Type Law School Head of School Professor Stuart Cross Location Dundee, Scotland Undergraduate tuition and fees 1,820 GBP (2011) | Established 15th Century Students 600 approx. Affiliations University of Dundee Phone +44 1382 384461 | |
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Address Scrymgeour Building, Park Pl, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, UK Similar University of Dundee, University of Glasgow School of, University of Dundee School of, Strathclyde Law School, Abertay University | ||
The Dundee Law School at the University of Dundee, Scotland provides undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in Scottish and English Law. It is the only institution in the United Kingdom to permit students to qualify into all three UK legal jurisdictions. It is based in the Scrymgeour Building—named for Henry Scrymgeour, a 16th-century legal philosopher from Dundee—the Law Library is based in the libraries building, both on the university's main campus. An internal reorganisation at the university in 2015 led to the Law School becoming part of the School of Social Sciences.
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History
The origins of the law school begin with the foundation of the University of St Andrews, around 1413. A group of Augustinian clergy, driven from the University of Paris by the Avignon schism and from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge by the Anglo-Scottish Wars, formed a society of higher learning in St Andrews, which offered courses of lectures in subjects including law. Through several centuries the teaching of law in St Andrews was incorporated into St Mary's College at the University of St Andrews. By the late 1800s, St Andrews was contending with geographic isolation and dwindling numbers of students, whilst a university college was burgeoning in nearby Dundee. Law lectures had commenced in Dundee in January 1866. Following several aborted attempts at various forms of incorporation and association, in 1890 the university college began to establish closer links with the University of St Andrews and it was incorporated into the university in 1897. The campus in Dundee later became known as Queen's College, with the teaching of law formally transferred to Dundee in the 20th century. In 1967, the independent University of Dundee was created by Royal Charter, incorporating the former Queen's College, including the School of Law. St Andrews became, and remains, the only ancient university not to offer the study of Law.
Today
Dundee Law School consistently ranks as one of the top law faculties in the UK. In The Guardian's 2017 law league table, Dundee Law School was ranked 8th in the UK and 1st in Scotland. Similarly, in The Times' 2017 law league table, the School was ranked 10th in the UK and 1st in Scotland. In the Guardian's 2013 law league table, Dundee's School of Law was ranked 10th in the UK and 1st in Scotland. In addition, The Times in 2012 ranked the Law School 7th in the United Kingdom and 1st in Scotland. In 2009, The Times ranked the Law School 9th in the United Kingdom and 2nd in Scotland, and the Complete University Guide 2009, backed by The Independent, ranked the School 8th in the UK and 2nd in Scotland.
In the 2014 Research Assessment Exercise the School was one of only two law schools in the UK to have 100% of its research rated as being of 'international standard'. The school is the only law school to have achieved that feat in both the 2008 and 2014 Research Assessment Exercises.
Initiatives
Dundee International Law Society
Dundee International Law Society is a student-led society made up of current and former Dundee University students, faculty members as well as scholars and friends from across the wider legal and academic community. The Society represents one of several linkages between the School of Law and the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy. Dundee International Law Society organises regular seminars, colloquia, debates, roundtables and presentations on a wide range of international law problems and prospects, and serves as an informal society for analysis of international law questions both great and small. Practitioners, academics and students are invited to attend, to participate and to present papers or lead discussions.
Dundee Student Law Review
The law school publishes a student law review bi-annually. The review offers the first chance for most students to publish their academic writing.
Dundee University Student Bar Society
Dundee University Student Bar Society was established to encourage students wishing to enter the Bar in either Scotland, Northern Ireland or England and Wales. The Bar Society's inaugural lecture took place on 7 November 2014 and was delivered by David Hope, Baron Hope of Craighead. The Honorary President of the Bar Society is Dundee alumnus Donald Findlay Q.C..
Law Clinic
The student-run Law Clinic offers free legal advice and help to residents of Dundee, including both the local and student populations, who cannot afford a solicitor and do not qualify for legal aid. The Law Clinic became operational on 31 January 2011, and currently runs from 9am-5pm every Wednesday and Thursday in the Centre of Dundee (Commercial Street, Dundee. Entry via Boyle's Chambers and ask for the Law Clinic at reception). The Law Clinic offers free legal advice on issues such as landlord and tenant, small claims, benefit disputes and employment. It can also provide services as a "McKenzie friend".
Law Society
The long running student law society organises social- and careers-events for Dundee law students. Several traditional social events take place each year, including a Gaudie Night where first year students are assigned 'parents' from older years, with whom they must survive the night and who will then act as academic and social mentors. The law society also runs an annual pub quiz which is typical attended by teams of academics from within the School, and hosts an annual law ball at different ornate locations around Scotland. The law society further coordinates the School's sports teams which compete in inter-varsity matches against law schools from elsewhere in the United Kingdom, in sports such as football, basketball and hockey.
Mooting
The law school has an active mooting society, which organises an internal competition and competes in various Scottish and UK external competitions. The Honorary President of the Mooting Society is Lord Justice Jones. The Mooting Society bases itself at the moot court room located within the School's premises at the Scrymgeour Building. In 2013/14, the Mooting Society entered the Alexander Stone Moot, the Inner Temple Inter-Varsity Moot, the ESU/Essex Court Moot, the NSLS Moot and the OUP/BPP National Moot. Out of these competitions, the Dundee team made it to the semi-final of the Inner Temple Inter-Varsity Moot and the final 16 teams in the ESU/Essex Court Moot. Furthermore, three of the Society's undergraduates represented Scotland in the 37th Edition of the Telders International Law Moot Court Competition held at the Peace Palace in the Hague, Netherlands. The Dundee team participated in the "Roundsian Rescue Dispute" together with another 27 teams from 26 countries across Europe, and were named "Outstanding Team".
Academics
The University of Dundee has the distinction of having the only law school in the United Kingdom to offer qualifying Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degrees in both Scottish and English/Northern Irish Law. Both LL.B. degrees can also be taken as Law with Languages degrees in French, German and Spanish. Dundee pioneered the 'dual qualifying' degree in Scots and English Law which has since been rolled out at other Scottish institutions.
At postgraduate level, the University offers a wide range of Master of Laws (LL.M.) courses. Undergraduate and Postgraduate teaching in energy and minerals topics is delivered in conjunction with the University's Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy, and the UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science.
Admission to the school is selective. Dundee Law School traditionally has a tight-knit staff and student body with around a third of the numbers of students at Glasgow and Edinburgh law schools and half of those at Aberdeen.