Law

Why Undergraduate Law at Essex?

At Essex, championing justice is at the core of what we do. We don't just talk about it – we dive right in. You’ll learn from academics making real world impact like Professor Lorna Woods who recently received special recognition in the House of Lords for her work on the Online Safety Bill and Dr Matthew Gillet, a member of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

Here, you'll master the art of dissecting and applying the law in real-world scenarios. Picture yourself in mooting (mock trials), client interviewing, and negotiating competitions, where you'll not only hone your skills but also prepare for the challenges of the legal field.

You have the chance to gain work experience in a legal setting advising real clients on real cases in our Law Clinic. Plus, we offer networking opportunities throughout the year with visiting law firms. We’re proudly ranked 17th for promoting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (THE Impact Rankings 2023).

Now, let's talk about your future head-start. In your third year, dive into the industry with our work-based learning module. Picture yourself at a law firm or a local council, gaining invaluable experience. Sure, spots are coveted, but armed with the skills from our Law Clinic, you're set to shine. Ready to make your mark in the legal world? Essex is where justice meets opportunity.

You can also gain a further head-start in the industry and choose our work-based learning module at a law firm or a local council in your third year. Places are in high demand, so you'll need to demonstrate your aptitude to firms, but you’ll be well placed to do so with experience from our Law Clinic.

Career prospects

Law affects every part of our life from what we can post on social media and the complexities of buying a house, to international commerce and the protection of human rights. The legal sector is vast, and evolving at a rapid pace as it must also respond to the challenges we face as a society. Therefore, employers across a range of sectors will value law graduates who can show adaptability, resilience, and have a critical knowledge and understanding of the law in different contexts.

Explore the career opportunities Essex Law School can provide.

Master your future legal profession

At Essex, we specialise in commercial law and human rights law. We have extensive experience of research and practice in the field and many of our academics also work in advisory roles with the UK government, foreign governments and the UN, such as Professor Ahmed Shaheed, a UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief or Professor Lorna McGregor who has been working in partnership with the UN Human Rights Office to explore the impact of the use of digital technologies on human rights at borders. We bring our expertise to our teaching to give you a truly industry-informed student experience.

Our expertise covers everything from trade and maritime law, to business law and human rights law. Meet our academics by reading their biographies.

Develop practical and professional legal skills in a range of areas such as mooting, advocacy, client-interviewing, mediation, and negotiation. Plus gain hands-on experience in our Law Clinics, advising real clients.

Your progressive research environment

Within Essex Law School, we have over 100 academic staff who are open to supervise a range of research areas. Our research examines the meaning of justice in the UK and beyond. Our staff work with governments, human rights organisations and businesses across the world. Your supervisors support you with a perspective that is global, comparative and grounded in practical experience.

Expertise and supervision

We specialise in commercial and human rights law. To learn more about us and find a supervisor read our biographies and then use our research finder below.

We offer three different options for research study:

• PhD Law (standard)
• PhD Law (four-year PhD, with research and communication skills)
• MPhil Law

Start your application with us

Explore our Law research by theme or your area of interest and find a supervisor that can support your through your studies. More information can be found about research degrees on our school pages. Our courses below will help guide you through the various research degree programmes we offer.