and legal issues, a grasp of the research methods that underpin the discipline and its places in the humanities and the social sciences, and a grounding in legal research methods. They are especially suited to candidates who wish to undertake a PhD or professional research in law and the administration of justice.

These two degree courses share common ground in their focus on developing high level research skills but have different orientations.

M Res (Law and Society) has an emphasis on socio-legal research - that is to say, interdisciplinary legal research. It is especially suitable for candidates who wish to pursue career opportunities in socio-legal and social science fields generally.

M Res (Law) is especially suited for candidates with a strong interest in doctrinal, theoretical and contextual approaches to law.

MRes courses content

M Res (Law and Society)

You will complete compulsory modules in Research Methods in in Law (30 credits) and Legal Knowledge & Legal Writing (10 credits). The remaining 80 credits will be chosen from the School of Law's masters level modules. Some of the Law modules may be taken as research-based modules where a project is driven primarily by a candidate's research interests. You will also complete a dissertation worth 60 credits on a topic you develop in the area of socio-legal studies.

M Res (Law)

You will complete compulsory modules in Research Methods in in Law (30 credits) and Legal Knowledge & Legal Writing (10 credits). The remaining 80 credits will be chosen from the School of Law's masters level modules. Some of these may be taken as research-based modules where a project is driven primarily by a candidate's research interests. You will also complete a dissertation worth 60 credits on a topic that you develop.

Staff teaching on this MRes law course include:

• Dr Stephen Banks
• Dr Alison Bisset
• Dr James Green
• Professor Christopher J. Hilson
• Dr Ioannis Kokkoris
• Dr Anne Thies
• Professor Aleardo Zanghellini

Career prospects for MRes law graduates

With an emphasis upon legal research skills and independent research, these courses are particularly suited to those who are thinking of entering the legal profession, pursuing career paths in research-based positions in national or international government or non-government institutions, or who wish to pursue a PhD in law or related areas. They will provide an especially strong foundation for careers involving the conduct or analysis of empirical research, including careers in the administration of justice.