Welcome to the Department of Law

Pathways to legal excellence

Choose from a diverse array of undergraduate and postgraduate law courses tailored to any career stage. Whether your aspiration is your first legal qualification, interdisciplinary study, or specialised law exploration, our programmes will suit your journey.

Our reputation for high-quality teaching is verified by government agencies and professional bodies. Many members of our teaching staff are active in professional legal practice or are legal scholars whose research puts them at the forefront of legal learning.

Fostering connections in the legal landscape

Our inspiring network extends to accomplished alumni and recipients of Royal Courts of Justice honorary doctorates, developing impressive connections with firms across the legal landscape. Thanks to our partnerships with local and national law firms, legal publishers and dynamic businesses, we are never short on sponsors for student competitions and research ventures.

Our Business Engagement Team connects the Department of Law with other diverse industries, expanding our professional footprint beyond the realms of law and into wider industry, expanding career opportunities for all graduates.

Unlocking employment opportunities

We offer huge opportunities to students to develop practical legal skills and make them stand out in the job market. Students are encouraged to join in-house, national and international competitions, in client interviewing, mediation and mooting. We achieve considerable success in these competitions. The Kingston Award gives special awards on graduation to students who take on extra activities and responsibilities during their degree to enhance their career opportunities.

Kingston's law students gain a competitive edge through our dedicated careers and employability services, refining CVs, honing interview techniques, and networking with premier law firms. Our dynamic research seminar series welcomes external speakers and attendees, facilitates networking and encourages knowledge exchange.

Kingston's Department of Law

Studying law at Kingston University

Law Fair 2023

Change the world: our courses

We offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Law. Students are taught in practical and interactive workshops, lectures, seminars and one-to-one supervision. In addition to your course tutors, you will also have a personal academic adviser to support you in your studies.

Undergraduate courses

Our undergraduate courses offer the freedom to study law without requiring a specific career path. An education in law equips you with diverse skills and knowledge, enabling you to pursue legal qualification or apply your abilities in various other professions. Put simply: our courses adapt to your goals and interests.

Kingston Law LLB courses are recognised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Bar Standards Board (BSB) as a qualifying law degree. Students can progress to the vocational stage of their legal training once they have successfully completed the LLB.

International Law LLB (Hons)

Law and Criminal Justice LLB (Hons)

Law LLB (Hons)

Postgraduate courses

Explore our array of postgraduate law courses, spanning general studies and specialised fields like dispute resolution and employment law. Whether you're honing your legal expertise within the profession or seeking insights into legal dimensions of specific domains, our programmes cater to your goals.

Law LLM

Law PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)

Research, collaboration and real-world learning

Research is at the heart of the Department of Law, infusing our high-quality teaching and shaping our overall development strategy. Our commitment to research enriches both our academic pursuits and the wider scholarly community. As the legal landscape evolves, our research expands, addressing vital issues like technology, sustainability, and inequality.

You can access the Law e-Repository, a collection of published or publicly-available research and scholarly outputs authored or produced by Kingston staff and research students.

Our specialised law degrees, designed for employability and international law, draw from our robust research. This empowers us to tackle pressing global concerns, from technological advancement to environmental protection. Our faculty actively engages in ground-breaking research, fostering vibrant academic discourse.

Under the leadership of Dr Damian Bielicki, specialist on space law, artificial intelligence and cyberlaw, our flagship Research Group on Law & Technology, brings together an interdisciplinary team dedicated to investigating how normative frameworks and technology shape society in all fields of life, including aerospace, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles or healthcare, among many others.

Adapting to pressing global issues our research assesses the value of international frameworks to respond to these challenges. Professor Elvira Dominguez-Redondo's prolific publications have focused on United Nations mechanisms, politicisation of international human rights, minority rights and disputed territories. Dr Claire-Michelle Smyth is an expert on economic, social and cultural rights, a theme she has explored especially through the lenses of sexual and reproductive rights of women.

Our research has contributed to the analysis of the growing complexity of the relationship between European Union Law and domestic and international law. The publications of Dr Rupert Dunbar combine notions of justice and legal certainty in domestic courts ‘case law with the study of the application of international law within the European Union legal system. In addition to her broader interests in the international rules governing the actions of intergovernmental organisations and world trade law, Dr Anna Labedzka studies the European Union interactions with third countries (non-EU members such as the United Kingdom) and other international organisations.

The international outlook of our scholarship is further reflected in the research carried out by Eric Jeanpierre focusing on international comparative law in Africa. Malgorzata Hussain is focusing on the Environmental Law specialism concerning marine plastic pollution. Other members of the team are experts in the fields of pensions, pedagogy and jurisprudence.

The law department is also home to a vibrant community of postgraduate researchers. We foster research collaborations and aim at building partnerships with other research institutions, industries and businesses.

Further information on our MPhil and PhD programmes, including how to apply for a research degree >

Law and Technology Research Group

Driving change beyond the classroom: staff, students and alumni transforming the community

The Department of Law radiates positive change, supporting academics, students and graduates to empower the community in a number of activities. We help those in need of justice via the Legal Aid Centre; our student interns provide organisations with fresh perspectives, enthusiasm, and a willingness to engage in real-world legal scenarios; and our alumni act as change champions in the real world.

Legal Advice Centre

The Kingston University Community Legal Advice Centre offers free legal assistance to people, charities, businesses, and groups in Kingston and nearby areas, providing one-on-one advice appointments to help individuals understand the law and tackle legal issues.

The centre runs in partnership with local entities like Kingston Citizens Advice Bureau, Kingston Information and Advice Alliance, and YMCA South West to ensure high-quality services, and our students, guided by staff and Kingston legal community volunteers, conduct appointments, research, and offer advice.

Professional Internship Programme

Internships benefit both students and businesses immensely. Students gain practical experience, build skills, expand networks, and refine career goals. For businesses, interns bring fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and short-term task support, boosting productivity.

Engaging with our internship scheme also serves as a talent pipeline for business and potential future employment for graduates, as 70% of Kingston students secure graduate roles post-internship (source: KU Talent).

Law Alumni Association

The Law Alumni Association aims to drive positive community change. Their legal expertise informs decisions, aids access to justice, and offers pro bono assistance. As mentors, they inspire future legal professionals and leaders, sparking engagement. Alumni in influential roles shape policies, ethics, and compliance, fostering a fairer and more just community. Their commitment fuels a stronger, equitable society.