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We use a variety of different teaching and assessment methods to give you an engaging and varied learning experience.

Your teaching is conducted by renowned experts from across the main fields of national, European and international law, and is supported by our first-class research.

Alongside your academic studies, you have lots of opportunities to enhance your legal skills and take part in practical activities, including mooting, pro bono work and career development workshops.

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Our teaching methods

We recognise that our students' learning styles vary greatly, so we ensure that you are exposed to a range of teaching methods and opportunities to give you the best possible chance to excel during your studies.

Practical experience

You will have lots of opportunities to put your legal skills to use in real-life situations.

We pride ourselves on the range of pro bono projects and co-curricular activities we provide, including mock trials and negotiation skills competitions. You will also undertake training in providing legal advice and mediation.

Read more about our mooting and pro bono opportunities.

Flexible assessment methods

We use a variety of assessment methods, including exams, coursework, portfolios and presentations. 

You will have the opportunity to practise each kind of assessment in a non-assessed form and receive valuable feedback before undertaking the final assessment. 

Our assessments challenge the skills and experiences you have developed as a lawyer, not just your academic knowledge.

Lectures

Lectures introduce the topics covered in your chosen modules. The general principles and the theoretical framework will be discussed and you will follow up with individual research. Some lectures will include sessions with guest speakers.

Visiting speakers

We regularly invite external speakers from professional organisations to speak and share their expertise and experience.

Examples of organisations who have participated include the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Commonwealth Secretariat, and Amnesty International.

Seminars and tutorials

You will attend small informal discussion-based tutorials. A set of questions or discussion points will be shared in advance and you will be expected to prepare your answers and participate in open debate with your peers and tutor.

You will also engage in small group seminars. Taking place in a workshop format, you will be asked to read or watch some material in advance to stimulate group discussion.

Professional development

We provide a comprehensive range of opportunities to gain hands-on experience and maximise your employability. 

We offer networking opportunities supported by guest lectures, conferences, research seminars and workshops. A calendar full of career-orientated events is built into our degree portfolio, including careers fairs, employer-run workshops, CV advice clinics and mock interview sessions.


Taught by experts

You will be taught by highly regarded academics who research and publish internationally in their fields.

Some of our tutors are advisers to government and policy-making bodies like the Law Commission and the United Nations, whilst others have been involved with, or cited in, cases before courts, including the European Court of Justice and UK Supreme Court.

Read stories from our teaching and research community

Cutting-edge research

99% of our research is of international standing (REF 2021, combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions – Law).

This groundbreaking research feeds into your teaching, as your programme exposes you to the latest thinking and developments in the field.

You will also benefit from our strong links with the Graduate Institute of Political and International Studies, Henley Business School, and the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) Centre.

Modules to suit your interests

At Reading, we offer you the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of specialist modules offered by different schools and departments across the University.

In your modules, you will be taught the principles of the subject through traditional lectures. You will revisit and discuss the subjects in a more informal setting through seminars and guided independent learning.

Why study with us

Study at a law school that provides you with the perfect balance between academic learning and practical experience.

A photo of NAttapapin holding her final thesis

Read Ying's story

Not only did the topics covered enhance my legal knowledge but also equipped me to evaluate ideas and  concepts in ways that challenged me to think critically.

Nattapapim Phattranurukkul (Ying)

LLM International Law graduate

 

A group of Reading law students studying together outside

Life in the School

Learn in a friendly inclusive law school where our practice-focused approach provides you with multiple opportunities to develop both personally and professionally.