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Courses Offered:
Ms Laura Hoyano (Tutorial Fellow) There are up to 40 students in total reading Law at Wadham. Normally about 10 students a year are admitted for the undergraduate degrees in Law and in Law with Law Studies in Europe, as well as graduates reading for the BCL, MJur, MPhil and DPhil and students reading for the Diploma in Legal Studies on the Erasmus Program. While we welcome applications from graduates to read law as a second BA, we no longer accept candidates wishing to take a degree in just two years, given the increased demands of the Final Honour School syllabus. We have no preference for subjects studied at school or college; all subjects have their advantages (and disadvantages) for those embarking on a law course. We do not expect you to have any knowledge of the law before you apply, but you should take an intelligent interest in current affairs in the widest sense. When making our decisions, we take into account the whole of your record. We do not attach overriding importance to any individual element, but judge the picture as a whole. We like our students to have outside interests although we never take them on the strength of these alone. We consider applications for deferred entry from those who have constructive plans which will continue to stimulate their intellect.
Law is an unusual subject for a university degree in that the overwhelming majority of students have not previously studied it. The courses are therefore designed for those starting from scratch. Although Law is a single honours subject at Oxford, we cover a vast range of topics in the course, some of which are almost as different from each other as they are from non-law subjects. The title of the Oxford undergraduate BA degree 'Jurisprudence', gives no clue as to the nature of the course and is an historical hangover from days when more grandiose language was in fashion. Inside Oxford we use only the word 'Law' in our day to day lives. If we have to identify a particular flavour about Oxford we would say that it teaches Law in a different way from other universities by placing the emphasis on treatment in depth of the topics studied. This necessarily means we cover a slightly smaller number of subjects. Oxford students have examinations in three subjects at the end of two terms and a further nine at the end of the third year. These nine are chosen from a list of about thirty topics, though there are some choice restrictions, and the demands of the profession also significantly cut down the choice, here as elsewhere, on those who wish to qualify as lawyers. Law students are expected to work hard at Oxford, as elsewhere. There are 12 papers spread over eight terms and each of these is taught in tutorials. We expect students to submit written work for each tutorial. Students can therefore expect to develop excellent writing and oral exposition skills. We have a good College law library and the University Faculty and Library building is just a short walk away.
Wadham has five tutors currently involved in teaching our Law undergraduates. Mr Jeffrey Hackney has research interests in the modern law of trusts, English legal history and Roman law. His latest work has sought to see how the ideas of the past have left their footprints in modern thought and how the three very different cultures have sought to address the substantially similar commercial problems they each face/d. Ms Laura Hoyano has a particular interest in the intersection of child protection law in the criminal, family and tort legal systems, including the human rights implications and the rules of evidence governing the trials of such cases. The College also has exchange-tuition arrangements with Fellows of other colleges who are experts in the remaining subjects, to ensure that students are taught by specialists for each paper.
The College has an active Law Society run by our students. There is also a senior section of the society, run principally by the old members, which takes an active part in the organisation of trips and raises money to subsidise social activities and, for example, the law collection in the College Library. Many of these non-resident members are happy to advise them on careers in law.
Most of our law students become professional lawyers (i.e., barristers or solicitors), but the law is a stepping stone to a very wide range of careers and our students take full advantage of that. Should you want to talk about potential careers in the law, the former members in the College Law Society are always available to give advice. Each year some of our students go on to further study, often remaining at Wadham.
Further information about studying Law at Oxford can be found at the University Law website and in the University's Undergraduate Prospectus.
Student Profile Faye Duncan, 3rd Year, Law
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I had studied A Level law and wished to explore the subject in more depth. I was also well aware that an Oxford law degree would keep my options open in terms of choosing a career further down the line. I saw this course of study as a long term investment. The Oxford law course is incredibly diverse, especially when it comes to choosing your third year options. You are expected to learn to work independently, and to structure your week around your tutorial and lecture schedule. Tutorials are a chance to discuss a topic’s most interesting, controversial issues with leading academics.